POPULAR Alton compere and broadcaster Paul Le Feuvre has been nominated for a National Hospital Radio Award.

Well known locally as the voice firstly on Treloar Hospital Radio then on Wey Valley Radio, later to become Delta, Paul now hosts a Sounds of the 50s programme on Hospital Radio Basingstoke.

And it is this programme, recorded in Paul’s own home studio, which has caught the eye – or ear – of the judges.

Broadcasting to North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke for more than 40 years, the hospital radio station has a record-breaking seven nominations in this year’s competition.

The programmes shortlisted include Best Male and Best Female presenters, Best Show with Multiple Presenters, Best Specialist Show (Sounds of the 50s), and Station of the Year.

Other nominations include Best Special Event Coverage, featuring a live outside broadcast from the Magna Carta Festival in Odiham, in which Paul featured, and the Best Speech Package when Basingstoke MP Maria Miller came to visit the station to answer questions from the patients and staff of the hospital.

The nominations were announced by ‘voice of the balls’ and Strictly Come Dancing announcer Alan Dedicoat on New Year’s Day.

Basingstoke Hospital Radio is a charity run by volunteers.

Chairman Dave Warren, who has been nominated for Best Male, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the record achievement the station has and very proud of all the fantastic volunteers who have worked all year round to make this happen. These nominations are just a small aspect of all the fantastic things that happen at Hospital Radio Basingstoke.”

The bronze, silver and gold winners for each category will be announced at an awards ceremony in Watford, Hertfordshire, on March 19.