Offshore Radio Newsflash

The latest offshore radio related news by reporters from Europe and the Middle East, updated whenever there is a new item. Please feel free to contribute via

Monday March 2nd 2009

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's March 2009 report HERE.

Sunday February 14th 2009

Tim Gillett (BBC Radio Essex), Tony O'Neill and Mary Payne reporting:

The Ship Is Coming In

Award winning Pirate BBC Essex returns this Easter for a four day broadcast aboard the LV18, the vessel which was used in the filming of The Boat That Rocked.

Legendary DJ’s Tony Blackburn and Johnnie Walker are just two of the original sixties offshore radio presenters who will be teaming up with BBC Essex hosts for a celebration of that unique watery wireless sound.

“In 2007 we told listeners it could be the last time for Pirate BBC Essex,” said BBC Essex Managing Editor Gerald Main. “Ever since fans from Essex and across the world have been asking us to do it one more time. We’ve been swayed by their wishes and their ship is literally coming in.”

In 2007 and in the first broadcast in 2004, Pirate BBC Essex came from the LV18 half a mile off the Essex coast. This year, the vessel will be moored alongside the Harwich Ha’penny Pier.

“Thousands of sixties pirate radio fans will be able to get within a few feet of the fun action,” said Pirate BBC Essex creator Steve Scruton. “It’s the forty fifth anniversary of the start of Radio Caroline but for fans of the offshore radio sound, it’s like yesterday.”

Thousands of younger listeners were turned on to 60’s music by Pirate BBC Essex in 2004 and 2007 and thousands more are likely to join them once they’ve seen The Boat That Rocked. Written and directed by Richard Curtis the film stars Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans and Kenneth Branagh.

“We’re really pleased that Universal used the LV18 for one of the most eagerly anticipated films for years,” said Tony O’Neil of the Pharos Trust which owns the LV18. “To welcome Pirate BBC Essex back within days of the film’s release is just wonderful news.”

The vessel’s bridge will be converted into a radio studio from where Pirate BBC Essex will broadcast on 729, 765 and 1530 MW and on www.bbc.co.uk/essex from 7 am on Good Friday April 10.

“We’ll be playing those great pirate radio classics like Caroline and A Whiter Shade Of Pale,” said Pirate BBC Essex programmes producer Tim Gillett, “plus songs which may not have been heard for more than forty years like That’s The Way Love Goes by Charles Dickens or Incense by The Anglos. And after A Fine Fine Bird in 2004 and Untrue Unfaithful That Was You in 2007, I’m already thinking about a new record of the week”

Presenters like Dave Cash and Roger Day, who’ll be appearing on Pirate BBC Essex this Easter, remember playing those songs for the first time on the pirate ships moored off the Essex coast between 1964 and 1967.

Listeners will be able to also hear some of those sixties style radio jingles and that unique echo which was so reminiscent of those pioneering pop music radio days.

For more information contact: Tim Gillett, BBC Essex on 01245 616042 or tim.gillett@bbc.co.uk

For more information on the LV18 and the Pharos Trust, contact: Tony O’Neil on 07796 280980 on thelightship@gmail.com

Thursday February 12th 2009

Rob Olthof schrijft:

CAROLINE
"The modern Caroline is about as interesting as watching grass growing. Such a shame to tarnish a legendary brand in such a way i think but true.Caroline should sound similar to Planet rock i think but who am i to say !"

Deze “hartekreet” stond in een Anorak site. Ik ben het er niet mee eens. Natuurlijk is het voor de fans leuker dat de programma’s vanaf een schip worden uitgezonden op middengolf zodat je niet of je schotel moet aanzetten of via internet kan luisteren. Fans vinden het spannend om te horen dat het windkracht 11 is buiten en de dj zijn best doet om toch nog een programma te maken of men vindt het spannend te horen dat men dringend om een tender verlegen zit of dat “men van het anker is”. Maar de realiteit is anders. Wetgeving alsmede de hoge prijs van olie maken het onmogelijk om nog uit te zenden vanaf zee. En waarom zou men ook. Uitzenden vanaf land is al een hele tour.
Zeker in deze tijd van kredietcrisis. Er komt onvoldoende reclamegeld binnen en bovendien zitten een heleboel stations te vissen in de leeftijdsgroep 15-25 jaar. Een dubbele handicap. Ten eerste is de toevloed van hedendaagse pop nou niet van een “eeuwigheidswaarde”om maar eufemistisch te zeggen. Zondag een hit, zaterdag al vergeten. Lokale stations kunnen het hoofd al nauwelijks boven water houden.

OK, Caroline moet het dus hebben van de satelliet alsmede van internet. De financiën die binnenkomen via de Caroline support Group moeten verdeeld worden over het schip ( reparaties alsmede schilderwerk) en de kosten voor de satelliet. Het punt is echter dat in de afgelopen tien jaar of meer diverse mensen Peter Moore erop gewezen hebben dat men wat meer achter de adverteerders aangaat.
Dat gebeurt gewoon niet. Het enige dat Peter Moore doet is het aansporen van de fans om maar wat meer geld te storten, terwijl het ook anders kan. Bands in Europa: België, Duitsland, Nederland, Frankrijk enz zouden ook ertoe aangezet kunnen worden om hun recente cd’s te pluggen via Caroline. Sterker nog, men kan de cd’s ook via de website nog kunnen verkopen. Gebeurt niet. Dat is jammer. In januari hebben Hans Knot en ik nog gemaild naar Peter Moore, maar kregen geen antwoord. In het blad Horizon lazen we dat het financieel heel slecht gaat met Caroline. Het is dan ook maar zeer de vraag of het station eind van dit jaar nog op de satelliet zit. Duimen maar! Bovendien is het heel jammer dat op zaterdagmiddag de Nederlandse uurtjes verzorgd door o.a. Ad Roberts en Dick Verheul ook al verdwenen zijn en zaterdagmiddag wij ook al John Lewis moeten missen. Dankzij de “stiff upperlip” krijgen de fans, donateurs en belangstellenden nooit precies te horen wat er aan de hand is. Het is en blijft het speeltje van Peter Moore en zo moet het blijven - volgens Peter Moore.
Mail je naar Peter Moore met suggesties, krijg je in de meeste gevallen geen antwoord, want die suggestie komt van een andere dan Peter Moore en dan gaat het feest niet door. Peter Moore is een soort dictator in het klein. Jammer. Caroline zou zoveel beter kunnen als hij zou luisteren naar de suggesties van anderen, maar helaas het is niet anders. Het zal jammer zijn alsook Caroline na Big L zou moeten verdwijnen.

GIERIGHEID
Laatst vroeg een buitenlandse radiovriend aan mij - enigszins aarzelend: “zijn Nederlanders zou gierig”? Ik heb dit beaamd. Hij ging verder: op de radiodag zie ik mensen soms aarzelend een cd of dvd kopen. Zie ik een Belg of Engelsman, dan koopt men een stapeltje cd’s.
Wederom moest ik hem gelijk geven. Ik antwoordde hem dat ik mij ook erger aan mensen die te beroerd zijn om een abonnement op een krant of tijdschrift te nemen, terwijl ze het wel kunnen betalen en dan later klagen als die betreffende krant of tijdschrift uit de schappen verdwenen is. Ik denk bijvoorbeeld aan de Muiderkring, Dr. Blan, en andere tijdschriften. Een tijd geleden had ik een uitgebreid gesprek met een oud collega van me die penningmeester is van een voetbal club. “Olthof”, zei hij, “het is bar en boos. Voor 1 januari moeten de leden voor een jaar betaald hebben, sommigen presteren het om na 3 maal een waarschuwing gestuurd te hebben om nog niet te betalen. Hun zoontjes zitten dan op de voetbalclub en de zoons moet ik dan naar huis sturen waarvan de vaders niet betaald hebben. Dan na een uur krijg ik de telefoontjes met het gescheld. Hoe ik het in mijn hoofd haal om hun zoons naar huis te sturen. Ik blijf daar stoïcijns onder .
Niet betalen betekent niet sporten”. Ik beaamde dit ten volle. Laatst meldde iemand van de nieuwsgroep dat een aantal dvd’s van een andere radioclub zo te downloaden waren. De man vergeet dat elke club geld nodig heeft om voort te bestaan. Alles kost geld. Het in de lucht houden van een website, het onderhoud van de computer, researchwerk van Hans Knot. En dan hebben we het niet eens over de vele uren die sommigen van ons in de hobby steken. Men verwacht aan het eind van het jaar een perfecte radiodag en die komt er ook, maar men vergeet de vele uren aan voorbereiding die er in gestoken zijn. Wees blij dat de radiohobby nog steeds bestaat. Van de 27 mc clubs is niets meer over, Free Radio Magazine bestaat al jaren niet meer, Baffle bestaat niet meer enz enz. Als ik vroeger op de NZ Voorburgwal in Amsterdam liep, stond het er vol met postzegel kramen, nu zijn ze bijna allemaal weg. De jeugd is aan het gamen en over tien, vijftien jaar zegt de jeugd misschien: Radio, wat is dat? Laten we hopen dat het niet zover komt.

Rob Olthof

Sunday February 1st 2009

John Myer reporting on his "Pirate Radio Hall of Fame":

Johnnie Walker returns to his offshore roots on BBC Radio 2 this month with a new series called Pirate Johnnie Walker, recreating the sound of sixties music radio. It is on Saturdays at 9pm from 7th February.

And the following day a new series starts on BBC Radio Essex, too. Every Sunday at 3pm Tim Gillett, one of the main-men behind Pirate BBC Essex, will be playing classic and rarely heard songs from the sixties offshore era.

Listen to a promo. The "Pirate Johnnie Walker" website.

The "Unofficial" Radio Report

Happy New Year from a snow covered and cold Peene, Kent. Yes, as planned I moved from Hawkinge to this small village behind Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone. My first night on the 5th January was actually colder than tonight, because the central heating was not working and as I was away over Christmas I am not sure for how long! Luckily one of my new neighbours got it working the next day, except the radiator in the hall. A valve in the loft had got stuck. Thanks Colin, you are a star!

Radio Caroline had live New Year Celebrations on board the Ross Revenge, which was really great, especially after last years non event. Martin Fisher also did a live breakfast show from the land based studio and was heard in the evening on the ship, along with Cliff Osbourne and Jeremy Chartham. The restoration crew (Lee, Graham and Phil) did the overnight slot, which has become a bit of a tradition for broadcasts from the Ross. Cliff did a final live show from 07.00 to 09.00 hours on New Years Day.

The first month of the New Year marked two 10th anniversaries. A happy 10th birthday and thanks to Hans Knot for his excellent and respected Radio Report. EKR sadly closed down on the evening of Sunday 3rd January 1999 after station owner Peter Leutner decided to close the station whilst on his Christmas vacation in Holland, giving the staff only one days notice! As a result Radio Caroline extended its satellite service to regular weekend broadcasting and eventually 24/7. Don’t forget that EKR is now back as an Internet only radio station http://www.ekr.net

There was also two other anniversaries in January. On the 1st there was a day of special programmes to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the start of Radio Mi Amigo. The 12 hours of programmes via the website http://www.radiomiamigo.eu were presented by many of the original DJ’s and included a memorial to Sylvain Tack, the founder and the original first hour in studio quality. There were also shows presented in by Steve England and Andy Archer, the latter who was the station’s first Programme Director. On the 17th it was the first anniversary of the passing away of the Caroline/Imagination presenter Rob Leighton. To mark the occasion there was a special Top 15 played by Cliff Osbourne, Radio Caroline on Friday 16th with the tracks selected by Tony Yeshin a long time Caroline listener and Support Group member. Thanks Tony for that fitting tribute and Rob we are still missing you.

Jonathan Woss has sadly returned after his 12 week suspension. On his first TV show he repeated his apology to Andrew Sachs. I watched his second TV show just out of interest and it is clearly apparent that for the moment he is being on his best behaviour. Mind you Radio Caroline had some political controversy on the Sunday before the inauguration of the new USA president, when Mark Dezzani played a couple of tracks, the first featuring cut up and rearranged speeches of the outgoing Bush and the second one uncut ones from Obama, and as always Mark was not afraid to add his political views. This all followed an excellent tribute to Patrick McGoohan and his cult TV series the Prisoner. Unfortunately Mark has not been heard since, so I wonder if he has been suspended without pay, due to complaints made by Bush and his fan. Mind you, Captain Peter Moore emailed Tony to try to get him to play a couple of politically motivated tracks the day after Obama’s inauguration and he refused to “go there”. Tony had returned to breakfast on Monday 5th January, after an absence due to technical issues with the new studio. As per normal we get our daily dose of Paris Hilton news, which was incidentally endorsed by Peter Moore in aforementioned email.

Most of the problems that Radio Caroline was having in December after moving to the new studios have now been sorted out, but there is still the odd programme absent or in the wrong time slot. One of the strangest happenings was during the 60’s and 70’s show on Tuesday 13th January, when programming on Sky was interrupted for some time by an English Language course! I am not sure what happened there.

The radio station Radio Tatras International (RTI) closed down last Sunday (25th) at midnight. I must admit I did not listen to the station, which I believe could be heard in the UK on Sky. If you missed their final hour then go to the stations website http://radiotatrasinternational.blogspot.com and click on the listen again link. You will also be able to read a very long statement of why the broadcaster closed down

I reported last time that Worldspace had filed for bankruptcy. Well it was due to go up for auction on the 26th January. Assets include 2 satellites in orbit and a 3rd in storage. The court was due to decide last Friday who would be the new owners. http://www.radioworld.com/article/73360 & http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/142994-sale-two-satellites.html

There is a new group on Facebook called “Let's get Ronan O'Rahilly a Knighthood. The man is a legend!” It has been created by David Wilkinson. At the time of writing there are only 104 members so please join. You well see many familiar faces like Buzby, Roger “Twiggy” Day, Martin Turner, Steve Conway and me! David also urges everyone in the UK to write to the House of Lords and voice your opinion via this website http://www.writetothem.com Many are asking if this campaign was successful, would Ronan accept and turn up to receive it? He was tricked into receiving a Radio Academy Award last year, so it’s possible.

