Hans Knot's International Radio Report - December 2008
Hi there all radio
friends, all over the globe. Good to get again a lot of e mails and
memories to share within the report. Also it was good to see that some
450 persons from several countries came to our annual
Radio Day in Amsterdam,
which was held for the 30th year in a row and organised by Martin van
der Ven, Rob Olthof and myself. We we’re assisted by a great team during
the day, for which we’re very thankful. I can tell you that the audio
from all the interviews, made on the Radio Day, as well as many
photographs can be found on:
www.offshore-radio.de
Go to the photo of the Radio Day on the main page and you will have some
hours of fun, like we did on November 8th. And don’t forget to watch the
special video made by Ben Meijering featuring the MEBO II and Graham
Gill singing live before the audience his famous ‘Way back home’.
In this issue, which is the longest ever produced, we have a lot of
memories from several parts of the world and also we look to the
resemblance of radio hobbyists and the lovers for trains and trams. We
do this together with former Veronica deejay
Klaas Vaak, also known as
Tom Mulder.
A rare Caroline Board Game
from the sixties was for sale on EBay in Oktober. I don’t know if it
still there but the next thing was mentioned”
Radio Caroline TOP POP SPIN Board Game (2 to 6 players): Dimensions -
35cm x 28.5cm. The groovy game that takes you round the top temples of
pop, meeting famous stars, carving your own career in this exciting
world – it’s top pop spin! All you need to spend swinging hours of pure
pleasure is the spin disc and record counters and you’re away, racing
your friends to top pop honours! Squares mention such things as RSG
(Ready Steady Go), The Animals, Cavern Club, Heaven and Hell Club, Music
Echo and of course Radio Caroline. In complete unused condition – all is
exactly as it arrived in 1965 or 1966. Including all original 6 Disc
counters (one is The Caroline Crowd), Spin Disc, 60 250,000 Credit Sales
tokens (some of the tokens are in sheets, but most are pairs or singles
– from what I remember this was the way it arrived) and Rules and
Instructions. The board is folded in its original envelope so there is
obviously some slight creasing at the fold. Other than this slight
blemish the game is in incredibly good condition considering it is over
40 years old. NOTE - This game is not Waddingtons quality but it is
original Radio Caroline memorabilia.
This is so rare, I can find no mention of it anywhere – if anyone knows
of more info please contact me at
HKnot@home.nl
The above info about the game was sent to me by Robert at the Monitor
department in Guernsey and I wrote him back asking why during the past
year or so no update was made of the Monitor Site. He came back with a
sad e mail, in which is shown that some people can make really a bad way
of responding to other people working hard to make our hobby still
living after so many years with no offshore radio on the air:
"Thanks for replying and you asked me if I'm I still working on the
Monitor Guernsey Websites? The answer is not at the moment as I have
been very ill over the last year or so since I last did any thing on the
web sites or did the articles on the M.V. Ross Revenge in St. Peter Port
and St. Sampson's Harbours. I have had to put a hold on every thing
concerning the Guernsey Branch of Monitor.org.uk. As I run the branch
single handily with no help what so ever (apart from my partner whom did
some scanning but has no interest in pirate offshore radio), I have had
to stop all work on putting the Monitor Magazines online for what might
be a very long time! This will disappoint a few people but not many as
I've had nothing but negative feed back about putting the Monitor
Magazines online, like: "why bother with them (Magazines)online when
nobody is interested in past events and most people will have them any
way!" I had other negative ones which were even more hurtful and which I
won't say what they said. My idea was to keep Buster's magazine alive on
the net while I was ill and gave me some thing to do, it grew from one
web site into three web sites which took me by complete surprise! The
Monitor Guernsey Branch web sites will stay up for the time being but
may come offline at some stage with out warning, as I'm on benefits and
not able to work at present and no money coming in it will be a struggle
to carry on keeping them up. This is not a appeal for funds/money I
would not accept any monies sent any way, thank goodness we don't have a
snail mailing address any more! I will one day get back to working on
the web sites but at the moment I don't have the heart to work on them
as the interest seems to have waned from the history of our great
offshore radio stations! Keep up the good work on your International
Radio Reports Hans they are needed more than the web sites. I try to
keep going! Regards
Robert Clancy."
