A passion for radio has enabled talented QE student Tom to balance his studies with his love of broadcasting as he continues to make waves in hospital radio.
Tom, who attended Hummersknott Academy and now studies Politics, English Language and Spanish at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, says one of the things he enjoys most about college is the freedom and independence it offers.
That extra time has allowed him to continue an incredible radio journey that began unexpectedly during a Year 10 work experience placement at Prince Bishops Hospital Radio and has continued for three years.
Originally, Tom was only due to spend a week with the station. However, the team were so impressed with him that they invited him to continue volunteering after his placement ended. He soon became a regular guest on the breakfast show before being trusted to host programmes on his own.
Then, earlier this year, Tom reached another exciting milestone when he was given his own weekly show, Tea Time with Tom, which airs on Thursday evenings. In addition, he was recently asked to host and produce the station’s Breakfast Show which was an other milestone achievement.
“I really enjoy it because I love talking,” Tom explained. “When I’m hosting my radio show, I just come alive. I almost pretend nobody’s listening and then I can just talk and talk.”
Creating a radio show involves much more than simply turning on the microphone. Tom produces and presents every episode himself, spending time planning topics, researching stories and preparing content to keep listeners entertained.
“I’ll talk about news, interesting stories and things that I think people will enjoy hearing about,” he said.
As a hospital radio presenter, Tom also has the opportunity to connect with patients, who can get in touch to request songs or simply have a chat during the show.
Over the years, his broadcasts have featured plenty of memorable moments. From discussing a pumpkin that broke a world record for being the heaviest ever grown, to challenging listeners with games such as guessing famous tourist attractions from their one-star reviews, Tom is always looking for creative ways to entertain his audience. Quizzes have also become a popular feature of his programmes.
What makes Tom’s achievement even more impressive is his commitment. For nearly three years, he has balanced his volunteer radio work alongside his studies, demonstrating remarkable dedication to an activity he genuinely loves.
With his enthusiasm for presenting and entertaining others, Tom hopes to build a future career in media or radio. Having already gained years of broadcasting experience, he is eager to continue developing his skills and pursue opportunities in an industry he is truly passionate about.
From a one-week work experience placement to hosting his own show, Tom’s journey is a fantastic example of what can happen when passion, enthusiasm and perseverance come together. Everyone at QE wishes him continued success as he pursues his broadcasting ambitions.
Listeners can tune in to Tea Time with Tom on Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm.