Bob LeRoi has put together a Radio Caroline roll call on his scrap book website. I have not yet looked all the way through the full A to Z, but what I have seen so far looks really good, with lots of photos I have not seen before. Obviously a lot of hard work has gone into this, so please make all Bob’s efforts worth while by going to the following
http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/CarolineRollCall/CarolineRollCallA.html

The Isle of Wight got a new radio station today. www.wightfm.com only available via the internet or Wi-Fi radio, started at 11.00 hours. I missed the beginning, but listened this afternoon and two of the advertised programmes, Richard Cartridge and then Opal Bonfante, was just continuous music with voice tracked announcements by David Hamilton etc. Not a good start. I assume the launch had Alex Dyke “live”. The station has been selling Wi-Fi radios all week, but sold out and is waiting for new supplies to arrive on Tuesday (3rd). The line up of presenters includes many ex offshore and Radio Luxemburg DJ’s, some who like Mike Read who also worked on the last reincarnation of Big L. You should be able to hear the likes of Paul Burnett, Mark Wesley, Rosko, Ed Stewart, Shaun Tilley and Benny Brown. Is this the final nail in Big L’s coffin? At the time of the launch it has also been reported that the latest RAJAR listening figures for Isle of Wight Radio on normal FM are at a five year low, with only a 29% reach across the island and some of their popular presenters like Alex Dyke have already left to join the new station owned by William Smith & Martin Potter.

Hans Knot, Rob Olthof and Martin van der Ven have already been busy planning this year's Radio Day (the 31st), which will be taking place on Saturday 14th November 2009. Once again it will be held in the Hotel Casa in Amsterdam. More details at http://www.radioday.nl but do not delay because at the moment there is a competition where 2 people can win free admission to the day. All you have to do is look at the new Radio Day banner containing many photos of former Radio Day guests from 2001 to 2008 and name at least 100 of them and at least 2 guests appearing three times on the banner. Send your answers to hknot@home.nl The Closing date for entries is February 15th 2008, so hurry.

Rock fans may be interested to know that I came across a good rock video satellite channel the other day called “Scuzz” www.scuzz.tv It is on Sky Channel 374 free to air and the tuning details from www.lyngsat.com are frequency 11642 Vertical and the other bits 27500 and 2/3. The repetitive adverts are a bit annoying, but the music was mostly good.

Steve Conway’s forthcoming book about his days on Radio Caroline was given some welcome publicity in the Irish Independent newspaper and they also reported that the radio station is still broadcasting today. The title of the book has now been confirmed as “Shiprocked – Life on the waves with Radio Caroline” and is due to be published in the UK on the 31st March. It has been endorsed by Station Manager Peter Moore, who will be able to offer the book with a very special package for those who buy it through the Radio Caroline Society. Watch out for details very soon. In the meantime you can find more details at http://steveconway.wordpress.com/the-book/ It is nice that despite their past differences, Peter and Steve are now working together for the benefit of Radio Caroline. A good example of the spirit of Loving Awareness.

There are two presenters on Radio Caroline who notably mention Loving Awareness more than the other presenters. One is Tim Charles and the other Bob Lawrence, who a couple of weeks ago, with the help of a listener, explained the concept of LA so perfectly. Funnily enough, shortly afterwards (but not for the first time) I let a girl with only one item go in front of me at the supermarket check out. She was so pleased and seemed to be taken back by this small gesture. In return, as stated by Bob, you get a good feeling. These days a lot of young people get bad press, but another example of Loving Awareness is that my daughter Rhiannon is doing a Sky Dive on the weekend of the 6th-8th March 2009 to raise money for the Rainbow Trust, a charity which supports families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. Carers provide practical and emotional support to all family members within the family home and at its two respite homes. It aims to support more families with a terminally ill child. I am very proud that Rhiannon is taking a risk, no matter how slight, in order to help others. As announced on the Nigel Harris programme a couple of week ago, Rhiannon is looking for lots of sponsors to maximise her efforts. I know we are in difficult times at the moment, but if you can give a minimum of £2 it would be greatly appreciated. It is so easy, just go to http://www.justgiving.com/rhiannonszmidt-rainbowtrust Thank you very much.

Until next time,

LA

Steve Szmidt, Peene, Folkestone, Kent, England.

Friday January 23rd 2009

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's January 2009 report HERE.

Christmas Eve December 24th 2008

35 JAAR MI AMIGO
Met vrijwel alle DJ's van 1974 op 1 januari 2009 via www.radiomiamigo.eu

De complete jubileumprogrammering van Radio Mi Amigo 192 voor Nieuwjaarsdag is bekend.
Vrijwel de voltallige originele DJ ploeg uit de roemruchte beginperiode van de zeezender Mi Amigo neemt nogmaals plaats achter de microfoon om in een spiksplinternieuw geproduceerd jubileumprogramma samen met de luisteraars van toen en nu 35 jaar Mi Amigo te vieren.

Maar liefst 12 uur lang staat Radio Mi Amigo 192 stil bij 1 januari 1974.
's Morgens vanaf 10 uur wordt eerst aandacht geschonken aan 2 gezichtsbepalende mensen die er helaas niet meer bij kunnen zijn. Uiteraard grondlegger Sylvain Tack, die van 10 tot 11 uur wordt herdacht. Norbert zorgt voor de presentatie en denkt samen met andere direct betrokkenen terug aan de radiopionier.
Daarna wordt een hommage aan Joop Verhoof uitgezonden, middels studiofragmenten van zijn programma's en herinneringen aan Joop van oud-collega's en vrienden. Een en ander wordt ingeleid door Ton Schipper.
Vanaf 12 uur klinkt nogmaals het eerste uur van Mi Amigo uit 1974,
maar nu in studiokwaliteit.

DJ'S VAN TOEN EN NU IN DE JOEPIE TOP 50
Daarna geeft Bert Bennett samen met Bert van der Laan vanaf 13 uur de aftrap voor een 5 uur durende uitzending van een antieke Joepie Top 50 uit begin 1974. Om 14 uur is het de beurt aan Will van der Steen en Johan van den Berg. Norbert neemt het derde deel van 15 tot 16 uur voor zijn rekening. Frans van der Drift is samen met Peter Hoogwerf te beluisteren in het vierde uur Top 50 en Ad Petersen (Ad Roland) en Frans van der Meer presenteren de bovenste 10 platen tot 18 uur. Tussendoor wordt ook tijd ingeruimd voor Secco Vermaat, die om gezondheidsredenen niet presenterend aan het evenement kan deel te nemen. In ieder geval maakte Secco een speciaal voor dit gebeuren geschreven bijdrage, waaraan in de Top 50 ruim aandacht wordt geschonken. Meteen daarna weerklinkt als vanouds Manneke Pop. Peter van Dam dus, die ook de hele dag nadrukkelijk is te horen in de speciale vormgeving !

'S AVONDS DE "SPECIALS".
Na 19 uur wordt aandacht geschonken aan de jingles en commercials van Mi Amigo uit de beginperiode.
De vele markante jingles en commercials van Eddy Govert staan centraal tot 20 uur. Met niet alleen een uitgebreid gesprek me de componist van ook het fameuze Mi Amigo Lied, maar ook nog een prachtverrassing aan het eind. Daarna vertelt Steve England alles over zijn Sonovox jingles, zijn roemruchte piraten-avonturen en zijn jingleproducties.
Tot slot volgt na 21 uur Mi Amigo's eerste officiële programmaleider,
Andy Archer.

12 UUR JUBILEUMPROGRAMMA'S OM DE HELE NIEUWJAARSDAG VAN TE GENIETEN.
WIJ WENSEN IEDEREEN EEN PRIMA 2009 !!!
10-11 Sylvain Tack memorial
11-12 Joop Verhoof memorial
12-13 1e uur Mi Amigo 1974 op studiokwaliteit
13-14 Bert Bennett
14-15 Will van der Steen
15-16 Norbert
16-17 Frans van der Drift
17-18 Ad Petersen
18-19 Peter van Dam
19-20 Eddy Govert
21-21 Steve England
21-22 Andy Archer

Hier is de laatste youtube film met Frans van der Drift http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=njO6bmovQ9s

Monday December 22nd 2008

The "Unofficial" Radio Report

Saturday 20th December 2008.

Well here it is the last report of 2008. Sorry these haven’t been as regular recently, but work and personal commitments have prevented this. The next time I write to you I will have moved a couple of miles from my current location, to a village called Peene, near Newington and the Folkestone Channel Tunnel terminal.

Last weekend Nick Wythe, a radio friend of mine from Ashford, Kent and I took Barry Crompton out for what has become a Christmas tradition of having an Indian meal then a drink afterwards. Like last year we went to the Spice Master in Sturry, because it was the best place we have found so far that is close to Barry’ s nursing home. We then had a couple of drinks in the Fordwich Arms, because it always has a good festive environment and warm welcome. Roland Beaney, one of the restoration crew and Clive Gerard’s little helper, asked me how Barry was getting on and I am sure other readers of this report would be interested to know. He is still wheel chair bound and when he had to stand to get in out of my wife’s people carrier he was in some pain. Also, he has not fully recovered from the brain damage he sustained in the accident, but he is a lot better than he was. Unfortunately I don’t think he ever fully recover in this respect and sadly it looks like he will never be able to walk again.

The latest on Big L is that Roger Davis is still doing live shows on what continues to be an internet only radio station and apparently these are still coming from the studios in Frinton. Mike Read is doing a weekday morning show in Cheltenham and these are simultaneously broadcast on Big L and Gloucestershire’s Star 107.5. Ray Anderson is still being heard but only by voice tracking and surprisingly Rosko is still doing his Saturday morning show. On the 8th December the Emperor was inducted into the Radio Academy of Fame, along with Simon Bates and James Naughtie. Mike Read was heard on KMFM one Sunday in November standing in for a sick Tony Blackburn. Apparently Read was live, unlike the Blackburn version.

The legal version of Radio Jackie was 5 years old on the 19th October. You can hear Colin King present the stations history in monthly instalments on European Music Radio, 6140 kHz Short Wave and on line. The next one, Part 4, is tomorrow (21st) from 1330 to 1355 UTC, with more scheduled for the new year, same time, same frequency, but sorry I was not given the actual broadcast dates, but if you email the station, studio@emr.org.uk Tom Taylor will add you to his mailing list and send you regular updates. I heard Part 3 and found it very enlightening. For example I did not know that Mike Baker worked on Radio Jackie and was shocked to learn that he was an informer to the authorities. I also found out that Kenny Everett got the idea for his Kaptain Kremen series from Pat Edison on Radio Kaleidoscope. You can buy the “Radio Jackie – A very English Struggle” book written by Colin King, plus the new audio CD from the Radio Caroline Society http://rcsocietysales.co.uk for £17.99 and whilst you shopping for that, you may like to buy the new 2009 Radio Caroline A3 Calendar for £5.99. If you just want the Radio Jackie book try www.jackiebooks.com

Mark Stafford also had an anniversary at the end of October. In the last weekend of October 1978 he did his first radio show on short wave pirate Radio Cavendish on 6260 kHz. He celebrated his 30th year by featuring that month and year in the Rock Flashback in his Stafford’s World radio show.

Also at the end of October saw the suspension from BBC Radio 2 of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, because they went too far by leaving prank messages on the voicemail of Andrew Sachs (the one from Barcelona in the classic British comedy Fawlty Towers). Later Brand resigned and so did Lesley Douglas, Controller of Radio 2. I personally dislike both Ross (currently suspended without pay) and Brand, and I think Douglas has got what she deserved for controversially handing Johnnie Walker's drive time slot over to Chris Evans in 2006. The full story is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7698417.stm and the full resignation letter of Douglas at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7700828.stm

The film “The Boat that Rocked” has already had trailers played in the UK cinemas, which you can see on www.youtube.com and the poster at http://www.screeninglog.com/journal/2008/11/3/poster-for-the-boat-that-rocked-online.html Whilst you are on You Tube why not check out the music video that was made on the Ross Revenge when she was at the Docklands in 1995
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yAJpB-Ct6P0 The song is rubbish, but it is worth watching the video for posterity! I noticed a discrepancy between two reports about the Boat that Rocked. The Internet Movie Data Base (www.imdb.com) states the film is set in the 1960’s, but the BBC website would lead us to believe it is the following decade. If you watch the trailer you will know the year is 1966. I can’t wait until May, when the film is due to set sail.

Sadly Worldspace is no more. They filed for bankruptcy in October and the UK uplink to Afristar was switched off on the 13th November, so stations like Radio Caroline can no longer be heard. This satellite was supposed to have gone off air in November 2007 to make way for a new technology, but Caroline continued with the added bonus of being Free to Air. So I don’t suppose we can complain, even if we do now have redundant equipment. Luckily I have the Hitachi receiver, so it is still a useful AM/FM and SW receiver. For the full story: http://www.1worldspace.com/corporate/news/2008/081022.html

Steve Conway has written a book about his time on Radio Caroline and this is due to be published by Liberties Press in March 2009 priced at £12.99. The book will be illustrated with photos taken by the author and also John Burch’s. Steve has promised a good deal for the Radio Caroline Society, so you will be able to purchase a copy from them. Nigel Harris announced (22nd November) that he has finished writing his autobiography and sent it off to the publisher. I am not sure when that will be published, but no doubt sometime during 2009. Meanwhile Roger Day has just started writing his and on his BBC South evening programme he asked his listeners to suggest a title for it. I am not sure if he made a decision yet. Not only has Twiggy got a normal Facebook, but he recently started one especially for his evening show. I joined both. Thanks to Roger for inviting me.

Radio Caroline was the official radio station of this year’s “Sail, Power and Water Sports Show” at Earls Court in London. The station broadcast live from the event from Wednesday 26th to Sunday 30th November using the Gates desk taken from the Ross Revenge, and restored for use in the making of the film “The Boat that Rocked”. Some of the presenters during the 5 day outside broadcast were not as per the normal programme schedule, including members of the restoration crew and John Patrick, who met the Tony Prince. There was a special 2 for 1 ticket offer for listeners and a live continuous movement web cam (not snap shots taken at set intervals), but I was unable to get pictures from it on my computer. This was great publicity for the station, but it is likely that this only resulted in a brief increase in the number of listeners due the problems that followed? E.g. Who other than the die hard radio enthusiasts would have continued to listen?

Radio Caroline had been using John Brocks studio until the start of the Earls Court show, when their contact with his company ended. EKR now rent it instead. The plan was for the move to new studio to be completed by the end of the Boat Show, but unfortunately this did not happen. Consequently most of the normal programming was absent on Monday 1st December and replaced by continuous music. The first issue was that BT was late installing Broadband into the new studios in Rochester. However, even after the installation was completed the troubles continued. For example shows were repeated, broadcast at the wrong times (one morning I thought I had overslept when I heard a Top 15 being broadcast early) or cut off before the end, there was dead air, presenters unable to upload programmes directly to the studios and of course the hours of continuous music. My breakfasts are not the same without my daily helping of Paris Hilton news, but at least I can look forward to her new UK TV show starting soon! Not long before Tony Paul disappeared from our satellites/internet he admitted his show was “Paris Hilton Central”. On the morning of the 17th December I switched Caroline on at 07.45 and heard what sounded like the soundtrack to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Birds” film. This continued until the top of the hour when continuous music started. It was quite scared! At the time of writing there is still the odd gremlin, but things are thankfully getting back to normal and apparently the new studios are a lot cheaper and bigger (even room for a second studio if required) so maybe all the heartache has been worthwhile.

