For six weeks in 1982 I was on strict bed rest in Ancoats Hospital.
The staff were an immaculate mix of charm, professional care, and wicked Manc wit.
But even so the place was by the then a grim relic of the city's health service.
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Being crippled by a rare form of arthritis and wheeled around its ancient wards pushed my natural sense of joie de vivre to the limit.
But I found a soul saver.
Twice a week, a painfully shy lad, would appear at the end of my bed and ask me if I had "any requests".
He was from the hospital radio station.
A few hours later as the nurse approached to take more blood "Rock The Casbah" by The Clash and "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones would roar through my headphones.
Other patients asked for Frank Sinatra, Gracie Fields, and Glen Miller. But we all benefited from a three minute symphony of escape.
That same hospital radio station which gave me solace, and has been broadcasting for 62 years to Manchester and Salford patients, is now looking for a new home.
Northern Air was set up initially to entertain patients of North Manchester General Hospital.
It now goes out to Salford Royal as well and is also broadcasting over the internet, which gives it a reach to thousands of patients.
At the time it was taking my requests it also broadcast to patients at the now demolished Ancoats, Northern, and Jewish Hospitals in Manchester.
A registered charity, it is located in the grounds of North Manchester General Hospital, housed in its own purpose studio – which is also home to a vast vinyl record collection of approximately 20,000 singles and 5000 albums from the 1960s to the 90s.
But due to major and essential building developments around the site, the hospital trust informed Northern Air several months ago that new premises would have to be found as the station would have to vacate its current studio building which is due to be demolished.
The radio's studio has been in Park House, a mental health unit, which is to be replaced by a brand new, and urgently needed new facility.
Earlier this month Northern Air and Trust bosses held a crunch meeting to discuss potential alternative premises.
The stations team of volunteers range in age from early 20`s to presenter Harry Jackson who is 84 and hundreds of patients who rely on them for contact.
Northern Air which was founded by Stanley Langer in 1960, as a project by the Rotary Club of Manchester North. Originally Stanley showed films to patients, but as they kept falling asleep, he decided to play record requests to a wider audience.
The station first broadcast from an impromptu studio in the assistant Matron’s sitting room at Delaunay's Hospital. In 1969, the studio relocated to a permanent studio in the basement of the hospital and then finally to their current studio in 1988.
The station provides, music, chat shows, news and sport, and even information on which chemists are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week..
It also has a unique programme in its scheduling - regular broadcasts of the Halle Orchestra live from the Bridgewater Hall in the centre of Manchester.
The station also regularly links up with other hospital radio stations across the country, contributing to programmes which are broadcast nationally.
It has continued to broadcast through the pandemic, sometimes with only one person in the studio.
Said Station Manager Phil Salter: “The hospital broadcasting service is an institution across the country, bringing much needed cheer and entertainment to patients, many of whom have no visits from friends and family during their stay in hospital.
"Here at Northern Air we are so proud of the years of dedicated service.
"We firmly believe that we need to be here on the hospital campus to stay close to our listeners.
"We are keeping in contact with the Trust and pressing for commitment to assist us with a relocation.
"But so far we`ve had nothing - despite making suggestions for alternative places to broadcast from.
"Meantime we’ve been told we have just a couple of weeks to pack up 60 years of presence here”
“They (The Trust) want us to be part of the future and talked about how they could help us to grow and expand. “
He said the station still has to pack up and leave and currently has nowhere to go. There is a desire to find a home - which the Trust supports - but they simply can’t be accommodated on site anymore.
One option would be for the station to broadcast from the homes of volunteers.
The Hospital Broadcasting Association represents over 180 local radio stations delivering entertainment, information and health and wellbeing services to patients across the UK, whether in hospital or the wider community.
Earlier this year HRH The Prince of Wales recorded a special programme to thank volunteers of hospital, health and wellbeing radio stations for their work in keeping communities connected and patients entertained during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Northern Air is looking for volunteers to help pack up the station, including its extensive vinyl and CD library as well as all the loose equipment that is not built-in to the desks. They are also looking for assistance from a removals/storage firm.
A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: "We recognise and value the contribution which Northern Air Hospital Radio has made and continues to make, especially during the pandemic which has seen them continue to provide a service working from home.
"The team don't work from the main hospital. When on-site, the team of volunteers work from an old non-clinical building that is scheduled for demolition to make way for a much-needed new mental health facility.
"We met with Northern Air Hospital Radio most recently on Friday January 14th and had a very positive discussion about the future and how we can continue to work together to identify suitable accommodation.
"We know they have been looking for private accommodation for the past few weeks but ideally we want to avoid or minimise any costs that might occur."
Phil, who has put a 45-year shift in hospital radio, starting at the age of 17, said: "The Trust are trying to help us. They are not trying to get rid of us, Their biggest problem is where to put us."
Patients relatives and friends can contact Northern Air for requests through the station's website at: nothernair.org.uk
