We went radio ga ga when 96.5 Radio Wave broadcast Live from OUR Drive for five EPIC hours from 2pm to 7pm – through rain, hail and high winds… and that was between storms.
Ian ‘Shep’ Shepherd, an inspirational VI model in his own right, introduced the resort’s favourite radio roadshow from the conservatory of N-Vision at Squires Gate while regulars at the weekly social group met at Sharples Hall alongside, staff at the Low Vision Centre worked above, the latest Talking News was wrapped up in the neighbouring studios, Urban Organics were out and about in the garden, and residents at the Princess Alexandra Home relaxed.
Shep, supported by outside broadcast and event solutions Radio Broadcast Services, presented the station’s usual heady mix of news (presented by Andy Mitchell), views, competitions, music, ad breaks – and a stream of interviews with key figures at the charity.
Those featured included, among others, Johnny Gardener and Joy Killip, stalwarts of the Talking News team, chair of trustees Joe Bannister with the overview on the charity, fundraiser Abby Newby who broke the news of The Big One challenge… and the ball to celebrate our 110th birthday on 10/10/20. Couldn’t be a better date.
Eye clinic liaison officer Linda Sethi spoke of her work, at the hospital and on site at the Low Vision Centre, in terms of the ongoing support and services available to the charity’s 2500 clients, and Phil Richardson, also of the Low Vision Centre/Community Services team talked of the charity’s café club network including the brand new café club at Garstang, benefits assistance to clients, and other help.
Alison McLean and Elaine Wright, who head the Princess Alexandra Home team, spoke of their work, their great team of care workers, the new summer house/activity hub – and some memorable moments including the late great Eileen who went viral globally after she revealed on her 100th birthday that her secret of long life came down to “being content” – and swigging at least one can of Stella Artois a day and munching custard creams.
Our thanks personally and professionally to this incredible two-man outside broadcast crew and to Radio Wave for featuring us in Live from Your Drive.
Next time we’ll throw in a chippy tea – which turned out to be the off-air do-or-diet food fantasy of us all!
A special thank you to all who took part in the broadcast – and to Trina Parkinson for holding the fort until the radio team packed up in almost total darkness at 7.30pm.
Abby Newby
Joy Killip and Johnny Gardener
Linda Sethi
Joe Bannister
And there’s a lovely package from the day presented by Radio Broadcast Services here: https://www.facebook.com/rbsbroadcast/videos/513518189306027/
You can follow us on Facebook @nvisionnw and Twitter @N_Vision_NW and Radio Wave (Facebook) @965RadioWaveWireless & Twitter @965RadioWave