Hans Knot's International Radio Report - January 2007
Welcome to the January
2007 edition of the Knot International Report and thank you for all the
e-mails and Christmas and New
Years wishes we got. They once again came from all over the world
and among the hundreds of wishes the names were included from: Ron
Heijermans, Alan Bailey (Radio Luxembourg), Clive Manning, Roger Twiggy
Day (SRE and Caroline), Richard van Dorp, Tom Collins (Veronica), Tony
Christian (Caroline), Steven Cannon, Harm ten Brink, Trevor Welham, John
in Norwich, Mike Hayes (Radio 270), Emperor Rosko (Caroline and many,
many more), Sietse Brouwer (Caroline Satellite and Radio Waddenzee).
Stewart Ross, Oeds Jan Koster, Ron and Sarah O�Quinn (SRE), Martin van
der Ven and his happy family, Jaap Duijn, John Allan, Jorg van Beem
(Veronica) , Dave Windsor (Caroline and BFBS written in wonderful
Dutch), Frank Leonhardt (FRC Germany), Herbert Visser (Radio Monique and
100%NL), Raymond Urquahart from Guernsey, Ad Roberts (too many radio
stations), Radio Rainbowteam, Mark Dezanni (Caroline Satellite) , Elja
van den Berg (Caroline), Harald Urbig, Bernard and Becky Robinson,
Eduard van Loon (Caroline Club Holland), John de Blok, Aart Veldman,
Graham Jones, Alfons Gelens Benidorm and an avid Radio Luxembourg Lover,
Fergus Penman (Richard Jackson) Thailand (Caroline), Peter Zwirs, Paul
van Onzen (the man who visited all radio days through the years), Brian
Keith, Stuart Dobson (Caroline), Mary and Chris Payne (Keep on Big L!),
Meindert Dikboom American Radio Lover number one, Melvyn Brown, Rob
Olthof and cat Moortje, Ron C Jones from Toronto, Eric van der Velde,
Harry Alfrink, P. Blom, Chris Cortez from Cambridge, Werner Schneider
from Sch�nebeck, Jan Fr� Vos, Hans Spijkerman aka Humberto Spikerero,
Fred and Gerda Bolland (Radio Monique) G�ran Lundemark in Sweden, Johnny
Jason, Andy Archer, Peter Zwarthoed, Radio Dynamite, Ian Smith. Peter
Messingfeld, Mike Guy, Rob Veld, Andy Archer, Johnny Lewis, Colin Nichol
from Australia, Theo van der Velde, Ben Meyering, Andrew Emmerson, Jean
Pierre Berckmans, Radio Pros, Ted and Agatha Bouwens in France, Sander
Lindenburg with the most interesting wishes this year, Secco Vermaat
from early Mi Amigo days, Johan Kuiper, Luuk Boeder, Don Stevens (the
luckiest daddy and granddaddy from 2006, Ian Bigger. Wilfried de Jong
from Caroline Roadshow 1979/1980, Bonnie Heller, Bull Verwey (former
owner Radio Veronica), Harrie and Jos� Limpens, Graeme �I love AFN�
Stevenson. Fred Klissenaar, Douwe Dijkstra and companions, Ton and Tanja
Zeevenhoven,
Eli
Holenberg, Geoffry Baldwin, Martin van Weerden, Jan Hendrik Kruidenier,
Rob Bosman Jansen, Jan van Heeren, Evert Stolman, Martiniomroep
Groningen Truus van Dalen, Jan Hariot Mi Amigo 192, Andr�a de Caluw�,
Rene Burcksen, Rick Randell, Robbie and Stella Robinson (Robbie Dale),
Steve Marshall (VOP), Frans and Hardo Schuurbiers (Baffle, VVVR)
Burkhard Nowotny (former Deutsche Welle), Robert Briel (former Veronica)
Robert Preedy, Gerard Smit in Surinam (Dutch service RNI), Fred
Glissenaar, Carl and Sigrid Landmann on Nordeich, Cor Boele, Hil Favre,
Peter and Anne-Miek van den Berg chairman Big L Foundation since
decades, Marinebroadcaster Paul (and Marian) de Haan, Manfred Steinkraus
Sound Studio Sylt and his Claudia. Wim �Mediapages� van de Water, Bert
Alting, Hans Marijs, Wolf Diether Roth, Ingo and Margot Paternoster, Ben
and Iuliana from Antwerp Bode (Paradijs and Caroline Dutch 1979/1980),
Fran�ois Lhote (OEM France), Roger Stafford in Australia, Arik Lev,
Svetlana and Jos Leijgraaff, Gijs and Natasha van den Heuvel (Radio
Netherlands), Marc Torringa, son of the late Krijn, Bill still going
strong Rollins (Tower Radio and much more), John Piek, Marcle MRF, Tim
Chase, Jean Luc Bostyn Radiovsie.eu, Free Radio Service Holland, Larry
�the keater with the heater� Tremaine, Marc Jacobs (Mi Amigo and
Caroline and�) Naud Nelissen, Svenn Martinsen, Christian Bergmann, Jan
Paul Kramer Medianet, Jelle Boonstra and family jingeling on, Colin
