Martin Kinch Hi, I'm Martin and every Monday evening at 6 pm, I present a programme called Solid Gold. I've been here since 1979 (I think it's about time I went home!) And I've been presenting Solid Gold since 1990. I play nothing else but the best music from the past 55 years and features on the show include the 'Then and Now' spot where I play an old and a new track by the same artist, There's also the 'Introquiz', and 'The Mystery Year' The very first programme I did for Hospital Radio was a 'new release' show, I'm still playing some of those records, but they are classic oldies now! After that I did a request show for a few years before moving on to do a chat show type programme. I remember in the space of a few days I had quite a serious interview with Norman Tebitt who had been injured in a bomb explosion in Brighton where the Tory party were at conference, Then the following week I interviewed Noel Edmonds which was entirely different, We were both cracking jokes like two school kids. Other guests on my show have included Norman Wisdom, Sir Jimmy Savile, Randal And Hopkirk star Kenneth Cope, Annie Haslam from Renaissance, Anne Robinson, Geoffrey Palmer, Also The Move and Hollies singer, the late Carl Wayne, John Craven, Big Brother housemate Stuart Hosking, Paul Daniels, Mike Read and Colin Baker who was the 6th Doctor in the BBCs Dr Who series at the time, I also interviewed David Icke which was quite interesting. One of the first interviews that I did was with DLT who at the time was doing the breakfast show on Radio 1. He came to our studios in 1980 during a 50 hour sponsored programme that I did with my old mate and fellow presenter, Shane Carlson. I still do the odd interview every now and then; I recently interviewed John Otway on stage in Aylesbury's market square. John also performed his hits "Cor baby that's really free" and Bunsen Burner" to the delight of the crowd. Another one I did with an audience was when I interviewed rock star Roy Wood in a pub; Roy's a big hero of mine so I was really pleased to do that one. It was a bit weird doing the interview in front of a crowd in the middle of a pub though. A few years before that, I actually appeared on live TV with Roy, It was on Chris Evans's Channel 4 show "Don't Forget Your Toothbrush" He was booked to play a couple of songs on the show and they asked him if he knew anyone who could be in a quiz with him answering questions about his career and he gave them my phone number. I won the quiz; the prize was a pair of his red sunglasses! Sir Jimmy Savile recently paid a surprise visit to our studio to present me with a long service award. Sir Jimmy told TV and press reporters that all the volunteers at the station did a great job and added that hospital radio was very important for patients who can sometimes feel nervous and frightened while they are in hospital. He added that his radio is permanently tuned into the station when he is at the hospital and that it is a really good station because of the mix of music that is played. It's not the first time we have been in a studio together, Back in the 80s Jimmy invited me to spend the day at BBC Radio 1 with him and watch him present his 'Old record club'. It was interesting to look around the BBC studios, I was sitting next to Jim and with just a few seconds notice, he told me I was doing the next few links. I didn't have time to think about it and I ended up co presenting the show with him" As well as presenting Solid Gold, I am a member of the management committee. I am also the record and CD librarian and I've just taken over as "The Webmaster"   To send Martin an email click: Martin Kinch

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