News

:: Siobhan Runs GNR 2011 for HRST

HRST volunteer Siobhan Kennedy is donning her running shoes in aid of HRST this September.  An avid runner, Siobhan has decided to donate all her sponsorship to the HRST funds.  More details, including a blog, can be found on our running page.

Posted 16/7/11

:: Westoe Village Fayre

Thank you to everyone who came along to this years Westoe Village Fayre.  Despite the rain, an estimated 2000 people came out to support local charities.  HRST launched their Summer Prize Draw at the event with the top prize being a DFDS Mini Cruise, kindly donated by DFDS and the second prize a ladies or gents Barbour Jacket.  Tickets cost just £1.  Please email us for details.

Posted 16/7/11

:: St Clare's Hospice - Teddy Bears Picnic

For the first time, we are this year supporting St Clares Hospice at their Teddy Bear's Toddle & Picnic on June 18th at Monkton Stadium in Jarrow.  Full details to follow or check out our Facebook page.

Posted 28/5/11

:: HRST Supports Cancer Connections

To mark the start of 2011's Hospital Broadcasting Week, HRST will once again be supporting Cancer Connections on their Mad March Hair sponsored walk. 

The annual event on Sunday 27th March at 11am starts and ends at Souter Lighthouse - walkers can either complete the route to Marsden Bank and back (1.5 miles) or go all the way to Gypsies Green (5 miles).  HRST will be supporting walkers at the start and finish and along the route.

If you would like to take part, please contact Cancer Connections on 0191 4565081 or info@cancerconnections.org.uk.

Posted 26/2/11

:: HRST Require New Volunteers

Hospital Radio South Tyneside (HRST) is on the lookout for new volunteers.

The station, which broadcasts to South Tyneside District Hospital, is looking for volunteer members who can offer 2 - 3 hours per week to help with all aspects of providing the free information and entertainment service to patients and staff.

Station Communications Manager Simon Smith explains “Although our primary activity is broadcasting, a huge part of what we do involves being on the wards, talking to patients and trying to make their stay in hospital that little bit easier.  While some of our volunteers do present programmes we’re really looking for people who want to spend time on the wards collecting requests or people who can offer the technical skills required in running a radio station.  This would suit people of all age groups who can give us a couple of hours of their time a weekâ€�.

If you would be interested in getting involved, more details can be found on the join us page or by contacting the station on 0844 5865201.

Posted 26/2/11

:: HRST Launches Car Prize Draw

HRST have launched their BIG prize draw for summer 2010 - and this year you could win a brand new Mini First.  The charity have teamed up with charity FSI who, supported by Zurich Insurance, have the £11,000 car up for grabs for £2.00 a ticket.  £1.90 of the ticket cost goes directly to HRST, enabling them to continue providing their free service.

For more details, see our Car Prize Draw page.

Posted 20/4/10

:: HRST Support Local Charity During HBW

HRST's membership have decided this year to support a local charity during Hospital Broadcasting Week.  The station hold a Request-athon each year to raise awareness of the FREE service they provide but any funds raised during the event will be donated to Cancer Connections, a local charity who support those affected by cancer in South Tyneside.

More details of the Request-athon can be found on our Request-athon page here.

Posted 22/3/10

:: Breakfast Team run for Sport Relief

HRST's Weekend Breakfast team ran the Sport Relief Mile on The Leas in South Shields on Sunday 21st March.  Simon and Archie completed the mile under warm sunshine with hundreds of other fun runners and raised around £40 for the Sport Relief charity.

Posted 22/3/10

:: Trust Rewards and Recognition 2009

This year HRST have been asked by the Trust Board to be involved with this years Rewards and Recognition Event - "Operation Thank You" 2009 which is being held at The Temple Park Centre on Wednesday 2nd December to recognise staff, teams and volunteers who make South Tyneside District Hospital what it is.  News and photos can be seen here.