Lamb, Marnix Hoedt, Rob, der op of deronder, Ronder, Maria and Alex
Depuydt from Belgium, Pierre Cleassens, Henk de Boer landbased near
Dokkum, Rene van Abeelen, Jan Broekema, Steve Szmidt, Rene Sweers,
Walter and Mirjam �Simons Monique�, Georges Cany, Look Boden (227), Ton
Schipper (Mi Amigo), South of France sunny Leen and Marjo Vingerling,
Tom de Munck aka John Wendale, Chris Dannatt, Dave Burke, Jon Myers,
ABCD family, Alex Bervoets, Sander Lindenburg, Noam Tal in Tel Aviv,
Orly Marog Jerusalem, Thomas Voelkner RadioJournal, Bert Bossink and Bep
Strik �Mr Sixties Man�, Shaun and Carrie Brennan after years back in
Harwich, Henk Kruize and Leonie (lucky man!), Wolfram Bender, Liz Poole,
Anne Korevaar, Peter Agate, Tom Mulder aka Klaas Vaak Veronica, Gilbert
Jonckierre d�Armenti�res en France, Chris Cary, Willem de Bruyn, Chris
Visser and the guys at the Download Group and Nick Barnes.
Of course it were all wonderful wishes but I must admit I choose the one
from Jaap van Duijn as the one which hit the top for 2006. This with the
thought we had to say goodbye to the former REM island last year as,
after 42 years, it was taken from International Waters and no more
memories of Noordwijk have been left.
But when Jaap went to the platform on a sailing trip in 1971 with some
friends, they made an illegal entrance to the former REM platform and
found the following document, which was from the 9th of December, just a
week before the final transmissions took place.
Last issue also brought a memory which suddenly came up when
Johnny Jason wrote in. I
asked him if he remembers that he went for a job in the USA and either
he or Andy phoned to Groningen from the Caroline office in
The
Hague asking me if I had a proper on air recording to use as a demo
tape, which I had. Remember it was more than 32 years ago. Andy
reflected on the day the bumper edition of the Knot International Radio
Report appeared with: �Thanks for the Report - fascinating as usual. It
was J.J. who telephoned you for an air check tape. In spring 1974 he
went to the USA hoping to get a job there. In a way I was glad he didn't
get one! I remember when he came back, Everyone on the ship was so
delighted that he had returned. J.J. was always on an upper and without
question, the most popular member of the team, we had all missed him. I
was happy to read that he is still wining and dining in all the best
places!�.
Already on page three of this edition and no words from the Emperor, who
again lost the game to be the first. I think he must be sleeping in
front of his computer screen. Well here he is from sunny California, the
main man Rosko: �Hi from
Los Angeles, Fabulous report Hans as always! Every month a new skill
comes out of my past to say. Hi! Soul King of Yorkshire DJ Chris Dannot
last month! How do you do it! As it is a new year I will keep it
extremely short for this month.'
It�s Graeme Stevenson from Scotland who attended me on a very
interesting site regarding the history of German Radio. He wrote: �Hi
folks, my friend Bernard Wichert in Germany has an interesting webpage
(in English) about archive radio recordings. Thought it might be of some
use to you. Best link to try is:
www.suizidal.de
In Montgonery Village, Maryland USA my reader Rene Burcksen is living
together with his wife Dennise and daughter Chelsea. He originally comes
from Holland and wrote: �I just finished reading your radio report. The
December 2 issue this time. With the end of the year rapidly
approaching, I just wanted to let you know that I have enjoyed all of
your reports this year. It has been a challenging year for me on all
different levels. Reading your reports while at the same time listening
to some old recording from the stations I grew up with in the sixties
and seventies always makes for a nice distraction! I hope you will keep
sending these Radio reports in 2007. This holiday season, I'll
anticipate listening to the Top 2000. (Dutch Radio 2 that is). Radio 2
is really one of the stations I am listening to a lot these days.
