The Story of Hereford Hospital Radio - Part 1

Hereford Hospital Radio first began broadcasting in 1972 when Roy Romerill of the Hereford Youth Services had the idea of providing an entertainment service to the patients, staff and visitors of the three hospitals in Hereford. The first programmes broadcasted on Hereford Hospital Radio were pre-recorded by students of the Hereford Sixth Form College, and played during Sunday evenings. When these students moved on, the station underwent temporary closure, and the Hereford Lions Club concentrated their efforts on re-building the service.

George Burton did much to get HHR on its feet, and worked tirelessly at the station in the 70's and 80's and beyond.

A former hospital building was refurbished to provide a studio complex at the Hereford County Hospital, and Hereford Hospital Radio was re-launched with programmes being broadcast every day of the week, producing some 36 hours of live entertainment.

During the late 1970's, the range of programmes increased and so did the audience, with hospitals in both Ledbury and Leominster being 'wired for sound’ alongside a number of Age Care Homes within Hereford city.

Due to financial constraints in the 1980's, the Hospitals in Ledbury and Leominster were disconnected, and soon Hospital Radio was only broadcasting to the hospitals in Hereford.