Offshore Radio Newsflash

On the 6th June, TROS Television paid a visit to the White House, not the one in Washington but a replica built in Adegem Belgium. Owner is Adriaan van Landschoot. Next to the fact that in the seventies he was mayor of this town, he also was the one time director of the offshore radio station Radio Atlantis. Reason of the visit was that Adriaan, nowadays record producer, has his own orchestra which is already for many weeks at number one in the Belgium chart. Adrivalan Orchestra plays romantic music.

On 21st June, the town government of Sluis-Aardenburg in the Provence of Zeeland decided that there will be a definitive end with the oddments of the former Radio Antwerpen ship, the MV Uilenspiegel. The ship, which was made of concrete and beached in December 1962 after a hugh storm, was blown away in 1971 on the Retrachement beach. However the oddments were still lying there. Several people hurt themselves through the years and it will be removed soon.

Arrow Classic Rock owners Ad Ossendrijver and Willem van Kooten (Joost den Draaijer) have put money into Country FM. In this way they hope to save the station, which was an initiative of Ruud Kegel. The later one will stay as shareholder.

Seven commercial radio stations and the local and regional stations have asked Dutch government in an advert, with was published in the daily newspapers, to come with a solution for the forthcoming sale of frequencies. In March the Parliament decided that the sale of frequencies was not the correct decision. However Dutch Government decided that the auction will go ahead. There will be ten frequencies sold, going to the highest bidders. Of course they've enshrined that four of those will have a certain format: classic, mor, oldies en news. I think Sky Radio has a big chance to win one of the formats, as well as Veronica and Q the Beat. The later station is now owned by Clear Channel Communications from America, which has hundreds of radio stations all over the world.

The Raad van State, the highest court in Holland, has decided that Delta Radio cannot built their transmitter site in Kootwijk in the Provence of Gelderland. Now the plans to built the station in the North Sea can go ahead. But still some claims from environmental organisations against the building of the transmitter site have to be overlooked.

Radio Nationaal has signed a contract with Merlin Communications whereby the station has started daytime programmes on 1296 kHz AM with a massive signal. They don't want to wait for the auction of the frequencies and see this as the only change to stay on the air. However director Karel van Cooten, once a deejay on TROS radio, is not a bright guy as he started to sent e mails to listeners in which he proclaimed how the contract was signed and how much the costs are. One day he will write the fans what his own income is. A stupid thing.

With greetings from Groningen

Hans Knot

RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL

Final Press Release No. 2 - July 2nd, 2001

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"The best R.N.I. R.S.L. ever" was the unanimous verdict of listeners to Radio Northsea International's 28 day brodacast during June from the former Light Vessel No. 18 in Harwich.

Station Manager Colin Lamb says "All the DJs have been really 'knocked-out' by the volume of feedback we received and just how positive it all was. This was really reflected during the final two hours of broadcasting when their was a real party atmosphere on board and the telephone quite literally rang throughout the duration with listeners requests, dedications and good wishes."

Highlights of the final day's output on June 30, included a re-run of Tony Allan's show from June 11, the final episode of Tony Currie's 'soap' "The Barnacles", an interview with Sally Carr from the group Middle of the Road and Colin Lamb's one hour tribute to R.N.I. which included many of the songs made famous by the station and the final closedown of August 31, 1974.

Colin concluded: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone connected with the project and in particular Phil Mitchell & Graham Vine, our Main sponsors Wilkin & Sons, makers of the world famous Tiptree Jams, all the other Companies who have advertised on the station, BTOdbits, who enabled the broadcast to be carried over the internet, but especially to everyone who listened! The memories of this broadcast will certainly remain forever with those who worked on the LV18 and, from the messages we have received, with a very large percentage of our listeners."

For a limited period, programmes on R.N.I. can still be heard over the internet on rni.btodbits.com and the latest news on R.N.I. projects can be obtained at on line at rni.org.uk

RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL

Additional Press Release - June 30th, 2001

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Today sees the final day of programmes of Radio Northsea International in 2001, from the Light Vessel No.18 in Harwich.

