WELL known Launceston local Kevin Wadland has been a volunteer for Hospital Radio Plymouth (HRP) for 38 years and has been presented with the Peter Wren trophy for his work behind the scenes.

Kevin started his interviewing skills with Radio Beacon at St Lawrence’s Hospital in Bodmin before writing to HRP asking to get involved with the station and he hasn’t looked back.

Over the 38 years Kevin has been recording interviews for HRP, and there has been a huge diversity in who he has interviewed, from Pam Rhodes presenter of Songs of Praise, to Jethro and Ann Widdecombe to David Blunkett and many local MP’s. He also interviews people closer to home, through the years, including Mayors and the Town Crier of Launceston.

Kevin said: “I have lost count of how many people I have spoken to, there have been so many, I put them at ease by asking a simple question first and then go from there, I always do my research though, when I interviewed Esther Rantzen she said I knew more about her than she did!”

Since the days of cassette radio Kevin has had to get into the digital age and he says this is easier as he carries his digital recorder at all times as he never knows who is walking the streets on Launceston and Cornwall. He aims to interview a different person each week and tries to go to local events to do this.

Listen to Kevin’s interviews at soundcloud.com/hospital-radio-plymouth

Keith Jolley, station manager said Kevin’s contribution over the past 38 years has been “amazing”. There was a unanimous agreement among the committee and members that this award was thoroughly deserved.

Established in 1969, Hospital Radio Plymouth provides a mixture of entertainment, news and sport 24 hours a day.

The station is run and operated by unpaid volunteers aged 16 to 80 and is always looking for volunteers to help with the technical side, administration and fundraising as well as presenting shows.

Anyone interested in joining should contact membership secretary John Gerrans on 01752 784300 or e-mail [email protected]