Hi Robert, a pity no positive readers of your website replied. I know
for sure that there are enough people who never had a single copy of the
Monitor Magazine in the seventies and eighties. So all go to see Roberts
work on the website and give him a proper response and please no
comments on the guy with the beard, that’s a photo of 2,5 years ago:
http://www.guernsey.net/~deejayclancy/
A few things about and also partly from the
Admiral Robbie Dale
starting with an early November mail: ‘Good morning Hans. Thank you for
including the Sunshine Radio event in last months dispatches. Upon
returning to sunny Lanzarote, from that most enjoyable crew reunion,
(The Sunshine Radio 20th year celebration) in Dublin’s fair city. I have
had a busy month in and out of hospitals getting my ageing heart vessel
surveyed. I am now back at home for a few days,” in dry dock so to
speak” whilst Stella and I considered the possible options. After
conducted extensive tests, the best Medico’s on three islands
unanimously agreed that a triple cardio vascular bypass and aortic valve
replacement is the only real option open to me. With blockage in (CT1),
the hearts communal trunk. The cardio vascular dynamics team at Doctor
Negrin Hospital in Las Palmas declined our request to try angioplasty
and a relatively new “Stent” technology. “Too risky” they say! So! For
the cardio bypass and valve replacements procedure I now need to return
to the Rambla Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. According to those in
the know,” it’s the best cardiac unit in Spain” and Dr Llarens is the
top surgeon in this field of expertise, a very busy man with a full
schedule by all accounts. So! Next week I’m off to see the wizard. I
will be in the Rambla for a week or so, then recuperating at home for a
while before I can bee-bop again. I’m currently medicated up to my
tonsils; my private and personal “nurse Stella” is taking great care of
me. I am having great difficulty just sitting around twiddling thumbs,
but that’s the way it has to be whilst we get things ship shape again. I
wish you all a very enjoyable get-together at “Radio Day 2008”
(Soft Rock-N-Steady Roll). Greetings, Robbie Dale.’
In the meantime Robbie has fallen in hands of the big specialist, marked
as the best and Robbie’s assistant manager at his holiday park at
Lanzarote kept me informed, so you all can read how the Admiral is
going. On November 14th I received this kind e mail: ‘Hi there Hans, I
would like to send a message to let you know that I have spoken to
Stella and all is well. Robbie had a double bypass and valve replacement
yesterday afternoon and everything has gone very well. Robbie is today
sitting up and talking, obviously weak but seems to be fine and is doing
well. It is expected that he will be leaving the hospital in 6 days
time. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you wish any further
updates. It sounds like Robbie will be making a good speedy recovery so
I'm sure it won't be too long before he is back on his feet and sending
emails! Kind regards, Tamsin Timmers, Assistant Manager, Apts San
Francisco Park.’
A few days later Tamsin brought more good news: ‘Hi there, just to let
you know that I spoke with Stella today and Robbie is making an
excellent recovery.....of course! They will be flying back to Lanzarote
tomorrow so all is well. Kind regards, Tamsin.’
So if you want to send a get well e mail don’t hesitate to contact
Robbie and get him back on his feet to run to next years Radio Day:
robbie@sanfranciscopark.com
Next a hello and welcome to all
AFN/AFRTS lovers as Thomas Whetston has put more rare recordings
on internet. You can find it at:
http://afrts.cjb.net/
Thom also wrote: I'm getting the December update ready. As always do you
have any requests? There have been some great new acquisitions and I
hope that you like them. Wolfman Jacks people have asked me to pass this
on. They've finished a new CD of classic bits of Wolfdom. Go to the
website, listen to it online then buy a copy (Wolfwoman could really use
the money).
When
an artist uses cdbaby they get a much better split than a 'real' record
company. I will be getting this and I hope that you do too.
The long lost tapes of the Greatest DJ of all time, Wolfman Jack, have
at last been discovered! Wolfman Jack: Greatest Bits and Ringtones
contains 31 hysterical and historical clips taken from tapes of the
Wolfman's radio show. The Wolfman Jack radio program can be heard in
syndication throughout the United States and Canada and on XM Radio.
These clips are perfect to put on for entertainment or to use as
ringtones on your iPhone!
http://cdbaby.com/cd/wolfmanjack
Have a look and listen at
www.ifellinlovewithasnowgirl.com and hear the song from Mickey Mo,
who we all know as Mike Hayes
on Radio 270. He made a special Christmas song for 2008.
Next Jon from the Pirate Hall of Fame who didn’t make it to the Radio
Day this year: ’I am glad to hear the Radio Day was a success. I have
just been enjoying the recordings of the Caroline sessions via Martin's
web site. You are probably having a well-deserved rest after your busy
weekend so I apologise for bothering you now. It is just that I will be
adding the next page of the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame 'Seventies
Supplement' to my site in a couple of weeks, covering those broadcasters
of the decade whose names begin with the letter J, and there are a
couple from Radio Atlantis that I can't find. I wondered if you have
contact details for either Dave Johns or Derek Jones. My thanks to you,
Hans, for your help. With best wishes, Jon.’
Well I only remember this time a jingle from Atlantis stating: ‘Derek
(where’s my generator gone?) Jones. So anyone from the Atlantis family
reading the Hans Knot Report please inform me if you know where Dave
Johns or/and Derek Jones have gone after Atlantis days and where they
now are. Please respond at HKnot@home.nl
Our black cowboy from Ireland is getting into the report again: ‘Hi
Hans, myself and Ad Roberts maintain very interesting Facebook
Profiles... Ad makes some good videos of the old days, and I post
memories of the old days from various broadcast sources. Let the friends
know that we are part of the whole, Facebook provides a valuable new
resource for Free Radio.
Peace, Don Stevens.’
And that brings me to the subject ‘yes or no on internet’. I get a lot
of e mails from the readers that they have added me to Facebook as a
friend or other friend pages. Thanks, very friendly from you all, but I
don’t have the time to share those sites with you as I’ve too much other
things to do. Sometimes you’ve to make choices.
