Monday, October 4, 1999

Sir Jimmy's back on the air, guys and gals

Dressed in his trademark brightly-coloured tracksuit, with a cigar dangling from his left hand, Sir Jimmy Saville took to the airwaves in Hull.

The star was in the city to support East Yorkshire's pioneering hospital radio.

Kingstown Radio is one of the few hospital radio stations in the UK to be granted an AM licence, which means it can be heard on conventional AM/FM radios by people in the Hull Royal Infirmary on 1350Khz medium.

Sir Jimmy, who hosted the first programme, with station chairman John Fulstow, said: 'Hospital Radio is one of the greatest inventions of the 21st century. It gives young people the chance to help out with all sorts of things and gives them confidence.

'Hospital Radio has produced some of the best in the business, and with the likes of Kingstown Radio will continue to do so.'

Mr Fulstow's father, Ken, was one of the founders of Kingstown and the National Association of Hospital Broadcast Organisations. Two new studios at HRI are names The Fulstow Studios in his memory.

John said: ' it is all very exciting. We can really be part of the hospital's life as we are hoping to broadcast from the wards and speak to patients there.

'People throughout Hull, and beyond, should be able to hear us too. Relatives who cannot visit the hospital can phone in requests.'

Local companies, including Smith and Nephew and Oughtred and Harrison, are sponsoring programmes at the station, which is run 24 hours a day by 50 volunteers.