Richard Baum

There’s more canvassing and leafleting tonight, as the campaign continues. I can only hope that the warm reception we’ve been getting continues tonight. It’s been great so far, and I’d like to thank everyone we’ve met who has been so kind and supportive.

After canvassing tonight, I am attending the annual open evening of “Northern Air,” the hospital radio station of North Manchester General Hospital, of which I have been involved for the last ten years. I was an active member of Northern Air for about four years in total, over two spells, and have been in touch with the station and supportive of their efforts for the rest of the time too. Now I remain a member and attend special events, but sadly can’t help out much more very often because most of my time outside of work is taken up with being a Councillor.

I think hospital broadcasting is an excellent volunteering activity, providing enormous benefits both to the patients in hospital, and the volunteers themselves. When I used to visit the wards collecting record requests and talking to patients, it was wonderful to hear how they liked listening to our programmes. I know that for many volunteers this is the undoubted highlight of the whole experience. But others can learn very useful media skills in radio presentation and production, as well as making the types of contacts necessary for a career in the industry. I used to have great fun writing and presenting radio shows, and made lots of friends with whom I’m still in touch now. There are some lovely people involved in volunteering, and I would urge anyone who’s thought about giving their free time to do any sort of voluntary activity to give it a go. You’ve really got nothing to lose.

Hospital radio was the one for me. My dad did it years ago, and because I always fancied myself as a bit of a DJ, and thought that this would be a good way of learning the ropes as well as helping people out! It turned out that I wasn’t much cop at the radio lark, but I enjoyed getting involved in the community, and that’s obviously led to other things. That’s not to say that everyone taking to the airwaves on hospital stations is as rubbish as I was! Plenty of well known names in radio have started in hospitals, including Ken Bruce, Pete and Geoff and Nemone, (the latter two actually at Northern Air), as well as countless others both in front of the microphone and behind the scenes. Terry Wogan is in fact closely involved with the Hospital Broadcasting Association.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Dr Farook Chaudhry, will also be in attendance at the open evening tonight, as the guest of honour, and although I won’t be there in my role as Councillor, I hope to be able to welcome him and introduce him to some of the very dedicated volunteers who help run the station. The efforts that they put in, giving of their own free time to help sick people in hospital feel better, and to help young people develop new skills, really is extraordinary. It is great that the station opens its doors like this every year and is so warmly received by the community. 

If you would like to find out more about Northern Air and the hospital radio service that it provides, or perhaps are interested in becoming a volunteer, drop in tonight. The broadcasting studio is located next to the Trust HQ building at North Manchester General Hospital, on Delaunays Road in Crumpsall. And if you can’t make it tonight, you can call the station on 0161 740 7474. 

Rick