Thanks and Don also took with him
recordings from the VOP days
which can be found back at:
http://www.mediafire.com/?6yweg1wo3ey
Of course, thanks to Martin for the upload.
Congratulations to one of our German readers,
Burkhard Nowotny as he
wrote: ‘This is what I got on November 12th from Professor Zhang,
Assistent President of Beijing Normal University: This is to certify
that Dr. Burkhard Nowotny has been appointed as a Visiting Professor of
International Faculty of Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. I was asked
to give lectures on media whenever I am in Guangdong or China, so once
or twice a year. But the International Faculty is giving media training
and wants me to help that students can go for one month to Germany
during their courses and do research on media. Greetings, from
Burkhard.’
Well Burkhard maybe you can also train them how to start an offshore
radio station as the one planned many years ago failed! Good luck and
greetings Hans.
Then news from Steve Conway:
‘Hello Hans, Probably for as long as you have known me, I've been
telling people: "I'm writing a book" and indeed have occasionally
published excerpts in various places online. It never seemed to be quite
finished, and I always said I'd get it published "someday". Well,
someday is here, and I'm pleased to be able to announce that the story
of my time with Radio Caroline during her final years at sea will be
published by Liberties Press in March 2009, priced£12.99 in the UK
(€14.99 in Ireland). Title currently subject to change, but I'll update
on this and an exact date over the next few weeks. The book will be
illustrated with my own pictures, and also shots from the extensive
collection of John Burch. I'll keep in touch and let you know about an
exact publication date and other details over the next while. One of the
things I love about reading your International Radio Report is the fact
that people from just about everywhere in the world managed to stay
connected to the offshore radio family through you. Good news from
Phantom FM too, we continue to gain listeners, and our weekly audience
is now 63,000, which is not bad for a very niche rock station in a small
city. Hope you are all keeping well, Steve Conway
http://steveconway.wordpress.com
Well Steve congratulations and as we shared some e mails during the past
month I surely will make time free to review the book before it’s
officially published. Good luck, Hans.
A new internet station, with an old name, is now ‘on air’.
Radio Paradijs can be
found at www.radioparadijs.eu
Big L presenter and former Radio 1 DJ
Mike Read has joined
Gloucestershire's Star 107.5 to host the mid-morning show, which is also
simulcast on Big L. The Mike Read Show is described by owners as a
completely different format, where Mike is playing absolutely anything
from the past 50 years. Mike has been hosting the same show on Big L for
the past couple of years. The programme is broadcast daily on weekdays
from Star 107.5's studio in Cheltenham between 10am and 2pm.
Don Stevens has made a wonderful editing on the Voice of Peace Programs
in the seventies. It can be downloaded at:
http://www.mediafire.com/?6yweg1wo3ey
Now time for an e mail from Sally Mens who wrote: ‘Here’s another bit of
information which can be added to the jigsaw puzzle: ‘Offshore Radio’.
It must have been in July 1985 that I made a holiday by bus with my then
partner Jan Meeuwis to Paris. During the travel we tried to remember
which songs where played on the loudspeakers by the bus driver. And also
we talked about what we remembered about the played artists. Suddenly a
co-passenger turned herself to us saying: ‘You both know a damned lot
about pop music. What are you doing for life?’ After a bit of talking
she told us she worked on a radio ship on the North Sea. As I had read
the Bob Noakes book just a few weeks earlier I clearly remembered who
she was: Samantha Dubois.
But she represented herself as Ellen Kraal. Of course suddenly I said
that she must be Samantha. I can tell you that she was not amused about
that. The two of us told her that we were record collectors and we
worked now and then for radiostations. We were invited by her to visit
her at her house in The Valkenboslaan in The Hague. We lived a few
kilometers away in Rijswijk at that time, but it never came to a visit.
On the bus tour she was together with a guy who told his name was: ‘Tony
James, one bugger of a lazy guy from Ireland or Wales or some of
those backwards regions’. Ellen spoke English as well as Dutch and that
certain Tony was not saved by her: “He is a lazy guy and has to hurry
himself. Above that he has not performed at all last night.” When we
arrived in France she told that both had to catch the train to Boulogne
and a tender back to the Ross Revenge. As Tony had a hang over and Ellen
mood was not too good, the trip on the tender hasn’t been a pretty one,
I think.’ Sally Mens
Thanks a lot Sally for sharing this memory with us. Anyone else can send
memories to HKnot@home.nl
Who remembers Amanda Redington,
a star on radio and television years ago? Well she is back on the radio
and happy with that: "One of the best bits about working at Jackie is
that the atmosphere is so relaxed and there's no need to wear make up,
unlike on TV. I feel I have a great face for Radio!"
http://www.radiojackie.com/dj/amandaredington.html
Thanks to John Piek for reminding us that Amanda is back.
