Radio Horton celebrates 53 years
11/07/2017
This article is more than six years old.
Banbury's hospital radio station has celebrated its 53rd birthday with a weekend of events across the local area.
Radio Horton first broadcast to patients of the Horton General Hospital on 7 July 1964. Ted Hanson MBE and Graham Wilton, who founded the station, introduced the station with the words "This is Radio Horton calling".
To celebrate on 7 July 2017, patients were treated to a day of special programmes, including Radio Horton's 'Kidz Club', hosted by Victoria Walton, with two lucky youngsters winning family vouchers kindly gifted by the Rugrats and Halfpints indoor activity and play centre in Banbury.
Also on the schedule were chart number 1s from 7 July in the past, and a look back at the 1960s with hospital radio stalwarts John and Maria Mayo.
Celebrations continued at four local events during the weekend. Radio Horton volunteers provided entertainment throughout the afternoon at the William Morris Primary School summer fayre on Saturday, and 'Bodfest' also proved a huge success, with volunteers from the station hosting the main stage at the event's new venue at Banbury Rugby Club.
On Sunday 9 July Radio Horton hosted the Three Spires Challenge from Adderbury's Lucy Plackett Field, and the annual Broughton Cycling Sportive held in the picturesque grounds of Broughton Castle.
Community events raise vital funds for the radio station, and are a great opportunity to meet like-minded members and enthusiasts, as well as promote the station to the public.
Radio Horton has more events lined up over the summer, and details of these can be found on its website, along with its volunteering opportunities for anyone wishing to get involved:
www.radiohorton.co.uk
Picture: Anthony Brown (left), Bill Warren (back) and Bob Dainty (front) at Bodfest 2017