Favorite program would be "Het Theater van het Sentiment" . I guess I am
getting old(er). Other then that, I listen to Radio Mi-Amigo 192, which
is planning some nice programming for x-mas. Also Radio London (in the
weekends) and of course Radio Caroline are stored in my player. Radio in
the United States seems to be getting more boring by the month. I hope
Santa will leave me the XM satellite radio receiver under the tree. A
station which can truly say "From coast to coast". Happy Holidays to you
and your family, Rene Burcksen.�
Isn�t it wonderful top read this from a Dutchman already decades living
in the USA listening there to Dutch Radio. Must be a good thing for my
readers who are working there on Radio 2. By the way, I�ve advised Rene
also to have a listen to Dutch Radio 5 during daytime hours on weekdays
(7-18 CET). During the past months I�ve heard music I haven't heard
since decades:
www.omroep.nl and then choose Radio 5.
Mail from Colin Lamb with a bit of better news regarding
Phil Mitchell: �Hope you
are well and enjoying life. I saw Phil Mitchell earlier this week. Two
years on from his stroke, he is still making slow but steady progress.
He understands perfectly everything that you say, but has only very
limited speech and still hasn't regained the use of his left arm/leg. He
is beginning to be able to read a few basic words and has even tried a
few goes on his PC, with limited success. He is though in remarkably
good spirits. With very best regards, Colin Lamb.�
Thanks Colin for the update and yes we missed him too on the reunion for
former VOP people in November. Give him my best regards.
Chris Edwards from Hanwell has also good news: �We've now updated the
Offshore radio themes
pages at:
www.offshoreechos.com/offshorethemes with some new pages on the 1st
& Last records played on the offshore stations, plus more themes and
audio clips have been added. Have also added record label, catalogue
numbers and release dates where we've been able to find them. Terry
Hounsomes RockRom CD database has proved invaluable here. If anyone can
provide missing release details or audio, or have any comments or
anything to add, please let me know. Have a very happy, peaceful and
prosperous New Year Chris Edwards, Offshore Echo's. Chris can be reached
at: oem@offshoreechos.com
Well long time not heard from
Larry Tremaine. I think it was March 2006 we just missed seeing
each other in London. Larry still doing well in sunny California: �Hans,
It's Larry Tremaine (Steinman) from Beverly Hills Ca. 90210....Happy and
healthy Hanukah and New Year to all the greatest of all greats, you the
entire teen population of every nation. You see Larry cannot get off the
air.......... so much do I love to read your great reports and keeping
the fire burning. Rosco is within 20 miles and we don't see each other.
Rosco, call me 310 274-5600, yes we still have the Carol Lawrence
Galleries around California. Still keep in touch with Robb Eden, Mark
Wesley, Andy (still must call him "The Dancer") Archer, Roger Day (who I
am very happy for) life is all about timing and I am glad you are doing
great. And what happened to Stevie Merikke, did he fall off the face of
the earth, Alan West still going strong when we last spoke and Duncan
Johnson (always a gentleman) good to hear he is well and Spangles, what
can I say except hope you are doing well, he was for sure the wildest
Englishman I ever met and taught me about �redies� (money)..... "Larry,
get your redies out I have a plan!." And please give a call to the
Captain Harteveld and let him know that I wish him a great recovery as
we all do.
Reading your report I am reminded that 2007 I too will be singing "Will
you still need me will you still feed me cause I'll be 64! 40 years ago
I was so excited about pirate radio and Hans, you are keeping it real
for so many of us bald guys that used to rock the tall time and power
tower clock on the airwaves. Please have the guys send me emails and let
me know how everyone is. PS, I am healthy, have a girlfriend (my wife of
40 years (Caroline) and I have parted ways and hope both of us are Happy
as Larry. We still do a great art gallery business so if you need a
Chagall, Give me a call. or email
larry@art90210.com love to hear from everyone. Send me a postcard,
drop me a line stating point of view..... now where have we heard that
before. Lot's of Love to all our great gang and hope to see everyone at
the next reunion. Thank you, Larry Tremaine.�
Well
long story Larry with a lot of info and wishes. Hope your life may be
enjoyable too for this 2007 and the years to come and before I forget
congratulations with your birthday. Lovely to see mentioning all those
names from former colleagues from RNI days. Must be nice to know they�re
all readers, except for one, from the Knot International Radio Report.
The one who isn�t a reader is Alan West as he is somewhere under custody
in a not so pretty jail. And I can say for 100% it is not for joy
riding.
Ron from Holland is telling us that his son has done some marvellous
work updating and refreshing his memories pages about Radio Veronica.
Well let�s all have a look at:
www.ronneke.nl/radio_veronica/radio_veronica.htm
One of the more �sad offshore
photographs�:Veronica�s Norderney on travel in 2000. (Archive:
Antoni Barten)
At the end of the month I will be visiting southern England and meeting
a lot of people.
