Hans Knot's International Radio Report - May 2007 (2)
Thanks all for your massive bunch of e
mails with memories and news. As always we take a rundown through all
the mails and pick out the interesting ones for publication starting
with one from Scandinavia:
‘Hi Hans, I have some more files to send to you, hope that you can find
it
interesting although it is in the Swedish language. P.S., I did listen
to Radio 10 Gold this morning with my car radio, do you know how long
they will be on the MW-band? Best regards Magnus Fors
Well Magnus first thank you for all the snippets you’ve sent to us and
one of them is seen above. I presume that listening in your car to Radio
10 Gold must have been probably the last time in your country. May 1st
brought the moment the power of the transmitter went down a lot.
Officially the transmitter is not used anymore by the organisation are
the contract with Quality Radio has passed. Maybe we can inform soon
about the plans the owner of Quality Radio has with the transmitter in
the future.
Mail from Belgium came in that we had to tune very quickly into Caroline
Satellite as at that moment former Big L presenter
Opal Belafonte could
be heard. I didn’t know what the sender of the e mail from Oostduinkerke
meant but she was only a guest in the program from Cliff Garrard. Anyway
probably it’s the lady herself instead of her programming style which
attracted Jean Pierre.
An
interesting anonymous e mail: Hi Hans, If your readers remember
Steve
Merike (ex RNI, Caroline, Penine, Trent, Saga, and of course BBC, they
can click on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1EYpiRxspA and watch him
with Marc Bolan. Anyone interested in the early days of Radio Trent in
the Midlands U.K can click on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CianpZiMQGA&mode=related&search=
Next one is the guy who always appears in the report, well in almost
all. From the USA it’s the Emperor Rosko again: Hans many greetings.
Alas I won't be first this time but Hi anyway! I am unable to report my
news ! It is exciting news but my lips have been sealed. So I will say
hi and bye till the next time!
www.Roskoradio.net is the fasted rising
Internet station on 365 for which we are quite proud! Last time I looked
we were the number 1 pod cast downloads as well might be worth some
space in the report! OLE emperor.
Good news Emperor with your number one position. Hopefully more and more
readers will tune in. Good to hear the other news. You wrote it in
secret language but with my experiences with strange languages I can now
reveal that the Emperor is serious planning coming over to Europe and go
out with a tender from Harwich harbour to a new radio ship which will be
on the air for a couple off days off the British coast to remember the
good old days of Offshore Radio. It will be around 41 years ago Rosko
left Caroline to work for the French Radio Luxembourg. Have a good trip
and there might be a chance meeting up this time.
From the USA we go to Scotland to see what
John McDonald has to tell us:
‘Hans, you asked in your newsletter about who is doing what on August
14th. Oddly enough I brought this up with our management about two weeks
ago. I have the green light to present not just a retrospective on
offshore radio but to document how we got from these days to radio today
and perhaps into the future as well. Nearer the time I will be trying to
search out former Radio Scotland presenters and surfing the forums to
discover if anyone can talk about radio the way they write about it. Can
I also express my appreciation to you for appearing on our morning
magazine show this week. This has generated so much interest on the
internet and really put Sunny Govan radio on the map. I must be doing
something right as soon after your show our managers asked me to give
them an extra hour a day. So starting Monday 30th April the show runs
10.00am-1.00pm daily. I am grateful to you Hans and I bet you will be
incredibly busy on August 14th. Don't worry I won't try to call you that
day.! My best wishes to you and do try to catch us occasionally at
www.sunnygovan.org
Sincerely, John Macdonald
Well good to see you had fun doing this Offshore Special on the VOP late
April John and also congratulations on the extra hour! We’ll speak to
each other later this year.
Hi Hans,
I'm not sure whether you know , but tomorrow - Sunday, 29/4 , it's
Abie's 80th birthday, and "Radius 100fm" (local radio station, located
in Rosh haayin- about 15 miles north- east to Tel Aviv), will celebrate
the event by having a special "V.o.P day"... on 100 fm...of course.
Talking about the VOP it was Sunday April 29th an all day long- 07:00 am
till 06:00 pm VOP on Radius 100 FM in Israel. Gil Katzir reports: ‘The
station broadcasted the original programs format, used on the Voice of
Peace with participation of some names of the past: Tim Sheperd ,Steve
Williams, Jimmy Jonson, Gad Biton, Yakir Aviv, Ruven Levi, Ofer Nachshon
and myself. Among the programmes: ‘The breakfast show’ ,’All time
greatest hits’ ,’Drive time’, ‘Twilight time’ and so on... It was really
great yesterday, all day long, good old memories from those wonderful
days on the MV Peace. All programmes were recorded and soon you'll be
able to hear them on the station web site: www.100fm.co.il/program_page.asp?newsid=34
Best Regards, Gil.'
