BORDERS Hospital Radio Service has this week celebrated 30 years on air with a special live broadcast.

On hand to mark the milestone birthday were Radio Borders presenters Keith Clarkson and Iain Waugh who celebrated with a live set of song requests and interviews during Monday night’s show - broadcast from the Borders General Hospital studio.

The station, which is a non-profit organisation, is staffed entirely by volunteers and broadcasts nightly for patients to listen from their beds and request songs they would like to hear.

Interviewees during the broadcast included the longest serving BHRS presenter Colin Taylor and Vikki Hubner, acting head of work and wellbeing with NHS Borders, who introduced the staff flu vaccination campaign mascot, Honey Flu Bee.

Grant McNaughton, chairman of the Hospital Broadcasting Association presented certificates of dedication to presenter Colin for his 30 years of service at the station along with Ewan Thomson for 25 years’ service and Billy Welsh for 15 years.

Radio Borders Presenter Iain Waugh, who began his presenting career at a Hospital Radio Station in Falkirk, said: “Radio is a powerful means of communication - that tiny bit of human interaction and connection from a request or a dedication goes a long way, especially when you are ill and away from home.

“It’s really important that big milestones like this are celebrated, even more so when people are volunteering their time to help others such as the great volunteer presenters that we’ve met today.”

Drawing the celebrations to a close, long-serving Colin said: “Since 1988, I have been a presenter for our Hospital Radio playing country music on Monday nights.

“My colleagues and I immensely enjoy what we do and hope that patients and their relatives continue to enjoy our output and listen to hospital radio.”