It is with great sadness  Radio Cavell announces the passing of their great friend, Lifelong President and long serving volunteer David (Dave) McGealy peacefully in his sleep from Alzheimer's on 23rd October 2023, aged 74.

Dave Joined Cavell in January 1974 after moving to Oldham to take up his teaching role and was soon in the thick of moving the station forward with both his passion and enthusiasm.  His creative ideas underpin just about everything the station has achieved over the last 50 years and we are truly grateful for all he has done in his time as a volunteer. Raising funds, building studios ,representing Hospital Radio nationally, recruiting volunteers, outside broadcasts, mobile disco's, Rugby and Football commentaries. Interviewing all sorts of people, local or national, shop owners, fairground ride owners, authors, musicians, celebrities, academics, medics, politicians, prime ministers and even His Majesty King Charles III  basically anyone he could talk to. Alongside his regular broadcasts of music and bingo programmes, these are just some of the things he did.

His passion for radio saw Radio Cavell become one of the first Hospital Broadcast services to gain a licence to broadcast over the airwaves on 1350am and his vision on how radio was developing led him, to lead others in Oldham, to found Oldham Community Radio 99.7 FM. In 2007 they became one of the very first branches of community stations to be granted a licence by the then Radio Authority, now called Ofcom.

He will be greatly missed by all involved in Hospital and Community Radio and our thoughts and best wishes at this time go out to his wife Jean and their two children Ian and Ruth.