Radio Heatherwood
Closed
On the 9th January Radio
Heatherwood closed down. It was then a race against time to rip out the
old partridge mixer and dismantle the old console. lt was also the time to
put in the suspended ceiling for studio one. The change to a new design of
console to accommodate the Chilton mixer was at the right time, because
the old Telecom frame which had plagued us for many years was also ripped
out the month before, this gave us that much needed space.
We had become quite
proficient at changing things around, as in the previous year we were
completing the library re-design and before that numerous other changes as
we tried to maximize the space we were allocated.
The major building work
was completed on the 31st of January: painting and wiring commenced
immediately.
The majority of work
was carried out by the engineer three nights a week, all day Saturdays
and Sunday mornings. The manager with assistance from a couple of
presenters added the finish to the studio, with a spot of paint.
On the 1st of February
the installation company ;Wireless Workshop arrived; to fit the new
AM broadcast system.
The test tone was heard
throughout the day on Monday the 8th of February. In the evening at 7pm
the unit was switched to sustaining service tuner'. Radio 210 could be
heard on 999KHz for the first time in the hospital.
" A new station was
born."
Note:- I wrote in my
diary for that day " I'm glad it's all over " P. J.
It was a weight off my
mind that day, we had waited such a long time to achieve this and we had
come through untold hassles, but we came through.
On the 20th February,
we re-laid the carpet which was the last job to be done. The wiring was
complete, so in the afternoon at 5:35 till 5:45 the first test
transmission was made with the new I'D and the voice of the manager.
On the 3rd of March the
staff training commenced with the new terms & conditions, some presenters
didn't return after the closedown and some felt they could not commit
themselves to the station. it was also the time to start full training on
equipment and use of the faci1ities; which in the past had been neglected.
A month of intensive
training for staff; lead us to the on-air day.
2PM Saturday 2nd
April 1988
