Volunteers at Tarka Hospital Radio are mourning the death of presenters David Bowes and Eric Godfrey Balchin.

David died on 18 February 18, aged 69, and Eric on 4 March at the age of 90.

Widower Eric Godfrey Balchin was one of the oldest radio presenters in the country.

He enjoyed a broadcasting career with local hospital radio spanning 25 years.

Eric volunteered for hospital radio when he retired, preferring to do “something for charity” rather than putting up his feet.

He felt it was important to “give a bit of time” to a worthwhile cause and, having been associated with music all his life, he offered his services to Tarka Radio. He would play big band and jazz, genres with which he was most familiar.

He met a lot of musicians from that era while he toured music halls up and down the country before and after the Second World War.

Eric hailed from the Leeds area but lived in North Devon for 30 years.

He first lived there during the war when he served with the Royal Engineers.

Following the Dunkirk Landings, he returned to Britain and was eventually stationed in Ilfracombe — at the old Cliff Hydro — for two months.

From there he was shipped out to Burma with the 14th Army and remained there until October 1945.

Prior to the war he had been part of a theatrical act called the Godfrey Brothers along with his brother, Fred, and cousin, Harry, and they got back together again after peace was declared.

When he was 28 Eric married Kathleen. Although she did not accompany him on tour she would join him if he did a summer season at a fixed location.

During his career he met and worked with many leading performers of the day — the Ted Heath Orchestra, Charlie Chester Gang, Wilfred Pickles, Violet Carson, Joe Loss and a young Julie Andrews.

After 17 years on the road, the trio spilt up when Eric’s brother died.

Work was difficult to come by and Eric took a job with Rentokil.

He and his wife settled in North Devon where Kathleen devoted much of her time to charity work.

In later years she took over as warden of a sheltered housing scheme in Braunton and after eight years there, they retired to a house in Wrafton. Like Eric, Kathleen was also involved with Tarka Radio and was treasurer for about four years.

Eric died suddenly at home on March 4. He leaves behind grandchildren Kathleen, Alison, Kevin and Christopher.

The acting chairman of Tarka Radio Richard Wright said: “I would like to say that Eric and David will be greatly missed by all of the members and patients that have listened to them in the past.”