One
of them I will see in Highgate, when we both will be visiting Peter
Moore. I�m talking about Bob
Lawrence. He sent us a memory to share: �My most embarrassing
moment was on my first full day on the MV Mi Amigo. I went into the
studio with Marc Jacobs and everybody else for Baken 16. You might
remember a record called �Arabian Affair� by The Abdul Hassan Orchestra?
Mi Amigo played it a lot and I think Marc even made a special vocal
version too. Anyway, Marc played the song and said something in Dutch
and looked at me .... I had no idea what he said but I tried to be funny
by saying on air "I think my mum had one once". Everybody in the studio
laughed and I had no idea why. Marc then explained that he had said
something like "Buzby is in the studio with us, you know you look like
an Arabian Affair." To which my reply must have sounded hilarious.
Anyway Hans, look forward to meeting you at the end of January. Regards,
Bob Lawrence�
Now time for several updates on sites from radio friends, first one to
mention is Paul Jan de Haan who suddenly found a former Radio Atlanta
deejay from 1964 on the internet.
Johnny Jackson was 17
years of age at the time he made his first steps onboard the MV Mi
Amigo. For the full story go to the weblog of Paul de Haan at:
https://pauldehaan.web-log.nl
I can mention you that Paul has arranged that Johnny Jackson will sent
the archive Atlanta material, which Johnny kept for all this years, to
the postal address of yours truly so we can all enjoy some of the stuff
soon.
Then more about the tribute site for
Radio Mi Amigo, run by
Theo van Halsema. He as added some new chapters to his site, mainly
articles and photos published by several journalist after they made a
visit to the Mi Amigo on land studios, then in the seventies in Spanish
Playa de Aro,
https://www.Theovanhalsema.com
The monthly mentioning of Bob
LeRoi follows: �Trust you had an enjoyable Christmas & welcome to
the 1st Update of 2007. In this months �Scrapbook� it's the concluding
part of the Radio Sovereign International story as told by station owner
John Kenning. With many never before published pictures both of Radio
Sovereign and it's competitor Radio Nova (Italy) it's a great look,
listen & read
�One Subject One Link� takes a swipe at the Music Industry in Money for
Nothing as they attempt to get revenue for music from your ISP, so
everybody could end up paying even if they never download music!
Available to buy on-line. First orders delivered for the long awaited
Radio City 299 T Shirt, produced to commemorate the stations close 40
years ago & the Marine Etc Broadcasting Offenses Act & for the
enthusiasts version of the Radio Essex Documentary CD which is now
complete & dispatched. Finally the A-Z of Pop & Rock Music arrives at
the letter (K) with more records & CD's to buy at sensible prices. Enjoy
your visits & Happy New Year.
www.bobleroi.co.uk
Then some space for
the man behind the Pirate Hall
of Fame: �Rather than seeing in the New Year hunched over my
computer, I have updated the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame a bit earlier
than usual. What's new this month? Station BBMS, the former Radio Essex,
closed down at Christmas 1966. In December 2006, forty years on, a group
of former staff members gathered to mark the anniversary of this sad
occasion. We have the photos; we hear from one of the first voices to be
heard on England's second offshore station, Radio Atlanta's Johnny
Jackson; and, as the rest of the world enters 2007, The Pirate Radio
Hall of Fame proudly moves into the nineteen-seventies! Up until now we
have concentrated on the first decade of British offshore radio. This
month we launch the 'Seventies Supplement' to cover the next ten years.
The first page of the supplement, listing the DJs whose names begin with
A, is online now and more will be added over the coming months.
www.offshoreradio.co.uk
For our German readers the long serie (15 episodes) edited by me
regarding the History of RNI can be found in German now on
www.radiojournal.de
As mentioned, at the start of this newsletter, hundreds of wishes came
in and here is another one which I would like to put in the report
completely. It came in from reader Willem de Bruyn who wrote: �Hello
Hans and thanks for sending all those marvellous reports during the last
year again. In the last two issues you mentioned
John Dwyer. Yes, 20 odd
years ago and really when he was on the Ross Revenge and Caroline he
succeeded getting a real contact with the listeners. John has done a few
period on board for the station. Also you wrote some nice words about
memories to JJ, aka Johnny
Jayson. His real name, so I think, was R�diger von Etzdorf.
Really 1974 was for me the top year as we talk about Radio Caroline. In
spring 1976, so I remember, he did another stint on the MV Mi Amigo. In
those days there were also daytime programs for Caroline. He used to
play a lot the Fleedwood Mac song �Landslide�. I always listened to him
too a lot with listening pleasure.
Hans,
you�re our Ambassador, and I have enjoyed through the years a lot of all
the writings about offshore radio. It�s maybe youth sentiment, a bit
gone by, but never a thing of the past. You keep many contacts with
people who worked on the several stations and relive the memories with
us the readers!. Of course a lot of thank you!�
Ok� Willem I hope to go on within the years to come to not only enjoy
the common readers but also the many former deejays who worked in
Offshore Radio.
