A retired priest is helping a long-established radio station to spread the good news of Jesus across the airwaves.
For the past seven years, the Revd Sheila Hamil (pictured above) has been broadcasting voluntarily for Radio Tyneside, the long-established community and hospital station, which reaches 20,000 regular listeners, including patients at Tyneside’s main hospitals.
Sheila, who previously served at St Luke, Wallsend; St Mary Magdalene, Longbenton; and at the Willington Team Churches in North Tyneside, was more than happy to step into the role, after Radio Tyneside’s legendary broadcaster, Dave Nicholson, identified a need for religious broadcasting on the station.
She explained: “Seven years ago, Dave recognised the need for a ‘religious’ broadcast to be added to Radio Tyneside’s schedule. He invited me, as a Church of England priest, and Andrew Ridgwick, my technician, to produce one.
“It has been on air ever since, each Sunday morning with lectionary-based readings, reflections, occasional dramas and interviews, and of course music.”
Titled New Day Dawning, Sheila’s broadcast begins bright and early at 8am and runs for half an hour. It is followed by a ‘Daft as a Brush’ request show at 8.30am on Sundays, where Dave plays a selection of songs chosen by patients and volunteers of the well-known local charity, Daft as a Brush, which provides cancer patients with vital free transport to appointments.
Radio Tyneside has a wide range of programmes seven days a week, with broadcast volunteers happy to give their time for the love of their craft, to serve the community and to give hospital patients some quality listening time.
Dave Nicholson (p
ictured left) joined Radio Tyneside in June 1973 following a chance discussion with the late BBC Look North presenter, Mike Neville.
Fifty years ago, the station produced a handful of shows on weekday evenings and at weekends to patients in hospitals across Newcastle and Gateshead.
Station manager Richard Finch said: “Thanks to Dave’s efforts over the years – all voluntary – Radio Tyneside has grown to become a highly respected and popular community radio broadcaster, reaching around 20,000 regular listeners in the local community as well as continuing to entertain patients in Tyneside’s main hospitals.
“This achievement would not be possible without Dave’s commitment and enthusiasm which continues to this day. In recognition of his contribution, Dave was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.”
This summer, there was a celebration evening in Dave’s honour. He was presented with a cheque for £50,000 from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Charities Fund for the refurbishment of the studio and its equipment.
Radio Tyneside, hospital and community radio, broadcasts on 93.6 FM, Spark Media channel 1, DAB and online