The Victoria Radio Network has
been entertaining and informing patients, staff and visitors to
hospital services in Kirkcaldy since 1971. This makes VRN one of the
country's longest-running radio stations.
Through
these years, many of VRN's presenters have gone on to even greater
things - and we've picked up numerous national awards for our output.
For much of that time, it was only
possible to tune in through bedside radios in the hospital itself.
In 2002, the station took a huge leap
forward when it was awarded a license to broadcast on Medium Wave
(AM) to the premises of the Victoria Hospital - allowing people to tune in on their own radio sets for the
first time.
Today, the station broadcasts 24-hours
a day, 7 days a week on 1287AM. We've invested heavily in our
studios over the past few years, and our broadcasting facilities are the same standard as many commercial station's.
Membership
The station is run by volunteers
(currently over 40), and there are no paid staff. Activities range
from presenting shows to collecting requests from the wards. The ages
of our members range widely, as do their experiences. Some are
retired... some are just starting out in a career in radio.
Organisation
VRN is managed through a committee
structure. The members of this committee are elected at the AGM, and
(depending on the position) can sit for up to 3 years.
The station is independently run,
although our facilities and some of our utility costs are provided by
NHS Fife.
Funding
The station is funded entirely by
donations, grants and fundraising.
Awards
Here are just some of the awards the station has picked up in recent years at the UK Hospital Broadcasting awards...
2008
Male Presenter of the Year: Neil
Ingebrigtsen - Bronze award
Best Specialised Music - Commended
2007
Male Presenter of the Year: John Carstairs - Commended
Male Presenter of the Year: John Murray - Gold award
Female Presenter of the Year: Laura Haldane - Commended
Best Speech Package: Interview with Gordon Brown - Silver award
Best Specialised Music: Blues & Stuff - Bronze award
Best Special Event: 35 Years of Hospital Broadcasts - Commended
Station of the Year - Silver award
2006
Male Presenter of the Year: John Murray - Bronze
award
Female Presenter of the Year: Laura Haldane - Silver award
Best Specialised Music: Country Folk - Commended
2005
Male Presenter of the Year: John Murray - highly commended
Female Presenter of the Year: Laura Haldane - highly commended
Special Event - Commended
Station Promotion - Bronze award
Best Newcomer: Ron Robertson - Highly commended
The John Whitney Award for outstanding contribution - Colin Johnston
Committee
The current members of the committee
are:
Chair: Neil Ingebrigtsen
Secretary: Elaine Bowie
Treasurer: Ed Bowie
Programming&Technical: Colin Johnston
Hospital Services: Bert Ross
Training: Bob Small
Others: Hal London, Jimmy Williamson, Laura Haldane, Dave
Bayne