Paul Rowley has made a one hour documentary about Radio Caroline North called “The Other Radio Caroline”. This is going to be broadcast on a number of local radio stations over the Christmas period. Here is the latest updated list that I have received:

BBC Tees Wednesday December 24, 17.00 hours
BBC Radio Leicester Friday December 26, 18.00 hours
BBC Radio Cumbria Saturday December 27, 14.00 hours
BBC WM Sunday December 28, 18.00 hours
BBC Radio Stoke Wednesday Dec 31, 17.00 hours
BBC Tees Wednesday Dec 31, 18.00 hours (Repeat)
BBC Radio Manchester Wednesday Dec 31, 20.00 hours
BBC Radio Northampton Thursday January 1, 11.00 hours
BBC Radio Lancashire Thursday January 1, 15.00 hours
BBC Radio Merseyside Thursday January 1, 17.00 hours
BBC Radio Sheffield Thursday January 1, 18.00 hours
BBC Radio Norfolk Thursday January 1, 18.00 hours
BBC Radio Leicester Thursday January 1, 18.00 hours (Repeat)
BBC Radio Jersey Friday January 2, 18.00 hours

NB. The programme will also run on the seven stations across BBC East on Sunday January 4 at 2300 as part of Pirate Radio Skues on BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Radio Suffolk, BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio Northampton, BBC Essex, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

Thanks to the Pirate Hall Of Fame website for the above details. Don’t forget that the Radio Caroline North “Pirates of the Irish Sea” exhibition is still open on the Isle of Man and will be until the end of August 2009.

On the 1st December Simon Dee was interviewed on the Channel 5 “Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll” programme. I did not see it myself, but I was told that it featured some great colour footage of Radio Caroline studio in the 60’s.

Last year I moaned about how New Years Eve on UK radio was boring, including Radio Caroline, who if I recall just had non stop music. Well this year look like being a good one, because there will be a party live from the Ross Revenge starting at 20.00 hours. There will be other special programmes, so for the most up to date details be sure to visit the www.radiocaroline.co.uk website.

Well that about it for 2008. May I wish all my readers a very happy Christmas and I hope that next year we will overcome the many troubles in the world, including the current economic crisis that we are suffering here in the UK and Germany. Thanks as always to Peter Moore and everyone at Radio Caroline for another great year, regardless of your recent problems and may 2009 be bigger and better!

Until next time,

LA

Steve Szmidt, Hawkinge, Kent, England.

(Please add one hour to the above quoted times for your local German time)

Sunday December 21st 2008

Dear friends around the "Texas Broadcasting in Europe"/"Radio Rose of Texas" circle.
Important updates are on!

The story of my finding more on the Radio England/Britain Radio etc. broadcasting ship Olga Patricia's time as a Navy Ship and of her present stint as a menhaden vessel was uploaded to the internet on the 42nd anniversary of the close down of Swinging Radio England on November 13th. This edition of my essay contains the absolute proof:

The Earl J Conrad Jr IS the Olga Patricia and the USS Deal!

Special credits to the kind contributions of Ben Miller(c), Leslie Wright(c) and Jeff Turner(c).
http://www.northernstar.no/chapter10.htm
The original picture from fall 2007 that led to the solving of the mystery, by Marc Piché is here:
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=468256

A look at Radio London from the technical side, courtesy of the kind contribution of Big L engineer Dave Hawkins(c).
http://www.northernstar.no/chapter11.htm

An input on the often forgotten, but very important group of people: The North Sea Engineers by Derek Burroughs, jr.(c) with contributions by George Saunders(c) from Radio Atlanta/Caroline South and Dave Hawkins of Radio London(c).
http://www.northernstar.no/northseaengineers.htm

Under this chapter WHEN TIME PERMITS there will be more on:
FS/AKL ships, including a section on Menhaden fishing vessels and a fleet list, provisional link name
http://www.northernstar.no/menhadenfishingvessels.html
Provisional list:
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=14506
There is a documentary on PBS-"A fish tale":
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/229/index.htm
It might be worth getting the actual DVD though as that will be in high resolution, but it seems to be only for USA customers.
The menhaden documentary starts @8.00.
The EJC is not on there, though, but the sister ship John S Dempster Jr(FS-?) is featured from 16.00-16.10.
It gives a good insight in the business that the EJC is a part of.
Maybe also a shot of the JSD at 13:35. At 14.33 the small boat stems from the John S Dempster.
Other (sister ships) featured in that documentary are Smith Island, Great Wicomico(FS-227)Shearwater(FS-411) and the Smuggler's Point.
The present home port of the Olga Patricia, Reedville, Virginia courtesy of the kind contribution of Rosalie Ann Beasley(c)
http://www.northernstar.no/reedville.html
The Asian home port of the then USS Deal(Sasebo, Japan) and more on the three sister ships operating together with her, one being used in a well-known movie!
http://www.northernstar.no/chapter10.htm

I am seeking more info on the sister ships of the OP, the Star 5-0 and the Titan.
http://www.northernstar.no/chapter10.htm

Other forthcoming plans to materialize in the time to come are an update of the further life of the Olga Patricia transmitters now on two AM(1170 and 1377 kHz) stations in Swaziland, as well as more on the excellent product of Continental Electronics., Inc.
http://www.northernstar.no/chapter7.htm
as well as updates on the Olga Patricia broadcasting staff such as the careers of Johnny Dark and Graham Gill.
http://www.northernstar.no/chapter3.htm
Other subjects to come: Yugoslavia worried by the massive Radio London signal, Italy threats to jam 845 Khz 1966-1967, wants to have the BBC putting up a relay to blast out Britain/355!

A special treat, hopefully in the spring of 2009 will be a timeline of the 3rd Texas broadcasting ship, the well-known Gordon McLendon-owned Bon Jour/Mi Amigo including a section on another Swedish(originally Norwegian!) radio ship the Cheeta II who had a surprising, and often overlooked Texas connection, with special thanks to Mi Amigo/Cheeta II/Olga Patricia broadcaster Colin Nichol(c) for much material on these subjects. I also hope to have more on post-MOA Caroline South and the transmitters used by the Mi Amigo 1972-1980.
http://www.northernstar.no/bjmac2story.htm

In the meantime a new book on the Radio Nord (602 kHz) operation 1961-1962 is forecast:
http://www.radionord-story.com/

And then in the New Year we may look forward to Grey Pierson's TV/DVD documentary(Greene Productions) Swinging Radio England with much unseen historical footage!

How much we will enjoy Richard Curtis' "The boat that rocked the ocean"(scheduled for release May, 2009) I don't know!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1131729/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boat_That_Rocked

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and may joy and happiness be yours in full measure throughout the new year to come.

Hope to meet some of you on an UK trip I plan for the 1st half of 2009.

Warm greetings
Svenn Martinsen(c)
Radio Historian
NORWAY

BBC journalist Paul Rowley has made a number of excellent pirate-related programmes in the past - and he has been at it again! His new documentary on Radio Caroline North, called The Other Radio Caroline, will be broadcast by a number of BBC local radio stations this Christmas.

The Pirate Hall of Fame has the the latest information.

Friday December 18th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's Christmas report HERE.

MI AMIGO 192 PRESENTEERT EEN WEL HEEL SPECIAAL PROGRAMMA OP 1 JANUARI 2009

Het webradiostation Mi Amigo 192 (www.radiomiamigo.eu) maakt zich op voor een uniek programma op 1 januari 2009.

Niet geheel toevallig de datum waarop in 1974 de zeezender Radio Mi Amigo met haar officiële uitzendingen startte. Precies de datum dus van het 35-jarig bestaan van Mi Amigo.

ZEER BIJZONDERE GASTEN

Als hommage aan de radopioniers van weleer, die het oorspronkelijke idee van grondlegger Sylvain Tack tot uitvoer brachten, zit het overgrote deel van de originele Mi Amigo ploeg uit 1974 wederom achter de microfoon om éénmalig - als digitale reünie - een 12 uur durend totaalprogramma te presenteren. Samen met de huidige ‘amigo’s’ maken ze zo een uniek eerbetoon aan 35 jaar Radio Mi Amigo te kunnen brengen.

Wie gaan er precies meedoen, hoe gaat het programma er uit zien? Zijn het alleen DJ's of is er nog meer? Nadere details volgen!

Maar… Het eerste tipje van de sluier staat al op You Tube. Check: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-ahNHsie1Y

Meer Youtube filmpjes volgen. In het volgende persbericht wordt u over de laatste ontwikkelingen geïnformeerd.

Friday November 28th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's December report HERE.

Meer over het REM eiland

WO 19 NOV: Er komt daadwerkelijk schot in de plannen het voormalige REM eiland een definitieve plek te geven. Nadat in 2006 het eiland van de internationale wateren is gehaald dachten velen dat de sloop in Vlissingen zou volgen. In werkelijkheid is het voormalige platform in Vlissingen opgeslagen in afwachting van verdere plannen. Zoals bekend is het platform inmiddels verkocht. De nieuwe eigenaar is de Amsterdamse woningstichting ‘De Key’. Deze onderneming houdt zich ondermeer in Amsterdam West bezig met een deels renoveren en deels plaatsen van nieuwbouw, waardoor dit stadsgedeelte de komende jaren erg gaat groeien. Het platform van het voormalige REM eiland bestaat uit drie verdiepingen. Twee ervan zijn al voorbestemd als horeca onderneming. Een visrestaurant zal haar onderkomen krijgen. Voor de eerste verdieping is er een andere bestemming.

Samenwerking
Voor de inrichting van de eerste verdieping is ‘De Key’ in zee gegaan met de Hoge School Amsterdam, waar studenten van de afdeling Minor Management van Creativiteit en Innovatie gevraagd zijn verschillende concepten te verzinnen voor de inrichting en het gebruik van de eerste verdieping. Gezien de historische lading, die het voormalige REM eiland met zich meedraagt, is bij een van de concepten het idee naar voren gekomen om gedurende een of twee jaar deze verdieping een museumfunctie te geven. Hiervoor is een groep studenten met een aantal mensen in contact getreden om over de invulling van dit idee te gaan praten en te zien hoe het een en ander gerealiseerd kan worden. Er is meer dan voldoende materiaal, zowel in beeld als geluid als tastbaar voor handen op diverse plekken in ons land. Begin december volgt een gesprek in Groningen, waarna ik misschien meer kan vertellen over de invulling van dit idee.

OUDE REMAPPARATUUR NOG IN STAND

Tuesday October 14th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's October report HERE.

Saturday October 11th 2008

The "Unofficial" Radio Report

Sorry it’s been a long time, but I have been very busy over the last couple of months planning and taking a family holiday in Poland and when I got back I had to go to Milan on business. The rest of the time has just been hectic!

I had a stressful and sometimes a dangerous experience driving in Poland, but thankfully, despite travelling around 800 miles, I escaped from having any accidents. It was good to find that Poland has a good rock station which was available in and around all the major cities we visited (Krakow, Warsaw, Lodz and Poznan) and always on the same FM frequency. They are also available on the internet with a stereo stream at http://www.eskarock.pl/index.php?page=eska_rock Most of the music played is English.

Over in Milan, Italy, the name Virgin Radio still exists, playing Rock on three different FM frequencies. In the UK Virgin is history, but more about that later.

Whilst driving around the London area going to and from airports I discovered that Andy Peebles now works on Smooth FM, where he has revived his “Soul Train” Programme. I think it is across the whole Smooth network every Saturday 18.00 to 21.00 hours and he can also be heard on Smooth in the North West every weekday evening. Andy is famous for his 3 hour interview of John Lennon, recorded 2 days before he was murdered by Mark Chapman. You can download extracts of the interview from this link http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/andy_peebles_page.htm
A free registration is required before you can do so. Sorry to promote a site that is dedicated to the beginning of BBC Radio One and Two, but there are some interesting and worthwhile bits and it is an unofficial site!

Big L stopped transmitting on 1395 AM at the beginning of August. There were rumours that they would come back on 540 or 1395, the latter with a new transmitter site closer to the UK, but neither has materialised. A couple of days ago they disappeared from the Sky platform, leaving behind a high pitched tone and a functioning EPG. I checked the internet stream and they are still broadcasting on that, including this morning the Rosko show. So has Big L ended up being just an internet radio station and for how will that last? Sadly Ian Damon did his last show on Sunday 14th September, because he did not receive his remuneration despite repeated promises. Ian, an original Radio London DJ in the 60’s, worked on Big L for 3 ½ years. You can download his final show from here http://www.anderidamedia.co.uk/wombatlistenagain/ (Thanks to Alan Sheead for that)

Around midnight on the 14th August, the famous mile stone in Radio Caroline’s history, it was disappointing to hear no mention of the anniversary of “Man's fight for freedom” either by Tim Charles as he ended his programme or John Patrick when he started. Good old Roger Day on BBC local radio in the South of England played music from 1967 to mark the occasion. Roger was on holiday recently and must have had the highest number of stand in presenters ever! I think it was a different one every night, including his fellow pirate mate Dave Cash.

There was a Pirate Night on the Sky TV “Red Channel” presented by Charlie Wolf and Ray Anderson, featuring old EAP videos of poor VHS quality complete with lots of drop outs etc. Also the programme was not broadcast at the advertised time slot of 17.00 to 21.00 hours. It started at 16.28 and finished around 20.00. I believe it was repeated on the following weekend. Interestingly Mike Read’s Pop Quiz has returned to our screens via this channel. The channel is worth checking out for music programmes, including concerts. It is Free to Air on a frequency of 12480, S/R 27600, Polarity Vertical and FEC 2/3 (Sky Channel 186). More details can be found at http://www.red-tv.co.uk/ but at the time of writing there were no schedules.

Another remembrance of the 41st anniversary of the passing of the Marine Offenses Act was a 7 day internet broadcast (10th to 17th August) under the name of Swinging Radio England, via the website http://www.nowthatsradio.co.uk/

August the 14th was also the 30th Anniversary of Bob “Buzby” Lawrence’s first radio show on Radio Caroline. He did a special show on the 15th. The first hour was some of Bob’s favourite music from the era and the second one an edited down version of his first ever radio programme for the old girl (all the voice links and some of the tracks played in full).

The following day (16th August) Pandora featured in her Rock Box her interview and the concert of the Levellers, recorded the week before at the Cropredy Festival.

