The Airdrie Page

News Release

Just write for Heartbeat

Do you have a short story in you? Do you have a poem in you? If you think the answer to any of this is “yes” then you should be talking to the good folk at Radio Heartbeat at Monklands Hospital. They have money to give away and a need for short stories and poetry to broadcast on air.

To celebrate the upgrades to the station and the overcoming of the results of vandalism the station is holding a Writing Contest to find new short stories and poetry to add to their rich mix of programming. Celebrity judges are Janice Long of BBC Radio 2 fame who will judge the Short Stories and our very own Sandra Brown, author of Where There is Evil and Scotswoman of the Year 2005 who will judge the poetry.

The competition is open to all ages and is sponsored by beCogent. Edna McElroy, beCogent’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager said, ‘We are delighted to be fostering good radio for hospital patients and, at the same time, encouraging new writing. It is an exciting project and a huge undertaking for a small radio station.’ Station Manager of Radio Heartbeat, Irene Dick, a noted speaker, Director of So…Speak Out and former Editor of The Speaker, is enthusiastic about the whole idea of the contest. ‘Having tutored local writing groups and speaking groups I know the huge amount of talent which is out there and I am confident that we will have the full support of everyone in our efforts to find gems of writing for our listeners. Eventually we hope to be able to produce a book with all the entries which will help to raise funds for the station.’

If you think you can write for radio then find all the details on the station’s web page at www.radioheartbeat-diary.blogspot.com

Go on – you know you want to…..!

Poetry Competition

Competition Details

For more information on Radio Heartbeat telephone the station on 01236 747777 between 11.00 am – 3.00 pm
Telephone Irene Dick on 01236 605744 or 07974 618660
Radio Heartbeat is funded totally by voluntary contribution
Radio Heartbeat is staffed totally by volunteers

My grandfather, Alexander Watterson was born in Airdrie and emigrated to Canada when he was a teenager. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 82. His father was George Watterson and his mother was Martha Lang. We know he was one of four children they had and that his father had children from a previous marriage in Ireland. My father visited Airdrie in the 1960’s and a cousin showed him around town, including pointing out the family owned pub. If anyone can help me find more information on this part of my family it would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry to any visitor who may have stumbled onto the site over the last few days and found a strange front page with Arabic writing. Yes – some dolt decided to hack the site and cause no end of hassle. The site is now up again and I am keeping the Guest Book out of bounds (as this was the way in for the hacker) until I resolve the issue. Otherwise it’s business as normal.