Thanks Gil for this update and I presume you can now go to their site
and have a listening.
News now from Eric Wiltshire and his
RTI:
RTI LAUNCHES ON-LINE SHOP, RTI Shop on-line with human beings! 30 April
2007, London/Poprad: RTI, Radio Tatras International, the leading
pan-European English/Slovak radio station, is pleased to announce the
launch of its on-line shop with a unique human feel to it. The RTI Shop
will feature eco-friendly devices, eco-tourism and great Big Boyz Toyz.
However, the RTI Shop, whilst being electronic, will also feature human
beings. Every request for more information or ordering will receive an
email from a real human being. Eric Wiltsher, Director RTI, said: "The
RTI Shop has been launched to help our listeners obtain great products
or services. We feel that many are still finding there way through the
maze of online shopping and so we have made the RTI Shop electronic with
a human being available to help our listeners at any stage.
The RTI Shop
is still expanding and more will be added soon - our launch offering
demonstrates our commitment to helping the environment, offering great
new technology and with the added factor of some fun Big Boyz Toyz". The
RTI Shop is accessed via www.rti.fm Click on the link to the RTI Shop.
All enquiries will receive detailed information of the product or
service, if requested, and purchases will clearly state the cost plus
postage & packing before orders are taken. RTI, Radio Tatras
International, is committed to entertainment radio for Europe via the
existing and new digital platforms.’
Thanks Eric and good luck. Maybe we should meet up again whenever back
in England or you are in Holland to share some memories again. Eric and
I did some interesting radio shows together about the history of
offshore radio including on some Satellite Radio stations in the early
nineties.
Well from today to the sixties is versus the Hans Knot International
Radio Report just a short step. Caroline decided to move offices from
England whenb the British government decided 40 years ago that the
Marine Offences Act would ban all offshore radiostations off the air.
But Caroline would stay on the air. The new office was at the
Singel
160. It’s still there and in use by the Vicar Vision and another company.
Their internet site has some info on the former Caroline Office: ‘The
building at Singel 160, to which we moved in 2002 with our sister
companies Vicar Vision and Parabots, is a typical Amsterdam canal house,
with a foundation dating from the 17th century and with a building
constructed in 1885 with a historical frontage. The location is near 'De
Dam' (Dam Square), the central square where the royal palace is located,
at the 'Torensluis' bridge; the widest canal bridge of Amsterdam. This
bridge is well-known for its pubs Van Zuylen and Zeezicht, the statue of
Multatuli, and the marking of the place where the Jan Rooden tower was
located since the 16th century. At the time, this tower was located
along the Singel canal, which used to be part of the first town rampart
of Amsterdam. Little change of the surroundings is visible in pictures
taken through the years, apart from the demolition of the church Het
Torentje, two doors down the road from
Singel 160. The only things
changing in the centre of Amsterdam seem to be clothing and cars.
In 1967 Radio Caroline moved to the Singel 160, after the British
government declared broadcasting from the ship 'mv Fredericia' to be
illegal.
All in all it is a very pleasant building to work in, with sufficient
light, a nice terrace, and the sparkling city centre right outside.
http://www.sentient.nl/onspand_engframe.html
From Asia is the next e mail: ‘Dear Hans, I was fascinated to hear about
the Judge Dread jingles for RNI in your last newsletter. Here’s my own
little story:
Between 1987-1995, Judge Dread (Alex Hughes) was the Thursday night
disc-jockey for the over 30’s at my nightclub, Tonight’s Discorama in
Folkestone UK. He also kindly presented his own ‘Night Beat’ shows on
our first RSL station, Shepway Sound and over the years became a good
friend. Interestingly, he never kept a copy of those RNI cuts, but
fortunately Robin Adcroft (Robin Banks on RNI) had a excellent copy on
15ips open reel tape and so we presented the man himself with some of
his own work. He was delighted to hear those cuts again because he
thought they had been lost forever. Sadly Judge Dread died whist
performing live on stage at nearby Canterbury on 13th March 1998 – but
his memory lives on. What a character! With kindest best wishes,
Eddie
Austin
PS
The attached photo was taken last week in Bali, proving yet again
that I’m still proud to be a ‘sad old anorak’.
Eddie Austin in Caroline shirt provided by his former Atlantis colleague
Steve
Thanks Eddie wonderful to hear from you again and fine to know you’re
still doing well over there and also thanks for the wonderful memory.
Well now we have another laugh: It’s Dave from Scarborough who wrote:
‘Thanks yet again Hans for your brilliant Radio Report. Loved the item
on the Zimmers. It was me on the third wheelchair from the left… Soon.
Keep up the good work. Brightspark alias Dave. Cheers.’
