Three Hospital Broadcasters Made Honorary Members – Bristol 2026

Key Points

• Hospital Radio for Bristol named three former members as Honorary Members at its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM)
• David Southway, Chris Criddle, and John Ford started volunteering at the station in the 1970s
• All three broadcasters went on to work with prominent local broadcasters including Radio West, Brunel Classic Gold, and BBC Radio Bristol
• David Southway was one of the first disc jockey voices heard on BBC Radio Bristol when it launched in September 1970
• Chris Criddle later worked for GWR, Classic Gold, and Orchard FM after his hospital radio start
• Since 2015, the trio has produced “The Old Gits And Hits Show,” a two-hour programme distributed to radio stations worldwide
• The show features the three discussing various topics and playing up to four songs each hour
• Listeners can tune in to “The Old Gits And Hits Show” on Hospital Radio for Bristol every Thursday at midday
• The three received certificates and were asked to share memories of their time at the station ahead of the AGM
• Their response to sharing memories was: “Try and stop us”

Bristol (Bristol Express News) June 22, 2026 – Hospital Radio for Bristol honoured three veteran broadcasters with Honorary Members status at its Annual General Meeting, recognising their decades of volunteering and subsequent success in professional broadcasting.

David Southway, Chris Criddle, and John Ford, who began their volunteering journey at the station in the 1970s, each progressed to work with well-established local broadcasters including Radio West, Brunel Classic Gold, and BBC Radio Bristol.

According to the station’s announcement, the three were asked ahead of the AGM whether they would share memories of their time at the station after receiving their certificates.

They responded enthusiastically, “Try and stop us,” demonstrating their continued enthusiasm for their broadcasting roots.

How Did Each Broadcaster’s Career Progress After Hospital Radio?

As reported by David Southway himself on his personal profile,

“I started my broadcasting career as one of the first ‘Disc Jockey’ voices to be heard on BBC Radio Bristol, on a Saturday morning in September 1970.”

He spent approximately four years at the BBC, presenting different programmes as well as serving as a current affairs producer. Southway was later invited back on air when BBC Radio Bristol celebrated its 50-year milestone.

According to his own account, Southway decided to pursue commerce while maintaining freelance broadcasting work:

“I decided when my young family came along that perhaps I could have the ‘best of both worlds’ by trying my hand in ‘the business world’, and still work in broadcasting as a freelance.”

He subsequently worked for GWR radio, Classic Gold, WFM, Star Radio, and Pulse Radio across the UK South East, South Coast, and South West.

Chris Criddle’s Professional Radio Career

As reported on Chris Criddle’s Thornbury Radio profile,

“Chris Criddle started broadcasting on Hospital Radio in Bristol before getting his first job in commercial radio on Radio West.”

He went on to work for GWR, Classic Gold, and Orchard FM. His professional career included launching several radio stations: in 1999 he was part of the launch team for WFM in Weston Super Mare, in 2003 he moved on to launch Ivel FM in Yeovil, in 2004 he launched Original 106 (now Sam FM) in Bristol.

John Ford’s Broadcasting Path

While specific details about John Ford’s career progression are less documented in publicly available sources, the Hospital Radio for Bristol announcement confirmed he followed a similar trajectory to his colleagues, moving from hospital radio volunteering to professional positions with Radio West, Brunel Classic Gold, and BBC Radio Bristol.

What Is “The Old Gits And Hits Show” and How Long Has It Been Running?

Since 2015, David, Chris, and John have produced “The Old Gits And Hits Show,” a two-hour programme distributed to radio stations worldwide.

The show features the trio discussing a range of topics and playing up to four songs each hour. According to the station’s announcement, listeners can tune in to “The Old Gits And Hits Show” on Hospital Radio for Bristol every Thursday at midday.

The programme’s international distribution demonstrates the continued relevance and quality of work produced by these three broadcasters who began their journeys as volunteers at a hospital radio station in the 1970s.

How Did Hospital Radio Begin in the United Kingdom?

According to Wikipedia’s comprehensive article on hospital radio, hospital radio is a form of audio broadcasting produced specifically for the in-patients of hospitals, primarily in the United Kingdom. Hospital radio has been found to be beneficial to patients, lifting their mood and aiding recovery.

The first hospital radio station in the United Kingdom was installed at York County Hospital, England, in 1925. Headphones were provided beside 200 beds, and 70 loudspeakers were installed, with patients being able to listen to sports commentaries and church services.

Throughout the 1930s, radio stations began operating in a handful of other hospitals, with live music supplementing the speech-based programmes.

How Many Hospital Radio Stations Operate in the UK Today?

There are more than 230 hospital radio stations in the UK, according to Wikipedia. Almost all are members of the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA), which was set up by stations for their mutual benefit and does not govern or run them. Hospital radio stations are staffed and managed by volunteers, with more than 2,500 volunteers in the UK alone.

Most stations in the UK are registered charities, while others are part of larger organisations such as hospital Leagues of Friends. Each hospital radio station was founded independently and they are not centrally organised or managed.

What Notable Broadcasters Started Their Careers in Hospital Radio?

According to Wikipedia’s list of notable people who started in hospital radio, the medium has produced significant broadcasting talent. Ken Bruce, presenter on Greatest Hits Radio, worked at HBS Glasgow. Jill Dando, BBC presenter, worked at Sunshine Hospital Radio.

