Tributes have been paid to hospital radio volunteer, Andrew Colby (Happy) who passed away at home on Saturday 8th April 2023. A presenter and committee member at Coventry Hospital Radio, Andrew had been a frequent attendee at the Hospital Broadcasting Association conference, and was shortlisted in the National Hospital Radio Awards in 2019.
A statement from Coventry Hospital Radio read:
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
He was much loved and will always be remembered by many who he encountered throughout his life journey, starting at Sherbourne Fields School, then Princethorpe College. He made his career in Lloyds and TSB banks for over 30 years across Coventry and Warwickshire. His love of music and talking to people led him to join the hospital radio community where he volunteered and fundraised firstly for Radio Warneford at Warwick Hospital and then Coventry Hospital Radio at University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
Coventry Hospital Radio was his absolute life. He really was so unique, warm, passionate, and hilariously funny, especially when given a microphone. Whether that be on the radio or getting involved with a bit of karaoke in the local area!
Andrew Colby was the absolute king of the wards. Everyone at the radio station would watch him talk to a patient in admiration. The patients loved him and would always ask for him and he would go back to see them and give them a box of Milk Tray chocolates!
Andrew loved attending the HBA Conference and Awards, he loved meeting up with people but also sharing ideas with other hospital radio stations. Andrew gained so many new friends at the HBA Conferences down the years and those friends always listened into his radio shows. Some even told him how to say sporting teams correctly and would phone in.
Andrew will be greatly missed in the hospital broadcasting community.
His co-presenters at Coventry Hospital Radio presented a very special show on Saturday 15th April 2023 which you can listen to again here. You can write your memory of Andrew Colby here.
RIP Andrew.”
Sam Smette, Trustee of the Hospital Broadcasting Association said: “We were saddened to hear of the passing of Andrew Colby and send our thoughts and condolences to his family. A familiar face at our annual conference, we recognise the lasting impact and legacy he has left behind, not just at Coventry Hospital Radio, but across the hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting movement.”