Rugby Hospital Radio has marked 50 years of broadcasting at the Hospital of St Cross.

The station hosted a special celebration which saw attendees including volunteers past and present, UHCW Chair Dame Stella Manzie and Rugby Mayor Councillor Carolyn Watson-Merret.

Founded by a group of teenagers from the now-defunct Fareham Youth Club, they initially began broadcasting to patients once a week using disco equipment.

From a small room adjoining the hospital chapel to a nurses' recreation hall kitchen, the service has seen a handful of studios in its time and in 1981 the station was able to move into its first permanent residence in the roof space of the Victorian building.

In 2010, following the closure of the Victorian building, the team moved to a new location on the hospital site which was converted from a former storage annexe into the combined library and studio space it operates out of today.

Named in tribute to one of the station’s longest serving members, notably as Chairman, the Richard Green Studio offers a modern suite of technology bringing music from every decade to the ears of patients in Rugby 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We are grateful to all the people of Rugby for their support and donations over the years, and to all the organisations who have supported us, especially the Friends of St Cross," shared Jim Austin, Rugby Hospital Radio Chairman.

“Our St Cross site management and the UHCW NHS Trust have always been incredibly supportive and we would not be able to run the station without this backing.”