A woman who used Hospital Radio Ipswich to reconnect a man with dementia with his Suffolk roots remains an avid listener and fundraiser, despite living almost 200 miles away.
Nancy Hall De Vuyst was working as an activity coordinator at a care home in Lyndhurst in the New Forest – near Southampton – when she came across the resident who was feeling isolated.
Nancy discovered Hospital Radio Ipswich during her efforts to support him, and it proved such a hit that she has continued to listen since he died. She has even introduced other patients and a long-distance friend to the station.
Nancy Hall De Vuyst (left) with Mam.
Nancy, who now runs her own business as a bespoke activities provider, said: “There was a gentleman from Ipswich who was feeling very lonely and homesick.
“My job was to do activities with him and because of his dementia and his anxiety, he didn’t like to leave his room. He preferred to read old newspapers and look at old photographs.
“I discovered after speaking to his family that he used to work in Ipswich and because he liked music, I decided to find a radio station that might help him.
“I found Hospital Radio on the care home’s iPad and the presenter of the first show we listened to was asking how well their listeners knew Suffolk.
“It was perfect, and he remembered a particular street and area they were discussing, and how he used to work there as a stonemason.
“Because I enjoyed the music they played, I have continued to listen.”
More personally, Nancy shared a mutual love for the station with her long-distance friend Vicky, who she called Mam, which is Welsh for mum.
The two of them used to request music for each other while listening to live broadcasts.
Nancy said: “When Mam moved to North Wales, we would listen at the same time, contribute to the programmes and request music for each other.
“We also discussed the pause for thought, word of the day and quizzes on the station. It became our bridge across the miles.”
Nancy added: “When I was working in the care home, we used to do chair exercises to the music Hospital Radio Ipswich played.
“I would ask a resident to pick a song and at the end of the session, when they were having a cup of team and a biscuit, their song would be playing.
“It wasn’t about the music. It just made them happy when they heard their names read out on the radio.”
Rick Double
Nancy has raised more than £1,000 to support Hospital Radio Ipswich to show her thanks for what it’s done for her. So far, she’s taken part in the London to Brighton bike ride and completed a sponsored swim from Boscombe to Bournemouth.
Hospital Radio Ipswich presenter Rick Double said: “Hospital Radio Ipswich (HRI) is a registered charity, so we rely on fundraising and donations to meet our running costs such as broadcasting licence fees, equipment and music.
“Nancy’s generosity over the years has made a material difference to HRI and we sincerely thank her for her continued support.”
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