Royal Free Radio’s David Scarff retires after 55 years

Royal Free Radio’s chairman and longest serving host is retiring after clocking up thousands of song requests and bringing joy and comfort to hospital staff, visitors and patients.

Back in 1970, Scarff was among a group of schoolboys who co-founded a station known as Radio Enfield.

David Scarff co-founded a radio station as a schoolboy in 1970. (Image: Royal Free Charity) What began in a small cupboard with one two-hour show on Sunday nights, became a charity station that broadcast to multiple hospitals.

In 2000, the station merged with the Royal Free Charity to become Royal Free Radio.

David, who met his wife through the station, explained: “When we started, the country was still using pounds, shillings and pence, The Beatles had just broken up, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ by Simon and Garfunkel was a new release and it would be four years before anyone had heard of ABBA.”

Over the decades, David has worked with both vinyl and up to date digital technology to grant thousands of song requests to staff and patients. (Image: Royal Free Charity) As the charity’s longest continuously serving radio volunteer, David’s voice, warm presenting style and wide musical knowledge has become recognisable to listeners.

Paying tribute to his tireless dedication to brightening up hospital stays, Jon Spiers, chief executive of the Royal Free Charity, said: “I wanted to say an enormous thank you for an incredible 55 years of entertaining patients across north London.

“David has made a difference to countless lives across the decades, keeping people company and lifting spirits at some of the hardest moments in their lives.”

David met his wife while volunteering at the station and his daughter now presents a show. (Image: Royal Free Charity) Although mainly based at Chase Farm Hospital in Barnet, over the decades, David has hosted from every studio at the six different broadcasting sites using everything from vinyl records to high-tech computer software.

The highlight he says is: “Meeting new people.”

Not only did David meet his wife through the station, but his daughter now presents her own show on Royal Free Radio.

Recalling his fondest memory, David said: “We had a whole ward singing ‘Tulips from Amsterdam’ once; they phoned in from what was then the telephone trolley and they had the whole ward singing it.

“We got told off by the matron for causing a disturbance, but it was good fun!”

David Scarff has hosted his final show on Royal Free Radio. (Image: Royal Free Charity) Other highlights include interviewing composer Geoff Love about his career in show business.

David added: “After 55 years of presenting on hospital radio – 47 on Radio Enfield then eight as Royal Free Radio – I’ll be hanging up my headphones. Hopefully, over the years, I’ve given some incentives for patients across north London to get out of hospital quickly rather than tuning in to me!”

Andy Higgins, station manager of Royal Free Radio, praised David’s extraordinary service: “David is an inspiration to all of us. His dedication, kindness and passion for hospital radio have touched countless lives.

“To give 55 years of voluntary service is an incredible achievement, and we are so proud to celebrate this milestone with him. David will still be with us in the background as chairman of Royal Free Radio but is stepping back from regular programmes.”

To mark the occasion, Royal Free Radio hosted a special anniversary broadcast on September 7 featuring some of his most memorable moments on air and messages from fellow volunteers and guests.

Volunteer-run Royal Free Radio is based at Chase Farm Hospital and broadcasts to Barnet, Chase Farm, North Middlesex University and Royal Free hospitals, 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Listen at royalfreeradio.co.uk