Station Manager Colin Lamb has hailed the current broadcast a major success saying that the Station has received an amazing amount of feedback from delighted listeners, all saying that this is the best of the three R.N.I. R.S.L.s so far and has brought back so many happy memories from the 1970s for so many people.

Highlights of the final days output will include a re-run of ex RNI DJ Tony Allen's June 11 show, Tony Currie interviewing and then duetting with ex Middle of the Road vocalist Sally Carr and an hour of RNI Classics with Colin Lamb, before the final programme 'Goodbye R.N.I." hosted by Colin and Phil Mitchell, goes out between 10 p.m. & midnight.

Colin says: "I hope as many of the local DJs, such as Graham Vine, Dave Kent, Clive Boutell, Jim Gregory & Tony Carnell, along with Bart Serlie 'The Floating Dutchman', who have been the backbone of this broadcast will be joining Phil & myself during the final two hours, when a real party atmosphere will be created."

The real R.N.I. switched of its transmitters for the final time at 2000 hrs, on August 31st, 1974.

However, 27 years on, the 2001 broadcast need not be just a memory, as after the station closes, any of the programmes broadcast between June 3 & 30, can be replayed via the internet, thanks to the technology developed by BTOdbits. This can be accessed at rni.btodbits.com (no www at the start of the address.)

Finally, the organisers of the broadcast wish to record their grateful thanks to the stations sponsors Wilkin & Sons, makers of the world famous Tiptree Jams, along with all the other Companies who have advertised on the station.

Line-up for Final Day
June 30, 2001

0600-0900 Kevin Peters
0900-1200 Phil Mitchell
1200-1400 Graham Vine
1400-1600 Paul Graham
1600-1700 Colin Lamb
1700-1800 Tony Allen (re-run)
1800-1900 Tony Currie (Including interview with Sally Carr & the final episode of 'the Barnacles')
1900-2000 RNI Classics with Colin Lamb & RNI Close Down in 1974 remembered.
2000-2100 Clive Boutell & Jim Gregory
2100-2200 Bart Serlie
2200-2400 Goodbye RNI with Colin & Phil

On Wednesday July 4th 2001, Starting on Sunday July 1st 2001, Dutch music station Radio Nationaal (amongst their presenters is Bart van Leeuwen, ex Radio Veronica and Radio Mi Amigo) will use the 500 kW transmitter on 1296 kHz located in the south east of the United Kingdom every day from 5.00 till 20.00 hours CET. It's the same transmitter that was used by Radio Caroline for a single broadcast on August 19th last year.

http://www.radionationaal.nl

On Wednesday July 4th 2001, the new Dutch station Radio 192 will begin its transmissions. The station replaces the former Okay FM. aurora03.jpg (22364 Byte) Amongst their presenters are former Radio Veronica-Deejays Tineke de Nooy, Will Luikinga, Eddie Becker, Ad Bouman, Krijn Torringa and Chiel Montagne. The station will broadcast with a low-powered signal on mediumwave 1332 kHz and will reach 30% of the country. It can also be heard via cable [Gooi (98.0 MHz), Groot-Amsterdam en Noord-Holland (90.0 MHz)]. There seems to be a chance that Radio 192 might cooperate with the former offshore station Radio Veronica in the not too distant future. The Veronica organisation has just ended talks with the SBS 6 Group so that there definitely won't be a merger with them.

http://www.192goedidee.nl (still to be uploaded)

The Radio Caroline RSL that was planned for August will not take place. The Radio Authority has refused Caroline's request to broadcast for 28 days from the Ross Revenge because there is another RSL running in the same period. It is not allowed to have two RSL's aiming at the same reception area at the same time, even though the other radiostation will broadcast on FM while Caroline was to broadcast on AM.

The Radio Caroline Support Group Netherlands has secured a cable-output for Radio Caroline in the Eastern and Northern part of the Netherlands (Twente, Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe) with around 280.000 households and a potential of 1.400.000 listeners. The output will be available from January 1st, 2002.