Sven Martinssen saw some interesting postings on internet about
Radio Hauraki:
http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1226308099.html
http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1226395412.html
http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1226341622.html
The Radio Hauraki book ‘The Shoestring Pirates’ is still for sale in
very good condition. This is Adrian Blackburn's tale of NZ's brave
offshore radio station with the history of the pirate days 1966-1968,
also with a dedication of the author, in its 2nd edition, 1989. It is a
very exciting book, many great photos, also in color. Unread, Paperback
170 p. GBP 16 or $24 or EUR 19 +postage at
http://www.qxl.no/accdb/viewitem.asp?AuctionNr=508330768
Next one comes from Paul Fraser:
‘Hello Hans. I'm another member of the VOP family. I found the comments
by Don Stevens interesting and educational. I first joined in April 1987
(April 1st.!), so the changes Don referred to would have been
implemented by then. I remember a daytime pop format, with new,
recurrent and old material, plus dedicated slots for local music. I'm
sure everyone's familiar with ‘Twilight Time’ then at night, there were
specialist programmes. I tried to follow the format, always aware that
Abie Nathan disliked anything too loud or 'discoey'. I had no prior
radio experience of the caliber cited for 'Ashton and the Aussies', so I
guess I was easily controlled by the man on the Motorola! It seems that
a huge change in VOP output occurred in a short period, around the
mid-80s.
The breakfast shows of Dave Asher were allowed more freedom. I'm glad
they were. Dave had been involved with the station for some time;
perhaps he came from the earlier group of more assertive staff. I
personally found more freedom with the program Nightbeat, 3-6AM. Wit
Abie asleep! I played a mix of current and older tracks, emphasis on
album material, generally avoiding the Top 40 stuff which was played a
lot in daytime. My final stint was from June 1992 to April 1993. When I
arrived, t
he
station sounded extremely tight and professional, with experienced
talent led by Kenny Page. Later that summer, Abie introduced an easy
listening format. Should we have fought against it? Would the market
have backed us if we had? I guess these questions are academic now, but
I'm grateful to Don and to you, Hans, for telling me about a VOP I never
knew about. 73s,
Paul Fraser.’
Thanks Paul, well more can be found in the book about the History of the
Voice of Peace and Abie Nathans work. For more info just go to
www.hansknot.com and see how you can order your own copy. After
receiving the e mail I answered Paul and sent him the next photo and he
then came back:
Paul Fraser: Hans Knot Archive
‘Hans: thanks for your reply. That picture really reminds me how I've
aged! I'd guess it's from the period 1987-1988? I'm no longer in radio;
I realised on my last VOP stint that I do not have the level of drive
and commitment, needed to make it a career. I take my hat off to those
who do. I'm currently unemployed; I worked for a time in electronics and
I have been learning IT.
Here's a question which you might like to put to the Report readers:
does a station at sea sound different to one on land? Or in port? I
suppose listeners to a seagoing station could appreciate the dedication
of its presenters, as they live in more demanding conditions. But does
the actual 'flavour' of the station differ? Of course, I'd say it does,
but I am biased!
Paul
Fraser.’
Alright, up to you as reader to answer the question!
We go to Scotland where Graeme wrote to me: A fascinating 10 minute
video about saving VOA Delano which also looks at the historical impact
of shortwave from the US:
http://uk.youtube. com/watch?v=qlLhWlDbKbI& fmt=18
Graeme Stevenson
It started with the
wonderful painting from Martin van der Ven's mother, followed by the
artwork in Mary Payne’s home. Suddenly I counted one and one and
remembered I had made a photograph of a painting of the old Radio London
vessel MV Galaxy and found the photo back. I’ve taken this some 4 years
ago in Frinton on Sea, when it was displayed at the Big L office.
MV Galaxy. Photo: Hans Knot
Oeps, I’ve made a mistake in last issue, putting a wrong photograph next
to the Fergie McNeal
story. Lucky it was Leen Vingerling, the Ross Revenge tender king
remembering me: On the photo it was Jay Jackson from the back and Tom
Anderson. Lucky enough Leen had another photo featuring Fergie. But Leen
was not alone as the same day I got an e mail from Chris Edwards from
Hanwell: ‘Thank you for the latest report, most informative as usual. I
was saddened to read of death of Fergie McNeal. I remember meeting him
on the Ross Revenge and recall him as a very genuine, warm and friendly
person. Think I may have done a short interview with him, and if that's
case will put it on our website as tribute. Incidentally the picture you
have captioned as Fergie, looks more like Tom Anderson. Just found a
couple of pictures of Fergie which I have attached. Best wishes: Chris
Edwards.
http://www.offshoreechos.com
Left: Fergie at the left among his
students with thanks to Leen Vingerling
Right: Fergie at the Ross Revenge. Photo: Francois Lhote
In last issue we had the question from a BBC producer. She was on search
for people who had seen The Stax
Show in 1966. Well we got response and have forwarded it to her:
‘Hi Hans. The Stax Show was also at Billy Walkers Uppercut Club in East
London. I know because I was the resident DJ as the club had an
agreement with three of us former SRE jocks. I even got to introduce
them (including Otis Redding). It was just before I joined Caroline
South. Cheers Roger Day.’
Then next a plug for Chris Baird
who wrote: ‘Hi you big strong men. Yes it's true folks, I'm back on the
radio after two years in the wireless wilderness. I'm now a fully
fledged voice tracking pop rocking jock. I've taken over a top classic
rock show called ‘OVERDRIVE’ on an established contemporary online
station called www.radio2xs.com.