Here’s an interesting e mail from Hendrik in Denmark, from whom I hadn’t
heard for a very long time: ‘Dear Hans Knot, I haven't send you anything
for a long time about the Danish offshore stations, that started it all
in August 1958. I have recently been writing with Jan Kotshcack, son of
the Swedish radio pirate from Radio Nord - Jack Kotschack. Jan is
seeking information about Radio Nord, and it may be good for you to know
and mention in your extensive reports. About
Radio Mercur, Jan mailed me
the attached copy of a newspaper article on a possible contact between
Radio Mercur and Gordon McLendon, that assisted with finance for Radio
Nord. In Denmark there were rumours about an American takeover of Radio
Mercur by McLendon. But it seemed to stem from a contact between the
Swedish Radio Mercur and McLendon. As Jan comments in his mail, the
American visitors seemed to have more interest in drinking whisky and
meeting Swedish ladies than doing business with Nils Eric Svensson and
Britt Wadner from "Skaanes Radio Mercur" and nothing ever happened.
Radio Mercurs first radio building is now being turned into private
housing. The huge villa, that earlier housed the Embassy of Argentina,
and for half a year was the land base of Radio Mercur is going to be
transformed to 6 private luxury houses. See the building on the Danish
page:
www.falkronne.dk/site/ejendom/index.php?parent=13&pageid=105&menuid=1
During the final days of a youth occupied house in Copenhagen called
Ungdomshuset during December 2006, the young people began to transmit
illegally from a small radio transmitter in the centre of the city in
order to inform street gangs about the movements of the police in a few
days of violent clashes between demonstrating young people defending the
occupied house against the police, that had to set them out on behalf of
the owner. On that occasion a Danish newspaper associated to the days of
Radio Mercur.
Thank you for the effort of keeping up a high level of information about
offshore radios. Best regards from Henrik Nørgaard
www.radio-mercur.dk
Thanks Hendrik too for working together with me and all the other people
to make the history completer and completer adding more unknown
information.
Mike Terry is next: ‘Apologies if I'm reporting something that's not
news, but I see from the current ITU notification of proposed new LF/MF
registrations that Luxembourg is seeking to use 279 Longwave (250 kW day,
150 kW night). Anyone know any more about this? The registration
document is dated 6 March 2007 and comments must be submitted by 26 June.
The document does not indicate any coordination required with other
users of 279 (it does do so for some other new LF registrations that are
being requested by Russia) so presumably the registration will be
granted. Has Luxembourg slipped in with this bid, knowing that Isle of
Man 279 is now definitely off? If Luxembourg gets the channel, this
would presumably block any future attempted registration of the
frequency by the UK or the Isle of Man. The ITU document is at:
www.itu.int/ITU-R/publications/brific-ter/files/ge75/2007/GE75_115.pdf
(with thanks to Chris Greenway BDXC-UK).
Well Mike bosses at Luxembourg as well as Benny Brown too are reading
the report so hopefully they can and will answer the question.
Another question came last issue when I published a Christmas photo and
Colin Nichol, who sent it had some question, from which I mention
the next:
‘The big question is who’s on the left next to smiling Paul Noble?’ Jon
from the Pirate Hall of Fame has the answer: ‘The person in the photo
with Paul "Nutty" Noble looks like Bob Walton
www.offshoreradio.co.uk/djsw2z.htm#walton
although I am not sure that Bob was working for the station at Christmas
1964 so I may be wrong. Best wishes.’
Bob Walton Archive Pirate Hall of Fame
Well thanks Jon and indeed it’s Bob Walton and it was 1964 as Paul Noble
left the station in November 1965, so it must have been the very first
Caroline Christmas on the Mi Amigo.
Talking about the Pirate Hall of Fame they had an interesting update
with the site: ’Just a quick note to let you know that The Pirate Radio
Hall of Fame has just undergone its monthly update. What's new, I hear
you ask: We have four pages of pictures from wonderful Radio London
courtesy of ship's steward Mitch Philistin and an electrician who worked
on board the Galaxy called John Lait. He has some great photos of Kenny
& Cash; and the page on the original Caroline ship, the Fredericia's,
journey north has been updated to include audio of the ship travelling
round Cornwall, up the coast of Wales and arriving at the Isle of Man on
Monday 6th July 1964, courtesy of our friends at The Offshore Radio
Archive. www.offshoreradio.co.uk
For all the people who also know how to speak the German language I know
can tell that for the first time in last month ‘Hörbuch Report’ came
out. As the name indicates, this magazine is mainly about audio books.