During the UK August Bank holiday Radio Caroline were again “live” from the Ross Revenge. One of the highlights was the Top 15 of Martyn Wise, the winner of the VIP competition, who co-presented the run down with Cliff Osbourne and as part of his prize he was able to stay on board the ship. The restoration crew were let loose on the airwaves during the overnight hours and it was also nice to hear a couple of hours of Steve Dack. What seems to have caused a bit of an internal upset at the station is the fact that John Patrick played his normal Thursday night rock format on Bank Holiday Sunday afternoon (live). Amongst those upset was Mark Stafford, the presenter who followed him (recorded). Stafford felt that Patrick had alienated a large percentage of the station’s audience by exclusively only playing his own personal choice of music and nothing from the playlist and this resulted in reduced internet listening numbers. JP’s responded by expressing the opinion that Caroline was becoming an ILR station, but after some debate he retracted this and I think everyone has now kissed and made up!

On the Bank Holiday Saturday (23rd August), whist I was stuck in traffic on the M25 motorway I had the pleasure of chatting on air with Dave Cash on BBC Radio Kent. I hate to admit it, but I correctly identified the voice on his mystery voice competition, which was Will Young!

The 27th August was a sad day, because it was reported that Israeli peace pioneer Abe Nathan had died at the age of 81. Abe had already suffered two strokes, the second one in 1998, which resulted in him loosing his voice. Nigel Harris did a tribute to the founder of the pirate radio station “Voice of Peace” during his radio show on Saturday 30th. Here is one of the best news stories currently on the internet:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/27/africa/ME-Israel-Obit-Nathan.php
In the aforementioned article you will read that he once said that he wanted “Nissiti”, the Hebrew word for “I tried” written on his headstone. I wonder if his wish will be honoured. It certainly would be fitting for someone who devoted so much of his life trying to bring peace to the Middle East.

I managed to see part of an episode of “Conspiracy Files” documentary series aired on BBC 2 TV. The one aired on Sunday 31st August that was about the Lockerbie Bombing, featuring an interview with Edwin Bollier (joint owner of Radio Nordsee International) and a film clip of on board the Mebo 2. Bollier’s Zurich based company was alleged to have supplied the type of timer used for the bombing, to the Libyan Secret Service. I am annoyed that I missed the programme and I hope they repeat it and I am aware before they do so.

Bex Marshall, an early presenter of Big L’s “London Calling” (when it was quite good and featured Rock Music) can now be heard on Radio Seagull on Sunday Evenings, followed later by a programme that she co-presents with her hubby Barry Everitt. For the full schedule click on the following link http://www.radioseagull.com/schedule.htm

EKR is back as an internet only station. It is being run by the same guys as the previous satellite version, but this time Mark Stafford does not have the time to be the music controller, but is supplying his “Stafford World” show. Check the station out at http://www.ekr.net

Johnnie Walker is currently touring the UK doing “An Evening with”. Sadly none are in the South East of England. Here are the remaining dates for 2008, just in case you can get to any of the venues:

October 2008

14 WORCESTER - Huntingdon Hall
15 DURHAM - Gala
27 DARWEN - Library Theatre
28 BURY - Met
29 GLOUCESTER - Guild Hall

November 2008

03 HAYES - Beck Theatre
04 PETERBOROUGH - Cresset
10 EPSOM - Playhouse
11 SOLIHULL - Arts Centre
12 LUDLOW - Assembly Rooms

December 2008

08 MILTON KEYNES - Stables
09 NORWICH - Arts Centre
10 STREET - Strode Theatre

Come on Johnnie, we have plenty of theatres here in Kent, so let’s see you at one of them in 2009!

On Sunday 7th September Tom Lodge appeared on his son’s show (Radio Caroline) to read extracts, not from his book this time, but from a long email he received from long time fan Alan Milewczyk. It was very interesting to hear Alan’s memories of his first hero of radio. I wonder if there will be a studio recording CD!

The following morning (8th) John Brocks presented the first 5 songs in the “Listeners bottom 50” on the Caroline Breakfast Show. I am not sure what was the point of this, because it was basically John’s playing his regular listeners most hated artists or tracks and some were actually good ones. I suppose it was a bit of fun, but that’s about it. The countdown continued over several days and ended on the 24th September. Genesis, my favourite band was number 2 and a Bob Dylan track number 1. If I recall correctly, John himself does not like Dylan, so it’s was no wonder that he was top (or bottom). This was John’s last breakfast show (not sure why) and there has been no one covering Mondays to Wednesdays since, but from next week (week commencing 13th October) Tony Paul is going to be on every weekday morning, so we will have 5 days of Paris Hilton for the price of 2! Actually, once you get passed the tragedy of this obsession, Tony is very entertaining and professional, but I will miss John’s “Snippet Competition”.

Tuesday 9th September was the 6th Anniversary of PC Estates sponsoring Radio Caroline’s “60’s and 70’s show”, but Clive Garrard informed listeners that Peter Smith had not been allowed to come to the studio that night. Surely someone could have arranged to have brought him to the studio blindfolded, so that the location would have remained a secret!!!!

Virgin Radio was taken over by Absolute Radio, a consultancy company founded by former Capital Radio executives. It is believed that the new owners paid around £60m cash, a fraction of £225m that SMG paid Chris Evans and Apax for the company 8 years ago. Evans and Apax bought Virgin in 1997 for only £88m! Latest RAJAR figures put the Virgin network of listeners at 2.6m, when they had 3.4m in 2000. I believe the station started broadcasting under the name “Absolute” on Monday 29th September, but note that the weekday morning schedule remains unchanged (Christian O’Connell, followed by Russ Williams), but as it was announced that there would be sweeping changes, the rest of the day and weekend must de different. Thankfully ex-Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley and his “Party Classics” shows, formally hosted by Suggs, have been axed. Some of the programming during the first week, such as breakfast, was broadcast live from the Abbey Road studios. I listened one night whilst returning home from Heathrow Airport and they were had a classic artist hour, which was the Beatles. I was quite impressed that several lesser known tracks were featured. They have also reintroduced the “no repeat work day” (no track will be repeated during your work day) and you’ll like this quote from the Guardian UK newspaper. Clive Dickens, the Absolute Radio Chief Content Officer stated that “the typical Virgin Radio listener has over 4,000 songs on their iPod, so why would their favorite radio station be playing significantly less than that?” Has UK radio started to wake up? Read more about the transformation at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/02/commercialradio.radio?gusrc=rss&feed=media

There was been another sad death in the radio world on Sunday 21st September. Duncan Larkin passed away in a hospital in Vienna. He had been fighting Non Hodgkins and heart disease. On the following Sunday evening (28th), Mark Dezzani broadcast a tribute to Duncan. The first hour was the re-broadcast of a tribute produced by his radio station, FM4 in Vienna and second one was Duncan’s first show on Radio Caroline, originally broadcast in July 2003. On the Caroline South website there is a brief biography of his career. http://www.carolinesouth.com/duncan.htm

On the Isle of Man during the weekend of the 21st/22nd September was a convention to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Radio Caroline’s departure from Manx waters. Over 100 delegates, including the station’s founder Ronan O’Rahilly, visited the “Pirates of the Irish Sea” exhibition, the town of Ramsey, 2 hotels used by the crew, the former office in East Street and North Shore Road, where the ship used to be anchored and attended a conference held in the Manx Museum. Jonathan’s website has a report and lots of great pictures, so go to http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/iom.htm and see also a news article by the IOM Today at
http://www.iomtoday.co.im/what-where-when/Radio-Caroline-DJs-reunited.4527495.jp

Today Johnny Lewis returned to Radio Caroline’s airwaves for the first time since returning from his honeymoon. He did the midday show for Nigel Harris, who had covered for Johnny on the local Kent radio station KMFM whilst his was honeymooning, so I suppose it was only fair. Before getting married, Johnny had done a couple of Wednesday afternoon shows, which I suppose a bit of compensation for not being able to do Saturday breakfast for a long time due to other work commitments. Peter Antony and Jerry Wright seem to be sharing this slot for the time being. Paying attention To Jerry this morning I noticed that working for commercial radio has had a bad influence on him, because he constantly chops and talks over the end of records and when someone asked him to play a Pink Floyd track he chose “Another Brick in the Wall” and if that wasn’t a short enough track, he even chopped that. Come on Jerry, it’s great to hear you on Radio Caroline, but when you are, please behave accordingly. Please take this as constructive criticism.

Until next time,

LA

Steve Szmidt, Hawkinge, Kent, England.

(Please add one hour to the above quote times for your local German time)

Sunday September 21st 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Ron Bisschop van Veronica naar Omroep Flevoland
Ron Bisschop is sinds deze week werkzaam als bureauredacteur bij Omroep Flevoland. Met meer dan 25 jaar ervaring in het vak, onder andere als bureauredacteur en radiopresentator, is Ron Bisschop geen onbekende in de mediawereld. Bisschop woont in Almere en heeft in het verleden onder andere gewerkt voor BNR nieuwsradio, Kink FM, RTL Rock Radio en als laatste bij Radio Veronica.

Ron begon zijn carriere in 1978 op zee onder de naam Johan Visser. Hij werkte bij zeezenders als Mi Amigo, Radio Caroline en Radio Monique. Daarna volgden nog de eerste Amsterdamse FM-piraat Radio Unique (1980-84) en Radio 10 (1988-92).

In 1992 dook hij op bij RTL Rock Radio. Toen dit station in 1995 werd omgevormd tot Kink FM, bleef hij. Tegelijkertijd was hij te horen op Veronica Nieuws Radio. Veronica Nieuws Radio verdween en na enige tijd vertrok hij ook bij Kink, om er later weer terug te keren. Tot eind 2003 werkte Ron bij Business Nieuws Radio. In augustus 2003 ging Ron naar Radio Veronica. [Radio.NL]

Ton Lathouwers verlaat de Sky Radio Groep
Dit heeft Lathouwers DutchMedia laten weten. Lathouwers was de afgelopen jaren samen met Ab Trik directeur van Sky Radio Groep. Ab Trik blijft algemeen directeur van Sky Radio Groep. Nadat in februari 2006 Sky Radio Groep door News Corp was verkocht, kwam medio 2007 85 % van de aandelen van het radiobedrijf in handen van de Telegraaf Media Groep NV.

Lathouwers die oprichter is van het circa 20 jaar geleden opgezette Sky Radio was formeel adviseur en ‘chairman of the board’. “Ik hecht niet zo aan de officiele titels. Toen Telegraaf Media Groep Sky Radio Groep overnam, ben ik gevraagd erbij te blijven. Ik kreeg ook een klein aandelenpakket (het management kreeg toen in totaal 5 %, red.). Die zal nu verkocht worden. Ik woon zes maanden per jaar in Zuid-Afrika en dat werkt niet goed. Mij is nog gevraagd om Commissaris te blijven, maar ook daarvoor geldt dat dat in de praktijk niet werkt. Ik denk dat Sky Radio nu na 20 jaar een mooi afgesloten hoofdstuk is,” aldus Ton Lathouwers.
Lathouwers stelt dat hij een goede zakelijke relatie heeft met Telegraaf Media Groep NV. Volgens de vertrekkende oprichter is er thans wel meer concurrentie in de markt, waardoor het in zijn optiek weliswaar goed gaat met Sky Radio Groep maar het niet altijd automatisch voor de wind gaat. Ook stelt Lathouwers dat er altijd verschil van visie kan bestaan, bij verschillende eigenaren en directeuren, maar dat is iets dat gebruikelijk is.
Ab Trik zegt in een korte reactie tegenover DutchMedia het ‘bijzonder jammer’ te vinden dat Lathouwers vertrekt. Hans Elekan, woordvoerder van Telegraaf Media Groep NV zegt desgevraagd het bericht te kunnen bevestigen, maar verder geen commentaar te kunnen geven. Een nieuwe benoeming is volgens Elekan niet aan de orde. Eerder dit jaar vertrok Carlo de Boer na 12 jaar dienst (toen algemeen directeur) en ook Mark Berendsen verliet als commercieel directeur het bedrijf op 1 maart jl. Hoofd techniek Rob Korver verliet na bijna 20 jaar op 1 augustus jl. het bedrijf. Volgens Lathouwers werken veel mensen lang bij Sky Radio Groep, maar kan het zijn dat er op een gegeven momenten andere zaken in het leven belangrijker worden. De exacte vertrekdatum is nog niet bekend, volgens Lathouwers zal die nog nader overeen gekomen worden met de Telegraaf Media Groep NV. [Dutch Media]

Op zondag 11 oktober zal om 19.30 op Radio 5 via zendtijd van de Joodse Omroep een documentaire worden uitgezonden over het humanitaire werk van Abe Nathan en de historie van de Voice of Peace, dat tussen 1973 en 1993 voor de kust van Israel muziekprogramma’s en de Vredesboodschappen uitstraalde gericht op Israel en omliggende landen. Freelance Radiomaker Peter Kroon heeft er voor gekozen in deze 60 minuten durende documentaire terug te gaan naar de roots van het idee achter de Voice of Peace en kwam daartoe in Groningen terecht waar hij met Hans Knot meeging naar de Oosterhamrikkade in de Martinistad. Dit om daar de plek te bezoeken waar Abe Nathan het toen opgelegde schip MV Cito kocht. Hans vertelt over welke problemen Abe en zijn team moesten overwinnen om voor geld aan het schip te komen en over de steun die hij van vele Nederlanders kreeg. Ook de problemen die Abe in Amerika vele jaren had, alvorens het station daadwerkelijk in 1973 in de ether kwam, worden in deze documentaire belicht.

Uit de gesprekken in Groningen kwam het idee Soetendorp, als een van de geestelijken destijds aanwezig bij de zegening van het Vredesschip, te interviewen betreffende zijn herinneringen aan Abe. Destijds was Soetendorp 25 jaar en stond aan het begin van zijn 40 jaar durende loopbaan als rabbijn. Naast de belichting van de vele humanitaire projecten van Abe Nathan, waarmee hij vele honderden mensen in diverse werelddelen gelukkig maakte, komt Kas van Iersel aan het woord over zijn leven en werk aan boord van het zendschip, waar hij bijna twee jaren van zijn leven doorbracht. De vierde persoon die in de documentaire aan het woord komt is de in Nederland wonende voormalige zendertechnicus Bob Noakes, die enkele jaren op het vredesschip heeft gewerkt en ook een andere dan de humanitaire kant van Abe belicht. Afsluitend wordt er stil gestaan bij het overlijden, 27 augustus van Abe Nathan. Dit alles zal worden gemixt met een klankkleur aan fragmenten uit de twintigjarige geschiedenis van de Voice of Peace.

Tijdens eerbetoon in Dallas

Jingle componist Tom Merriman ontvangt Genootschap Jingle Award

Dallas / Breda - De legendarische jinglecomponist Tom Merriman heeft vandaag de Genootschap Jingle Award ontvangen. Dat gebeurde tijdens een tribute-weekend in Dallas (VS). Merriman kreeg de Award uit handen van de Amerikaanse DJ Ron Chapman.

Jingle-veteraan Tom Merriman (84 jaar oud) is in Dallas in het zonnetje gezet door zo ongeveer de hele internationale jingle-industrie.

