Causeway Hospital Radio has marked its 25th anniversary of providing music, comfort and companionship to patients, with volunteers past and present gathering to celebrate the milestone.

The silver anniversary event included a performance by the Rock Choir and a visit from the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Dawn Huggins, as attendees reflected on the station's impact since it first went on air in October 2001.

Founding volunteers Barbara Gray and Rodney Magee, who have been on air since the beginning, shared their reflections on how the service has grown into a cherished part of hospital life for patients, visitors and staff. Rodney, who joined through his love of music, said the station quickly proved to be much more than entertainment. "Over the years you see the pleasure it brings to patients. The feedback we get is great and it does make a difference.

"The hospital staff and the nurses on the wards see a difference in the patients whenever they hear their name being mentioned on the radio," he said.

For Barbara, the past quarter-century has been a whirlwind of change as the station has expanded its reach and modernised.

"Our reason for being here is to entertain the patients and help get them through a bit of a tough time when they are not at home. Some of them really look forward to the show being on and they become regular listeners, especially if they are in for an extended period of time.

"We now have an app for your phone and we’re broadcasting like a normal radio station. We can get messages in from relatives when they can’t come to visit them on the wards, and I think that is terrific."