Posted 24/11/09, updated 2/12/09

:: Ron runs as Roman

HRST Chairman Ron Cameron is running this years London Marathon dressed as a Roman soldier.  Ron, who has taken part in the Great North Run in the past says "It seemed a good idea at the time, although I'm not sure I'll have the same thoughts after 26 miles."

Ron starts off the year of running for HRST with both Gaynor and Sarah taking part in this years Great North Run.  To find out more and to sponsor them, please see our running page here.

Posted 24/04/09

:: Grant Success

Hospital Radio South Tyneside have been awarded a £5000 grant from Grassroots Grants, part of The Community Foundation. 

The award will pay towards the much needed studio refurbishment, allowing volunteer members to broadcast from more comfortable and ergonomic surroundings.

Commenting on the award, Station Secretary Simon Smith said "Our members tirelessly raise funds for our everyday expenses but for big capital projects such as a new studio need funding so we are very grateful to Grassroots Grants for this award."
Posted 25/3/09

:: Share those memories of HRST

To celebrate Hospital Broadcasting Week, current members of HRST want to hear from former members to take part in a documentary the station is putting together.  The station started broadcasting in 1956 and is one of the oldest hospital radio stations in the UK, broadcasting free to South Tyneside District Hospital. 

If you've had involvement over the last 50 years we'd love to hear from you, please get in touch here.

:: Christmas Presents for HRST

Christmas has come early for Hospital Radio South Tyneside who's volunteers have just received three grants to help fund the free radio service.  South Tyneside Council, Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation and The Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Foundation have all provided the station with much needed funds.  Speaking about the awards, Station Chairman Ron Cameron said "While our members work hard throughout the year to raise funds for our ongoing costs, grants such as these allow us to invest in new equipment to ensure that we can continue to provide a free information and entertainment service to the patients and staff at South Tyneside District Hospital"

Posted 20/12/08

:: Fundraising Event - 13th December 2008

A fundraising event is being staged at The Whiteleas Club on Saturday 13th December 2008 with all proceeds being split between HRST and The Stroke Unit.  The event, which starts at 7pm, will feature music from band Blue Velvet.  Tickets cost £3.00. 

:: Thank You to Westoe Village

Following our participation at the Westoe Village Summer Fete, we have received a cheque from the residents association for £200 as a thank you and to support local charity.

Posted September 2008

:: Eurovision Gift

Following Padraic's Eurovision show and our Eurovision quiz earlier in the year, we have received a donation from 1A dentist's for £500.  To say thank you, we've sent them a copy of Pad's programme on CD.

Posted September 2008

:: Another Successful Bag Pack

Saturday 19th July saw HRST's volunteers rolling up their sleeves and packing bags in their local Marks & Spencer in Kings Street, South Shields.  Members hard work paid off as almost £550 was raised for the charity which will go towards the station's studio improvement project.

Posted 20/7/08

:: Westoe Village Fete

HRST once again took part in the Westoe Village Fete - and this year even hosted the event for organisers.

As well as a tombola, HRST compered the event, introducing dancers abd other entertainment to the crowds attending.

Posted 12/7/08

:: Even More Euro-Mania!

Following on from Padraic's Eurovision special, HRST have announced a social evening with a Eurovision twist to be held on Friday 23rd May 2008.  Details and the venue can be found on our Eurovision pages.

Posted 25/4/08

:: Eurovision-mania at HRST

HRST member and self confessed Eurovision fan Padraic Devlin is currently putting together an HRST Eurovision special to be broadcast next month.  Once the programme has been broadcast we hope to podcast this as part of a range of new services we hope to offer listeners both within the hospital and in the wider South Tyneside community.  Keep checking back to this site to find out more...

In the meantime, please vote for your favourite Eurovision Artist on our programme page

Posted 6/4/08

:: Hospital Broadcasting Week 2008

This week see's Hospital Broadcasting Week 2008.  HBW is a chance to celebrate everything that is hospital radio and a chance, at the annual conference of the Hospital Broadcasting Association to award excellence in volunteer broadcasting.  Although HRST did not win any awards this year, we'd like to congratulate our colleague stations who won at the awards on Saturday in Leeds.

