Tribute to hospital radio founder

A PLAQUE has been unveiled at the studios of Warrington Hospital’s “Radio General” to recognise the work of one of the station founders, the late Jack Warburton.
Mr Warburton, was youth officer for Warrington in the 1950s and it was under his leadership that the Warrington Council of Youth “hospital request scheme” started on November 7, 1957.
The plaque was unveiled by Mr Warburton’s son, Tony in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress, Brian and Irina Axcell and current and founder members of Radio General.
Mr Warburton was born at Knutsford in 1911, He started Warrington’s Council of Youth and this, together with the Youth Leaders’ Council, gave the town council young people’s views on how they thought the service should be run.
He worked tirelessly for young people in Warrington and was a Sunday School superintendent at All Saints Church, Thelwall.
He continued to work even after serious illness and died in 1961 aged 50.
When Radio General first started broadcasting, records were borrowed, collected during the week and then returned
Teams took it in turn to collect requests or present the programmes. Request programmes were originally broadcast on a Thursday evening and Sunday morning. Today Radio General broadcasts 24 hours a day from the Keith Inman Studios, situated in the Hospital’s main entrance and broadcast a mix of programmes which include nine request programmes throughout the week.
The request hotline is 01925 662122.
Pictured…The Mayor and Mayoress with Tony Warburton