Radio Skerne – Darlington Hospital

Broadcasting to patients and staff

Darlington Hospital Radio (Radio Skerne) was founded in January 1984 with help from the Hospital League of Friends and Darlington’s Lions Club.  After a year of intensive fundraising the station broadcast its first show from a temporary studio in the basement to the patients of Darlington Memorial Hospital on January 19, 1985.

The station stayed in their so-called temporary studio for a further seven years, until talks with the hospital management found a new location on the ground floor next to the Memorial’s Entrance B.

At a cost of £20,000 the station made the move to the current location and the new complex was opened by the then Mayor of Darlington, Councillor David Lynette and Bill Steel of Tyne Tees Television.

In May 1998, the station opened a new studio – the ‘Ivy Nixon Studio.’   The studio is named after a prominent and much respected member of Radio Skerne – Ivy Nixon.

The aims and objectives of Radio Skerne have remained the same over the years: “To try to alleviate the feeling of loneliness and isolation, often associated with a stay in hospital, by providing an interactive link between patients and the wider community through music, information and a friendly voice.”

Contact

Email: radio_skerne@hotmail.com