Radio Warneford is celebrating the official opening of its new studio complex, RadioToday

Radio Warneford celebrated the official opening of its new studio complex at Warwick Hospital.

The event, held in the studios at Lakin House, was attended by the Mayors of Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, who are joint patrons of the station, as well as one of the founding members of Radio Warneford, a representative of the Hospital Broadcasting Association and Radio Chief Engineer Warneford, who designed and installed new studios.

The event was hosted by one of Radio Warneford’s board members, Andy Dowell.

Radio Warneford also held a ceremony to name both of its broadcast studios after two former members – Graeme Meanley MBE and John Glare – who did so much to improve the life of the station and raised thousands of pounds each for Radio Warneford and other charities .

Members of Graeme and John’s families were in attendance and unveiled plaques at each studio.

The Mayor of Warwick, Councilor Dave Skinner, performed the opening ceremony at the entrance to the new studio at Lakin House on behalf of the University of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, presenting the ceremonial key to one of the station’s founders, John Flaherty, who was instrumental in establishing Radio Warneford as “temporary Christmas entertainment” in December 1973.

In his opening message, the Mayor of Warwick said Radio Warneford had received fantastic support from the University of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and the SWFT charity.

The Trust has provided space to create a new studio complex and the station looks forward to working closely with the Trust in the future.”

The Mayor then announced the opening of Radio Warneford’s ‘Squire Studios’. The complex itself is named after chief engineer Mike Squire, who has been a volunteer at Radio Warneford since 1974 and has since designed, installed and maintained all the station’s studios almost single-handedly.

Following the opening ceremony, special guests entered to witness the unveiling of the nameplates for both studios by family members of Graeme Meanley and John Glare. Andrew and Maureen Meanley, Graeme’s son and daughter-in-law, and James Glare and Elizabeth Cooper, one of John’s sons and daughters, unveiled their plaques, which were accompanied by a short article about each man’s work and a photograph. The boards will be placed on the doors of individual studios, and photos and personal data will be placed on the wall inside.

Guests were then given a tour of one of the new studios while Radio Warneford Duty producer Cliff Proctor broadcast the show live. The mayors were able to play music for them during their visit, choosing songs by Peter Gabriel and Elton John.

Later in the evening, special guests joined Mark Jones, SWFT’s Associate Director of Strategic Estates and Capital Planning, Liz Waters, SWFT’s Senior Capital Programs Manager and over forty current and former members of Radio Warneford at Bishops Tachbrook Sports and Social Club to the occasion of opening the studio and celebrating over fifty years of broadcasting to patients. The evening was hosted by two Radio Warneford executives, Louise Kalus and Andy Dowell.

The Mayor of Warwick, Councilor Dave Skinner, made a speech praising the hospital trust’s support to Radio Warneford. He thanked everyone who helped keep the station running for over fifty years. Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa, Councilor Judith Clarke, toasted Radio Warneford and Alan Chalmers, Mayor of Kenilworth, cut a cake decorated with the radio studio console to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

Roy Dickel, board member and co-secretary of the Hospital Broadcasting Association, which supports and looks after the interests of hospital radio stations throughout the country, presented long service awards not only to the station for its fifty years on the air, but also to individual members. On the evening, Valda Reid received an award for 35 years of volunteering, Paul Deavall for 20 years, Chris Ackroyd for 15 years and Andy Dowell for 40 years. Awards were also presented to members who were unable to attend the evening’s event – Mike Squire for 50 years, Gayle Harris and Adrian Newell for 20 years and Lynn Taylor for 10 years.