However the first couple of editions. Thomas Völkner tells us, will
feature some articles on various radio stations. This first edition of
Hörbuch Report has an article about the Oneword Radio from, the UK as
well as an introduction to the RadioRopa Audio Book Channels. Also I
found some important news that there will be soon a radio version of the
decades long very popular crime serie Tatort. It will be on air from
January 2008 on ARD (more info to find on www.ard.de
Also there is the special Calendar with events for the forthcoming 8
months in the magazine. For more info on this exiting new project go to:
www.hoerbuch.de
Long time ago we had a nickname in our report but we can add to the long
list, which also can be found on
www.hansknot.com the one for Mi Amigo
deejay Ton Schipper who was called by his colleague Rob Hudson Ton
‘Amigo Antonio’ Schipper. We have another one mentioning Gerard Smit
from Radio Noordzee days ‘Jonkie’ Gerard Smit.
Remember the long interview on
www.offshore-radio.de between
Colin
Nichol and
Bill Scadden, the former representative for Caroline in the
Harwich area?
It was from the eighties when Colin visited Scadden at his house in
Frinton. He was at that stage already in his mid eighties. As we now
learnt versus a second person is that he died a few years later. By the
way on the mentioned site are also interesting sixties photos from
Colin’s archive.
Let’s see if you find the next site interesting enough to give a visit
or two
www.radioyesteryear.org.au
A couple of weeks ago I did get in contact with the
Herrmann family,
which is partly German and partly Indonesian. With exchanging e mails
first with nephew Dave and later with others I came to a long story
which would have never written when Dave had not contacted me. Three
persons of the family Herrmann have worked for Radio Veronica in the
very first period from 1958 up till September 1961. They worked on the
radioship Borkum Riff and had lovely stories to tell me, which led to a
10 pages long story. It can be found at
www.hansknot.com. Soon an
English version will be available but you can already watch the
exclusive photographs. Their contract with Veronica ended in September
1961 and directly afterwards they went to the USA as father Günter
thought it was a better country. Just after arriving in Phoenix, Arizona
in October 1961 a long article appeared in The Phoenix Gazette: ‘An
unusual European pirate has become a resident in Phoenix. He is an
unusual pirate because he was giving something to the people of Western
Europe rather than taking something from them. He is Günther Herrmann
who designed, built and operated the pirate radio station Veronica for
two years, He was aided into the project by two of his sons, Dick and
Günter Jr. A pirate radio station is one which is not licensed by any
particular government. The Netherlands, like many European countries,
has only governmental operating radio stations. The need for a
commercial station which would present popular music programs ignored on
the governmental stations was seen by two Dutch citizens, who contacted
Herrmann, a former electronic specialists in the Netherlands in
Indonesia.
In four months he has designed and built a six kilowatt station on a
ship which was anchored 3 miles of the Dutch coast. Programmes including
rock and roll and commercials – where then broadcast 11 hours a day.
Response from listeners were instantaneous’. And so goes the story on
telling the success which the family had. A success which was never
known to those who bought the series of books, which has been written
through the past decades about the most popular radio stations in the
Netherlands, Radio Veronica. The family Herrmann was first sponsored in
Phoenix by the Neighbourhood Congregational Church. They left Holland
because its socialistic form of government, stifles individual
initiative.’ From Phoenix they all built on a long outstanding career
which brought them around the world. A family who were important but
never highlighted, which has changed now by the long story to be found
at www.hansknot.com
One of the young Herrmanns who helped his father
Greetings everyone from Surinam as I had contact again with
Gerard Smit,
former RNI newsreader and presenter in the seventies. I was listening to
one of his old ‘Buitengaats’ Shows and asked myself how he get hold on
the ‘Sjef van Oekel’ jingles and what the second person in his program,
Garmal meant, which I found a strange type. So Gerard came back with the
next answer: ‘Sjef van Oekel made the jingles especially for us. He also
loved doing strange things, like we did so he recorded them for us. Most
of the strange spots were recorded pure from boredom. Sitting on a radio
ship for a week or more and not being an homosexual or bisexual with no
women on board, gives time to do other things. Eric Post and I loved it
when there were people who totally disliked the things we did. If
everyone thinks that all is very good, you’re doing, than it’s time to
think yourself about being creative or not. Garoeties as always from
Surinam. Gerard Smit.’
Another internet site we already mentioned before but is interesting
enough again:
http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/memories_and_opinions_4.htm
And not forgetting the yearly mentioning of
www.allaboutradio.net
Which is from Australia and narrated by
Ian MacRae, who worked in the
sixties on stations like Radio Caroline South and Radio City.
Next an American in Belgium: ‘Dear Hans, I hope you'll remember me. Tom,
the person who collected air-checks in the U.S. and married a Belgian
national. We moved to Belgium for her health care last December. My
computer and other items arrived in early January via Antwerp, and I set
up e-mail, but all this time have not seen your monthly reports. I was
re-reading the last one I ever read: from October, 2006 and saw Ian
MacRae's name! What a memory flogger. I'm currently digitizing all my
tapes. I actually lugged over so much because I did not have time to get
everything transferred before we left. The Gary Stevens comments were
interesting, as actually got two of those reels he recorded in New York
for Radio England, along with all the other collectors, like Ian, who
have some.
