Radio stalwart Dave's funeral to be broadcast live

It was with great sadness that Radio Cavell announced the passing of their Life President, trustee and great friend David McGealy.

Dave died peacefully in his sleep from Alzheimer's on October 23, 2023, aged 74.

Their longest serving volunteer joined the station in January 1974 having moved to Oldham from his native Manchester to take up his role as a junior school teacher - and he never left.

Alongside his teaching career, Dave worked tirelessly to develop Radio Cavell into a national award-winning hospital broadcasting service.

His creative ideas, foresight and enthusiasm were responsible for several “new shows”, such as radio Bingo, Hangman and of course his signature programme “A Chance to Meet” all being introduced to the Oldham hospitals.

It was through that show he got to meet and interview just about anyone in Oldham and beyond who would talk to him or who he thought had something interesting to share with the listeners.

He interviewed and chatted with 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, the then Prince of Wales.

Raising funds, building studios, recruiting volunteers, hosting outside broadcasts, fronting mobile disco's, together with providing rugby and football commentaries, were just some of the many things he did.

His creative ideas underpin just about everything the station has achieved over the last 50 years and many are truly grateful for all he has done in his time as a volunteer

Not confining his efforts just to Oldham, he took up several management roles within the National Association of Hospital Broadcasting and also became instrumental in their growth.

Dave always made himself known at their conference weekends and ensuring hospital broadcasting got the respect and recognition it deserved.

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.

Dave was also responsible for establishing Radio Latics in 1994.

A restricted service licence, sports station providing full match commentaries of every Latics match home and away with club news, interviews and competitions at a time before changes in football broadcasting rules, and long before the introduction of Latics Player.

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, and Dave was their station manager until his passing.

Dave will be greatly missed by all involved in hospital and community radio and thoughts and best wishes at this time go out to his wife Jean and their two children, Ian and Ruth.

For those who knew Dave, the funeral service will be broadcast live on both Radio Cavell and Oldham Community Radio at 1pm on Tuesday, November 7.

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