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Now celebrating 43 years of service to the people of North Devon

Tarka Radio was founded in 1981 by a group of volunteers to provide a personalised radio service for the patients of the North Devon District Hospital. To this day the station is run and operated entirely by volunteers and is completely self-financing. Tarka Radio is not run or funded by the hospital, Northern Devon Healthcare Trust or by the NHS but by its team of volunteers independently of the hospital, although we obviously maintain a close liaison with the hospital management to ensure that we continue to work together for the benefit of the patients.  Tarka Radio is a registered charity and the station is financed entirely by the fund raising activities of its members and supporters.

The station is managed and operated by a team of volunteers who work for the benefit of the patients 52 weeks a year producing and presenting programmes in addition to the running of the station, administration, fundraising etc.

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Tarka Radio is run to give that personal touch and to prioritise patients' requests and dedications to make their stay in hospital that bit more bearable and to provide them with entertainment and information during their stay at NDDH. The stations programmes include specialised music including classic golden oldies from the 50s to the present day, country, classical, jazz, songs from the shows and easy listening to list just a few.

Whilst Tarka Radio has produced many thousands of hours of broadcasting since 1981, it is comforting to know that many of its volunteers have gone on to a career in radio. Nicky Schiller who was at Tarka Radio in the early 80’s and went on to BBC Radio Devon is now a senior broadcast journalist for the BBC. Andy Garland has gone on to bigger things and is now head of programming at BBC Radio Kent.  Paul Hopper, who was vice Chairman Tarka Radio in the 90’s, presented a programme at BBC Radio Devon in the early 90’s together with a team of Tarka Radio presenters including Andy Garland, Howard Turner, Stuart Andrews and John Lawrence. Paul went on to become head of programming at Heart FM in North Devon (formerly Lantern FM) and now is with The Voice.

tarka radio outside events unitOur Outside Events Unit (seen here at The Lyn Classic Car event at Lynmouth) plays a significant role in our fundraising efforts and helps us to get out and about providing public address, commentary and entertainment at charitable events in the area and to keep in touch with the people of North Devon.


If you see us on your travels, do please come and say hello. If you have and event you would like us to support please see the events tab on this website

 


Happy listening and good health.

Tarka Radio is a member of the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA)

Tarka Radio is licenced with the Performing Rights Society (PRS) and with Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL)

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© Copyright Tarka Radio 2020. Registered Charity Number 1083018

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