Radio Robin - All About Us

Radio Robin began back in April 1993 with three former colleagues of Nottingham Hospitals' Radio, Richard Smith, Roger Bird and Garry Drew.

  • As with all things new, a proposal was drafted and presented to the Ilkeston Community Hospital and after a few discussions was accepted. With the hospital giving us the go ahead and with our promise to be self funding we held our first meeting. At this meeting we put together our constitution and decided on the three Trustees.

  • In putting the constitution together we had to come up with a name, Ilkeston Community Hospital Radio seemed a tad to long, quite a mouthful. Therefore we deliberated and cogitated and finally came to the conclusion that 'Radio Robin' the ideal name. chosen. This was mainly due to the fact that the nickname of the local football team is 'The Robins' and it has a nice ring to it.

  • In the first 18 months we raised around £20,000 through many quizzes, fetes, galas and shear hard work. This allowed us to put together a shopping list of equipment including an Alice Air 2000 mixing desk which still runs well today.

  • During the winter of 1994 saw the work beginning in earnest to turn the 12' x 12' square sluice room into a studio that any radio station would be proud off.

    Over the years Radio Robin has undergone some changes, good and bad. We have seen many members come and go and move on to better things, local radio and university. The studio it self has had a few changes to the point that if a member from those early days was to visit (and please do) they would not recognise it. There will be photographs to show the comparisons between then and now.

    I am pleased to say that one of our better achievments was to obtain a Lotteries Grant to provide the computers and software to enable Radio Robin to broadcast 24/7. We now provide a wide range of programmes to suit most tastes and do not have to reply on using another radio station to provide entertainment while we are not there.

    Our aims for the future are to increase our membership to allow further development of our live output and to overhaul the studio equipment. We will also be replacing the worn out speakers on the wards.