Tarka Radio was founded 40 years ago in January 1981 by a group of volunteers.

Their objective was to provide a personalised radio service for the patients of the North Devon District Hospital.

Tarka Radio’s first studio was officially opened by the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, John Alderson.

The basic original studio was a rather compact arrangement on level 1 of the main hospital. Over the years the equipment was slowly upgraded with various pieces of often second-hand kit and redundant equipment from professional radio stations who were updating their studios with the new shiny kit!