2024 NEWS - We have an interview with Frank Allen of the Searchers.

If like us you listened to the Searchers' music back in the 70s, when Radio Hillingdon started, you will love listening to the interview Steve Hickman recently had with one of their members, bass guitarist Frank Allen.

Frank Allen was born on December 14, 1943 in Harlington, Middlesex. He joined Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers as rhythm guitarist in 1961 after a one off radio appearance with them.

When Tony Jackson left the Searchers in August 1964, Frank was asked to join the group. While with them he contributed to hits like “When You Walk in the Room,” where he sang a dual lead line with Mike Pender. He remained with the band until their final gig in March 2019, marking the end of an era for the group.

He wrote a book of touring recollections called "Travelling Man" in 1999 and his definitive and detailed biography of the Searchers entitled "The Searchers And Me - A History of the Legendary Sixties Hitmakers" was published in April 2009.

If you missed Steve Hickman's "In Conversation with Frank Allen" when it was first broadcast, you can listen to it below, but due to licencing, without the music that was in the original broadcast.

We are very grateful for Frank spending time with us and would like to say thank you.

2023 NEWS - We have updated our Logo and name.

We are excited to announce that we are updating our logo and insignia to represent the fact that we are changing our name from "Hospital Radio Hillingdon" to "Radio Hillingdon".

This very small change means big things for us, as now, not only will we continue to provide entertainment, services and more to the patients and staff of the Hillingdon Hospital and local care-homes, but we will also be bringing the Brightest Sound Around to residents of Hillingdon and beyond!

You can listen to Radio Hillingdon inside the Hillingdon Hospital, but also Online @ www.RadioHillingdon.com, Via our Free app (Available on the Apple and Android Appstores) or by asking your smart speaker to "Play Radio Hillingdon"!

This is the first of many steps we're taking to update and grow Radio Hillingdon, and we look forward to sharing more of our journey with you in the future.

2023 NEWS - We have won a GOLD award

Radio Hillingdon won gold in the National Hospital Radio Awards on Saturday night (25 March 2023) in the Best Specialist Music Programme category for Dr Savi Arora's 'Smooth Groovers' programme.

Dr Savi said, "I am extremely proud to have won this award. I love volunteering for Radio Hillingdon. I get great enjoyment from presenting my programme".

Dr Savi joined Radio Hillingdon as a volunteer in 2019 as well as joining the Radio Hillingdon Management Committee this year.

He presents his award-winning show on Saturdays 9pm to 11pm which is repeated on Mondays from 5pm until 7pm.

Smooth Groovers' contains Smooth Soul, Jazz and Funk music. Checkout our Electronic Programme Guide to find out other programmes Dr Savi presents.

This is the fourth year that Radio Hillingdon has won a broadcasting award.

2022 NEWS - We have won a SPECIAL award

For a third year running Radio Hillingdon has scooped an Award. We received a 2022 SPECIAL Award at the National Hospital Broadcasting Awards called 'Recognising Innovation Across Hospital Radio'. This is designed to recognise those behind the scenes, this award celebrates pushing the boundaries and using innovative, novel or pioneering ideas.

During the 2020 lockdown David Brown one of our Founder Members and a retired IT Manager started looking at an idea to make an adapter that could be attached to a TV to show NHS and station information slides and play Radio Hillingdon live broadcasts from the TV speakers. He proved the idea worked and has so far built seven units. Four are located in various Hillingdon Hospital outpatient departments, one is running in the Choices Restaurant and two are in a local care home, with more planned.

To see the announcment click HERE. Well done to David and those assisting him.

2021 NEWS - We have won a SILVER award

Radio Hillingdon scooped up the 2021 Silver Award for the 'Best Specialist Music Programme' at the National Hospital Broadcasting Awards. The award-winning programme is called Rewind to the 1970's. It is presented by volunteer Jeff Brown, who has volunteered for the station for over 30 years.

The Judges said... "This was a really well put together show, focusing on the glam rock era - with great knowledge and excellent use of audio clips as well. One said it was an entry that left me wanting more - very professional and a really good listen." You can listen to Jeffs Show on Friday evening at 9 pm and Saturday evening at 6 pm. For more information see our Press Release.

2020 NEWS - We have won 2 awards

We're thrilled to announce that Radio Hillingdon has won two awards at the 2020 Hospital Broadcasting Awards! Thank you & well done to all the volunteers involved. For more information see our Press Release.

2019 NEWS - Radio Hillingdon has appeared on BBC Points of View

Hospital Radio Hillingdon has made the bold leap from broadcasting to patients inside Hillingdon Hospital and listeners online to appearing on the TV screens of audiences nationwide this week.

The station, its studios and four volunteers were all filmed as part of an episode of the BBC institution, Points Of View shown on Sunday 26th May 2019.

This edition of the weekly programme saw Hospital Radio Hillingdon presenters George Reed, Mhairi Irvine, Phil Lee and Dr Savi Aurora all tasked with watching and reviewing the brand new Saturday night BBC One game show, The Hit List. Hosted by music power couple Rochelle and Marvin Humes, contestants of The Hit List are tasked with guessing the name of a song and the artist behind it just by listening to a short sample. Due to the nature of this Game Show, BBCs Points Of View wanted the thoughts and reviews of four diverse radio presenters. And being keen music fans and aficionados themselves, these volunteers certainly had opinions!

Mhairi Irvine, a presenter at Hospital Radio Hillingdon for 13 years, took part in the shoot and found the whole experience "So much fun!". As well as filming their reviews to camera, all four were captured carrying out tasks around the station, studios and library. To see a BBC edited version click HERE. The full Points of View Radio Hillingdon segment is HERE.

PR and Communications Manager for the station, George Reed, said "This was an exciting opportunity for our radio station to reach an audience of millions on one of the biggest broadcasters in the UK. Points Of View has been a staple of the BBC schedule since 1961 and we were super keen to use it as a platform to showcase the amazing work of our Volunteers, as well as letting them voice their opinion on the brand new BBC show, The Hit List.

More used to being a voice on the radio, all our featured presenters were naturals in front of the camera and we are really pleased with the final result.

This project saw us working very closely with the team from BBC, and we hope this could be the start of other fantastic ventures. A lot of time and effort was put into organising this shoot, and special thanks must be given to the presenters featured, the volunteers who helped chaperone and accommodate the BBC around premises and the Hillingdon Hospital Trust for aiding as well."