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The Dutch abortus vessel Aurora (see the pictures) that sailed to Dublin this week has made worldwide headlines. The Aurora, a 35-metre (115-foot) converted fishing trawler with a makeshift treatment room welded to its deck, plans to offer abortions to Irish women - possibly anchored offshore - during its two-week stay, organisers said before it arrived. The 100ft floating clinic, on its maiden voyage, has an operating table and surgical equipment within a former container on its deck.

The Aurora has a true offshore radio background. More than two years after the event, it can now be revealed that it served as a true broadcasting vessel in international waters for OFFSHORE 98, the offshore radio venture at Easter 1999. It was me who proudly presented the Ton Vogt Show that could be heard at the coastlines of Germany and Denmark.

RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL

Press Release No. 3 - June 13th, 2001

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One of the highlights of the opening two weeks of the current 28 day tribute to Radio Northsea International being broadcast from the Wilkin & Son sponsored vessel the former Light Vessel No.18 in Harwich, was the surprise appearance of former R.N.I. original DJ Tony Allen, on Monday June 11.

Station Manager Colin Lamb: "Tony was magnificent and sounded as good as he did in the 70s. It really was as if time had stood still." Colin added: "The whole broadcast is being received extremely well and the audience feedback has exceeded all expectations. Everywhere I go, people are telling me how much they're enjoying what we're doing and that they're hearing records they've not heard for ages. Ex Radio Caroline DJ Norman Barrington received 125 e-mails after the first of the five programmes he broadcast".

The principal DJ in week two is Tony Currie and he lines up alongside regulars Phil Mitchell, Bart Serlie, Dave Kent, Victor Hartman, Kevin Peters, Jim Gregory, Tony Carnell, Clive Boutell & Dave Hunter. DJ's appearring in the final two weeks include Ben Meijering, Bob Le-Roi and Kevin Turner.

Radio Northsea International can be heard on 1503 kHz on medium wave and also via the internet at rni.btodbits.com, which makes use of the very latest BT technology where in addition to hearing the current broadcast, listeners can also hear previously broadcast programmes. Colin said "Obviously we are extremely grateful to BT for their assistance in bring RNI to a world-wide audience, but without the contribution of Graham Vine this would not have been possible."

Concluding, Colin Lamb again wished to pay tribute to all the sponsors and advertisers, particularly: station sponsors Wilkin & Sons, makers of the world famous Tiptree Jams, and Clacton Factory Shopping Village, Plastic Mountain, Original Landscape Designs and Lancaster House Antiques, who between them sponsor the 4 main daytime shows.

For all the latest news, programme schedules & details of the RNI charts and DJ hitpicks, visit the RNI website at www.rni.org.uk

It is expected that from middle of June a new radio station will start on two frequencies 1332 and 1089 kHz. It will be called Radio 192 and bring a Veronica type programme as they did as an offshore station in the sixties and early seventies. Many former Veronica deejays will work for the station like Chiel Montagne, Eddie Becker, Krijn Torringa and Tineke. The station is the idea of Ad Bouman and Michael Bakker, who did organise the Veronica reunion in 1999.

The good news for the Radio Caroline organisation is that for the first time in the history a Dutch cable network, Essent Twente, has decided that the radio station can be distibuted via cable. It will start in January next year and will be reaching around 200.000 people in cities like Enschede, Alemlo, Hengelo and Oldenzaal. The signal will be taken from satellite.

A two days RSL will take place from a ship off the coast of IJmuiden on FM on August 11 and August 12, under the title Music from the Sea. Many former offshore deejays will be there presenting programmes from the ship. The days are organised by Radio Monique, the former Radio Plus. It's the third time since 1992 that this is organised. And like the first time, your man bringing the news from Holland will be on the air. I will present a two hour programme, called the Freewave Information Show, with a lot of goldies which have never been heard on the radio again after 1974.

RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL

Press Release No. 2 - MAY 28th, 2001

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RNI GETS READY FOR THE BIG TURN ON

It's now less than a week before Radio Northsea International takes to the air on 1503 kHz on the medium wave and the sounds of 'a young Europe' hit the airwaves of North Essex & South Suffolk. Sunday June 3rd is when it all starts, with Station Manager Colin Lamb kicking things off at 0600 with the Breakfast Show.

The sponsors of the 28 day broadcast are again the world famous 'Tiptree Preserves' produced by Wilkin & Sons, whose "Tiptree" logo is painted on the bridge of the Light Vessel 18, which is again the base for the third RNI revival. Other supporters of the project include: Clacton Factory Shopping Village, Original Landscape Designs, Plastic Mountain, Martello Bay Caravan Park, Track Night Club, Lancaster House Antiques, The Juke Box, Card Corner, Euro Car & Old Road Paint & Wallpaper Supplies. As Colin says: 'We are very grateful to all our supporters as without their help, this broadcast would not be possible. I would also like to convey our sincere thanks to Hutchison Port for all their assistance this time around.'

Internet users will also be able to access programmes on the world-wide web, as the entire four week broadcast will be heard live as it happens giving the many RNI fans across the world a chance to revive memories of one of offshore radios most famous pirate stations.

DJs include former offshore favourites Phil Mitchell, Tony Currie, Bob Leroi, Kevin Turner and Victor Hartman along with Dave Kent, ex-Mellow presenters Graham Vine, Kevin Peters & James Howes. Local doyen of the scissors, Pete Salberg will again be getting listeners jiving with his acclaimed rock'n'roll show on Sundays and this years broadcast will also include two Dutch DJs: Ben Meijering and Bart 'The Floating Dutchman' Serlie.

Colin says: 'Our intention is to recreate the fun sound of the 1970s, by playing the records RNI did. We will be using the actual RNI Top 50 charts and most of what we play will be on vinyl, so it all adds to the realism of the event. The excitement will certainly build as we approach the start of the broadcast and I'm sure there will be a lump in the throat when I commence proceedings with R.N.I.'s theme 'Man of Action' by Les Reed at 0600 on Sunday.'

There is still time to advertise on the Station and any interested parties are asked to contact Colin Lamb on 01255 431936.

For all the latest news and programme schedules check out the RNI website on http://www.rni.org.uk

Policy from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party (OMRLP) Rep' in Reading:

Tom Collins on Radio Broadcasting Policy

"When elected to the new OMRLP Government, and made Minister of Radio Broadcasting,I will strive to give Britain the best radio service in the world. To this end I promise within 30 days of being elected to force through legislation on the following matters:

1) Abolish BBC Radio. I will abolish BBC Radio as it stands, a monolithic memory of a dictatorial broadcasting past, and divide it as follows: Radio One shall be given to the National Association of Hospital Radio's. Radio Two, Three and Five will come under the control of Radio Caroline and Radio Four given to talkSport. BBC Local Radio will be granted euthanasia which it has been begging for over many years. BBC World Service will be given to Radio Netherlands World Service.

2) Abolish 'Independent' local radio.. All such stations will have their licences revoked and be subject to massive fines for forgetting their heritage and calling DJs 'presenters' (pretentious lot!). However the two main such broadcasters, the GWR group and the Capital Radio group, will be permitted to continue provided that thet broadcast from a shared rowing boat at least three miles off the Essex coast.

3) Licence Offshore Radio. Those who have remembered their broadcasting heritage, the true anoraks, will each get an offshore broadcasting licence and a free ship to broadcast from and a state pension for life".

The FULL OMRLP Manifesto can be seen at http://www.seapoodle.co.uk

AN EPILOGUE

One day an old man, was walking through the woods. After walking for some time, the old man became tired and decided to rest. Coming upon a clearing in the woods, he thought he'd sit down on a large, but somewhat rusty, black painted object.

Suddenly Peter Moore came running out of the bushes shouting, "don't sit there - that's a dangerous bomb". The old man, who was very wise (although many called him foolish) had heard stories this, but as he knew who'd made the "bomb", and of their trickery, he wasn't worried by it. He knew the "bomb" had only been put there to frighten people.

