Victoria Radio Network

The Victoria Radio Network (VRN) is a hospital radio station based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.[1] It currently broadcasts 24 hours a day to the premises of the Victoria Hospital and surrounding facilities to patients' bedside radios and www.vrnkirkcaldy.com

Victoria Radio Network
Broadcast areaVictoria Hospital
SloganHospital Radio in Kirkcaldy
Programming
FormatMusic and Talk
History
First air date
3 March 1971
Links
Websitewww.vrnkirkcaldy.com

History

VRN was formed in February 1971 by a group of young people in Kirkcaldy. Its first broadcast took place on 3 March, and the studio was originally housed in a cupboard of the main tower block of the hospital.

The station moved to premises on nearby St Clair Street, approximately 1 mile from the hospital. However, when this area was later redeveloped, the station moved back to the hospital site. This time, a custom-built studio was created out of Portakabins. The final move was to an old boiler house on Willow Drive.

In 2002, VRN was awarded a medium wave broadcasting licence. The first AM (medium wave) broadcast took place on 2 February 2002, and the station continued to broadcast on AM till Dec 2017. The station is now available on bed side tablets and on line at www.vrnkirkcaldy.com.

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Membership

VRN is run entirely by volunteers, with no full-time members of staff. There are currently around 50 members of the team. The majority of members are presenters, but there are also ward visitors, fundraisers and committee positions.

Broadcasting Output

As a hospital station, output is directed towards patients, staff and visitors. Main programming features include:

  • Patient Request Shows every weeknight
  • Live commentaries of Raith Rovers Saturday home matches.
  • VRN's Book at Bedtime - a selection of audio books
  • Getting to Know You - local people are interviewed, and select music to play

When presenters are not in the studio, a series of pre-recorded programmes are played along with music.

Former members

An important function of hospital radio is that it has allows a first step for those looking to work in broadcasting.

Notable former members of VRN include:

  • Richard Park - Managing Director of Global Radio
  • Arthur Ballingall - (former) Managing Director of Radio Tay
  • Jackie Storrar - Country and Western singer and broadcaster
  • Scott Davie - BBC Scotland Football Commentator
  • Laura Haldane - Scottish News Anchor for ITV's Daybreak

Awards

VRN has received awards, many of which have come from the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA).[2] Recent awards include:

2006
  • Male Presenter of the Year (HBA): John Murray - bronze award
  • Female Presenter of the Year (HBA): Laura Haldane - silver award

2007
  • Male Presenter of the Year (HBA): John Murray - gold award
  • Best Speech Package (HBA): Interview with Gordon Brown - silver award
  • Best Specialised Music (HBA): Blues & Stuff - bronze award
  • Station of the Year (HBA) - silver award

2008
  • Best Radio Broadcast (Creative Fife): The Treatment Table
  • Male Presenter of the Year (HBA): Neil Ingebrigtsen - bronze award

2010
  • The John Whitney Award(HBA): John Murray

Website

As a hospital station, VRN does not stream its output online. However, a selection of archived material can be listened to via the VRNplayer.

References
  1. "About VRN". Victoria Radio Network. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  2. "Awards". Victoria Radio Network. Retrieved 6 May 2018.

VRN are currently (05/2012) doing tests for internet steaming, with the view of providing this service for their listeners

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