Remember
Stephen Bishop, better known as
Johnny Lewis. Well he has uploaded many photographs from his
periods on board the MV Mi Amigo in 1977-1980. Thanks Johnny with many
memories.
https://www.roundsandsounds.co.uk/radio/Mi%20Amigo%202.htm
Stephen Bishop (his personal
archive)
Another interesting site for people who know the Dutch language is about
the music industry in Belgium whereby Sylvain Tack, once owner of Radio
Mi Amigo, played also an important role.
www.andaluciapersonal.com/pers30.htm
https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/kneesflashes/happenings/janfebmarch07/janfebmar01.html#news
Above the internet address for the latest update on Radio London site.
This includes the interview Tom
Mulder once had, way back in 1977, with the late Paul Kaye. I
advice you to have a relaxing chair and go and have a listening! I found
in my archive an old photograph showing that Tom Mulder was and is also
an avid train and tram lover, like many radio people.
TOM MULDER ON THE TRAIN AROUND
1972
Exchanging again some e mails with Tom some nice memories came above
when sharing our subject �Radio London�. Tom recalled to me that it was
in village of �Huizen� interviews were made with Dutch guys, who had
written in to get a job as deejay on the proposed Dutch Service. He even
made a demo tape there. A pity the Dutch service of Radio London wasn�t
on the air. It would take three more years to get Tom Mulder (Klaas
Vaak) on the radio, way back in May 1969. Another memory from Tom takes
us back to the spring of 1967. At home he had made a special promo for
the Dutch listeners and sent in to Curzon Street�s office. Some weeks
later he awoke hearing himself back on �266� and even falling out of his
bed. And it would be repeated a few times too. And now on the Big L site
from Chris and Mary his interview with the late Paul Kaye! Really good
to be pride.
I got an e mail from Harald Urbig in Germany who wrote: �First of all a
Happy New Year and all the best to you in 2007. It�s always a great
pleasure reading your radio report. Yesterday I listened to Roger Day on
BBC Kent. In his program there was a telephone call with Stevie Gordon,
the last man heard from the Mi Amigo before she sunk. Stevie tells some
details from his memories of this special day and as he called his �his
ten minutes which made him world famous�.
Thanks
Harald and also for sending the sound file to me. Stevie indeed was the
last voice to be heard on Radio Caroline from the MV Mi Amigo, way back
in March 1980, just before the ship sunk. Nowadays Stevie is living in
Norway. Roger, as mentioned in last report, has decided to work for
Auntie BBC after 40 years in radio.
It would be
nice to see that you and specially you would like to read again how to
order the book about the Voice of Peace, which was released way back
early November last year. My publisher promised me to sent away the book
as soon as your money arrives. Here are the details:
**********************************************************************
VOICE OF PEACE MEMORIES AND ABIE NATHAN�S WORK
HANS KNOT (Editor)
During the past year a lot of work has been down to research not o�nly
the history of the Voice of Peace but also the various humanitarian jobs
Abe Nathan has done through the past 4 decades. With assistance from
people next to Abe, deejays and staff of the station in the past, Hans
Knot has succeeded in writing a 250 pages book. In the book are many
exclusive photographs, but as there were hundreds of photos sent in by
many people, a �photo cd� will be included. The book, which will be
officially presented at the Annual Radio Day in Amsterdam o�n November
2006. The book can now be ordered from the publisher. The price for
people in the Netherlands will be 30 Euro, including postage and
packing. For people outside the Netherlands the price will be 33 Euro or
25 British Pounds. You can sent in your money by sending it in an
envelope to SMC, PO Box 53121 1007 RC Amsterdam. Also you can pay your
money to Giro account 4065700 o�n the name of Mediacommunicatie
Amsterdam. Don�t forget to mention IBAN number: NL 37 PSTB 0004 0657 00
BIC: PSTBNL21 . This to avoid high costs.
***********************************************************************
Talking about books, just before starting the holiday period, a
beautiful book was sent to me by the publisher Artdata. A short view
into the book learnt me that we had to take the publication with us to
our holiday place; to have a better reading and above all �looking�. The
book called �Seafort�, by
Stephen Turner, tells the story in words and pictures in a diary about a
weeks long stay from artist Turner on the Searchlight Tower, one of the
towers from Shivering Sands. As known the fort was not only used during
World War II and the years
afterwards
by the British Army, but also by radio stations Sutch and City. During
the past decades the Thames Estuary, where the forts are situated,
Turner has frequently visit this area for artwork. This time his aim was
to live for a longer period (five weeks) on the fort to make pictures
from there into the Estuary. But is became more an inside look into the
mentioned Tower with wonderful stories as well as immense beautiful
pictures of what he found on the tower on subjects to be photographed.