The old man said to Peter Moore "let me borrow your hammer, and I'll show you the bomb is only a piece of trickery". Reluctantly Peter handed the hammer over, before running off to hide behind some trees.

Raising the hammer above his head, the old man bought it down on the "bomb" with all his strength.

Nothing happened... no explosion... nothing. The "bomb" had collapsed into a pile of rust.

The old man looked around, wanting to return the hammer to Peter Moore - but he'd disappeared.

The old man continued his walk.....

Radio Caroline´s station manager Peter Moore on the Offshore Echo's commentary (see below):

A modern fable

One day a group of offshore radio enthusiasts were walking down a path through the woods on the way to a very important event. Suddenly they found that there, blocking the path, was a huge unexploded bomb.

Some of them remembered that Peter Moore and some colleagues that had gone before him had experience in dealing with much smaller bombs, so they got in touch with him.

Peter Moore explained that it certainly was a bomb and a real big one and that since it had been devised, designed and built for only one reason, namely to explode, destroying the woods and everyone in the woods it would be sensible to back carefully away from it and find another way of getting to the important event.

But the offshore enthusiasts would not do this, the path they were walking was the only one they liked. So they made some calls, sounded out some opinions and decided that this was not an exploding bomb but a safe one. They asked Peter Moore to bring a big hammer and hit the nose of the bomb just as hard as he could.

They knew there was no danger, everyone they knew said so, but just the same they decided to go back some distance and peek over the top of a big stone wall while Peter hammered the bomb.

In the event Peter would not strike the bomb. After all if it was a proper exploding bomb it would certainly ruin his hammer and since it was the only hammer he had and one that he could not replace and since he had been carefully looking after the hammer for ten years, he decided not to risk it.

He re-traced his steps and walked around the woods.

The enthusiasts were very upset, clearly Moore was a traitor and a cowardly treacherous man. A lot of people who did not like him joined in the condemnation, but they would not hit the bomb either.

The enthusiasts then decided that their basic rights were being infringed by this bomb in the way of where they thought they had every right to walk. So they wrote many letters to the bomb and created petitions deploring the bomb and they wrote to the people who made the bomb. They got some nice replies, but the bomb stayed put.

Moore's journey was made longer by the detour but he got to the important event eventually while all the others missed it. He was sorry that the enthusiasts disliked him, but he still had his hammer and his arms, legs and brain in working order.

Ook dit jaar weer "Muziek uit Zee"
Radio Monique uit IJmuiden is van plan om ook dit jaar een Muziek uit Zee evenement te organiseren. Het is net als vorig jaar de bedoeling dat DJ's van de voormalige zeezenders een éénmalig programma op Radio Monique presenteren. Er bestaat een lijst met namen van voormalige zeezender DJ's die gevraagd zullen worden aan het evenement mee te werken. Hier over zijn echter nog geen mededelingen te doen. Het is de bedoeling op de halve uren een nieuwsbulletin te presenteren met zeezender-items uit het verleden. Er zullen ook oude programma fragmenten en jingles van de zeezenders te horen zijn. Het evenement wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door de gemeente Velsen in het kader van 125 jaar Noordzee kanaal en IJmuiden. De programma's zullen wederom vanaf een schip worden gepresenteert. Het evenement zal in ieder geval in de regio Velsen - IJmuiden te horen zijn. Men zoekt nog naar een mogelijkheid om de programma's ook landelijk uit te zenden. Muziek uit Zee zal plaats vinden op 11 en 12 augustus.