It’s on Sunday 2-6 pm with a playlist to die for. Full of fresh gold
from the vaults when rock stars eat hamburgers and drank whiskey all
night, with nicotine for breakfast just to put them right. Good radio
isn't dead; it's just a click away. All plugs gratefully received.
Cheers , Chris.
Than time for another former shipmate: ‘Dear Hans thanks for another
great Report-especially about the Manx Caroline North exhibition. I was
too ill to
go
at the time of the bash, but will be going to see the exhibition in
January. Do you recall a track called, "Botcha
A Me", AKA "Botcha Me"?
Radio's Veronica, Northsea and Caroline played the arse off this in the
1970's. The track was always on the Dutch service of RNI and Radio
Caroline -never on the English transmissions. I recall not being able to
get hold of a vinyl copy from anywhere-then. Sometime in 1977, I managed
to get a cassette copy from a friend in Holland and thus I always
assumed is was a Dutch track. In 1975, my radio career was just starting
so I was earning a living in the disco's and nightclubs and at this time
was offered a job in a leading Gay nightclub (was a complete idiot back
then and had some initial misgivings the money was fabulous and I found
out that almost all Gay clubs employ Hetero Jocks so that they can do
the job properly and not chase girls).
Anyway, one night I had the warm up tape on prior to starting my show
and was deep in conversation, not noticing that the tape had played past
its usual point and gone on to, “Botcha A Me”. I hurriedly remedied the
situation, and was
surprised
to get a lot of customer enquiries about: "the Gay Record"! I worked out
which one they meant-however I didn't know the song's title, nor who had
recorded it, I just called it: "The Unknown Dutch Track from RNI".
However, what the customers heard was not; "Botcha A Me", they had heard
it as, "Butch, Butch", which was obviously of great appeal to the Gay
clientele, who, to that date, had very few records to call their
own-this was before The Village People arrived. I recataloqued the disc
as: "Butch, Butch".
Since then I've obviously learned that the track is called, "Botcha a
Me",
was written in 1942, featured in a film, and was originally sung by
Rosemary Clooney. The track is of Italian, not Dutch origin.
However.....the version I had, by an artist I later learned was called,
‘Daisy Dynamite’, appears now on YouTube. If you watch the video, it
seems to have been shot in Amsterdam, has a very definite Dutch feel
about it, and is filmed on a boat that looks for all the world as one of
the tenders for Veronica, Caroline and RNI.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLdmkCeWFU
At the end of the video, there's a message that appears, saying, "Thanks
to Hans...." Is there a Dutch or Offshore connection to this track-is
this why the three stations played it so much? Perhaps you could include
the information that, "Botcha a Me", AKA "Butch, Butch" by Daisy
Dynamite is available on YouTube, for all the UK listeners to RNI,
Veronica and Caroline-who have probably been searching for the track for
decades without success! Thanks again Hans. Best wishes,
John Bennett.’
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLdmkCeWFU
Well John the video on you tube is not Daisy Dynamite. It just a redone
song but with thanks to Hans means: thanks to Hans van den Hoek, which
was the real name for Daisy Dynamite. He was a travesty. Hans van der
Hoek died last year June at the age of 78. In 1973 he had a hit in
Holland with Botch a me. It was indeed a heavy plug record on RNI and
also Caroline and Veronica deejays played it as lot.
Already in 1948 Hans went to Paris to work as a dancer and soon it
became a glory for him to travesty. First he had a success as a black
woman, but soon ‘Daisy’ was born. He was successful in Holland as well
as other countries. Under his own name he also was in some television
series as well as in movies, including together with Donald Sunderland
in ‘Casanova’ from Frederico Fellini.
Next an email from Tenerife: ‘Hi Hans, Love your monthly reports even
though I retired from radio after 30 years to live here in Tenerife and
do a bit of property renting to make money
www.golfdelsur.me.uk I listen
to
http://www.los40.com/player/Radio/40Principales most of the time if
I'm not ‘surfing’ or listening to my ‘old’ stations I worked for like
http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/
I
can confirm this month's interest in
Mark Stuart - (Mel Bowden
- MD of MBI international in the 80's) The Chairman of MBI was Mike
Fabricant now an MP in the UK Parliament... Employees included Chris,
"Yettie" and Christine, who was the receptionist at their
office/showroom in 69 Ship Street, Brighton; where I have many happy
memories from 1981/82. Mel married Christine in the mid 80's (I think -
from memory).
Mark Stuart in his office. Photo:
Rob Yarnold
I was Chief Engineer (Technical Director - as founding director of the
Company) at Radio Wyvern (Hereford & Worcester). I bought 3 MBI Mixing
desks for Wyvern and their crew "did a turnkey" as we only had two
engineers. I went to Leceister Sound to see their first installation,
bought by their Chief Engineer Bob Smith. GB Radio 230, N
ewport
Gwent was their next contract, where I also did free-lance engineering
in 1984 as they had a very small staff and no engineers not long after
opening! Mel Bowden was a great lad, full of fun, and we really had some
great times building Wyvern... bit of an anti-climax though once it was
built!
