When patients first listened to their hospital radio station, few would have realised that going off-air meant a 200-yard dash to the off switch.

However, 30 years ago, the only place for Southlands Hospital's station in Shoreham could set up shop was a disused butchery store in the hospital grounds.

And the only way to go off-air was to sprint to the electricity supply in the main building.

From its humble beginnings, the station was eventually promoted to the main building.

It went on to spawn the likes of Simon Mayo, now of Radio 5 Live, and Ambrose Harcourt, aka Mr Lurve, of Southern FM's Love Zone.

The station marked its 30th anniversary this week with a 30-hour radio marathon.

The event follows a tradition of fund-raising activities by the station since its first bank account was opened with £87.68 in February 1972.

After three decades of transmission, the walls of the small sound-proofed room have plenty of stories to tell.

Dave Field has been at the station for 27 years and is its longest-serving presenter, although it did not look that way to begin with after some indiscretion on his first day.

He said: "On my first programme, I played the wrong record by accident and in my annoyance let out a swear word. I didn't realise the mike was still on."

The job has got easier for Mr Field, 54, of Thornbush Crescent, Portslade, but he still gets the same buzz from playing as he did when he started in 1975.

He said: "I still get so much satisfaction from entertaining the patients and just from being able to play good music."

Inspired by Tony Blackburn and the offshore stations such as Radio Caroline, Dave and others ran into trouble when they tried to recreate their own ocean broadcasts.

He said: "To raise some sponsorship, we made a return trip on the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry while the programme was relayed to Southlands.

"Unfortunately, we weren't prepared for the choppy seas. As all our records were vinyl, the needle was moving about and ruining the songs."

Dave Vickery, who co-presents the Double D Christmas Show with Mr Field, and also started in 1975, fondly remembers the trip.

Although, he too recalls that it was not without its mishaps.

He said: "It was one of our best fund-raising events and we raised about £300.

"Unfortunately, when we finished the broadcast and we were getting off the ferry, in our excitement we forgot to bring the publicity display board.

"We think it probably made about 14 trips over three or four days before anyone realised it was missing."

So what did they think of Simon Mayo and Ambrose Harcourt?

Mr Vickery said: "We always thought Simon was going places. They were both really nice guys. Ambrose was always popular with the girls with that voice of his."

A training programme at Southlands ensures the station continues to nurture talent and many youngsters who begin by doing work placements end up becoming fully-fledged members.

The station has also nurtured some life-long friendships and even its fair share of romance.

Mr Field met his wife Selema when she was working as a nurse on Emerald Ward and Shaun Clarke, presenter of the Angling Show, met his wife Sarah when she became involved in fund-raising.

Ward sister Trisha Rigby, 33, believes the radio makes a huge difference to patients.

She said: "It lifts their spirits and provides a bit of light relief.

"It also brings the patients together as they often meet to choose a record and tell each other if one of their selections is played."

To get involved with Radio Southlands, or to offer sponsorship, phone 01273 446084 or log on to www.hospitalradiosouthlands.co.uk