HOAXES, SOUR GRAPES AND IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

Radio Caroline's present station manager Peter Moore recently wrote a somewhat critical article about Offshore Echo's and other. Read our response :

Recently, the Dutch newssheet Caroline Newsbeat published an interview with Peter Moore of the Caroline satellite broadcasting station. It seems the position of OFFSHORE ECHOS MAGAZINE regarding the future of Radio Caroline, is causing Peter some embarrassments. We are accused of not covering the present day Caroline operation!

r870816.jpg (24777 Byte) We had a private discussion with Peter Moore some years ago about this, as we wanted to know his position regarding the future of Radio Caroline. Up until then it seemed clear to all of us and others that the funds given to the Ross Revenge support group were going towards the ship to make her seaworthy and bring her back offshore. But Peter Moore had discretely changed the objectives. It wasn't very clear then, and up until recently, that the Ross Revenge would never be used at sea as a radio ship anymore. A lot of people had given their money and their time for nothing or at least not for what they had thought.

We explained our position to Peter then.
First - we are an offshore radio magazine - the only one left!
And secondly - we do not consider the present Radio Caroline as an offshore station at all.

Although we respected the choice of Peter Moore to operate a land based radio station, we did not feel that he could recreate this way the atmosphere of an offshore radio station operating from the sea.

We can agree on the fact that, if Caroline used a ship in 1964, it was because this was the only way to set up a commercial station. Everyone will agree that this developed into something more than just an ordinary radio station operating from land and therefore the ship became part of its success worldwide.

Peter Moore wonders how he could establish an offshore station nowadays!

Well if he doesn't know how, why bother to keep a ship then, when all the current programmes are coming from studios on dry land?

He could have done what Radio London did in 1967, surrender and turn the page over. He could then have established a licensed radio station (as Philip Birch did with Piccadilly - Philip was fair enough not to call his station Radio London anyway!) and give up the fight. If Peter Moore wants to keep the name Radio Caroline, that's just because he thinks he can attract more listeners that way.

But we don't think you can run a radio station, by just trading off a name.

Offshore Echo's has always considered that the name Radio Caroline only belongs to an offshore station, not a satellite or what have you. We also consider that a station operating at sea no matter the name you have, would also be successful as long as you can recreate this so specific atmosphere - as Laser did for instance.

Peter seems afraid, if the ship ever returned to sea, the authorities would seize her and never give her back. This has to be tested! Having the ship lost or having her rusting in port doing nothing? A terrible choice!

Legally, internationally, this cannot be done if the ship is properly registered, no matter what the UK 1991 Broadcasting act!

Peter also wonders where he could make the ship ready. Although this is strange that he asks himself such a question after having left the Ross in port for more than 10 years. The Caroline supporters group will probably be happy to hear this, those who have provided everything for 10 years to try and make the ship seaworthy again! And what about our proposal in 1999 to have the ship overhauled completely at no cost for the group, for a display at the International Ship convention in Rouen in 2000? Mr. Moore didn't even consider this.

And to wonder where the tenders would come from? Where did they come from in the 80's?

And to find a non-EU crew? What were Laser's staff nationalities? All these questions were valid already in the 70's and 80's and this didn't stop Laser to be a successful operation as far as listeners were concerned.

Although we do not have the same views as those of Peter Moore, we have never criticised the programming contents of his satellite operation, we leave this to their own support group!

Apparently Peter is not doing the same regarding Offshore Echo's contents. - "Another lengthy interview was with a man who had been the caretaker at offices vacated by Radio Caroline in 1967. At this rate we will soon be reading interviews with Johnnie Walkers postman." That's a good idea Peter and certainly more interesting than what we can hear on radio nowadays !"

It would have been more simple if Offshore Echo's had left its ideals and joined the current staff of satellite broadcasters. We could also be the supporters of Virgin Radio or Atlantic 252!

But we still believe in the future of offshore radio and for that reason we'll continue our fight.

If you are on the same lines, join us! If all free radio groups would act together, we could have won a long time ago!

www.offshoreechos.com

oem@offshoreechos.com

RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL

Press Release No. 1 - MAY 1st, 2001

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On Sunday June 3, 2001, Radio Northsea International is set to make a third return to the airwaves, on a 28 day RSL, following successful broadcasts in 1999 and 2000.

The broadcast will again be sited on the former Light Vessel No.18, currently moored alongside the Old Railway Pier in Harwich.