Simon Mayo, presenter on Greatest Hits Radio, worked at Southlands Hospital Radio. Chris Moyles, presenter on Radio X, worked at WBHS (Wakefield’s Broadcast to Hospitals Service). Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 presenter, worked at Durham Hospitals Radio. Scott Mills, BBC Radio 2 presenter, worked at a local hospital in Southampton.

Other notable figures include Philip Glenister (actor), Jacqui Oatley (sports presenter), Karl Pilkington (presenter, actor, author), and Phillip Schofield (presenter).

Where Is Hospital Radio for Bristol Located and How Can It Be Contacted?

According to media.info’s contact information for BHBS – Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service, the station is located at Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW. The telephone number is +44 117 929 3303, and the official website is bhbs.org.

BBC Radio Bristol, one of the stations where the honoured broadcasters later worked, serves the cities of Bristol and Bath and the unitary authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

According to Wikipedia, the station broadcasts on FM frequencies 94.9 MHz (Dundry), 104.6 MHz (Bath), and 103.6 MHz (Weston-super-Mare), and has a weekly audience of 88,000 listeners as of May 2025, according to RAJAR data.

Background of This Development

Honorary memberships in hospital radio organisations represent a formal recognition of long-term contributions to volunteer broadcasting services. Hospital Radio for Bristol, operating as part of Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service (BHBS), is registere

d charity number 1177939 according to Charity Commission records. The station has maintained honorary president support from broadcaster Chris Serle, who continues to provide “invaluable ongoing support” to the organisation.

The tradition of recognising veteran volunteers dates back to the early days of hospital radio in the UK, which began at York County Hospital in 1925.

The Hospital Broadcasting Association, established by stations for mutual benefit, recognises outstanding contributions through annual awards in ten categories, assessed by judges drawn from professional broadcasting.

David Southway’s particular connection to BBC Radio Bristol is significant, as he was part of the station’s launch team when BBC Radio Bristol commenced operations in September 1970.

Kate Adie and Michael Buerk also produced and presented programmes for BBC Radio Bristol as part of the station’s launch team in the 1970s, with Buerk’s voice being the first heard on the station.

Chris Criddle’s extensive station launching career demonstrates the professional opportunities that can emerge from hospital radio volunteering. His work launching WFM in Weston Super Mare (1999), Ivel FM in Yeovil (2003), and Original 106/Sam FM in Bristol (2007) represents the type of professional progression that hospital radio has facilitated for numerous broadcasters.

The continuation of “The Old Gits And Hits Show” since 2015, with international distribution to radio stations worldwide, demonstrates how hospital radio volunteers can create programming that transcends local boundaries while maintaining their connection to their original broadcasting home.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Hospital Radio Volunteers and PatientListeners

This development can significantly affect current hospital radio volunteers in several meaningful ways. The recognition of David Southway, Chris Criddle, and John Ford demonstrates that hospital radio volunteering can lead to professional broadcasting careers, potentially encouraging new volunteers to join hospital radio stations with the aspiration of developing their broadcasting skills.

With more than 2,500 volunteers across UK hospital radio stations, this honorary membership announcement may inspire increased volunteer recruitment.

Current volunteers may see this as validation that their contributions are valued and that long-term commitment to hospital radio can result in formal recognition from their organisations.

The fact that all three honoured broadcasters began volunteering in the 1970s and continue producing content through “The Old Gits And Hits Show” demonstrates the longevity of relationships formed within hospital radio.

This could affect volunteer retention rates, as current volunteers may feel more committed to stations that demonstrate they recognise and celebrate long-term contributions.

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How Will PatientListeners in Bristol Benefit From This Recognition?

Patient listeners at Bristol Royal Infirmary and other hospitals served by Hospital Radio for Bristol will benefit from this development through continued access to high-quality programming. The honoured broadcasters’ ongoing production of

“The Old Gits And Hits Show,”

distributed to radio stations worldwide, suggests that the professional standards developed through hospital radio volunteering continue to benefit patients.

According to research on hospital radio, the service is beneficial to patients, lifting their mood and aiding recovery. The recognition of veteran broadcasters who maintain connections to their hospital radio origins may reinforce the station’s commitment to producing content specifically tailored to patient needs and preferences.

The Thursday midday broadcast time for “The Old Gits And Hits Show” provides patients with consistent programming featuring discussion of various topics and music selections.

The continuation of this programme by honoured broadcasters demonstrates the station’s ability to maintain qualitycontent through experienced volunteers who understand patient preferences.

What Long-Term Effects Could This Have on Hospital Radio Funding and Support?

This development may affect hospital radio funding and support by demonstrating the organisation’s ability to recognise and celebrate its heritage.

The continued involvement of honoured broadcasters in current programming, combined with formal recognition through honorary membership, may strengthen the station’s appeal to donors and supporters who value organisations that honour their history.

The international distribution of “The Old Gits And Hits Show” could affect the station’s reputation and potentially attract additional support from broadcasting organisations that recognise the quality of content produced by former hospital radio volunteers.

This external validation may influence funding decisions from charitable organisations that support media programmes benefiting healthcare patients.

Chris Serle’s continued role as honorary president, described as providing “invaluable ongoing support,” suggests that honorary positions within hospital radio organisations contribute to institutional stability. The creation of new honorary members may strengthen this support structure, potentially affecting the station’s ability to maintain facilities and broadcasting equipment for patient benefit.