I saw also a mention of Ray Anderson, as well. Back in the 1970's it was
Ray who actually bought some jingles from me. He would send blank reels
as he always wanted top quality. I saw him build what, I thought, was a
hobby into quite a business, and his own studio. A few months ago while
twiddling the medium wave dial I ran across Big L on 1395. I thought at
first it was a recreation of Radio Luxembourg which used to be near that
spot on 208. I learned quickly it was a land based station in
Frinton-On-sea. I went to their website and saw the story. They are not
even 2 years old and it is Ray Anderson behind the project. (I am sure
you know all this) Maybe I should not be surprised, Ray created this gem
of a station. He always did seem like a go-getter! Big L is full of old
jingles from the pirate days, which I know from tapes, having not been
lucky enough to have been here, and the music mix is wonderful. In a sea
of stations that I never want to hear I found something palatable to the
ear: Big L! Hooray for Ray! I'm actually all set up here, finally, but I
miss your report. Is it possible to get put back on your list? I hope
all is well! Tom Konard
‘Hi Tom yes I did sent you all the reports but they came back as the
address was not working anymore. Glad you got back in touch and of
course I know you. Big L. Well Ray is not involved in the board as the
main man anymore but still doing programs. I made a visit to the station
in early 2005 and report and photos can be found at www.hansknot.com
Also I sent a lot of uploads to you which all came back the last 6
months so I will put the new address to this list too. The reports
you've missed can all be read if you make a trip through
www.hansknot.com also on the online journal for media and music culture
a lot of interesting stuff can be found:
www.soundscapes.info Above that
we have our Radio Day on November 10th and all the big stars of Swinging
Radio England from 1966 will be there. Also a lot of radio people still
alive from around August 1967 and on till March 1968, including Robbie
Dale, Roger Day. Johnny Walker, Bud Bulloo and many more will be at the
venue to talk about the good old days in offshore radio. Hope you can
join the gang. Info also in the reports Hope the both of you will have a
happy time in Belgium, greetings, Hans.’
Although in German the next site is very interesting for those
interested in the total history of radio including the Cold War Period.
http://www.kalter-krieg-im-radio.de/
Brian Keith originates from England but works already a very long time
in Holland, wrote me: ‘When visiting my mother in England I always enjoy
the programs of Manx Radio and Magic 999 in Preston on AM. Every
Saturday morning between 8.30 and 10.30 local time on Manx Radio
‘Carnaby Street’ is transmitted, a show with music from the sixties a
lot of old jingles and commercials from those days (everything seemed to
be cheap in those days) which is presented by deejay Chris Williams.
Last Saturday I heard also an air-check from Radio Sutch (in the sixties
recorded on 197 metres). Manx Radio can also be heard on
www.manxradio.com and is think there is also a possibility to
relistening. Rob Charles, former Caroline deejay in the eighties, is
still doing the breakfast show on Magic 999, but months have been gone
since I heard Dave Asher and Robin Ross. Before I forget to mention.
Since we had the last Radio Day, we are more than halfway to the next
one!. ‘
Rob Charles photo: Magic 999
Thanks Brian to share these radio moments with us. I think both
Dave
Asher and Robin Ross went on to other stations.
Rob Charles also did
some stints on the Voice of Peace. Another known former offshore deejay
can be heard every Saturday and Sunday between 10 and 13 English Time:
Dave Lee Travis. The internet address for the station is
http://www.magic999.com
Next a lot of questions from Willy in Holland regarding
Radio London in the sixties.: ‘Herewith an email from Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. I would like to
thank you for all the international radio reports you have sent me
during the past. I was and am still interested in the past-stories and
the ‘here and now’ of several of our radio-heroes. Do you or anyone know
the (possible) answer on the following questions:
* What was the program schedule on Big L during the first weeks? The
first days, with six DJ’s (PB, ER, DD, TW, KE, PK), then DC joining and
in February 1965 DJ joining? How did they manege to let the DJ’s stay
two weeks on MV Galaxy and one week ashore? I have tried to work it out
and the only solution I have found is that during a few weeks the
‘junior DJ’s’ (PB, DD, KE, DC) should stay three weeks instead of two.
Could anyone confirm this or anyone of the DJ’s still alive?
Going to the end of Big L (it's now nearing the forty years exactly):
when was the last show of Tommy Vance, I had thought on Sunday 13th
August 1967 between 18:00 and 21:00, but I had to correct that seeing
that Chuck Blair hosted that show. Knowing that Tommy joined Big L on
July 23rd (when Keith Skues was leaving, Keith mentioning it),
presenting his only and Big L last Fab. 40 on Sunday August 6th, he was
two weeks on the MV Galaxy. So did he leave (together with Ian Damon) on
Tuesday August 8th and present his last show on Tuesday August 8th
05:30-09:00? When was the last show of Mike Lennox?
