RADIO Northwick Park has been soothing patients at the hospital for over 30 years. RACHEL HARRIS spoke to the volunteers as they prepared for the Harrow Show When Radio Northwick Park was launched in the 1960s, the studio was nothing but a little shack in the car park of the old Harrow Hospital, on the side of Harrow-on-the-Hill.

When the new hospital in Watford Road was built in 1971, the Jewish Youth Volunteers established a permanent home for the station in the basement.

Since then, the team has grown in strength and numbers and in 2000 they were awarded a Lottery grant, enabling them to install a computer system and become one of the first hospital radio stations to broadcast round the clock, seven days a week.

The charity is run completely by volunteers, and is a member of the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA).

Radio Northwick Park (RNP) plays a wide variety of music to suit all tastes, including Asian, world music, gospel, country and rock'n'roll.

It has a nightly show, during which volunteers meet the patients on the wards and take music requests and dedications.

One patient said that she enjoyed the station's "down to earth" feel, and complimented it on having such a "good selection of music". The atmosphere is generally upbeat, as the volunteers cheer up the people in their sick beds.

DJ Charles Biggie from Northwood, who is also the charity's treasurer, explained: "Our record library contains around 1,000 CDs, 2,000 albums, 4,000 singles and 5,500 items on the computer system.

"This is highly impressive when compared to commercial stations, which are limited to just 240 songs."

The equipment is also advanced, with three CD players, one mini-disc player, two turntables, two cassette decks and a computer DJ system.

There is also a telephone balancing system, allowing patients to be put on air to take part in competitions, and a newsroom, so that patients can be provided with a news update every evening.

All new members of RNP volunteer on the request show once a week, going around the wards then helping to produce the show for 9pm.

After six weeks, they can take a voice test which allows them to present the show with the rest of the team. Later on, there may be opportunities for further training in radio engineering, with the chance to present their own shows.

Charles, who has been a member for more than 20 years, said that it was his love of music and his dedication for helping people less fortunate than himself that had made him continue for so long.

Fundraising officer Lauren Rich, from Stanmore, said: "I like to make the patients feel at home when they are listening to my show."

The station has proved a training ground for professional DJs. David Reese from North Harrow has worked for Star FM in Slough, and Richard Pacey, originally from Pinner, has had experience at Radio Forth in Scotland, where he now lives.

Lauren believes that spending time at RNP provides "work experience in being committed to the cause".

As well as the regular weekly shows, RNP also provides special broadcasts, such as Christmas morning in the children's ward, and during Hospital Broadcasting Week in April. And it will be broadcasting live from the Harrow Show on August 29 and 30.

Companies which would like to sponsor the outside broadcasts should call 07017 321 505. All money raised will go towards the running of the station.

Other recent fundraising events include a black tie ball at the Harrow Hotel, and a boat party, which raised over £500.

For more information about joining the team, call Anthony Butler, the patient visiting officer, on 020 8869 3959, or visit www.radionorthwickpark.co.uk.

Rachel Harris, who lives in Pinner, is herself a volunteer with Radio Northwick Park. She wrote this feature while on work experience on the Harrow Times newsdesk