Spending Christmas Day with Fluff

In 1978, the late Alan Freeman gave patients at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow a festive treat by making a Christmas Day appearance on its hospital radio station. Former programme scheduler Ronny Munster takes up the story.

I was responsible for the programme schedules over the Christmas and New Year period, so I asked Alan if he would mind popping in.

Freeman was "a fun-loving guy" according to Ronny Munster

He said he'd be delighted - and that he'd come in on Christmas Day, which was unbelievable.

He turned up with mince pies and cakes and bottles of bubbly for the staff and did a long show for the patients.

It was great; it was a relaxed and very professional Alan Freeman doing his usual best.

There was no money involved, no ego trip - he just wanted to help out. I can't think of another DJ who would have done the same.

We kept in touch while I was at the station; I was able to call on him a couple of times and he did a few station idents and jingles for us.

I knew I could call him up any time and he'd happily chat to me and help out wherever he could.

He made lots of encouraging noises to our presenters; we had a lot of young students and he would explain the techniques he used.

To hear him on our little radio station doing his 'Not 'arfs' was tremendous Ronny Munster

It was great to have a well-known figure there who was very willing to give of his experience.

He was such a character, and to hear him on our little radio station doing his "Not 'arfs" was tremendous.

And it wasn't just a quick five minutes to show his face. He sat with us for two or three hours and happily participated in our Christmas celebrations.

It's a huge loss; he was a marvellous DJ in so many aspects.

Anyone who's done any radio, whether amateur or professional, knows it's very difficult to get that kind of charisma and fluency.

He was such a strong character with a huge personality, a fun-loving guy who loved what he was doing.

He was born for radio - a consummate professional who made it all seem so easy.

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