De Genootschap Jingle Award wordt onregelmatig toegekend aan iemand die zijn sporen heeft verdiend op het gebied van radiovormgeving. Merriman kreeg zijn Genootschap Jingle Award voor zijn levenslange toewijding aan jingles en voor zijn complete werk. De Genootschap Jingle Award is eerder uitgereikt aan diskjockey Ferry Maat, Ren Groot (oprichter Top Format), Hans Hogendoorn (fameuze radiostem) en jingle componist Bart van Gogh.

Onbekend maar wereldberoemd
Tom Merriman schreef in zijn lange actieve radioleven (hij componeert nog steeds) wereldberoemde jingles. In Nederland was en is zijn werk (nog steeds) te horen bij onder meer Veronica, de TROS, AVRO en NOS. Hij was oprichter en stuwende kracht achter de jinglebedrijven CRC en TM Productions en TM Century (nu TM Studios), allen in Dallas, en met vertegenwoordiging in Nederland.

Het Genootschap
Het “Genootschap radiojingles en –tunes” is het grootste particuliere jingle-archief van Nederland. Het archief bevat ruim 2500 uur aan digitale radio-jingles en radio-tunes en gaat terug tot de jaren 20 van de vorige eeuw. Het Genootschap radiojingles en –tunes werkt samen met vrijwel alle omroepen (publiek en commercieel), de grootste jinglebedrijven van Nederland en de Verenigde Staten, Beeld & Geluid, en met talloze radiotechnici, omroepmedewerkers, jingleverzamelaars en diskjockeys. Kijk en luister op www.jingleweb.nl.

Friday September 5th 2008

Robbie Dale reporting:

Sunshine Radio Reunion 26th Sept. Sands Hotel Dublin

Sunshine Radio Reunion ”The red hot sound of Sunshine 101”..
Former staff colleagues and friends are getting together to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sunshine’s closure in 1988 concluding 8 years as a driving force in Irish radio broadcasting. Today 20 year on, former Sunshine managers, administration, technical staff and on air personalities remain key players and top presentation personalities in radio and TV throughout Europe especially Ireland and British but not forgetting Holland, Monaco and Spain. The Sunshine Radio Organization Team have been able to make contact with many former colleagues and friends however some who have made recent moves remain out of touch. The Sunshine Radio Reunion is to be held on the evening of 26th September at the famous “Sands Hotel”,Portmarnock County Dublin Ireland. Former “Sunshiners”and friends are traveling from many countries to what will be an enjoyable get-together and memorable evening. For information email sunshinereunion@yahoo.ie

Saturday August 30th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's September report HERE.

Wednesday August 27th 2008

Hans Knot reporting:

In the name of the family I have to announce the death of Abe Nathan, who died this evening at 20.56 in Tel Aviv. Abe, who had several brain strokes through the past years, was in an hospital in Tel Aviv during the last weeks when his condition became worse. His daughter Sharona, who lives in the USA, was – together with other relatives - at his bedside. Abe Nathan, the Peace Fighter, died at the age of 81. I enclose a digital version of the book on the work of Abe Nathan and his work with the Peace Foundation and the Peace Ship off the coast off Israel. Also he gave his life for many years for humanitarian cases all over the world.

Here you can download the book released in 2006. The first chapters about Abe's life and work can be used free for a reflection on his work and life.

For more information: Hans Knot

Google News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080827/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelpeacenathan

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015844.html

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleid=DMF27082008_130

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127373

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3588740,00.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/27/news/Obit-Nathan.php

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1427336.php/Veteran_Israeli_peace_campaigner_Abie_Nathan_dies_in_Tel_Aviv

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abie_Nathan

http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/1785461/__Abie_Nathan__81__overleden__.html

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3588733,00.html

http://www.abie-nathan.com/pages-eng/main.html

Monday August 25th 2008

Op zondag 31 Augustus 2008 wordt in Museum RockArt in Hoek van Holland in samenwerking met de 'Stichting Norderney', de Veronica Zeezender Expositie officieel afgesloten. Dat moet gevierd worden natuurlijk. We gaan de hele dag Live uitzenden vanuit de originele studio's van Radio Veronica opgesteld bij RockArt, en draaien Singles, LP's en CD's.

Vanaf 07.00 uur beginnen we met historische programma's, die overdag en in de avond zullen worden uitgezonden.

De 1ste Live uitzending begint om 10.00 uur tot 11.00 uur door Ad Bouman, niet met Koffietijd, maar wel met...?

Van 12.00 tot 14.00 uur is er de 'Chiel Montagne Show', en van 16.00 uur tot 18.00 uur 'Alle Remmen Los' met Jan van Veen.

De techniek wordt o.a. verzorgd door Jurg van Beem, Juul Geleick en Adriaan Bouman.

Veel oud Veronica medewerkers zul je die dag tegenkomen.

31 Augustus 2008 van 07.00 uur tot 24.00 uur te beluisteren op www.veronica192.nl

Museum RockArt is gevestigd op het Industrieterrein 'De Haak' in Hoek van Holland aan de Zekkenstraat 42.

Mary Payne reporting:

Our seven-page photo report of the Manx exhibition 'Pirates of the Irish Sea' featuring Caroline North and the Fredericia is now on the Radio London site. If you are planning on going and don't want to spoil the surprise, don't look!

I hope those of you who would like a sneak preview (or who are unable to visit the exhibition in person) will enjoy our 'photo-tour'.

http://www.radiolondon.co.uk

Wednesday August 20th 2008

PERSBERICHT - DIGITAAL HIT FM

Radio Atlantis
Het Veronica weekend dat webradio Digitaal Hit FM onlangs van 8-10 augustus bracht is een groot succes geworden. De uitgezonden oude Veronica programma’s werden massaal beluisterd en er kwamen dan ook veel verzoeken om nog eens iets dergelijks te doen.
Daarom zijn we nog een keer de archieven ingedoken en gaan we een dag terug naar Radio Atlantis. Het zal hierbij met name gaan om de Engelse uitzendingen van deze zeezender.

Gestart als Vlaamse zeezender bracht Radio Atlantis vanaf eind 1973 ook Engelstalige programma’s vanaf het eigen zendschip de m/v ’Jeanine’. In het begin waren de uitzendingen onregelmatig maar vanaf voorjaar 1974 ging het steeds beter en konden we iedere avond en nacht deze programma’s beluisteren totdat de invoering van de Nederlandse anti-zeezenderwet het station noodzaakte om op 31 augustus 1974 te stoppen.
De Engelse Atlantis programma’s die onder leiding van programmaleider Steve England tot stand kwamen klonken als een klok en deden velen terugdenken aan de grote tijden van Radio London in de sixties.

Digitaal Hit FM zendt een aantal van deze oude Atlantis programma’s uit op Zondag 31 augustus 2008

De gehele dag is het dus weer even tijd voor nostalgie voor de liefhebbers van echte oude popradio.

Webradio Digitaal is een oldies-zender met de pophits uit de jaren 60, 70, 80 en een beetje 90 en heeft veel gepresenteerde programma’s en in het weekend ieder uur nostalgisch nieuws en historische radiojingles.

Ga hiervoor naar de website: www.digitaalhitradio.nl

Friday August 8th 2008

Ray Anderson reporting:

PIRATE RADIO NIGHT

Get ready... Anoraks off!

A UK Television first for RED CHANNEL 186 which broadcasts on SKY DIGITAL. A celebration of UK PIRATE RADIO on Thursday 14th August 2008.

Tune in between 17.00 and 21.00. Four hours of great memories from the Offshore Radio Days between the 1960s and 1980s. Stations featured include BIG L, RADIO ENGLAND, FORTS PIRATES, RADIO CAROLINE AND LASER 558 with many Offshore Radio DJ's taking part.

So get those Anoraks off for a TV celebration of Great Radio that came from the high seas in the 1960s - 1980s.

Red TV is broadcasting on Astra 28.2° East, Sky 186, 12480 V, tp 40, 27500, 2/3.

Mary Payne reporting:

Dear All,

Just to let you know that this year we have commemorated August 14th with the addition of new items of memorabilia from the collection of the Galaxy's late Captain, Bill Buninga. These personal items, many of which indicate how highly the Captain was regarded by Radio London management, have generously been donated to us by Bill's son Ron.

We have also made a number of updates and additions to the Caroline Countdowns.

Best wishes,

Mary

http://www.radiolondon.co.uk

Wednesday August 6th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's August report HERE.

Monday August 4th 2008

Oud-zendschip Radio Veronica ligt nog steeds in Antwerpen

De Norderney, het vroegere zendschip van de zeezender Radio Veronica, ligt nog steeds in Antwerpen, zo is maandag in havenkringen en bij de eigenaars vernomen.

Zowat een maand terug waren er op het schip intense werkzaamheden met het oog op een versleping. Volgens het eigenaarschap was het de bedoeling het beroemde schip naar zijn definitieve bestemming "in de Middellandse Zee" te verslepen van zodra de weersomstandigheden dit toelieten.

Zowat drie weken na de laatste officiële communicatie rond de Norderney, ligt het schip nog steeds in Antwerpen. Volgens het Nederlandse co-eigenaarschap zijn in het bijzonder de voorbereidingen voor het aanmeren in de nieuwe ankerplaats nog niet voltooid. Zo dient er nog geheid te worden, en moet er een terras komen. Daarmee is voor het eerst bevestigd dat het schip wel degelijk zal voortleven in de horecasector. Tegenover BELGA ontkende één van de eigenaars, een vroegere DJ van Radio Caroline, uitdrukkelijk dat de Norderney weer als zendschip zal dienen. Hij weigerde nog steeds de precieze bestemming te onthullen.
Diverse autoriteiten in Benidorm hebben zowel telefonisch als via mail tegenover BELGA hardnekkige berichten in kringen van zeezenderfanaten niet kunnen bevestigen dat het vroegere zendschip naar die populaire Spaanse badplaats zou reizen.

Na het - door nieuwe Europese wetgeving genoodzaakte - sluiten van Radio Veronica op 31 augustus 1974 dobberde de Norderney nog een jaar voor de kust van Scheveningen, waar de boot sinds 1964 de radiogolven van Veronica naar Nederland (en een deel van België) stuurde. Daarna begon een kleine lijdensweg waarbij het schip in 2001 een eerste keer in Antwerpen aanbelandde. In 2003 vertrok het daar weer, om er na enkele maanden terug te keren en dienst te doen als fuifboot. Tijdens de jarenlange omzwervingen heeft het ook in Luik gelegen.

Omtrent het lot van de Norderney deden de jongste weken in zeezenderkringen allerhande speculaties de ronde, de ene al wat fantasierijker dan de andere.

Luc Vandekerckhove persbureau Belga.

PERSBERICHT - DIGITAAL HIT FM

De maand augustus is voor radioliefhebbers traditioneel een maand van terugdenken aan de tijd van de zeezenders. In Nederland en België betekent dat men vooral terugdenkt aan de datum 31 augustus 1974, de dag dat Radio Veronica, Radio Noordzee en Radio Atlantis gedwongen moesten stoppen en Radio Mi Amigo en Radio Caroline besloten om toch door te gaan.

Veronica was de langst bestaande en meest succesvolle Nederlandse zeezender, het station was uiteindelijk geheel ‘verankerd’ in de Nederlandse samenleving. Eind augustus 1999 (25 jaar na het einde) en ook eind augustus 2004 herdachten oud Veronica medewerkers hun station met speciale radioprogramma’s die werden uitgezonden via een tijdelijke middengolf zender.

Webradio Digitaal gaat een groot gedeelte van deze herinnering programma’s nog eens uitzenden. Dit zal gebeuren op:

Zaterdag 8 augustus, zondag 9 augustus en maandag 10 augustus 2008

Nog eenmaal oude programma’s van de zeezender Veronica en ook de speciale herinnering programma’s uit de jaren 1999 en 2004.

Wij nodigen iedereen uit dit via Digitaal nog eens terug te luisteren.

Digitaal Hit FM is een webradio voortgekomen uit het voormalige Digitaal FM dat in de jaren tachtig succesvol op FM uitzond vanuit Baarn en in geheel Midden-Nederland was te ontvangen.

Webradio Digitaal is een radiostation dat de tijd van toen laat herleven met in het weekend ieder uur nostalgisch nieuws en historische radiojingles.

Ga hiervoor naar de website: www.digitaalhitradio.nl

Following the sucessful streamed internet broadcasts made in August 2007. The team at nowthatsradio.com are pleased to announce that Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio will again return to the air on 10th August 2008 for a weeks broadcasting to acknowledge the 41st passing of the Marine etc Offshore Broadcasting Act.

Our website at www.nowthatsradio.com has been updated with details of this years event and program schedules. Our team look forward to your company when we take you back to the era when Britain was really GREAT.

Please feel free to distribute copies of this email to anyone who you feel would like to know about our station. If you have a website could we ask that you post the above information so that we might gain extra exposure from your resource. Just over one week to go until our stations return for the rememberence of the 41st aniversary of the passing of the Marine Ect Broadcasting Offences Act. Still need your help by spreading the word around about our broadcasts. If you know of a newsgroup, forum, chatroom etc that can be told about our stations then it really makes a difference for us if you can pass the word on.

The Nowthatsradio Team

Persbericht van Radio West:

Radio West goes offshore

Op 31 augustus is het 34 jaar geleden dat een deel van de toenmalige zeezenders het zwijgen werd opgelegd. Aan een unieke radioperiode kwam in 1974 aldus een einde.
Talloze mensen bewaren mooie herinneringen aan de zeezenders waarin klinkende namen als Radio Veronica, Radio Nordsee International, Radio Atlantis, Radio Caroline, Capital Radio, Radio Monique, Radio Mi Amigo, Radio London, Radio Scotland, Radio Dolfijn, Radio Delmare, etc etc die vanaf de internationale wateren de ether doorkliefden.

Vandaar dat Radio West op 31 augustus 2008 vanaf een tijdelijk zendschip, de Fortuna, een speciale uitzending zal gaan verzorgen.
In deze uitzending ligt de nadruk op de vele verhalen en herinneringen van oud-zeezender medewerkers, zowel presentators maar ook (boord)technici en bemanningsleden. Daarnaast zal er ook kort aandacht zijn voor de unieke plaats welke Den Haag als radiostad altijd heeft ingenomen. In de Hofstad ontstond in 1919 wereldwijd de radio-omroep zoals wij die nu nog kennen. En het was een Haags radiostation dat begin jaren '20 de aanzet heeft gegeven tot de uiteindelijke oprichting van de BBC.
In diezelfde beginperiode zaten de meeste radioamateurs, fabriekszenders en radiowerkplaatsen in Den Haag, zoals blijkt uit de vele annonces in de toenmalige Radio Express.