Posted 31/03/08

:: New Year, New Breakfast

Hospital Radio South Tyneside's @Breakfast show is now bigger and better for the new year.  From 2008, the breakfast show is 'officially' 3 hours long, broadcasting from 7am - 10am each weekday morning.  Breakfast presenter Ron Cameron said "I would sometimes stay on air for an extra hour, so with the dawn of a new year I thought, let's make it official".  The show starts the day for the patients and staff at South Tyneside District Hospital with news and hospital information as well as great music and just a dash of mayhem!  HRST @ Breakfast can be heard on Patientline Channel 1 FREE, weekdays at 7am.

Posted 2/1/08

:: HRST Webshop

As part of HRST's fundraising activities, we operate a webshop via this website.  By clicking through to buy.at/hrst, purchases made from Early Learning Centre, HMV, John Lewis and Amazon amongst many others, every purchase earns us a commission ~ and doesn't cost you a penny; there are even many special offers online.  Click it today and have a look.

Posted 10/11/07

:: Committee Elected

At the recent AGM, Simon Smith was re-elected as Station Secretary and Dave Pritchard joins the committee as Fundraising Officer.  Both posts are for two years.

Posted 16/10/07

:: Craig's Marathon Broadcast

Weekend Breakfast presenter Craig Simpson is planning a 50 hour marathon broadcast to celebrate HRST's 50 years of broadcasting.  Craig will start his usual programme at 8pm on Friday 26th October - but won't finish until 10pm on Sunday 28th!  Better get the coffee on!

Check out the Marathon Broadcast page here

Posted 08/09/07

:: Another successful bag pack

HRST volunteers and supporters once again put their backs into a bag pack, this time at M&S Metrocentre - raising £413 for our funds.  Thanks to Annie for organising this and to Myrtle Spence and David Evans for their support on the day.

Posted 27/08/07

:: Jason Smith visits HRST

Musical Director of Westoe Band, Jason Smith, joined Ron Cameron for "An Appointment With.." choosing his favourite music and chatting to Ron about Westoe Band.  More can be found at westoeband.co.uk

:: Text Your Request

You can now text your request to HRST at any time.  Simply send your message starting with HRST to 60300 and we'll do the rest.  Messages cost 25p plus standard network rate.
Posted 18/08/07

:: Ron's Charity Ride

HRST Chairman Ron Cameron recently took part in the 10th Springboard Allenheads to Roker Challenge - a 47 mile bike ride mostly uphill.  Ron managed to raise £117 for HRST's funds and also managed to come off the course, fall 10ft into a ditch finally being stopped by a branch in his face!  leaving him with scratches, bruises and a broken nose!!

 Posted 19/7/07

:: Change of Studio Number

In advance of a change in OFCOM legislation, the HRST studio contact number has changed to 0844 5865201 and the fax number is 0844 5865202.  Patients can continue to request dedications FREE using their Patientline telephone by dialling *800.  The internal hospital extension number is unchanged

Posted 17.06.07

:: National Volunteers Week 2007

1st - 9th June 2007 is National Volunteers Week, promoting the people and organisations who provide services FREE.  HRST is run entirely by volunteers who offer 2-3 hours of their time per week to collect requests, produce programmes and raise funds to keep the station on air.

If you would like to get involved with HRST, click our Join Us page or for more information on National Volunteers Week, click here.

:: Cancer Connections

South Shields charity Cancer Connections came along to HRST to record some infomercials to promote their newly formed charity which offers support and advice to people in South Tyneside affected by cancer.

Hear the Cancer Connections Info-mercial here

:: HRST Centre Fold Once Again

HRST secretary Simon Smith was featured in a centre page article in the Shields Gazette promoting the station and appealing for new members.  Entertainment reporter Chris Robinson came into the studio for An Appointment With... HRST's very own Desert Island Discs show.

Read Chris's article here

:: Hospital Broadcasting Week 2007

HRST were once again involved with Hospital Broadcasting Week, check out our HBW 07 page for details

Posted 01/04/07