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Following a successful application to the National Lottery Awards for All program, the roadshow trailer was completely refitted in time for the summer season. With continued
sponsorship by the Wheatsheaf Centre, the vehicle is used throughout each summer, visiting events, taking part in parades and providing the sound system for the local version of Last Night of the Proms.
In
2001, finance became available to extend our service to Springhill Hospice, allowing patients there to hear not only our 24-hour a day programming, but also the football commentaries from Rochdale AFC. Coverage from
away games started to become more common during the 2001/2 season.
2002 saw upgrades to our Myriad playout system, allowing voice tracking for the first time. It also saw preparations for our 25th Anniversary
year, especially the RSL.
2003 was indeed the 25th year of broadcasting for Birch Radio. A new jingle package was commissioned featuring montages of hits from each of the years from 1978. Then from 11th
August, our anniversary RSL was on air for 28 days. It was another resounding success, and was also broadcast live on the Internet courtesy of Zen Internet, one of the country’s leading ISPs.
In 2004 the
service became available through the Patientline system that was been installed at Rochdale Infirmary. At that time it appeared the studios may be relocated to the Infirmary too, but a lack of space put paid to that.
Over the next 18 months it became clear that Birch Radio would have to relocate by Spring 2007 so meetings were held with the hospital Trust administrators and members of hospital
radio stations within the Trust. A suitable site was identified at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, where the Bury Lions broadcast at weekends.
An amalgamation of the two organisations followed which was joined by HFM, the local community radio group from Heywood.
Studio construction began in October 2006 and Birch Radio broadcast its last show from the old studios in Birch Hill Hospital on 22nd January 2007.
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