Parts of equipment left from the war period, wonderful shots taken
trough small holes in the walls of the fort, dead birds next to living
plants, requests for a Sinatra �Boots for walking� song and much more.
I always had a fascinating admiration for the people, who have lived and
worked on the forts. Most of them have lived there for longer periods
but were there with more people at the same time.
Stephen
Turner was taken onto the fort and left alone, only to have radio
contact once a day. To be totally on your self gives a person the
possibility to super reflect and rethink human live and the result is a
most beautiful book with very interesting daily �reports� as well as
several gracious photographs, which is not only for the art collector a
must on the bookshelf, but also for the offshore radio listener, who
listened in the sixties to those stations. Next to Turner�s diary and
photographs Seafort brings a transcript of a conservation Turner had
with Rachel Lichtenstein but also an interesting story �Boulevard
Solitude� by Ian Hunt. In the book also in depth the reader is taken
back to the history of the fort. During World War 2 period there was no
radio connection at all. The communication was done by telephone with
�on land�, this connected by �miles long cable�. Interesting are also
the shots taken from the webcam, how the author and art maker lived in a
tent on the tower during the five weeks in August and September last
year.
Stephen Turner�s Seafort counts 96 pages and 70 illustration in colour.
Catalogue number is 14705 available at 12.95 Pounds at
www.artdata.co.uk
The book is published
by the Seafort Project www.seafort.org
There is more to find on the author/ artist and his work.
Some 100 of my readers were selected to get a special New Years gift by
getting the change to download some very special air checks from radio
stations in the sixties. All American and Canadian recordings. John Ross
Barnard has a very interesting opinion after listening to some of the
downloads: �Dear Hans
What a remarkable newscast on the Chicago and the Regina stations! The
1968 parallels with today are astonishing:
Then: Lindon B Johnson erects electric fence in Saigon - it didn't work
Today: Bush erects fence to keep the Mexicans out - it isn't working
Then : students distribute leaflets with the cry "Hey, Hey LBJ how many
children have you killed today
Now: Hey, Hey GWB how many kids have you killed this year
Then: LBJ proposes increased troops into Vietnam
Today: Bush proposes 30,000 new troops into Iraq
Canada's radio news highlighted
Then: The Arabs meet in conference to fight the threat of Israeli
incursion into Arab lands and the Israeli nuclear threat
Now: The Arab nations meet today to consider Iran's nuclear ambitions
Then: Kim Philby
identified as a Russian spy against the UK
Today: British Army interpreter in custody accused of spying for Iran
Then: Britain Radio using PAMS "Hallmark of Quality" jingles
Today: Saga Radio UK using the same package ...
As
the prophet said" Everything changes but nothing really alters."
Depressining!
John Ross-Barnard.�
Buster
Pearson (Photo Theo Dencker)
It sounds like a giant step back in the time when I decide to take you
to the month of January 1977 with some �Monitor Memories�. The Second
Wednesday in January 1977 was an atrabilious day for Dutch Justice as
well as for the late Samantha
Dubois (Ellen Kraal) from Radio Caroline. She was asked to tell
her own story of what happened when she was summonsed to appear before
the Magistrates accused of broadcasting on Radio Caroline. So here once
again in here own words, is the account of her experiences: �I went to
the court on the 12th of January in Amsterdam. I didn�t have a lawyer
because it�s to expensive to pay. There were three witnesses in the
court to testify against me: ex crewmen Guenther the Cook, Derek the
generator engineer and Jan, the sailor. The Dutch Court is really Micky
Mouse.
I
am very ashamed of being of Dutch Nationality. Why do I say that? Well,
firstly there wasn�t a jury. I pleaded not guilty. So the court called
on of the witnesses, in that case it was Jan the sailor. The court asked
him if he recognised me as being Samantha, alias Ellen Kraal
broadcasting illegally on board the ship called the MV Mi Amigo. Well,
much to my surprise Jan denied everything. He said that he never knew
me. If that had happened in a British court the second witness would be
called up. But the Dutch wankers just warned Jan that he was committing
perjury and he could get up to six months imprisonment for going back on
his word. I was found guilty and giving three weeks suspended sentence
plus 200 pounds fine. The three week suspended sentence is for 2 years.
