Norman A Ross

I started Volunteering in 1969 bringing music to patients in hospitals as a founder member of a group who set up Radio Phoenix one of the first Hospital Radio stations to produce request programmes for the Forresthall Hospital and Care Home in Springburn Glasgow The group then joined with more enthusiasts in 1970 forming the Hospital Broadcasting Service to cover most hospitals in north Glasgow.

In the same year I was a founder member of Hospital Radio Paisley for the Royal Alexandra Infirmary, now the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley working with the St Mirren Club Supporters to provide request programmes nightly, together with general music programmes and football commentaries.I recognised the value of football, as well as music requests so I then established partnerships between Hospital Radio Paisley and all the other supporter clubs who had existing landline connections to the Southern General hospital from Rangers F.C.at Ibrox, Belvedere Hospital with Celtic F.C. at Parkhead, Victoria Infirmary via Queens Park F.C.at Hampden park , Inverclyde Hospital with Greenock Morton F.C. By connecting to Hospital Radio Paisley all the patients all hospitals received all the commentaries for all the games and request programmes nightly. It was also extended to some smaller hospitals such as Lightburn, Dykebar, Hawkhead, and Johnstone.

In 1973 I joined the original team at Radio Clyde 261 as an evening producer and presenter of a Hospital Visiting programme on a Sunday which saw me visiting 24 hospitals throughout the West of Scotland on a regular basis chatting with patients and playing their music requests. The programme achieved an audience of 360,000 listeners each programme each week. I also produce and present a Let’s get together show on some 20 Hospital Radio and Community Radio groups across the UK In 2018 I joined the group that applied and successfully received a licence from Ofcom to set up a Community Radio station in Paisley. This was called Paisley FM 1075 broadcasting on FM throughout Renfrewshire At 80 years old I am grateful to still have the energy to provide so much to the community and local people.

I am part of a wonderful team of 40 volunteers who give so much of their time to providing all the programmes on www.qualityradio.uk who broadcast to all residents in the area of Renfrewshire and Glasgow. There are many programmes of Health and wellbeing and information for listeners, Music, News, Request shows,Chat shows, Daytime and evening shows 24 hours a day If you would like to be part of our volunteering journey to help other do email me at [email protected] we can always use more assistance.

Volunteering is a very rewarding part of life. I have never sought awards or accolades but have received many as has the station and others in the team. For us it is all about giving to others less fortunate whilst we celebrate our own time in life Do get in touch we would love to hear from you.