My good friend, the late
Crispian St John, was also mentioned in the piece. I was out on a
Caroline Visit in 1984/5ish? and we brought Crispian back on our boat;
he didn't return there and stayed on dry land to launch The Radio
Magazine... and the rest is now history. Just add another photograph
with me on the left with the now late Jack Spector; I was in New York in
1988 when this picture was taken. Midlands DJ/VO commercial producer
Colin Day was with me on that trip, which included being guests and
reading ads etc on Z100 breakfast with Scott Shannon and guesting on
Morton Downy Jr. TV program on National TV! We spent 2 weeks in New York
visiting radio stations and doing ads/guesting on a number - great fun.
You can get in anywhere with a BBC ID press pass! Rob Yarnold.
Photo: Archive Rob Yarnold
Thanks Rob for these wonderful memories, most appreciated and enjoy your
retirement.
And of course it was Willem de Bruin who started with the question what
happened to Mark Stuart after his
RNI days in 1971. I
informed him by e mail and came back with the next: ‘What a wonderful
reaction. It’s so many years ago. It’s good to see Mark has done it so
good with his business. Also very nice to hear the thoughts Hans
Hogendoorn wrote down about Mark and his days on RNI in 1971. Hans is
really an RNI icon. I heard him once on Radio 192 and he hasn’t changed
in style at all. On that station was also once a one time special, Radio
Noordzee Days. Well together with Nico Steenbergen, John de Mol sr. and
Hans they remembered a lot of things from the RNI days. For instant De
Mol sr., the former boss of the Dutch Service, told that he never met
Meister and Bollier again after August 31st 1974. Also he added that
those two were a bit of strange guys. And let’s not forget Paul May from
1971 days. Indeed a big radio personality. He had his typical own style
and always said in the microphone ‘Love you’’. Thanks a lot Hans for
your effort to bring these memories back.’
I’m pleased to so do Willem. Well the three directors haven’t seen each
other for 34 years. There is a chance that next years Radio Day will
bring them together again as the organising committee is already in
contact with one of the Swiss directors and we try also get in contact
with de Mol sr. and ask him to join us in November 2009. More about that
at a later stage. Paul May came back in Europe in 1984 and became Paul
Dean on Laser 558. Last time I heard about him was that he was running
his own brewery in the USA.
Hello Hans, one of your readers wanted to know if there was any truth in
the rumour that the Mi Amigo
wreck was to be raised. If your reader would like to look at this
page (you need to page down when you get there) he will see the most
recent hydrograph of the wreck. The boat is breaking up and mainly
buried in the shifting sands. The ship is also very near the Foulness
weapons research establishment and is in a restricted area.
http://www.pla.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/268
It is highly unlikely that the vessel will ever be raised. Paul, Essex
Watch out: further on in the report the radio hobby connected to trains
and trams!
Sybil Fennell, the wife of now deceased Chris Cary, has objected to the
use of the name Radio Nova
by a new Irish radio consortium who intends to launch next year. The new
station plan to use the name Radio Nova 100 but Sybil, speaking on the
message board at the Chris Cary tribute site, said that she was
"stunned". "I don't believe it. I objected in writing to the BCI
regarding the application for the use of the name Radio Nova". Radio
Nova was a pioneering pirate radio station which launched in Dublin in
1981. Although only on air for five years the station is still revered
today by former presenters and listeners alike. Although other stations,
like Q102, have directly adopted the names of former '80s stations,
these stations tend to have people associated with the old stations
involved. Cary himself was known to be displeased that a former Dublin
dance pirate (Nova Dance, Nova 946) station used the Nova name and old
Nova indents’ but this
station carried on regardless. Although the Carys undoubtedly own the
intellectual rights to the name Radio Nova in Ireland it is not clear
whether they have any legal standing over a 22 years dead pirate
station.
www.radiowaves.fm/newsart/080910nova.html
From Belgium I got an email from a reader concerning the long article in
last issue about Capital Radio.
As told the ship had as special round aerial. Herman writes: ‘Once I got
to read from my late neighbor, a Radio Amateur, an article about such a
system as used at The King David. It seemed that such aerials had not
the supposed effect using it on AM. It was in a magazine called CQDL
from Germany. A pity I haven’t the article, but who knows if someone
else has it and can send you a copy.’
Thanks and if anyone has it, please send it to
HKnot@home.nl
The next internet site was mentioned by a reader last time but he gave
the incorrect one. So it was Mr. Luc de Groot himself who gave the
correct one. Thanks Luc and a wonderful interview you did on November
8th with Adriaan van Landschoot.
www.lucdegroot.com
Theo from Leeuwarden in Holland want to pay attention to the next
internet page where a lot of interesting recordings from radio’s past
are to find:
www.radiotime.com/affiliate/a_33029/ABC_Radio-stations.aspx
More about internet as Norman Tomalin's 1998 book Daventry Calling the
World has now been made available on the BBCeng.info site as a pdf
download:
http://www.bbceng.info/Books/dx-world/dx-world.htm
More to watch and read
on another interesting subject is here:
http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/kneesflashes/happenings/octnovdec08/octnovdec01.html
And you thought that this is almost the end of the December edition of
the Hans Knot International Radio Report? No, we’re halfway now. Don’t
forget that later we have an interesting item about radio, trains and
trams and ships too!