Schedule of the last thirteen (on the total of 30) DJ’s last shows on
Big L: 18. Tony Blackburn (Saturday 15-07-1967 05:30-09:00),
19. Keith Skues (Sunday 23-07-1967 09:00-12:00), 20. Tony Brandon (Tuesday
01.08.1967 15:00-18:00), 21. Ian Damon (Monday 07.08.1967 18:00-21:00),
22. Tommy Vance (Tuesday 08.08.1967 05:30-09:00), 23. Mike Lennox (unknown),
24. Mark Roman (Sunday 13.08.1967 15:00-18:00), 25. Willy Walker (Sunday
13.08.1967 21:00-24:00), 26. John Peel (Monday 14.08.1967 00:00-05:30),
27. Chuck Blair (Monday 14.08.1967 05:30-09:00), 28. Pete Drummond (Monday
14.08.1967 09:00-12:00), 29. Ed Stewart (Monday 14.08.1967 12:00-14:00)
and 30. Paul Kaye (Monday 14.08.1967 14:00-15:00 -together with Ed-).
Does anyone know the deejay schedule from 15-07-1967 until 14-08-1967?
Thanks once again and hope to see you in November! Kind regards, Willy
PS: Unfortunately I have lost your book on Big L and I never obtained
Brian Long's book. In case anyone might loan out one or both books,
please, please contact me.’
Thanks Willy for the long e mail. I haven’t any copy left of my Big L
book and as it was written 20 years ago I doubt if anyone will lent a
copy. So who want to photocopy the book and of course Willy will pay for
it. Brian Long’s book was never published. The planned book had far too
much pages and so he did photocopies to people who worked very near
together with him. Only a few were copied. I’m lucky to have them too
but won’t give a copy to anyone to keep it very special.
It was Peter Aaldring from Leiderdorp in Holland who wrote: ‘A couple of
months ago I found your reports on internet, going back up till 2004.
Amazing to see that so many decades after it all happened so many people
reflect mostly on the offshore radio stations in the sixties and
seventies of last century. Since then I went into my shed where long
forgotten scrapbooks were locked away. More joy and happiness were
brought back and I wanted to share a story from Dutch newspaper
Telegraaf which was published on July 3rd 1967. In this story no mention
of the later Caroline building at the Singel and also other ideas from
O’Rahilly, which were – like his Caroline TV from an airplane, never
released. It mentioned that from next months on (so August 1967) a brand
new radiostation from the former Caroline South ship MV Mi Amigo would
start with Dutch deejays under the name Radio Caroline. The reporter
went on with: ‘The Caroline head office has already been removed to a
building at the Koninginneweg in Amsterdam. These new ideas are a result
of the plans to bring in a special Act in England whereby it will be
forbidden to work and advertise for British Offshore stations. A
spokesman for the Caroline organisation – which has two radio ship; one
at the British South coast and one off Scotland, told that also the
English language programs will be on the air on another transmitter as
there are still a lot of advertising contracts and also advertisers have
promised already to go on advertising on the station after an Act will
come in. ‘
But to be sure there is a flowing income the organisation had ordered a
company to built a second transmitter on the Caroline South ship. But
the newspaper went on with telling the reader that in the future all the
English speaking deejays would have non British passports: ‘Eventually
Paris was the place for the Head Office, but as the radio ships will be
tendered in the future from Dutch harbours Amsterdam has now been chosen.
Also talks are with some people to hire rooms for the deejays for the
period they’re not on the ship. Caroline director O’Rahilly told a
colleague of mine in London that he plans to go in to court to see if
the act can be broken. He thinks the best thing is to use a British
vicar the best person was to be a guinea pig. He has worked together
with the Caroline organisation for a long time and promised to do so in
the future and see, together with us, if the authorities have the guts
to take action against him and his church.’ The journalist ended his
story with: He can get 2 years in jail as well paying 1000 guilders.’
Well thanks a lot Peter for sharing this memory with us. Never seen
again a mentioning of the office at the Koninginneweg. Who of the
deejays at the time, who are reader of the report, remember this
forgotten episode? As always you can reflect on this by writing to me at
Hknot@home.nl
Got another e mail from Frank van Heerde, who asked if I could give a
mention of a special program which is transmitted every Saturday between
17 and 19 hrs CET on Radio Enschede. Every week the presenters are going
back in time exactly 40 years. They follow the music from those days in
the USA, England and Holland. Now and then Frank tells some stories
about offshore radio too. You can tune in at
www.enschedefm.nl
The main presenter is Dirk van Dijk, other names are Coen Edeling, Frans
de Graaf and Kees Brinkerink.’
