Radio Brockley’s longest-serving members

Radio Brockley is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary. But 6 of its members have been volunteering for more than half of its history – notching up an astounding 269 years of volunteering between them!!!

David Rauch is Radio Brockley’s longest serving volunteer, having been at the station since 1971 – just 5 years after it launched. He is one of the current trustees and for many years was the voice of Bedside Bingo on a Sunday evening.
Ron Laver has also been a volunteer for over 50 years, joining the station in 1974. “Cowboy Ron Laver” spent many years playing country music to patients, and was playing the likes of Shania Twain and Taylor Swift long before they were well known over here. More recently he has been a major part of the news programmes and the Alpha Sessions.
Keith Reeve has quite simply been a huge support to Radio Brockley for 49 years now – having been treasurer, trustee, lead technical support, and the driving force behind many of the station’s innovations over the years. It led him to win the national outstanding achievement award in hospital radio in 2016 – the HBA John Witney award.
Sue Weston has been a member for 43 years and for many years was a firm favourite on the wards for her amazing connection to the patients. She was also a regular on the long-standing Tuesday Team show in the 80s and 90s.
Alan Joyce has been volunteering for the last 35 years, and has helped to launch the station’s speech content in the Brockley News shows, as well as the award-winning new music show Alpha Sessions. He has also been the voice of the Radio Brockley request chart for the last 34 years!
And finally Martin Gold, who has also been a regular volunteer for the last 35 years, and another favourite on the wards. His legendary double act with Marge Walker entertained patients for many years, and they will be back to revive the show for our anniversary.

DAVID RAUCH – JOINED 1971 (55 YEARS)

1) How did you first get involved on Radio Brockley?
I was always interested in radio, from the days of the Pirate Stations. While I was at university, I first heard about hospital radio. So, i tried to find out about where there might be a station, ideally close to home. The first station I found was Radio Brockley, was given Barry Cobden’s contact details. We spoke, and I came along to meet him, and I’m still here!

2) What’s your earliest memory of Radio Brockley?
On my first day, I went to a ward with one of the members to learn about how to cover a ward for Bingo. That was great fun, and I also collected requests at the end of the game on the back of Bingo tickets. In those days, all the tickets were taken home by someone, to prepare the request shows for the coming week (not instant like now. After a short while, I got to present my first request show. The first record I played was the Carpenters – We’ve Only Just Begun (appropriate!_0. The first actual request was Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep by Middle of the Road. That also led to my first joke: Why do birds fly south for winter? It’s too far to walk. No real improvement since!!

3) What’s been your highlight of your time as a member?
Lots of highlights, but the top one has to be meeting Dorothy who became my wife.

RON LAVER – JOINED 1974 (52 YEARS)

1) How did you first get involved on Radio Brockley?
I was exposed to a lot of change in radio during the 1960’s when I was in my teens, from the two BBC stations that had been all I knew – The BBC Home Service & The Light Programme. Great but very limited pop music output, partialy due to something called “Needle Time”.  Then pirate radio turned up and changed the look & sound of  broadcasting in the UK for ever. Hospital Radio has always been a stepping stone for people wanting to get into radio as a career & in the early 1970’s I met someone who already worked at RB and asked me along – I was hooked 

2) What’s your earliest memory of Radio Brockley?
Making my first broadcast in a very small studio with just enough room for two people to sit side by side

3) What’s been your highlight of your time as a member?
I enjoyed interviewing staff, patients & visitors in the hospital and making programs that informed and entertained about new advances in what goes on in what goes on to keep the hospital going 24hrs. In particular a series of gardening tips along side one of the hospital rehab theropists helping patients who had undergone life changing surgery learning to adapt, in this case to gardening . We recorded the progams in the Therapy Garden and Viv the therapist  made it very authentic and hands on and had me preparing, digging planting, feeding, watering dead heading, mulching somewhere in the garden.

KEITH REEVED – JOINED 1977 (49 YEARS)

SUE WESTON – JOINED 1983 (43 YEARS)

ALAN JOYCE – JOINED 1991 (35 YEARS)

1) How did you first get involved on Radio Brockley?
A friend of mine from school was already a volunteer and invited me to come down. I had previously been on a waiting list to join Radio Mount Vernon but Radio Brockley accepted me first! I remember going down to the wards for Bingo and thinking everything sounded so professional, and really wanted to get more involved. 

2) What’s your earliest memory of Radio Brockley?
A group of us would meet and go up to the wards for Bingo at 8:30pm on a Sunday night, hosted by David Rauch, then present our requests on the request show. We would then head straight to the bar for drinks afterwards. It was a massive part of my social life for many years and I’ve met so many close friends, including my wife!

3) What’s been your highlight of your time as a member?
Too many to mention! Apart from meeting my wife back in 2007, us winning the Gold award for national HBA Station of the Year in 2016 was incredible. I’ve also loved many of the shows I’ve been involved with, especially the Alpha Sessions new music show which has welcomed hundreds of guests over the years.

MARTIN GOLD – JOINED 1991 (35 YEARS)