Introducing Suffolk’s New Radio Stars

Look below and you could be looking at a radio star of the future. Hospital Radio Ipswich has been playing to host to groups of children from the town’s Britannia Road School.

Eighty-four pupils from Year 5 will visit the station based at Ipswich’s Hospital on Heath Road over a three-day period. The idea to contact hospital radio came from teacher Daniel Woodrow whose classes were learning about the subject of Sound.

Daniel thought that a good way to get this over to the children would be by visiting a real life radio station. Daniel said, “This ticks all the boxes for us as it covers literacy, drama and English”.

The children are working with Hospital Radio Ipswich volunteers Tim Ward and Gemma G to record a 15-minute radio show consisting of news, weather, sport, film reviews and topical conversation. The programmes are recorded onto CD for the children to take away.

Hospital Radio Ipswich member, Mark Keable said, “Hospital Radio Ipswich is a local radio station, staffed by volunteers and we are always keen to be involved with the local community. Therefore when Daniel approached us with his idea we were happy to help as it allows us to show the pupils what goes on behind the scenes of a radio station and thus helps with their learning experience.”

Hospital Radio Ipswich, which celebrates it’s 40th birthday this year, is based at Heath Road Hospital where it’s volunteer members broadcast a variety of programmes every day of the week. The aim of the station is to entertain those spending time in the town’s hospital.

Members regularly visit the wards to meet with patients and to collect requests. These are then played back on the radio system, which is available to every bed in the hospital.

For more information about Hospital Radio Ipswich visit www.hri.org.uk or call 01473 704666.