I am Nevil Williams, a presenter on Radio BGM in the Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli.
I first entered its studio in the autumn of 2005. I was being interviewed by David Hurford with regards to my book Eddie John & the Lost Community. It was a tribute to my late stepfather for the Christian minstry he performed in the villages of Bwlch-y-Gwynt and Machynys.
I joined Radio BGM soon after that interview. I started request-collecting in mid-January 2006. This I did on Sunday evening at 7:30pm. I was mentored by Tim White on how to approach patients when offering the radio service to them. The following month I compiled a week-long series of brief meditations for Thought for the Day concurrently for Radio BGM and Scarlet FM.
In October and November 2007 I did a six week Radio Skills Course with the Media Consultant Lyn Morgan. There were lectures in the Education Centre in the Hospital and training on programme-making in the studio. Personal development training was incorporated into the course under the tutorship of Leah Halborg from Llangennech. A Certificate of Achievement was awarded to me in 2008 by the Llanelli MP, Nia Griffith.
I also made a programme in Welsh which gave the background to Welsh hymns which I gleaned from Emynau Ffydd by Huw Powell. I did something similar in English with the aid of Hymns & Their Writers by Jack Strahan of Northern Ireland.
I have have been involved in the fund-raising events. The most notable was the Singing Festival in Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli, in April 2009. The proceeds were split fifty-fifty between Radio BGM and the Breast Care Unit of the Hospital. I was asked at extremely short notice to hand the cheque to Mr. Holt the Cancer Consultant during the Service. There is also the annual Hospital Broadcasting Week Appeal at the St. Elli Shopping Centre around April or May. Carrnivals were regular venues for fund-raising.The wet weather in the summer of 2008 ruined the Burry Port and Felinfoel carnivals for the Radio BGM team! Curry evenings seem to be more relaxing venues for our cause.
In November 2008 I discovered the Hospital Christian Fellowship who now meet in the lounge in the Education Centre every second Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm (apart from July and August). This is very convenient for the monthly committee meeting of Radio BGM held in the next room at 7:30pm.
In December 2009 I helped out in the Carol Service with Cor Meibion Llanelli in attendance. In March 2010 I met up in the Hospital with Mrs. Chris Hays, the Head of the Chapaincy of the Hywel Dda Health Board. We intend arranging more regular services in the Hospital Chapel.
I also liaise between Radio BGM and the Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS) which meet up every quarter. The first week of June is Volunteers' Week and the Monday is always the "Thank You Day" when volunteers are invited to a free barbeque.
Thank You.
