THE programme manager of Radio Yare, the region's hospital broadcaster found himself as the guest of the station's weekly magazine programme Afternoon Delight.

THE programme manager of Radio Yare, the region's hospital broadcaster found himself as the guest of the station's weekly magazine programme Afternoon Delight.

On the programme, jointly produced by the Great Yarmouth Mercury, Peter Burrage revealed the station had had a very successful year for fundraising in 2008 and that it was going from strength to strength.

He said: “It's incredible to think that this service was started 32 years ago by a small team of dedicated people in a former holiday hut brought from Winterton beach onto the Northgate Hospital grounds.

“All they had was ex-GPO equipment but they managed and from this frugal start, the station has mushroomed to the size it is today serving the hospitals in Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Lowestoft 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks a year.”

Mr Burrage, a trustee of the station, said a number of outside broadcasts and bucket collections had kept the coffers flowing.

He added: “We have a wonderful press officer in, Brian Frederick who keeps the general publicity going and reports any of our outside events. We always get requests or offers of support, from the public which is very heart-warming.”

He added the station offers a real alternative to the terrestrial radio stations also available.

“I am in no way knocking what other stations do, but we can offer a wider variety of programming and included in our schedule are music shows on jazz, country and other specialist areas. I am keen to nurture further specialist programmes with folk music including a complete programme dedicated to opera.”

He added there were also plans for further programmes featuring talking books as this type of programme had been very well received over the Christmas period. He praised the work of all volunteers and the trustees for their tireless work in making the station one of the best of its kind.

Hospital Radio Yare is always looking for people to join the station as presenters or request collectors, to find out more. Please write to: The Membership Secretary, Hospital Radio Yare, Northgate Hospital, Great Yarmouth or call 01493 842613.