Thanks Frank and by the way Frank himself can be heard again on May 26th
and in the second hour he will be talking about the release of the Album
Sgt Pepper from the Fab Four. Of course Radio London will be mentioned
as it was the first station to get the album on the air 40 years ago.
Also he will
talk about the offshore station Radio 227, which was just
launched 40 years ago.
Hi all,
The
Annual Radio
Day, this year the 29th in a row, gets a lot of mentioning.
You can go to the official information site which can be found at
http://www.offshore-radio.de/radioday
Check out the program but also how to book an hotel room. In the
meantime, we have been getting a firm promise by the following guests
that they will come to Amsterdam:
Roger Day
Johnnie Walker
Graham Gill
Ron O'Quinn
Larry Dean
Phil Martin
Robbie Dale
Roger Scott (Arnold Layne)
Tom Mulder (Klaas Vaak)
Johnny Walker and Ron O’Quinn during a recent dinner (Photo Stuart Aiken)
And we have been informed by
Bud Ballou, Rick Randell, Jerry Smithwick and Andy Archer that they are
seriously planning to attend the Radio Day. Last but not least Steve
England (Radio Caroline in 1973, Radio Atlantis in 1974) assured us that
he will be coming. Stuart Aiken and Svenn Martinssen have promised to be
our special interviewers at the Swinging Radio England reunion.
Again some internet sites interesting to visit are:
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Pirate%20radio
http://www.blackcatsystems.com/radio/pirate.html
*****************************************************
Also in Germany a radio day is organised:
THE 7th ERKRATH RADIO DAY ON SEPT.8th, 2007. That Saturday its again the
meeting for European radio makers and listeners again in the rooms of
the observatory .The event is scheduled from 13.00 noon to 20.00 hours
in the rooms of the Observatory of Sternwarte Neanderhöhe at D-40699
Erkrath Opening is 12.00 o’clock. On the agenda: Audio broadcasting
formats: viewpoint USA. Shortwave pirates meeting their listeners.
Community Broadcasting in NorthRhine-Westfalia. Special guest: Ad
Roberts (Radio Monique).
The location: From Düsseldorf railway station one can get there with train S 8, direction Wuppertal /Hagen. You leave at stop Hochdahl-Millrath and walk the road in direction of the train to small way, on right hand named Hausmannsweg. After a few hundred meters you see the observatory. By car you leave Autobahn A 46 at exit Haan West to Erkrath, in the town the way is marked "Observatorium". You find a map under http://www.sternwarte-neanderhoehe.de or http://www.radiocaroline.de
The entrance fee is 10.-EURO (5,- EURO for Caroline Support Group
members, including a welcome drink. Preliminary registration or requests
please to: Jan Sundermann, Millrather Weg 74, D 40699 Erkrath.
e-mail: jansundermann@fastmail.fm
phone ++49 - (0) 171 - 492 5829
***************************************************************
Bang on Target
The Big 3.7” Heavy Anti-Aircraft Guns have long been gone, but
Red Sands
Radio is bang on Target for its broadcasts commencing on the 14th July
2007
Said Programme Director Bob Le-Roi: “The whole reason for doing this is
to remind people that without the considerable risky effort of the
pioneering Pirates, UK radio wouldn’t have developed as it has today”
When Offshore Radio came on air to Britain in 1964, it broke the state
controlled British Broadcasting Corporation’s stronghold on radio
forever and gave listeners what they really wanted. The old WWII Forts
had lain dormant and abandoned for years to be taken over by Radio
Stations eager to satisfy the public’s hunger for Popular Music. Finally
silenced in 1967 the Forts are now back in 2007 and ‘on air’ during
Whitstable Oyster Week Celebrations with a brand-new mix at the
broadcasting forefront.
Red Sands Radio is part of the overall
Project-Redsand who are well advanced in their long term plans to
preserve the last full set of Army Forts for future generations. Radio
Red Sands launches on 14th July 2007.
Like to be involved? Be good if you came aboard and were part of the
output. I'm looking for 1 x stand alone strip show all the detail
attached.
So you’re a Radio Presenter, want to be part of the most exciting Radio
Project in years?
There have been commemorative broadcasts, there have been memorial
programmes, and there have even been attempts at recreating the
atmosphere of the original British pioneering Offshore Commercial Radio
Stations of the 1960’s. But never has it been possible to actually
broadcast from one of the original radio station bases! The former MoD
Red Sands Army Sea Fort was firstly used by Radio Invicta, which
launched in June 1964, that became Radio K.I.N.G and finally the highly
successful Radio 390, which was outlawed and closed down in July 1967.