Next an e mail about last issue: ‘Great report on Capital Radio! Thanks.
Seeing the photo of Trips Tender made my stomach turn over. I still have
vivid memories of the horrible trip to MV Mi Amigo from Scheveningen in
a force 10 gale. The captain who was frying quantities of eggs and
bacon, in the galley, laughing as I (and others) vomited over the side,
wishing to die. Something like 8 hours of heaving and lurching through
seas like black glass. Next I was transferring barrels and bales to the
Mi Amigo while still vomiting over the side. What a madness.
Clive Warner (Corell)’.
Thanks Clive and never forget you had the experience that you’ve
broadcasted from the good old lady. That makes the whole thing much
better.
Then a long and nice e mail from Ian: ‘Dear Hans, thanks a lot for the
November newsletter, received last Thursday evening. I had spent most of
the evening listening to Mi Amigo 192, Veronica 192, Seagull and Radio
Waddenzee during the afternoon and then, at about 00.15 on Friday, I
thought I'd better check for new e mails and, to my amazement, I found
yours! I have a system on my computer called 'Guide,' designed for
visually-impaired users, that reads everything for you; because the
reading speed is relatively slow it took me from 00.20 till 01.35 to
read through the newsletter! Having only been using e mails for a few
weeks I'm learning by experience so I thought I'd better stick with the
newsletter for fear losing it. I wanted to refer to it this afternoon
but found that both your e mail and the newsletter had disappeared! At
this stage it's a mystery; maybe it's something connected with
attachments.
I was fascinated with the Tim Tomasson interview including all the
information on the fitting out of the 'King David,' the Verweij brothers
(apologies if the spelling is slightly wrong) and the links with the
fire-bomb attack on the 'MEBO 2' and also the subtle differences between
each countries' Marine Offences Bills, e.g., removing of crystals, etc.
In 1970 I had a valve radio on loan from Southend Social Services; it
could only receive medium wave! I would spend most of my spare time
listening to Radio Veronica and, to a lesser extent, RNI. I'd read about
Capital Radio and, moving the dial up towards 270 meters I found
classical music, quickly decided it wasn't for me and switched back to
Veronica. It was a very strong signal and must have been Capital. I wish
I'd given it another try but, as a nineteen-year-old, I found the format
a complete turn-off!
A few weeks ago I heard about a Radio Marina successfully bidding for
1485 kHz, with 1 kW, obviously not receivable hear in London but a few
minutes ago I thought I'd see if it was on the Internet. All I found was
continuous Spanish music - must be a completely different station! The
original Radio Marina never materialised but I may have picked it up in
late January 1971. I was in north-west England at the time and found a
very strong and consistent signal on 1367 kHz; it was probably RNI
testing before it moved back to its position off the Dutch coast. Thanks
for publishing my request for 'Script no. 3.' Hopefully someone can
help. I'd like to get over to the Dutch Radio Day but don't have a
passport and it would probably take me a few weeks to obtain one. With
Very Best Wishes, Ian Godfrey. ‘
Thanks a lot Ian for these wonderful memories of yours. Radio Marina was
a Belgium project whereby they tried to buy airtime from Meister and
Bollier early 1971. Just some test tapes, recorded in Belgium, are the
only things remembering to this ill fated project. Good to see Ian that
you succeed in reading the report. The modern technique helps a lot to
the visual handicapped people. Hope you have some time to get a passport
in the coming 11 months as next year there will be another Radio Day in
November in Amsterdam.
RTI, Radio Tatras
International, is proud to announce it has been selected as the
exclusive launch station for the latest Face book radio software from
Silicon Valley and Buenos Aires-based Streema. The new Pages software
from Streema enables anyone, even without a Face book membership, to
visit radio station pages and listen instantly to their favourite radio
station. With just one click of the mouse listeners can listen any time,
any place, anywhere to RTI where there is a Net connection. And it’s
freeware! Jan Telensky, RTI Owner and Managing Director, said, “We are
delighted the team at Streema have teamed up with RTI for this exciting
software launch, it is further proof that RTI is radio for the digital
decade and further radio for young cosmopolitan listeners”. Juan
Trouilh, Streema Co-Founder, added, “We have seen in RTI a station that
is keen to be part of the future of radio and that is why we chose them
to launch our most recent radio player software. “Streema is focused on
bringing radio back to young people and RTI makes radio for young
people, the future for radio. “We are looking forward to the launch at
8.00pm CET on RTI and we’ll be live from our Buenos Aires office to
answer any questions RTI listeners may have”.
Eric
Wiltsher, from RTI commented, “We are very proud to be launching this
service with Streema. Facebook is a major meeting place for people and
it’s growth in both Slovakia and globally is astounding. “By the hour,
even in the middle of the night, people send RTI messages via Facebook
and now listening will be even easier! “I am looking forward to chatting
with Juan, using an Internet telephone naturally, as we launch the new
Facebook Pages software with him”.