So if I get caught within 2 years I go to jail for 3 weeks. Actually I�m
going back to the ship. I haven�t paid the fine, and I�m not planning to
either which means 40 days imprisonment. The only reason why I was taken
to court is because of the three above mentioned people signing a
statement under oath that they were with me on the ship and saw me
broadcasting in English.�
Samantha 1977
Samantha had certainly the courage of her conviction in those days. The
late Buster Pearson wrote
in 1977: �Perhaps if there was more of here buccaneering spirit around
the outlook for offshore radio would be a brighter one.� Sadly neither
Buster Pearson nor Samantha are no longer with us. During the last two
Radio Days spontaneity comes around when one or more of the guests are
mentioning the names of the people who are no longer with us, the names
of Samantha and Buster Pearson should be there too the next time!
Another interesting site to be mentioned tells us the story about 100
years in radio, a site mentioned in an e mail sent in by �JFK�
https://www.californiahistoricalradio.com/100years.html
Filip van der Molle from Belgium wrote in with a question regarding the
former RNI radioship MEBO II:
�RadioVisie is working on a daily item in Dutch in which we are
reconstructing the highlights of the offshore radio history. One great
question about RNI is still remaining. On the 14th of august 1978 Robin
Banks and Black Printz brought the final (illegal) transmission at
5.00am after the daily Koran broadcasting. After this event the Libyan
Authorities decided to bomb the MEBO II. Can you find the exact date on
which the soldiers used both ships as a target while exercising? I would
be very thankful if you can help me. Sincerely yours, Filip.�
Well Filip, as far as known the crewmembers got the order from the
Lybian authorities to stop the temporary broadcasts as the maintenance
at the transmitter site in the country was ready. I know Robin was still
there. Next the transmitters used by RNI and Veronica (which had been
bought used before leaving Holland in 1977) were taken off the radio
ship. They were also rebuilt in the official transmitter sites of Libya
and I know that up till some years ago two of these were still in
working order. The radioship MEBO II and the sister ship MEBO I have
been for a longer period in the harbour of Tripoli. A telex sent to me
in 1986 by Meister and Bollier, the former owners of the ship, just when
I was finishing my book on the history of RNI, told that the bombing of
the ships took place somewhere in 1981. This had be done to pretend the
ships would fall in hands of an enemy,
Now back to court: There were more justice happenings in January 1977 as
on the 27th a large crowd got together outside the Magistrates Court in
Southend on Sea in Essex. Once again let�s see what Monitor Magazine
editor Buster Pearson told about the get together: �They were free radio
supporters who had arrived from all parts of the country to peacefully
protest at the way the Home Office wasted public money and Police time
by harassing harmless folk whose �crime� is apparently treating persons
on board the radio ship Mi Amigo as fellow human beings.�
What had happened on forehand in August 1976, was the work of a
detective constable from the Police Headquarters Drugs Intelligence
Section. His name was Gary Skull. He played a fool at everybody as he
intended to go out to the radio ship Mi Amigo pretending he was an
anorak like you and me still are in 2007. He talked with all the other
people on the tender and told them he was a free radio fan with the name
�Simon Martin�. Oh man, what a mean man he was as he was testifying to
his superiors � after coming back at the office � that he had seen the
organiser of the trip handing over newspapers and mail over to the guys
on the radio ship Mi Amigo. The organiser was Dave Hutson and the fake
Anorak mentioned also that Dave was wearing a Caroline badge, which of
course was promoting the station. This of course was forbidden by the
1967 Marine Offences Act. So Dave was ordered for court and on January
27th 1977 and with him the owner of the ship, which went out to the Mi
Amigo, appeared in Southend on Sea It was Arthur Ord, and old age
pensioner and ex commando. Like the earlier case with Samantha neither
one of those two felt they could afford a lawyer, as the fees for that
were to high. Both pleaded �guilty� to the charges laid against them.
The next is what the newspaper �Standard Recorder� had to say about the
court case some days later (February 4th 1977):
�Pirate Radio Supporter David Hutson was determined to keep Radio
Caroline afloat. Not only did he supply the outlawed station�s
disc-jockeys with letters and newspapers but he organised boat trips to
the MV Mi Amigo and even published an advertisement in the form of a
Radio Caroline badge. These were purchased by the passengers on a trip
to the vessel. But Hutson, 27, a storeman of Sandon Road, Vange, got
into deep water with this hobby, for his actions contravened the Marine
etc Broadcasting Offences Act. And at the Southend Court he was find a
total of 125 Pound with 20 Pound costs. Boat owner Walter Ord, 68, of
Brightlingsea, was find a total of 125 Pounds with 20 Pound costs, also
for supplying newspapers and letters to the ship. He had a former
conviction for taking a passenger of the radio ship. The fines were met
with gasps and groans from the public gallery, were Free Radio
Supporters had gathered.�
Nice to see a small article appeared in a local newspaper, probably a
weekly, days after the court case, almost 30 years ago from today. On
the court case a certain Mr Orlando Pownall, appearing for Hutson, told
the people in court it would become time that Independent Radio would
become legal. Well there were already independent radio stations on land
in Britain since 1973 with LBC as the �numero uno�! Another negative
speaker at the court was Miss Jeraine Roberts, for the director of
Public Prosecutions, as she told the court that following an
advertisement for boat trips to view the MV Mi Amigo, Gary Skull posed
as a passenger aboard Ord�s trawler. She said each of the 12 passengers
bought a 15 pence Radio Caroline badge, offered by Hutson. Alongside the
Mi Amigo Hutson threw aboard passenger�s requests for records, plus
their newspapers and letters for those onboard. Of course the Police had
to come in force and at the court case the attendees learnt that the
Home Office officials boarded, in cooperation with the police Ord�s
trawler. Hutson�s comment afterwards was good for a laugh way back in
1977 but also 30 years on: �You can do burglary and get less. I don�t
see what we have done wrong�.