In de jaren zestig en zeventig hadden veel Hagenezen en Scheveningers bemoeienis met de eerder genoemde zendschepen. In de jaren tachtig waren, meer dan in andere steden het geval was, FM-piratenstations actief. Anno 2008 zetten ruim 20 tal Haagse radiostations van allochtone herkomst met hun uitzonderlijke, bijzondere en unieke uitzendingen de Hofstad wederom nadrukkelijk op de radiokaart.

Geen station zonder luisteraars. Vandaar dat Radio West haar luisteraars uitdaagt om hun mooiste radioherinneringen in het algemeen en radioherinneringen aan de zeezenders in het bijzonder op te tekenen. De luisteraars met de meest ontroerende, humoristische of bijzondere radioherinneringen worden uitgenodigd om op 31 augustus mee te varen met de Fortuna om live in de uitzending hun radioherinnering nog eens te vertellen. Oud zeezendermedewerkers en hun toenmalige luisteraars die samen vanaf een (tijdelijk) zendschip een programma maken. Interactiever kan de (tijdelijke) 'zeezender' Radio West niet zijn.
Ook zullen er veel bekende, minder bekende en ook nog nooit uitgezonden, radiofragmenten te horen zijn uit het zestiger en zeventiger jaren tijdsgewricht waarin twee soorten van romantiek, die van de zee en die van radio, versmolten tot dat unieke fenomeen 'zeezender'.

http://radio.westonline.nl/programmamakers_radio/hot_talk

Monday July 28th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's second July report HERE.

The "Unofficial" Radio Report

Last time I gave you my prediction that “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd would be the number 1 in the Radio Caroline Listeners Top 500 Albums, which was broadcast over the two UK May Bank Holiday weekends and indeed I was right. If you missed the countdown or you want a souvenir of it, you can buy a poster from the official new look www.radiocaroline.co.uk website. Also new in is a reprint of the 5 ships tee shirt and coming soon are more CD’s in the Caroline Masters series. There have been some teething problems with the new website and people with old browsers may still be having issues. Last Sunday Pat Edison advised listeners to update their computers to avoid such problems. At the time of writing I could not get access myself, although I have managed to do so before.

Radio Caroline was back live from the Ross during the weekend of Friday 11th to Sunday 13th July featuring listener Summer Memories. It has been hinted that the UK August Bank Holiday will be the date of the next live broadcast from the ship and it is hoped that this will also be an open weekend for visitors. Stay tuned for confirmation. What is nice about these Ross broadcasts is that the volunteers get the chance to take to the air, as a reward for all their hard work. Most notable this time was at midnight on Sunday 13th John Cronnolley swapped his needle guns for record needles when he rocked on Radio Caroline’s airwaves after a 44 year wait! He certainly lived up to his name of Rockin John. It was a Great debut show. Let’s hope we do not have to wait 44 years for the follow up.

Last time I reported it was Big L’s 3rd birthday on the 14th May and how they had been lucky to reach this milestone following reported financial difficulties. Well it was reported by the Guardian newspaper on the 16th June, in an interview with presenter Mike Read, that the station is now owned by a couple of Essex entrepreneurs and is still being run by Chris Vezey who was slated by that Channel 4 programme! So that is three owners in as many years! You can read the interview at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/16/radio
On balance it is complimentary of Mike and his colleagues and good publicity for the station.

Probably the best news I have for you is that Planet Rock was finally sold to Malcolm Bluemel, the millionaire boss of a TLCS Global Visa Services. The rock music fan bought the station from GCap with the backing of rock greats, such as Gary Moore, Fish (Marilion), Brian May (Queen) and Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull). Bluemel is quoted as saying “The people of Planet Rock and their listeners are passionate about their station, which is why I wanted to step in and help make it happen. Rock fans have been traditionally very poorly served in this country (UK) and Planet Rock is the place for them to feed their fanaticism”. Bluemel apparently marched in demonstrations against the closing down of the Offshore Radio stations in the 1960’s. It is a pity that he has not helped Caroline in the past, especially when they have been the pioneers of rock radio over Europe since the 1970’s.

Johnny Lewis has not been on Caroline much recently. His slot on Saturday is either being covered by Jerry Wright or Peter Antony. A few weeks ago he started a new Sunday evening programme, 19.00 to 22.00 hours, across the whole KMFM network. It is called the Vinyl Years and features music from the 60’s and 70’s. The show is understandably doing well and lovers of the Tuesday night Caroline 60’s and 70’s request show should tune in either via various FM frequencies in Kent or via the internet at http://www.kmfm.co.uk You will not be disappointed. Johnny told me he is getting married in September, so I wish him and the future Mrs Lewis all the best for the future.

I have written before about Tony Paul’s (Caroline breakfast presenter 2 mornings per week, now Thursday and Friday’s) about his fascination over Paris Hilton. He has become conscious of this fact and as a way of an apology he nearly always says before hand that he has not mentioned Paris for weeks, even when he has. At the beginning of June he had to tell us that it was the anniversary of Paris being sent to jail! How sad is that. I actually find Tony shows mostly good, funny and entertaining, but I just wish he would stop constantly giving us trivia about Paris and others like Britney. I didn’t realise until recently that he is a former Midlands (Birmingham) DJ, where I lived for many years and for about 2 ½ years I worked at British Steel Bromford Tubes in Erdington (now flattened and built on). Fazal Iqbal, a guy I used to work with in the Production Control Department saw my radio reports on this website and emailed me and the webmaster to ask if I was the same Steve Szmidt who introduced him to Radio Caroline and the Loving Awareness band 30 years ago. We have written to each other a few times since, catching up on old times and we are hoping to meet up in the near future. What a small world this is. Even smaller thanks to the WWW.

Doug Wood pushed to get an extra hour on Caroline’s Saturday evening programme schedule and on the 28th June, after only two weeks of campaigning, he succeeded. He now finishes at 20.00 hours and Pandora finishes on hour later at midnight. Doug’s last hour is called “Rock Pile”, which as you probably guessed is when he changes to a heavier format.

Sadly there have not been any Marc Jacobs programmes (my favourite Cloggie) on Caroline for around three months now. I heard that the reason may be that his employer has forbidden him to work on another radio station. If this is true come on Radio Whatever, we want Marc back on our UK radios.

Caroline’s presenter Martin Turner is doing a sponsored bike ride for MacMillan Cancer Support www.macmillan.org on 13th August. If you want like to sponsor him on his 20 mile cycle around Fowlmead Country Park, near Deal in Kent please send your pledge of money to his email address martinturner@radiocaroline.co.uk Martin could not do his Monday night programme the other week as he was doing another good dead by donating bone marrow to his sister who has been diagnosed with Leukaemia. Well done Martin, this is all in the spirit of Loving Awareness.

I noticed that on ebay at the moment (ending 3rd August) there is a JVC FR-DS100 Worldspace Receiver which features a normal AM/SW/FM tuner and has two speakers for stereo playback. I have not seen this model before. It has a starting bid of £59 and a buy it now of £89. Worldspace is still broadcasting Caroline and other stations Free To Air (FTA) at the moment, long after the broadcasts were due to end. If you are interested in this aforementioned the link is:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-FR-DS100-Worldspace-Digital-Reciever_W0QQitemZ330255844338QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330255844338&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

……..but if it has gone by the time you look, there is always regular listings of other models of Worldspace radios. The Hitachi KH-WS1, despite only having one speaker, has a stereo mini jack output and is very reliable portable size with a FM/AM and SW receiver, so when Worldspace does stop broadcasting all will not be lost!

Red Sands Radio was broadcasting again this year from the 4th July for 10 days. On the 7th July I was able to listen to the station on 1278 AM, because unlike last year there was no Radio Ghurkha on air, but much to my annoyance it was back the following day and completely blocked out Red Sands in the Folkestone area. I was able to pick it up when approaching Ashford on the M20. Most of the broadcasts have been recorded off AM from somewhere in Holland and are now available to download from:

http://groups.google.com/group/nl.media.radio.zeezenders/browse_thread/thread/cabef8d83583fe4c/467ee8e189df59bf?lnk=st&q=cabef8d83583fe4c+#467ee8e189df59bf

I downloaded one hour of a Tony Christian show and the quality was good for AM. It was good to hear Tony again. Other presenters were Glynn Richards (=Dave Richards / Michael Grant), Bob LeRoi, Tony Gillam, Rob Ashard, Doug Wood and the Black Prince. Tony’s music choice was good, but other presenters did occasionally play such rubbish as the Spice Girls, Take That and Kylie (in my opinion). From what I was able to hear, the music format in the evenings was more to my liking. Peter Chicago was also heard on air like last year, but did not have any programmes of his own. The station sounded very professional and the good atmosphere of being on the old war fort made it onto the airwaves. Well done to Bob and the crew and I look forward to future broadcasts and the being able to visit the fort when it has been restored to its former glory (is that the right word I was looking for?).

It has been reported by the Digital Radio Working Group in the UK that the switch from AM to digital could be complete by the year 2020, but Long Wave needs further consideration to determine how long it has left. One major factor in the conversion is to persuade car manufacturers to install digital radios as standard, but coverage levels across the UK would have to increase first and the DAB signals become more robust.

Last Sunday saw the welcome return of Mark Stafford on Radio Caroline and no doubt all the other stations around the world who broadcast “Stafford’s World”. Mark had been on holiday on the West Coast of America.

The previous weekend 18th to 20th July, Radio Caroline did some excellent live broadcasting from the Cambridge Rock Festival. The quality of the live music broadcast, namely Bad Company and Andy Fairweather Lowe, was superb and a great credit to a radio station that runs on a shoe string. It was good to hear former presenters Riga Steve and Steve Dack back on the old girl again introducing and interviewing Andy Fairweather Lowe. There really was a big Caroline presence at this year’s festival. In addition to the aforementioned Pandora was there to introduce Bad Company, the head line band on Saturday night, John Patrick did a couple of shows including the final one on Sunday night, Jim Ross, did shows on Friday and Sunday, as did Barry James, who was probably the most ecstatic about the event. The Ross Revenge restoration crew were also represented by Lee Shuttlewood and Graham Coull. Well done to everyone concerned. The station hopes to be given permission to rebroadcast the live music sets again at Christmas. Broxy featured highlights of the weekend on his Monday Breakfast show.

Until next time,

LA

Steve Szmidt, Hawkinge, Kent, England.

(Please add one hour to the above quote times for your local German time)

Tuesday July 8th 2008

Hans Knot reporting on the Isle of Man Radio Caroline Reunion:

Nog steeds bloeien de herinneringen aan de zeezenders, die elk jaar de nodige activiteiten oplevert. Sommigen dicht bij huis, als het ware om de hoek, anderen weer ver weg. Dat betekent dat de ene keer je dezelfde dag nog weer thuis bent en tevreden aan je naaste(n) kunt vertellen hoe je de dag vol herinneringen hebt beleefd. De andere keer een verre, dure reis en een hoge entree. En duurt het tevens langer om je belevenissen te vertellen. Desondanks weet ik vanuit de organisatie van de speciale tentoonstelling op het eiland Man, over de geschiedenis van Radio Caroline, er al diverse boekingen zijn vanaf het vaste land van Europa om een bezoek te brengen aan het eiland Man. Wie herinnert zich niet de vele reclamespots op Caroline North voor het bureau voor toerisme op het eiland? Ook de bevoorrading van Caroline North, dat haar programma’s vanaf de MV Fredericia geruime tijd verzorgde vanuit de Ierse Zee, werd vanaf het eiland verzorgd.

Decennia later wordt niet alleen een tentoonstelling op het eiland verzorgd maar ook een soort van symposium. Deze speciale bijeenkomst zal in september worden gehouden waarbij tal van voormalige medewerkers van het station zijn uitgenodigd om deel te nemen aan deze speciale bijeenkomst, die tal van herinneringen zal genereren. Ook andere betrokkenen zijn genodigd. Helaas moest ik mijn eigen invitatie afslaan wegens andere verplichtingen, maar ik kan U melden dat er vele unieke zaken op de tentoonstelling inmiddels vanuit Nederland en België verscheept zijn. Bijgaand afbeeldingen van de speciale folder die is uitgegeven ter promotie van de bijeenkomst in september. Misschien dat het u warm maakt een reis naar the Isle of Man te maken.

Friday July 4th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's first July report HERE.

Saturday June 28th 2008

Bob Le-Roi reporting:

Click here for the Red Sands Radio Website

Press Release 7

Mass Communicator

Communication is changing at an ever-faster rate as today’s I.T demands technically efficient voice over Internet communication. So it’s with pleasure Red Sands Radio welcomes aboard ‘Select Sponsor Partner’ VoIPon Solutions

VoIPon Managing Director Keir Argent said “Red Sands Radio uses the familiar Amplitude Modulated Transmitters for its output. Make no mistake Medium Wave & conventional analogue frequencies are set for big changes in future communication, we at VoIPon are pleased to be working with Red Sands Radio a station that brings excitement back to radio”

VoIPon is a trading division of Keison International Limited successfully distributing industrial products around the world for over 20 years. VoIPon utilises this experience in the rapidly expanding area of voice over IP telecommunications technology. With a wide range of top named brands VoIPon has built an impressive portfolio of clients VoIPon is undoubtedly a market leader in voice over Internet communication.

Press Release 8

Flying the Flag

Broadcasting from the Thames Estuary Red Sands Radio might be all at sea but its HQ is in Whitstable & it’s serviced from the harbour there. In the mid 1960’s Radio Sutch, the first station to use a Fort later Radio City settled on Shivering Sands. Meanwhile Radio Invicta later KING then Radio 390, took over the Red Sands. They too were supplied from Whitstable Harbour; Fred Downs owner skipper of the ‘Harvesters’ looked after the needs on Shivering Sands whilst Vic Davies served Red Sands with his ‘Mallard’

Operating outside then British Territorial waters both stations kept a low profile, the Forts were unlit as shown on the Admiralty charts, & no flag ever flew from their radio towers. Now in 2008 broadcasting & operating within British law Red Sands Radio has commissioned its own flag to fly from the Fort top

Said media designer ‘Kathia’ “Initially the idea was to use the overall layout plan of the Forts, but artistically I created a design based on a red background that encompassed the Fort’s elevation in yellow surrounded by the distinctive well know life ring”

Radio Red Sands launches on 4th July 2008. For more information contact Red Sands Radio, PO Box 299, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2YA or telephone 07961 601 893

Bob Le-Roi - Programme Director

Thursday June 12th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's June report HERE.

Een artikel over Graham Gill in "Dwars Door De Buurt" (nr. 117, 03-05-2008):

Klik op de foto.

Bob Le-Roi reporting:

Press Release 6

Tower gets Tower

Once fitted with an impressive 200-foot mast topping the Red Sands Fort towering 117 feet from the seabed the Pirate Radio 390 antenna could be seen for miles. That was when British territorial limits extended just 3 miles. Brought within British waters by legislation the Fort Pirate Radio stations found them selves outlawed & closed down by early 1967.

