Torbay Hospital: Music to spread comfort and cheer

Recently, as work was being carried out on the computer system on which all of our live broadcast at Torbay Hospital Radio depends, I had a two-week break from my weekly Wednesday evening show. 

It wasn't until I returned to the studio last week that I realized how much I'd missed my weekly date with the microphone and my list of feel-good tunes and dedications.

When I started my show, just over a year ago, after presenting a few shows under professional supervision, I had no idea how important one brief hour of my week would become to me and my well-being.

I was, looking back, unusually lucky to grow up in a house without a TV. This meant we had a radio in almost every room and it also meant that I very quickly found a very deep love of music almost as soon as I was old enough to tell one song from another. 

That love for the widest variety of music genres is as strong today as it was many years ago, and might explain, at least partly, why I love to win at music quizzes.

As the years flowed by, my love of music evolved in many ways. I remember clearly how dismissive I was of the classical music so beloved by my mother!.

Now, especially at this frenetic and often stressful time of year, I allow it to wash over me and relax me completely. If you find Christmas hard work, I can highly recommend an hour or two of classical music.

I volunteered for Torbay Hospital Radio because I understand that hospitals can be a very daunting and even lonely place for patients. 

We reach out to the whole hospital community of Torbay and South Devon, to spread as much positivity and kindness as we can through the music. Just having a favourite song played for a relative, friend, neighbour or colleague in hospital can make a huge difference. It can even help to speed recovery and get them back home quickly.

I feel I can speak for all my fellow presenters when I tell you how good it makes us feel when we read out a dedication for a patient and/ or a ward or clinic. Everyone has different favourites when it comes to music, and if you can't think of a particular song to request, please rest assured that we'll find something suitable that will make their day, especially if we know little bit about their musical tastes. 

For me, reading out your dedications is a huge part of the pleasure of being a Torbay Hospital Radio presenter. 

So, especially at Christmas, probably the least popular time to be in hospital, please don’ t hesitate to get in touch at any time.

We are all delighted to read out dedications, and with live broadcasts every day, they are available quickly and easily - you can call, text or email the studio, and we're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Listening to our shows couldn’t be easier. On a smartphone or tablet, just search ‘Torbay Hospital Radio,’ then click on ‘listen live.’ We can arrange for radio to be delivered to the ward, and we also have a Torbay Hospital Radio app, which is free to download.

 So, if you're in hospital, or about to go in, or you know someone who is, even briefly, we would love to give you a shout.

From a personal viewpoint I can never have enough dedications to read out. It always gives me a great feeling reading them out knowing I am helping to make somebody's day better makes me feel better too. To me, that's a very large part of what volunteering is all about.

So, I would like to wish a Merry Christmas everybody, and I hope that 2025 will bring you all you desire.