Grampian Hospital Radio has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK!
Established in 1981 and based at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, our volunteer-run station provides 24-hour music, entertainment, information, and companionship for patients across NHS Grampian hospitals.
Every day, our dedicated volunteers produce and present shows, visit wards to collect patient requests, and bring smiles, connection, and a sense of normality to those spending time in hospital.
Chairman Neil Fraser said:
“We are delighted and humbled to be chosen for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This recognition reflects the incredible dedication of our volunteers, who give their time and energy to make a difference to patients’ hospital experience.”
Patients can request their favourite songs during ward visits, and through our Grampian Hospital Radio app, family and friends can listen live, send messages, and be part of the experience – even if they can’t be there in person.
This award celebrates the passion and commitment of everyone involved and highlights the ongoing importance of hospital radio in supporting patients’ wellbeing.
Representatives from Grampian Hospital Radio will receive the award crystal and certificate from the Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Aberdeen
Ahoy there! Aberdeen team reflects on the success of Scotland’s biggest free event of the year
The team at Grampian Hospital Radio pulled out all the stops to ensure their listeners didn’t miss out when the spectacular Tall Ships Races 2025 made a triumphant return to Aberdeen over four days in Summer.
This international event had last visited the Port of Aberdeen 28 years earlier, and there was a huge sense of anticipation across the city and shire for what was to be Scotland’s biggest free event of the year.
And it didn’t disappoint! The city welcomed 49 Tall Ships and almost 3,000 crew members from around the world. More than 400,000 visitors saw the harbour transform into a vibrant sea of colour, with free live music across three stages all day every day, a feast of street food stalls and quayside bars, while attractions in the city centre included a STEM Discovery Zone, a funfair, and a military village.
Deacon Blue, Kaiser Chiefs, Ministry of Sound, Tidelines and Calum Bowie headlined the quayside concerts over four unforgettable nights in one of Scotland's biggest outdoor music venues.
The intrepid Grampian Hospital Radio team united behind their mission to be a friend at the bedside of their listeners, covering every aspect of the festivities, to bring the colour and atmosphere of the Tall Ships event to patients, staff and everyone associated with the hospitals in Aberdeen.
This involved devoting more than 20 hours of live programming, with a distinct nautical flavour, and capturing interviews with more than 60 people on air. The presenters walked a combined 90-plus miles between them throughout the weekend, chatting to volunteers, members of the public, crew, local celebrities, dignitaries, and visitors from home and abroad.
They also produced a 60-minute special programme to bring the event’s highlights to their listeners, including an exclusive interview with the CEO of Aberdeen Inspired who answered the question on everyone’s lips: “When will the Tall Ships be back?”
Listening numbers increased across the four days – in hospital, online and via the GHR App – with 17.7K views of Grampian Hospital Radio Facebook posts and an amazing 555% increase in Instagram views on the previous week!
The team’s summary? “It was our pleasure to bring the Tall Ships closer to our listeners.”
Hear The Best of the Tall Ships special: https://www.mixcloud.com/Grampian_Hospital_Radio/the-best-of-the-tall-ships-july-2025/
Visit & Listen Live to Grampian Hospital Radio: https://www.grampianhospitalradio.org
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