Now 2008 sees a new & highly efficient transmitter antenna being installed on the Fort. Replacing the temporary mast a new giant sectional purpose built structure is being erected for Red Sands Radio.

Said senior technician Tony Pine overseeing the installation of the new system “It’s an incredible structure, being both light & exceptionally strong.” “Riggers will step the mast in sections before a special top hat is fitted to match the transmitter out put to the antenna.”

Press Release 5

Baileys-Nissan

Priding them selves on being the local premium supplier of the Nissan range of cars Baileys-Nissan of Vauxhall Road Road, Canterbury has become a ‘Select Sponsor Partner’ in Red Sands Radio.

Said, general manager Brian Smith “We’re active in our support of local enterprise & events which we believe are crucial to the area. Baileys-Nissan has long been associated with Whitstable’s 10 kilometre run which attracts several hundred entries.”

“Red Sands Radio too has a big following, the station has a finger on the local pulse, & plays great music. It reminds us of the days when radio made exciting listening, we’re glad to be aboard.”

Radio Red Sands comes to air from 4th July 2008.

For more information contact Red Sands Radio, PO Box 299, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2YA or email address above, or telephone 07961 601 893.

Bob Le-Roi - Programme Director

Friday June 6th 2008

THE PHAROS TRUST (Registered UK Charity Number 1090325) - Press Release 5th June 2008

Text shown in quotes (“) and italics has been taken from the press release issued by Working Title Pictures.

LOCAL HARWICH HISTORIC LIGHTSHIP TO STAR IN HOLLYWOOD MOVIE

A local historic Lightvessel, LV18, has returned to Harwich after starring in a new blockbuster film. Filming for the new Richard Curtis movie ‘The Boat That Rocked’ has been taking place in and around the Dorset harbour of Portland over the past 5 weeks.

“The Boat That Rocked is written by Richard Curtis, the Emmy, BAFTA and WGA Award-winning filmmaker whose projects have included films from Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually to Mr. Bean and Blackadder. It will also be directed by Curtis, his second directorial outing, but first non-rom-com.”

The film, based on the story of two offshore pirate radio ships in 1966 features actors, Rhys Ifans, Kenneth Brannagh, Bill Nighy and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

“In 1966, arguably British pop music's finest era, the BBC played only two hours of rock and roll every week. But pirate radio blasted rock and pop from the high seas 24 hours a day. And 25 million people - more than half the population of Britain - listened to these pirates every single day.”

”The Boat That Rocked is an ensemble comedy in which the romance takes place between the young people of the '60s and pop music. It's about a band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that, incomprehensibly, preferred jazz.”

“Leading the cast are Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War, The Savages) as The Count, a big, brash, American god of the airwaves; Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) as Quentin, the boss of Radio Rock - a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea that's populated by an eclectic crew of rock and roll DJs; Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, Elizabeth: The Golden Age) as Gavin, the greatest DJ in Britain who has just returned from his drug tour of America to reclaim his rightful position; Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) as Dave, an ironic, intelligent and cruelly funny co-broadcaster; and Kenneth Branagh (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hamlet) as British Minister Dormandy, a fearsome government official out for blood against the drug taking, record playing lawbreakers of a once-great nation. The film also stars Tom Sturridge, Jack Davenport, Ralph Brown, Chris O'Dowd and January Jones.”

LV18, owned by the charity the Pharos Trust, is a familiar landmark in Harwich Harbour and has been used as a base for ‘Pirate’ Radio celebrations on several occasions. Last August the BBC used the vessel as a base for the popular ‘Pirate BBC Essex’ broadcast to comemmorate the 40th anniversary of the ‘Marine Offences Act’ of 1967, which brought about an end to the era of Radio Caroline, Radio London and other offshore radio stations just off the coast of Harwich.

The event brought back some of the original 60’s DJ’s like Johnnie Walker, Keith Skues, Dave Cash and many others who lived aboard LV18 for a week attracting thousands of visitors to the town.

LV18 Project Manager and Trustee, Tony O’Neil said, “We are really pleased to have had the opportunity to play a major part in this new film. We hope that the publicity gained from this will not only highlight our endeavours to bring the LV18 alongside permanently as a tourism and community resource but will also, through ‘Film Tourism’, attract many people who will want to see the vessel due to its in starring role in ‘The Boat That Rocked’.”

LV18 was the last manned Trinity House Lightvessel in service and has been maintained in her original ‘live aboard’ condition with the objective of achieving a permanent berth on Harwich Quay to open as a museum portraying the history of the manned lightvessels and their part in guarding the mariner around the coastline. The vessel has 9 cabins, mess room and fully functioning electrical and mechanical systems.

All the Trinity House Lighthouses and Lightvessels are remotely operated from the new Trinity House HQ at on Harwich Quay. Mr O’Neil added, “I hope at long last that we will be able to save this historic vessel for her home port of Harwich. We are now more hopeful that the project will be seen to form a key element in the forthcoming regeneration of Harwich Quay and be a most appropriate attraction to visitors to the area.”

LV18 has been partially repainted for the film and can be viewed from the Ha’penny Pier, Harwich.

For reference, see:
http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/newsArticle.php?newsID=202

See also:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7253200.stm

Saturday May 24th 2008

The "Unofficial" Radio Report

When I started writing this report I was listening to the second part of the Listeners Top 500 Albums on Radio Caroline. Part one featured numbers 500 to 251 and was broadcast live from the Ross Revenge over the May Day Bank Holiday (3 to 5th - More details in the Caroline Snippet section below) and during this Spring Bank Holiday Weekend (24th to 26th) the top 250 will be played, again live from the Ross, concluding at 18.00 hours on Monday. Any guesses what will be number 1? My money, if I was betting, would be on Pink Floyd, but I cannot decide on “Dark side of the moon” or “Wish you were here”. It is good that the tracks often selected are the lesser known ones. Other radio stations would just pick a single that was released from the album. From next week you will be able to buy an A1 Size poster listing the favourite albums and featuring some recent pictures of the Ross. The price will be £5.99 and can be purchased from the Caroline Web Shop at www.radiocaroline.co.uk. You can also buy the new Easter Reunion 2008 Documentary DVD for £9.99, which goes behind the scenes of when former Mi Amigo presenters from 30 years ago reunited to broadcast on the Ross over the Easter weekend (21st to 24th March).

Big L celebrated its 3rd Birthday on the 14th May. Some thought the station would not make it, especially after recent reports of presenters not being paid. Last time I mentioned that Randal Lee Rose had left for this reason, but he did return briefly, but that was short lived. It seems that Chris Opperman, who left for the same reason, has now been replaced by an hourly Sky news bulletin. Adrian John, who does breakfast on Big L, has been doing an evening programme for a BBC Radio Essex from 22.00 to 01.00 hours. It must be tough doing a show so late then getting up early for breakfast, assuming he bothers to go to bed! This is only a temporary position whilst he stands in for Nick Risby. If you hadn’t noticed Rosko has moved to a new time slot on Big L. He is still on Saturday, but in the morning from 10.00 to 13.00 hours. Lastly on the subject of Big L, you can read the recent Radio Times feature on the station at this web address
http://www.bigl.co.uk/big-l-radio-times-feature

Planet Rock is waiting to see if they will be sold by GCap. There is a save the station website http://www.saveplanetrock.co.uk/ Behind the campaign to save this award winning broadcaster is Brian May and partners. You can read Brian’s (member of the rock band Queen) Mission Statement at http://www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbmay08a.html#05
However, I am sure that you, like me, will not agree with all that he has written. For example he states “DAB Radio has had a brave start, and can provide freedom from domination by commercially minded programming”. I’m not sure how he worked that one out. He also writes “I regard Planet Rock as rather more than just a radio station - it is a symbol of free radio… radio, which is not run by large corporate organisations for the purpose of making tons of money, and has a free choice of what it plays”. This may be Brian’s vision for the future of the radio station, but the current owners GCap are LARGE and they want to close the station, because it isn’t making LARGE amounts of money. And one final quote “We need to allow small independent stations to exist alongside the huge FM giants. I listen to radio in my car, one of the few times I am 'in my own space' - and, for me, who grew up with Zeppelin, the Who, Hendrix, Traffic, AC/DC, Van Halen ... THE BEATLES ..... tell me, where can you hear music from these kinds of artists these days? You'll have a hard job finding "Kashmir" flicking through the channels in the UK”. I agree with his first sentence, but obviously Brian is not aware of or listened to Radio Caroline, although obviously he won’t find them on his car radio!

The winners of the 2008 (26th) annual Sony Radio Academy Awards were announced on Monday 12th May at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Amongst the notable winners were Planet Rock (3 Awards - Gold Award for Digital Station, Silver Award for Fish as Music Broadcaster and Bronze Award for Multiplatform Radio, not bad for a station that the Borg wants to closedown!), Brian Matthew, who presents the excellent “Sounds of the 60’s” on BBC Radio 2 every Saturday morning from 08.00 to 109.00 hours received a Gold Award to celebrate his 50+ years of national and international broadcasting and in recognition of his outstanding contribution to UK Radio and Radio 4 won UK Station of the Year. I won’t mention the awards that were given to the likes of Jonathan Ross, Chris Moyles, Russell Brand, Crapital Radio and Tragic 105.4. You can read the full details at http://www.radioawards.org/winners/?year=2008

A quick reminder that the next Radio Day in Amsterdam is on Saturday 8th November, which was first started 30 years ago. Stay tuned to this website for details and updates. I believe the main top of discussion this year with be Radio Caroline in the late 70’s. If you buy your ticket in advance there is a reduced rate. Email Rob@mediacommunicatie.nl for details.

Here some snippets of Radio Caroline news since my last report:

• Jerry Wright made a welcome return sitting in for Johnny Lewis on the last couple of Saturdays in April.

• On Thursday 24th April at around 17.00 hours, whilst I was returning from a business trip to the USA (more about that later) normal programming was lost due to a power cut in the Maidstone area. This caused damage to some equipment. John Brocks and Tim Charles worked overnight to carry out the necessary repairs to resume live broadcasting at breakfast on Friday morning. Oliver Hicks also helped out and I was informed that it was thanks to him that the first new John Patrick show (recorded) went out as per the schedule at midnight. I had to wait until the following week to hear the welcome return of John, which was long overdue.

• Our absent friend Dave Foster made a return to breakfast on the Friday 2nd May. I did hear him a few days before during a John Brocks show, but this was his first programme for in a long time. He also did the following two Fridays, but was absent this Friday (23rd).

• On the Friday 2nd Paul Douglas also returned to do the 10.00 to 14.00 hours slot and at 21.00 hours Cliff Osbourne started the weekend of broadcasts from the Ross Revenge, followed by Tim Charles and “Blues R on the Ross”.

• On Saturday (3rd) at 09.00 the listeners Top 500 Album Chart kicked off with Cliff Osbourne and this continued with Johnny Lewis and Peter Antony until 17.00 hours. Peter also stood in for Johnny on a couple of Saturday mornings (10th and 17th). I emailed Peter to constructively criticise him for being annoying by repeatedly saying “I’ll be putting them on, taking them off, and putting them on again”, especially when he did this twice in one link! He acknowledged and noted this, but still he does it, but possibly not as often.

• The Top 500 continued live on Sunday (4th) at 10.00 hours with Pat Edison and Clive Thomas until 18.00 hours then on Bank Holiday Monday the final 2 instalments of Part 1 were presented by Jim Ross (11.00 to 14.00 hours) and Pat Edison (14.00 to 18.00 hours). Ray Copeland did the final programme which ended at midnight.

• It was nice to hear members of the restoration crew, Alan Beech, Lee Shuttlewood, Graham Coull and Peter Woods broadcasting overnight on Saturday and Sunday during the May Day weekend.

• The Top 500 Albums continue tomorrow (25th) between 10.00 and 18.00, presented by Pat Edison then Dave Foster, and on Monday (26th) at the same time, with Pat, then Marc Griffiths, who is apparently really excited about being chosen to do the culmination of the listeners chart.

• Station Manager Peter Moore reported via the May World DX Club that a recent broadcast by the station on 9290 Short Wave received responses from16 QSL seekers from the UK, Italy, Norway, Japan, Greece, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Sweden and South Africa. He also had one report from Germany for the 945 and one from the USA for the 6925 frequency.

The latest on the Richard Curtis film “The Boat That Rocked” is that the filmmakers have decided that the Rock Station needs a rival pirate ship called “Radio Sunshine”, so they have hired the LV18 (the lighthouse ship used by Pirate BBC Essex), which will need to be painted yellow to fit the part. The have also hired some studio equipment taken from the Ross Revenge. The filming started on the 4th March and a full report can be found at http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/newsArticle.php?newsID=202. Johnny Walker, who has been standing in for Terry Wogan over the last two weeks on BBC Radio 2, said that he may have a cameo role in the film. I listened to Johnnie on Sunday 11th May, whilst out walking across the White Cliffs of Dover and he played Caroline by the Fortunes for someone who was still waiting for his Caroline T-shirt since the 1960’s. Johnnie, you missed the opportunity to give a plug to Caroline Web Shop, where you could have directed your listener to buy one!

Finally, last month I went on a business trip to North Carolina. I took with me a portable radio and also had the opportunity to listen to the radio in my hire car. This was my first ever trip to the States and opportunity to listen to American radio. As expected there were lots of stations to choose from. In the Sanford area, where I was staying, I picked up two rock format stations. The best one was 96 Rock, mainly because the other, 103 Buzzard FM, had two annoying breakfast DJ’s named John Boy and Billy, who went on for ages between tracks telling silly news stories. It seems the pair are quite famous as they are listed on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boy_and_Billy

Until next time,

LA

Steve Szmidt, Hawkinge, Kent, England.

(Please add one hour to the above quote times for your local German time)

Bob Le-Roi reporting:

Press Release 4

Talented talent

Whilst Red Sands Radio may be all at sea it’s more than ever promoting local talent, unsigned local bands, musicians & perhaps even some untried presenters.

Red Sands Radio Programme Director said “ We showcased a whole raft of new, local & unsigned talent last year.” “Unlike other radio that only play tracks after they’ve become hits, & at best bury local bands & singers on their websites.”

“Red Sands Radio in a quest to promote even more local talent this year will be including unsigned music in most of our programmes.”

Composers, Songwriters, Groups, Bands, Soloists & would be Presenters are invited to sent unreleased material for broadcast consideration to Red Sands Radio, PO Box 299, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2YA.

Promoting local talent & local artists - Radio Red Sands launches on 4th July 2008.

For more information telephone 07961 601 893.