Work commitments will keep Paul Graham, who ran the previous two broadcasts to a week-end and advisory role. Colin Lamb, in overall charge of this years broadcast says: "We are back by popular demand. Both the 1999 and 2000 broadcasts proved to be a success with both listeners and advertisers and such was the level of support that last year saw the formation of an RNI Fan Club. We shall again bring back the music of the early seventies and sixties and there will again be no computers running
RNI so it will be the DJ's picking the music, not a computer!

Colin is delighted to report that the project will again be sponsored by Wilkin & Sons, makers of the world famous Tiptree jams.

RNI will be heard on the a.m. frequency, 1503 Khz, 199 metres medium wave. The broadcast will also again be carried over the Internet. Last year, the listenership over the Internet proved greater than in the Tendring area, such is the popularity of RNI.

Potential advertisers are now being sought and any Companies interested are asked to contact Colin Lamb on 01255 431936 (phone), 01255 421011 (Fax) or by e-mail at colin@quizquest.fsnet.co.uk

The format of this years broadcast will see a recreation of 'four windows of time'. Week one will recreate the station as it was on June 3, 1971, with genuine charts, hitbound sounds, smash plays, album tracks, as well as a good mix of 60s hits. Week two will move the station to June 10, 1972, week 3 to June 17, 1973 and week 4 to June 24, 1974, which is in fact just 2 months before the real RNI closed down.

Colin says: 'It has been a real challenge tracking down the actual charts that RNI used in the weeks in question and then finding the records in those charts. However, with the help of contacts in the UK and Netherlands, we have managed it and I have collected around 400 'hitbound' or non-hits for 1971-74 and about 600 albums from the same period. Add in every hit 1971-74, plus a vast collection of music from the 1950s to 1970, I think the only problem for the DJs is whether they it all in the 28 days. You'll have to tune it to find out!!

RNI's website

Well dear radiofriends,

again a month has gone so here, not too much, news from the Netherlands.

Within a month De Raad van State, the highest organisation which can withdrawn juridical decisions or declare them for 100% correct, will give answer on the question if and how large the claim money will be for Delta 171 in the courtcase against the local government of Apeldoorn. Within the district also the little place Kootwijk is situated and it was there that Delta 171 first planned the commercial stations areal masts. Enviromental organisation tried several times with court cases to get away from the planned transmittersite. Delta 171 asked for 16 million guilders damage costs.

Radio Nationaal is back but only on cablestations. The new owner has not enough money to pay also the high amounts of costs for putting the signal also on AM (1035 and 1332 kHz) where the station officially started in June 2000. Now their first aim is to signal on all cable stations again, where the station was relayed before. After the first owner of the station went busted several cable companies gave away the frequencies to other stations. However this officially could not have been done. The contracts were not made by the former owner, but by another company called Publivision.

Radio Noord (North) the regional station for the Provence of Groningen gained a 9,1% listening share which is the highest for the regional radio in Holland. During the first quarter of 2001 the got 1,2% more listeners than before. Also in the last quarter of 2000 they were the best listened to station. The station has a target from 20 up till 49 years. A very well listened to programme is in the mornings between 10 and 12. A programm presented by Rob van Dam, former Marc Jacobs on Mi Amigo and Radio Caroline in the seventies.

Since April 9th Wegener Publishing Company stations Love Radio and Radio 10FM are on digital satelite. They are part of the Canal+ Digital net. On the Astra staellite at 19° East they can be heard and now both stations can be picked up by satellite all over Europe. Of course Radio10 FM is known in England by their AM frequency 675 kHz. Love Radio is a very laid back station with soft easy listening music played non stop from a computer.

