THE CHARITY behind Abergavenny's hospital radio station has held an Extraordinary General Meeting after the original board members resigned in May.

All nine members of the board chose to stand down after a row erupted following a covert recording of a private conversation between two presenters at Nevill Hall Sound, which contained inflammatory comments and was posted on You Tube.

Fifteen members attended the EGM on June 11 and, as there were no officers in place, Paul Silk assumed the role of clerk to co-ordinate the election of the charity's new board members, which now comprises of Sian Grainger, Martin Hickman, Alan Leach, Peter Lock and Gordon Rees.

Ms Grainger was elected as chairman and continued the appointment of the six management positions for the radio station.

These positions were filled without problems until it came to the election of station manager and administration secretary, with two names entered for each position.

Following a show of hands, Pamela Parry beat David Finch to become station manager and Tracey Finch was outvoted in favour of Caroline Turner to become administration secretary.

The new chairman said that she hoped that all volunteers could now work together and put all their energies into moving the station forward for the benefit of the hospital patients.

However Mr Finch, who had just been ousted from his previous role as the station manager, told the board that he would not be helping the radio station in any way in the future.

He told the meeting he would be resigning completely from the station and suggested that the whole AGM / EGM had been 'a farce' and 'a set up'.

Two other members also walked out with him, saying that they would also be resigning. The committee has since received a letter confirming Mr Finch's resignation.

Mr Finch told the Chronicle, "I was one of the most passionate volunteers with NH Sound and I was fully committed to driving the station forward.

"The whole voting procedure at the original Annual General Meeting in April was a farce and the Extraordinary General Meeting was also a farce as the outcome was predetermined by those who have now formed the board and the management team to ensure their 'closed shop' at NH Sound."

• Abergavenny Police are investigating an incident on June 12 at the studio where Nevill Hall Sound's automated play out computer was completely wiped of all its musical content including adverts, jingles and pre-recorded shows.

Currently CCTV footage is being examined and the locks to the radio station have been changed.

A spokesman for the station said the board is working hard to replace as much of the lost material as they can and added, "With our band of willing volunteers we are all adamant that everything will be replaced and Abergavenny's Hospital Radio station, which was born in 1979, will continue to go from strength to strength."

If anyone would like to volunteer in any way please contact the studio on 01873 858633 or email [email protected]">[email protected].