WHEN a hospital patient is feeling low, Brenda Moxhay knows that she has the power to lift their mood.

A volunteer with Radio Link for almost 25 years, she says one of the best bits of the job is playing patients' requests while presenting a show.

She has had enough feedback from patients to know that, by doing so, she is putting a smile on their faces.

Brenda, a teaching assistant for children with special needs, joined the station in 1985 simply with the aim of helping people.

The 61-year-old, of Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, said: "I've visited the wards and spoken to people who were really low and can't sleep and I've played them something nice.

"There was a particular lady I remember who was often coming in with intestine trouble.

"As soon as I'd go on to the ward she'd greet me and tell me she'd been thinking about a particular record and she'd bet I wouldn't be able to find it.

"Then when I managed to, she'd say 'you did it!'.

"I'd feel a sense of achievement that I'd made someone's evening."

Brenda's pride in her work is shared by her colleagues – whose dedication is reflected in the time they have given to the station.

Founding member John Huddlestone, of Wilmot Avenue, Chaddesden, still works for Radio Link today.

He got involved in 1974, after responding to an advert for volunteers from the Derby Tape-recording Society.

Although he was a keen radio listener, he had no experience of broadcasting. The 56-year-old said: "Starting a hospital radio station was something up-and-coming, something new. It wasn't run-of-the-mill voluntary work."

Inspired by the advent of local BBC radio, the number of hospital radio stations rose from around 20 in the late 1960s to about 200 in the early 1970s.

In Derby, the team began putting plans in place from April 1974.

They spent the first seven months trying to find a base at one of Derby's five hospitals, which included smaller, community hospitals.

Eventually, they found a cramped space beneath the X-ray department at Derby City General Hospital that served as a waiting room during the day and a broadcasting studio at night.

On January 10, 1975, they went live for the first time.

John said: "It was manic. The mayor and all the hospital hierarchy were there, crammed into one little room.

"I was one of two presenters and, although we were quite confident, sitting in front of a microphone was a different game."

The extent of John's knowledge about his new role was limited to visits to Radio Derby, which at that time held open days, and advice from the station's staff.

John said: "The first show was the longest hour in my life. I had to try to get 15 requests in during the hour, so the show ended up running on slightly longer than planned."

During its early years, Radio Link gradually widened its audience, broadcasting to Derwent Hospital in 1976 and the old children's hospital in 1980.

In 1982, staff began doing live snooker commentaries from the Assembly Rooms.

Gradually, it reached the stage of 24-hour broadcasting, relying on a mixture of live and recorded shows.

The volunteers learned on-the-job using second-hand electronic equipment. They aimed to make as great a use as possible of their somewhat limited resources.

David Tudor, station engineer, remembers an outside broadcast at Moorways Stadium when the team tried to run a cable from a land line into the middle of the stadium.

David, of Smalley Drive, Oakwood, said: "The only way to do it was to get up on the roof of the building, so the chairman, Andy Swain, went up.

"It was at that moment we discovered he was not so happy with heights."

Now, the station is home to 35 volunteers, with more on the waiting list.

Previous members have gone on to work at a variety of local radio stations, including Ram FM and BBC Radio Derby.

John said: "We've got lots of people who want to join. It's a recognised training ground."

The station went off air in October last year in preparation for the transfer of services from Derbyshire Royal Infirmary to the city hospital.

Members are hoping they will be on-air again in the next few months. As far as they are concerned, the sooner they get on-air again the better.

Andy Swain said: "For a patient, having their name mentioned on the radio is enough to make their eyes light up."