Now to mark the 40th Anniversary of the closedown of the 1960’s Pirate
Offshore Stations, we will launch a new radio station from the Red Sands
Fort on 14th July 2007. Whilst paying testament to the original stations
we’ll play a wide varied mix of the ‘Best of Yesterday and Today’ and we
invite you to contribute to the out-put. Now you’re interested, we want
people who’ve proven quality presentation skills. Shows will be music
led, with some personality. Programmes should be produced in hourly
increments to fit in with the stations stated format. A clock guide will
be supplied
Sadly being 5 miles from the nearest land, with frugal conditions it’s
not possible to invite contributors aboard. But we’re sure this is a
project that will grab Media attention from far and wide. Looking
forward to hearing from you
Bob Le-Roi - Programme Director. For more information email via
www.bobleroi.co.uk
Robin Banks and Bob LeRoi, two of the persons behind Project Red Sands.
(Photo Elja van den Berg)
Here’s
one for the jingle collectors in the readership of the Hans Knot
International Radio Report: ‘
Hans, any idea, where the year jingles come
from or where I can find them? You know the ones that say like "nineteen
sixty eight"
regards, Paul Ewers, UK. Well for me it would be difficult to sort out.
Having around 20.000 hours of recordings it would take a long time
getting through the archive lists and listening to some of the many
jingle tapes. I hope someone from our readers can help you. For the one
who has an answer you can answer at:
paul.ewers@mail.adsl4less.com
Well ending this issue with giving an answer to myself. In last issue I
published a photo of a coffee cup stand which was showing the MV Ross
Revenge from Radio Caroline. I asked if anyone knew who did produce this
one and if there were more different ones. Just in the middle of the
month of May I was cleaning up some archive material and found a bunch
of photographs taken by Rob Olthof and myself when visiting the Radio
Caroline ship during a 28 days RSL transmission in London Dockyards. The
Caroline shop was on the bridge and run by Jane Newbould.
Jane Newbould 1995 as well as the Caroline shop
It was good to see she did sell a lot of material and when I was on
board I also took a photograph of all the material which was for sale in
her shop. If you look well you see, under the Album, a lot of those
coffee cup stands. Other photo’s from this special events I’ve scanned
and Martin has put them on
www.hansknot.com
Finishing this report with news from Noam Tal and the
Voice of Peace:
’Today is the 18th of May 2007 – the 34th anniversary of the Voice of
Peace first broadcast, and the mayor and municipality of Tel-Aviv had
honoured Abie with perpetuation sign- board for the Peace ship on the
promenade of Tel-Aviv beach, about 100 meters from the sea and 5 miles
from the place that the MV Pease had anchored and broadcasted for about
20 years. The Ceremony started at 10:40 with jingles from the voice of
peace. Then, Abie and Mr. Ron Hulday - the Mayor of Tel Aviv, unveiled
the sign-board written in Hebrew and English. The crowed of about 300
people clapped their hands and the mayor congratulated Abie and spoke
about Abie's dream and his struggled to fulfil
his goals.
Peace Memory Beach Tel Aviv Photo Noam Tal
He also sai
d that the Voice of Peace was part of Tel Aviv landscape for
20 years, it was the voice of hope and sanity for better future. Later
the crowd listened to a recording of Abie from the voice of peace
telling about his idea to start the VOP and the enormous difficulties he
had till he managed to anchor the ship 5 miles off the shore and turn on
the transmitters. Henry, one of Abie’s friend spoke on behalf of Abie
and thanked the audience. Then the famous jingle about the sun set and
the tribute to all the victims of violence was played. At that moment
the ships and yachts that were waiting about a miles of the shore
started the sail as a salute to Abie. They headed towards Jaffa harbor
and then to the north. The sail was organized by the Naval school "Me'vout
Yam", with some yachts and boats from the Tel Aviv Area. Abie was
dressed in white and watched the sail from the promenade. On the
background there was the typical music of the Voice of Peace: "All you
need is love", "Imagine", "I wish you peace", "And I love you so", etc'.
It was a magical moment to watch Abie and all his friends and admirers
as they shake his hand and paying him respect. Then the ceremony was
over but there were some people that could not go and were gathering and
speaking with nostalgia about those days. I wanted to share these
moments with you – the Voice of Peace Family, wising you all the best,
and shalom from Israel. Noam Tal.
Abe and Peace Friends on Beach Tel Aviv (Photo Noam Tal)
Thanks a lot Noam to share this moment with us. Really wonderful Abie is
honoured this way and hope in the years to come his name will stay
important if we think about Peace in the Middle East. And also thanks
for your good work concerning Abie.
Well that’s all for another report and I wish you all the best and till
next month. If you have memories, photos or questions the only way to
get to me is either writing an email to Hknot@home.nl or
hans.knot@gmail.com
Greetings Hans
Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990
Read Hans Knot's former report