Former Indian test batter and wicketkeeper, and now TV commentator, Deep Dasgupta, joined Hospital Radio Reading sport editor Graeme Collyer and presenter Maurice Moore, on HRR’s Saturday programme recently.
Deep, who made his first test century against England in 2001, discussed his experiences both on the field, and in the commentary box.
The recent T20 World Cup (won by india) and England’s disappointing Ashes tour in Australia, were also covered.
Deep, who now lives locally and has played for Calcot cricket club in the past, also paid tribute to the staff in the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s Redlands Ward, where his wife had recently been treated.
He said: “The team there is absolutely incredible.
“My wife could not have been better cared for. The NHS is amazing”.
Although based at the Royal Berkshire hospital, Hospital Radio Reading is an independent self-funding charity.
All its 40+ staff are volunteers.
As well as request for patients and staff, the station also covers local sport including Reading FC, local clubs, and opportunities for patients to aid recovery through participation in sport
There are 160 hospital radio stations all over the UK, according to the Hospital Broadcasting Association. .
This year marks 100 years since the first broadcast was made in York.
Hospital Radio Reading has been broadcasting since September 1957 and is the longest-serving radio station in the Reading area.
Although early broadcasts were only for patients in Reading’s hospitals, the station is now on air 24 hours a day and can be heard all over the world via its online service – with the exception of Reading FC commentary, which is only for patients.
For more information, and to ask us to play a request, visit www.hreading.org.uk
To listen to Hospital Radio Reading outside the hospital, yell a smartspeaker to “play Hospital Radio Reading” or go to www.hrreading.org.uk and click “listen live”, or search for Hospital Radio Reading via the Tunein Radio App (or similar) on a phone or tablet.