The Commissariaat voor de media, the committee responsible for giving away all the cableaccess and frequencies for FM as well as AM stations in the Netherlands (The Dutch version of the Radio Authority) will decide before September if Bussiness News Radio can keep the FM frequency which was given them by Minister van der Ploeg. He did make a mistake to give this frequency as the law had just changed when he did. Formerly the frequency was for JFK, a Jazz station which went busted. Several Jazz fans will start an email action soon to get the frequency back for a Jazz station. However no one has official opted for the frequency

Here some info about former Laser deejays working now in American Radio. Mostly we see the changes in the magazines when Charlie Wolfe or Jessie Brandon change from station. What about Laserrette Erin Kelly, who nowadays worked under her own name Erin Weber at WYCD in Detroit. Kirk Clyatt (KC in the morning) works at an organisation who delivers weather reports and Steve Masters has a job with the VOA.

The Norderney, former Veronica transmitting vessel, has left Leewarden harbour some days ago and went to the small harbour of Urk, where some work has to be done on the hull of the ship. Then it will be towed early May to Antwerp harbour where it will be for the next two years in the Kempenharbour as a partyship.

And finnaly Radio Noord paid attention in an historical item called 'What where you doing on this day ….. years ago.' In fact the question was asked to me on April 2nd and the question was about 28 years ago. So we went back to the day a heavy storm put the Veronicavessel on the beach and talked also about the biggest demonstration ever (up till April 1973) took place in the Haque, when more than 150.000 offshore radio friends demonstrated against the plan of Dutch government to ban the offshore radiostations. And……..Ronan O'Rahilly was there too in the Haque.

Well that's all for now. Till next month

Hans Knot

OVER 1000 VOTES CAST, CAROLINE LEADS THE POLL

In January 2001 TTS-Mediapro opened a poll on it's web site asking the questions:

What if . . . The European Union were to offer a pan European offshore broadcasting licence starting in 2001 to one of the historic offshore stations in recognition of their contribution to the development of European broadcasting?

What if . . . Radio enthusiasts could choose who will get the licence by popular vote?

Who would you vote for?

We had no idea how many people would vote over the year the poll will be open but we guessed at between 100 and 200.

As of today (Sunday 15th April), much to our surprise and delight, over 1,000 radio enthusiasts have voted.

With a vote of the unexpected size we have decided to release an interim report on how the vote is progressing. The scores so far are as follows:

405 Radio Caroline
153 Laser 558
142 Radio Veronica
127 RNI
74 Radio Mi Amigo
35 Radio London Big L
29 Swinging Radio England
19 Radio Scotland
9 Radio 270
5 Radio Nord
4 Britain Radio
3 Radio City
2 Radio Essex
1 Radio Invicta

4 voters did not find the station of their choice on the list provided and voted 'other'.

Our thanks to all that have voted so far, and if you haven't voted yet remember that the poll stays open for the whole of the year 2001, so there is still time to vote for the station of your choice at
http://www.tts-mediapro.co.uk

Arie van Loon 1957 - 2001

On Thursday April 12 Arie van Loon has suddenly died. He worked on Radio Caroline as DJ Hugo the Groot, just up to two days before the ship sank (with Wout van der Meer). Arie had only celebrated his 44th birthday less than three weeks ago. Although without any radio-experience at all he was allowed to become a board-DJ on the Mi Amigo, just before the ship’s demise in March 1980. Less then a year later he gained (inter-)national fame in Belgium as one of the staff DJ’s on the hugely popular Radio Maeva – along with DJ Ben van Praag. There is no discussion they were the main faces on this station Patrick Valain modelled on Radio Mi Amigo and there's no dispute it was the most popular landbased ‘pirate’ in Belgium. When the gouvernement tried to close the station he lead the rally with more than 20.000 avid fans of the station. In 1984 het joined Radio Continue, a borderstation on Belgium soil, aimed at various cities in the southern part of The Netherlands. He had a degree in social cultural studies. Although he didn’t choose to be in the radio-trade in the first place, Arie grew out to be a good, relaxed DJ with a personal style. Above all he was was a very kind person and a warm personality, which we will be missing a heck of a lot. His sudden dead has been a big shock. Arie leaves a wife and two young children behind.

Jelle Boonstra

Read Arie's biography on the Maeva website.

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