Bob Le-Roi - Programme Director

Sunday May 18th 2008

Hans Knot reporting from the international radio scene:

Read Hans Knot's May report HERE.

Mary Payne reporting:

The dramatised documentary Swinging Radio England - a tale of Pirates, Texans and Teenagers premiered in Fort Worth, Texas on May 4th. Grey Pierson, son of the station's late founder Don, commissioned the programme as a tribute to his father.

Amy Greene, of film-makers Greene HD Productions, interviewed Boss Jock guests attending the Radio England/Britain Radio Reunion at the Red Lion in Mayfair in 2006. The finished documentary, directed by Amy and narrated by Steve England, also features Radio London and interviews with Big L DJs Dave Cash and Pete Brady.

I was honoured to be asked to participate in the programme and to attend the premiere and I have now added a full photo-report to the Radio London website.
Mary Payne

http://www.radiolondon.co.uk

Saturday May 17th 2008

LV 18, Ross Revenge and Radio Rock

Peter Moore writing in the Garry Stevens Message Board:

Sunshine Yellow and other film projects
Posted by Peter Moore on May 16, 2008, 7:29 am

Hi all,

As I reported before, the Working Title film now requires a second pirate ship as a rival to Radio Rock.
My pals Albert and Georgina Hood went to the waterfront at Harwich for me last night and they report that Light Vessel 18 has gone from her moorings to be painted Yellow so as to be the base for Radio Sunshine in the film.

Tony O'Neill must be rubbing his hands together to have this opportunity drop in his lap, but good luck to him.

I guess they will paint red over the yellow when they are done or perhaps he will keep her yellow to also cash in on any publicity opportunities when the film comes out.

Now, one person on this forum asked about other films.

You will see that Caroline is supporting a project run by Saskia Vischer (have a look at our web site). I have been working with Saskia for about two years now.
Her take on the subject is much closer to what actually happened than the Richard Curtis film, which will probably be more like ' Carry On Broadasting '. She wants to look at the politics behind the determination of the government to close the pirates of the sixties.
So, her film, whilst being fiction in terms of the characters, will have the thread of truth running through it.
While we are at it, Spitfire Pictures who made the prestigious documentaries about Bob Dylan and also The Who, are working on a documentary about Caroline.

If all these projects see the light of day we will have a documentary of absolute fact, a feature film of fiction based on fact and a fantasy of offshore radio as a romantic comedy.

Still, as they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Cheers,

Peter Moore.

Posted by Peter Moore on May 16, 2008, 6:10 pm

My comment of there being no such thing as bad publicity was very much tongue in cheek.

In the case of the Richard Curtis film, it is going to get released regardless of what I may do or say, but his reputation and that of Working Title is so good, that it will be a big success and for a short time at least, the public will again be interested in pirate radio.
The name Radio Caroline is unavoidably being drawn in to this, both in the Sun newspaper and more recently in The Mail on Sunday.
We have a ship that will ' appear ' to be the one in the film and we have the actual studios, so let us take full advantage of that.

As for the film proposed by my friend Saskia, we have spent endless hours discussing the content. I trashed her first script mercilessly, but she took the criticism in good part. So, I am content that with my input I will he happy with the finished project.

Same with the documentary. I intend to be closely involved and thus happy to endorse the final result.

If you come to the Big L TV programme, it is true that Radio Caroline was offered this opportunity first and I turned it down. This is because after many years of making mistakes with the ' media ' I sensed that they planned to do a hatchet job and that I would have no editorial control. The company filmed around 120 hours of footage which would have enabled them to pick the bits that showed Big L in a positive light if they had wanted, but this does not make entertaining TV.
So, at the editing stage they chose every bit that demeaned and ridiculed the station and the staff (Lord knows they had plenty of that sort of material).
The result was that Big L was slaughtered live on the TV.

I did not want to subject my self and my colleagues to public humiliation.

After the private showing I saw Ray Anderson, who was absolutely distraught. If you consider that he also took part in a fly on the wall TV show about the last venture he was in, which was the gay station L.B.H which again was ridiculed from start to finish, I am at a loss to know why he fell for it twice.

The media are like wild animals, sometimes they may let you stroke them, but never turn your back
to them and never let them get between you and the door to the cage.

Peter Moore.

Posted by Peter Moore on May 14, 2008, 8:45 am

Morning all,

As many will know, Working Title Films are making a film about a pirate radio ship.
Four times they sent scouts and set designers to view Ross Revenge and I of course hoped they would hire her. In the event they hired a bigger and more mobile ship. I was a bit p----d off since I had used four days of my time accomodating these guys.

However, during these visits they had photographed and measured every inch of the boat and had noticed various items of vintage gear. In spite of searching around they could not find similar gear for their film set.

So, they asked to hire the contents of the 558 studio and then the Overdrive Studio and then SW radio sets and much other stuff. I asked my colleague Alan Beech to liase with them and, under his supervision, all this stuff was taken to Shepperton Film Studios.

Alan and his colleague Lee, were then employed to help re-assemble all the gear in two replica studio's. Then it was realised that while they wanted old gear, for the era that the film was set in, the stuff needed to look new. So the people at Shepperton then refurbished our stuff to look as if it had just come out of the box.

After that they further decided that the plot required the ship to sink and we were not keen on them submerging all our stuff in a tank of water, so they relicated the replicas, with two more ' dummy ' studios that could be immersed.

Then ' phew ' they decided that the plot needed a rival pirate ship and that needed two more studios, so Alan sourced two sets of vintage gear
and hired those to Shepperton as well.

Last I heard he was on wages to install this kit on to another ship.

So, that is the real story behind what may have been alleged.

The outcome for Ross Revenge is first that we will get all our gear back looking brand new. Second Alan and Lee will donate all their wages and the hire fee, to purchase needed materials for the Ross. Third, the actual ship chartered for the film has been made to look like Ross Revenge ( after all, it was the only pirate ship that the designers had ever seen ) red and white and with two masts bow and stern.

So when the film comes out we will have in effect, the replica studios now intact again on our boat and a ship that to the general public will be the ship they saw on screen.

I think the opportunities of this may be obvious.

Hope you are all happy with that explanation.

Cheers,

Peter Moore.

Jan Sundermann and Freddie Schorsch reporting:

On Sunday May 18th at 12:30 CEST (11:30 UK Time), German tv station Sat1 (Astra 19° East) will broadcast a music show which includes the last recorded live act of The Fortunes along with Rod Allen. It was produced in Berlin in november 2007.

Monday May 12th 2008

Bob Le-Roi reporting:

Press Release 3

It’s a Blast

The reputable pleasure craft operator ‘Bayblast’ has joined the Offshore party.

‘Bayblast’ who run five high speed RiB’s (Ridged Reinforced Boats) from Herne Bay& Whitstable has become a select sponsor of Red Sands Radio.

Said John Harrison of ‘Bayblast’ “We took crew & supplies to & from the Fort last year.” “Bob Le-Roi often comes out with us on conducted tours to explain the history of the Radio Forts.” “Everyone along the coast was listening last time, we’re pleased to be behind the local station that plays more than the just the same few songs day in & out”.

You can book a ‘Bayblast’ pleasure trip by ringing 07800 754 493 or popping into their booking huts at Herne Bay or Whitstable Harbours.

Radio Red Sands launches on 4th July 2008

For more information telephone 07961 601 893

Bob Le-Roi - Programme Director

Wilt U een jaar lang gratis de Freewave lezen? Dat kan dan nu: beantwoord deze 2 vragen goed en op 8 november tijdens de radiodag hoort u of U tot de gelukkigen behoort.

1) Zendt big l op 8 november a.s. nog uit op 1395 am of satelliet?
2) Ligt het Veronica schip de norderney dan al in scheveningen?

Stuur dan even een mailtje. Onder de goede antwoorden zal Hans Knot tijdens de Radiodag 10 gelukkige winnaars kiezen.

Groet
Rob Olthof

Thursday May 8th 2008

Radio Caroline North - ‘Pirates of the Irish Sea’
Exhibition And 40th Anniversary Convention
19/20/21 September 2008
Douglas, Isle of Man

Radio Caroline North was anchored off the coast of the Isle of Man for three and a half years from 1964 – 1968 and, during that time, a very good relationship developed between the broadcasters and the Islanders. Now, forty years after the station's demise, Manx National Heritage is paying tribute to the Island’s former offshore friends.

An exhibition, ‘Pirates of the Irish Sea’, is being mounted this summer and Manx National Heritage needs your help. If you have any Caroline North memorabilia, memories or association with the station, please contact the exhibition curator, Matthew Richardson at matthew.richardson@mnh.gov.im

More details are at:

http://www.gov.im/lib/news/mnh/mnhradiocaroline.xml
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART56105.html

A convention is to be held on the Isle of Man over the weekend of 19th, 20th & 21st September. It will play host to former Caroline North deejays, engineers, executives and fans who will visit Manx National Heritage’s ’Pirates of the Irish Sea’ exhibition and Caroline North’s former base in Ramsey. Plus, at a conference to be held on the Saturday delegates will discuss the station’s part in the Island's radio and political history - and in the wider British broadcasting background.
The company handling travel and accommodation is Isle of Man Travel.
Details are at: http://www.isleofmantravel.com/_specials/080428_radio_caroline.php

If you prefer to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements and just want to buy a ticket for the event, delegate places can be obtained by contacting; carolinenorth@manx.net

The cost of the ticket (£50) will cover admission to the conference at the Manx Museum in Douglas and the ’Pirates of the Irish Sea’ exhibition at the House of Manannan in Peel as well as a morning at ‘Caroline Corner’ in Ramsey. Transport between all three is included in the price. There is an optional dinner on the Friday evening.

Unieke Genootschap-video over PAMS studio's in Dallas

Ooit willen weten hoe het PAMS-gebouw er van buiten uitziet. En van binnen? Het Genootschap radiojingles en -tunes bezocht dit legendarische gebouw aan de 4141 Office Parkway in Dallas en zette een rondleiding online met meer dan 150 foto's.

Het gebouw werd in 2006 gekocht door het jinglebedrijf Thompson Creative en eigenaren Larry en Susan Thompson waren anderhalf jaar bezig het sterk verwaarloosde gebouw weer op te laten knappen. Nu is het helemaal klaar: de grote opnamestudio A is nagenoeg nog in originele staat, hier ontstonden fameuze jinglepakketten zoals series 18 Sonosational (in gebruik bij Radio London) en de Jet Set (Swinging Radio England). De rest van het gebouw werd in een nostalgische sfeer gebracht met materialen en kleuren van toen.

Op de Spotlight-pagina van Jingleweb staat bovendien een verslag met veel foto's over bezoeken aan PAMS, TM, Jones TM. Thompson, Ken Justiss en JAM. Vanaf nu gaat het Genootschap de pagina's regelmatig aannvullen en van nieuwe fotoverslagen voorzien. Ook worden nieuwsberichten over jingles standaard voorzien van een logo, een foto of exclusieve audiofragmenten.

http://www.jingleweb.nl/index.html

THE RADIO CAROLINE STORY - THE 1970's

With the Mi Amigo's return off the English coast, Radio Caroline entered a darker period with strong attention from the British authorities. Deejays and those involved with the station came under surveillance, there were court appearances, a boarding of the radioship, and even Caroline fans were fined for displaying car stickers promoting their favourite station.

Radio Caroline's story continues through the mid-1970's, and includes pictures, audio, press reports and official documents.

Visit the continuing Caroline story at www.offshoreechos.com

Chris Edwards

The monthly update to The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame

New this month:

* after the two Caroline ships were towed away in March 1968, they languished in a Dutch harbour. We have photos of the mv Mi Amigo and some fascinating documents found on board;
* we catch up with one of the DJs who was heard on Caroline South after the Marine Offences Act - Ray Cooper
* we have added a 'Caroline Countdown of Sound' from 1966, kindly provided by Keith Martin. (There is more great stuff to come from Keith in future updates);
* there is news of a celebration of Radio Caroline North, taking place on the Isle of Man this summer
* and to prove we are not just interested in Caroline, there are also a couple of Radio Scotland audio clips.

www.offshoreradio.co.uk

Tony O'Neil reporting:

We have just launched the 'Save the LV18' campaign and will hopefully be able to raise the £150,000 to keep this classic Lightvessel in her home port of Harwich.

Following the great success of the 'Pirate BBC Essex' broadcast in August, we have pleasure in announcing that the new DVD film, 'Pirates Waive Goodbye....?' was released on Friday December 7th 2007. It's 108 minutes long and is available online at WWW.LV18.CO.UK - price £15.00 incl. p+p - OR by mail:
'Pirates Waive Goodbye....?' , THE HIGH LIGHTHOUSE, HARWICH, ESSEX, CO12 3HH. Cheques payable to 'LV18'.
The film includes an exclusive interview with Johnnie Walker, our new Patron of the charity.

In addition we are releasing 2 further DVDs of this year's event.

These are:
'An Audience with the Pirates' - Highlights of 3 afternoons at the Electric Palace Cinema, Harwich. Price: £11.00 incl. p+p.
'40th Anniversary Pirate Party' - Highlights of the 2 evenings at the Park Pavilion, Harwich with Johnnie Walker, Dave Cash and Emperor Rosko. Price: £11.00 incl. p+p.

More details on the website: WWW.LV18.CO.UK

Tony O'Neil.
Trustee, Pharos Trust,
LV18 Project,
Harwich Harbour.
Registered charity No. 1090325.

Click on these pictures to enlarge:

Beleef opnieuw de live uitzendingen van de finale van de Top 10.000 vanaf de MS Fortuna op 31 augustus 2006 én het onvergetelijke Paasweekend van 2007. Toen werd 48 uur lang uitgezonden uit de haven van Antwerpen vanaf het voormalige zendschip van Radio Veronica: de Norderney. Deze video's zijn door Jan Hariot op DVD gezet en deze is te bestellen via Radio Mi Amigo 192. Als BONUSTRACK staat ook het Pinksterweekend 2006 vanaf de MS Fortuna op de DVD!

Voor slechts € 20,= (inclusief verzendkosten) kom je in het bezit van deze unieke DVD en steun je tevens het werk van Radio Mi Amigo 192. Belangstelling? Stuur een e-mailtje naar dvd@radiomiamigo.eu voor de betaalwijze.
Ook eerder door Jan Hariot gemaakte video's zijn nog steeds op DVD te bestellen (zie ook www.janhariot.nl).

Hou i.v.m. de verwachte belangstelling rekening met 1 á 2 weken levertijd.

THE TONY ALLAN MEMORIAL FUND

There's a CD available with Tony Allan on Radio Scotland in 1967. All the money goes to the memorial fund. Send an for more information.

News Archive:

15th December 2007 to 30th April 2008

17th May to 2nd December 2007

22nd July 2006 to 5th May 2007

6th February 2006 to 12th July 2006

HOME