Victoria Radio Network
# Victoria Radio Network

The Victoria Radio Network (VRN) is a hospital radio station based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. It currently broadcasts 24 hours a day to the premises of the Victoria Hospital and surrounding facilities to patients' bedside radios and www.vrnkirkcaldy.com

## History

VRN was formed in February 1971 by a group of young people in Kirkcaldy. Its first broadcast took place on 3 March, and the studio was originally housed in a cupboard of the main tower block of the hospital.

The station moved to premises on nearby St Clair Street, approximately 1 mile from the hospital. However, when this area was later redeveloped, the station moved back to the hospital site. This time, a custom-built studio was created out of Portakabins. The final move was to an old boiler house on Willow Drive.

In 2002, VRN was awarded a medium wave broadcasting licence. The first AM (medium wave) broadcast took place on 2 February 2002, and the station continued to broadcast on AM till Dec 2017. The station is now available on bed side tablets and on line at www.vrnkirkcaldy.com.

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## Membership

VRN is run entirely by volunteers, with no full-time members of staff. There are currently around 50 members of the team. The majority of members are presenters, but there are also ward visitors, fundraisers and committee positions.

## Broadcasting Output

As a hospital station, output is directed towards patients, staff and visitors. Main programming features include:

* Patient Request Shows every weeknight
* Live commentaries of Raith Rovers Saturday home matches.
* VRN's Book at Bedtime - a selection of audio books
* Getting to Know You - local people are interviewed, and select music to play

When presenters are not in the studio, a series of pre-recorded programmes are played along with music.

## Former members

An important function of hospital radio is that it has allows a first step for those looking to work in broadcasting.

Notable former members of VRN include:

* Richard Park - Managing Director of Global Radio
* Arthur Ballingall - (former) Managing Director of Radio Tay
* Jackie Storrar - Country and Western singer and broadcaster
* Scott Davie - BBC Scotland Football Commentator
* Laura Haldane - Scottish News Anchor for ITV's Daybreak

## Awards

VRN has received awards, many of which have come from the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA). Recent awards include:

### 2006

* Male Presenter of the Year (HBA): John Murray - bronze award
* Female Presenter of the Year (HBA): Laura Haldane - silver award

### 2007

* Male Presenter of the Year (HBA): John Murray - gold award
* Best Speech Package (HBA): Interview with Gordon Brown - silver award
* Best Specialised Music (HBA): Blues & Stuff - bronze award
* Station of the Year (HBA) - silver award

### 2008

* Best Radio Broadcast (Creative Fife): The Treatment Table
* Male Presenter of the Year (HBA): Neil Ingebrigtsen - bronze award

### 2010

* The John Whitney Award(HBA): John Murray

## Website

As a hospital station, VRN streams its output online. A selection of archived material can be listened to.