Well think about the time and money put into this court case, the money
they were making out of the prosecutions, compared to the �super de
luxe� reception murderers and other criminals are getting then and now!
Oeds Jan Koster from the Netherlands is searching already ages for the
original jingle, which
was used in another form in the Netherlands in the seventies:
�Way back in the seventies presenter Wim Noordhoek on Hilversum 3 had a
program called VPRO vriidagavond show. In the show he used a jingle
which I believe comes from American origin. Noordhoek had 'customized'
the jingle for his program. I�m searching for the original American
jingle for many years now. I tried to locate it with the help of Wim
Noordhoek himself, but unfortunately that did not work out yet. So I
hope one of the readers of this monthly can help me out. You can hear
the customized jingle, as used in the VPRO vrijdagavond show by clicking
on the following link:
https://www.oedstones.com/o%20j's%20jinglebook.htm You'll find the
jingle I�m talking about at the bottom of the page. Thanks for your help
in advance! Oeds Jan Koster.�
Hope someone can help him and Oeds can be reached
at:oojaykay@oedstones.com
On January 10th I gave a 27 minutes long interview to a radiostation in
Sydney Australia. They had found out that I had written the book �The
Dream of Sealand�, way
back in 1988 and wanted to talk about the history of the Principality of
Sealand�. This as the family Bates once again thought it was time for
some publicity and put their Sealand for sale. Lowest bid must be 66
Million Pounds. So the dream goes on.
Talking about Australia, the next e mail came from there and it�s Roger
Stafford who wrote: �Hans I did look on your web site today and I saw
the note that Crispian St. John had passed away, a total shock. He was a
shady, but nice bloke. I met him many time in the RNI days. He had in
those days a girlfriend who lived in the district Norfolk and David
Caine and Chris Cortez and me visited him on a few occasions for a year
or so. The last time I saw him was in Southend, many years ago in the
court house at Southend magistrates when Johnny Jason and one other, I
can�t remember the names, where up on charges not under the MOA. Not a
good day for free radio, but I did get to meet Mike Knight, former Radio
Jackie and a few of the Radio Free London guys, who would remain friends
for many years. Both Chris and Dave where there. I�ll never forget that
and the day spent at the RNI Rally in Hyde park with the Koleidescope
guys. (those where the days). But Hans, time passes by and the older we
all get the faster they go. but all said and done: where would radio and
in fact music be now for our kids if it where not for the few. You have
no idea of the pleasure that your news letter brings every month. So
many thanks again for your great effort and for the memories.
P.S: who was he in court with: we did buy him dinner and a real ale
All the best, my son William is reading this as I type and asked what�s
Free Radio?�
Andy Anderson interviews Johnny
Jason (photo: Karel Gerbers)
Thanks Roger, Well, indeed Howard Rose passed away a couple of years
ago, which is still a great loss for his relatives and many people in
the radio world in Europe. Of course, after the period with RNI we heard
him on a lot of stations, including Atlantis, Caroline and the Voice of
Peace, not forgetting ILR. As far as Johnny Jason and the court case I
can mention you that it took place on April 26th 1976. A lot of people
were there, including the grey fox himself,
Ronan O�Rahilly, and
Mary Warner. One of the
former Atlantis deejays, Andy
Anderson, was also there to interview Johnny for LBC. London
Broadcasting Radio. As you�ve seen in this edition I highlighted two
court cases and someday also the one with JJ will be in the report.
After the court case: Mary Turner
and Ronan O�Rahilly
That�s all for this time. I hope to get again your contribution to the
report with memories, photo�s and questions to be answered. All can be
sent to Hknot@home.nl and the photos
to Hans.Knot@gmail.com
Greetings Hans Knot
Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990
Read Hans Knot's former report