Latest news with #NigelGray
BBC News
20-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Plymouth lifeboat volunteer retires from RNLI after 20 years
A Plymouth-based volunteer is stepping down from the RNLI after 20 Gibson joined Plymouth Lifeboat Station in 2004, aged 29, and said it "was one of the best decisions" he ever made. Mr Gibson who volunteered on 19 out of 21 Christmas days, served as a helm on the inshore lifeboat (ILB), a navigator on the all-weather lifeboat, and as senior ILB helm."Life-boating has been a massive part of my life, and not just mine, but my family's too," he said. 'Exciting, humbling and unforgettable' "I've spent time on the crew in my 20s, 30s, 40s, and into my 50s, and it's hard to put into words what it has meant to me," he said he had attended "hundreds of shouts", adding "one that stands out was the recovery of a family with a baby cut off by the tide in Wembury Bay"."Over the years, I've made lifelong friends, some of whom I've stood beside in the toughest conditions," he said."I've had the privilege of being part of a crew that's more like a family, and I even met my wife through the social side of the station. "I've shared in the joy of successful rescues, and I've experienced some of the more difficult sides of the job too. "It's been emotional, exciting, humbling and unforgettable." 'Long and happy retirement' Lifeboat operations manager, Nigel Gray, said Mr Gibson had been an "integral" part of the station."He can now look forward to a well-deserved retirement to spend time with his family without interruption from the pager," Mr Gray said."I'd like to say a huge thank you from us all at Plymouth RNLI and wish him a long and happy retirement."The RNLI said Mr Gibson was invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party to mark his 20 years of Lord Mayor of Plymouth also presented him with coronation and long service medals, honours he said he would always treasure.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hospital radio marks 50 years of entertainment
A radio service that has been entertaining patients and staff at the East Surrey Hospital has marked it's 50th anniversary. The first experimental broadcast took place on Christmas Day 1974 at the former Redhill General Hospital, with regular programmes starting the following year. The station acquired a studio in the then new East Surrey Hospital, with Jean Metcalfe, host of the BBC radio show Two Way Family Favourites, performing the opening ceremony in February 1985. A week of programmes to mark the anniversary will begin on 13 April. Nigel Gray, who joined in 1981 and became chairman three years later, said: "We'll be having live programmes all day, lots of studio guests and also repeating some archive interviews, with people like Dame Judi Dench and Nicholas Owen." The station became a 24-hour operation in 1988. In the early years, patients would listen on an in-house intercom system but, in 2000, the station began broadcasting on AM medium wave. It can also be heard now on FM, online and via smart speakers. The service is staffed entirely by volunteers from a variety of ages and backgrounds. They collect requests and dedications by visiting patients on the wards, receiving about 8,000 requests each year. "We're always keen to hear from people who are keen to join us", said Mr Gray. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Staff in tears as hospital radio station closes Campaign urges people to help keep district clean Meet the Binfluencers of Rushmoor Girls poised to take crown in chess championships Radio Redhill
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Redhill hospital radio marks 50 years of entertaining patients
A radio service that has been entertaining patients and staff at the East Surrey Hospital has marked it's 50th first experimental broadcast took place on Christmas Day 1974 at the former Redhill General Hospital, with regular programmes starting the following station acquired a studio in the then new East Surrey Hospital, with Jean Metcalfe, host of the BBC radio show Two Way Family Favourites, performing the opening ceremony in February 1985.A week of programmes to mark the anniversary will begin on 13 April. Nigel Gray, who joined in 1981 and became chairman three years later, said: "We'll be having live programmes all day, lots of studio guests and also repeating some archive interviews, with people like Dame Judi Dench and Nicholas Owen."The station became a 24-hour operation in the early years, patients would listen on an in-house intercom system but, in 2000, the station began broadcasting on AM medium can also be heard now on FM, online and via smart speakers. The service is staffed entirely by volunteers from a variety of ages and collect requests and dedications by visiting patients on the wards, receiving about 8,000 requests each year."We're always keen to hear from people who are keen to join us", said Mr Gray.