Access to the Facebook page of RTI, simply called RADIO, is via the
Facebook logo on www.rti.fm . Even if
the Browser is closed the Streema software will continue to play RTI! In
order to add Streema to a Facebook Page, go to
http://apps.facebook.com/streemapages
Ton Bodenstaff from Leiden in Holland did send me a couple of
photographs featuring the MV Communicator in the harbour of IJmuiden as
well as the Ross Revenge in Dover. The latter one we publish, of course
with thanks to Ton Bodenstaff.
Talking about IJmuiden, we have to go to an e mail from Chris Vermeulen
from Zutphen in Holland. Some 18 months ago he sent me a message in
which het talked about photos he had somewhere and which he had made way
back in March 1968. It was on the 25th of that month that he was there
by coincidence and thought he saw a ship with a huge mast coming into
the harbour. Some weeks earlier the MV Mi Amigo was towed into IJmuiden
harbour and all the pr
ess
was there to report. But when the
MV Caroline or Fredericia
suddenly was towed in that day, no press was there. Chris, lucky enough,
had a camera with him and took some excellent photos. He wrote me:
‘Finally after removing a few times I’ve found
them back. I can reveal that no one else but me has
seen this
photos before. ‘Indeed nowhere on the internet and also not in my
archive were photographs of the Fredericia towed into that harbour. Now
more 40 years later they can be seen on
www.hansknot.com
Of course
thanks a lot for this exclusive ones Chris!
Photo: Chris Vermeulen
Just a quick note to let you know that
The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame
has been updated.
What's new?
• We have added a selection of pirate recordings from Keith Martin's
collection, including a very early Radio London test transmission;
• Colin Nicol provides us with a 1964 newspaper cutting which tells the
story of the birth of Radios Caroline and Atlanta;
• we get a phone call from Carl Conway, the voice of all those Caroline
commercials;
• there are more dates for Johnnie Walker's tour of UK theatres;
• we may - possibly - have identified the mystery Caroline newsman in
Keefer's photograph;
• we link to web pages telling us about a train named after an offshore
DJ and the early years in the music-biz of Radio City founder Reg
Calvert;
• we have added a press cutting, dating from the Caroline North ship's
1964 voyage around the UK coast;
• there are some new / updated audio clips;
• And there is news of a forthcoming BBC Radio 4 Archive Hour programme
on the early career of Kenny Everett.
All this and more on
www.offshoreradio.co.uk
With best wishes - and many thanks to all the contributors, from, Jon.
And from Jon to another regular:
Bob LeRoi:
Welcome to the November 2008 Update
This time it’s an island off the Kent coast as ‘Scrapbook’ looks at the
link between Laser add the tiny Community station BRFM‘One Subject One
Link’ tunes away from terrestrial radio in search of entertainment
landing sourly instead with the choice on Freeview. We open a new
auction for a rare and collectable album by Caravan. In the Record Store
we’ve the 1st Bee Gees album & CDs include the Beatles Past Masters and
Jukebox Instrumentals:
www.bobleroi.co.uk
Suddenly I got, via Martin van der Ven, an e mail in which
Dave Collins made good
compliments about the
www.offshore-radio.de site. And Martin decided I had to take contact
with him too as he’s a former Voice of Peace shipmate, and a day later
he wrote an e mail to me: ‘Good to hear from you. Here is my radio past:
Voice Of Peace 1984-1985 My name on the ship was Paul Rogers. Radio
Caroline 1985. My name was Dave Collins, I was told I could not use the
surname Rogers as Del Rogers was one of the DJ's. So I picked Dave
Collins. I applied to work on Radio Caroline after spending one year on
the Voice of Peace. I got a call from the office and made my way to the
south coast to get on the tender. I travelled out to the ship with John
Ford. It was dream come true for me. I worked alongside Neil Francis,
Susan Charles, Peter Philips, John Lewis, David Andrews and Andy
Johnson. To spend time on the Ross Revenge was too magical to describe,
it was just a pity the DTI ruined matters during "Eurosiege!" After my
time on Caroline, I worked for Radio Top Shop in Newcastle until 1988.
Then Marcher Sound (Wrexham), until I joined Red Rose Radio in Preston.
I was one of the presenters on the Red Rose Gold station that launched
in 1989. I joined Radio City in Liverpool in 1992 and then was one of
the original presenters on a new station in Lancaster, The Bay in 1993.
In
1994, I headed up to Carlisle to CFM to do the lunchtime show. I also
became Head of Music and Deputy Programme Controller. In 2005, I went
back to The Bay, Lancaster, to be Programme Controller/Head of Music. In
2007, I joined Alpha 103.2 in Darlington to be Presenter/Programme
Controller.
I am now taking a break from broadcasting to travel around the world. In
the past 8 months I have been to Canada, USA, Bahrain, Jordan, India,
Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines and Laos. I am
currently in Vietnam with Cambodia, Macau, Hong Kong and New Zealand to
come next! That's the update! Many thanks, Hans. Dave
Well wonderful that in this edition two former Voice of Peace deejays
are found back. Thanks for all the info about your career, have a nice
further trip around the world and hope to see you too one time on our
Annual Radio Day in Amsterdam.
I know Chris Edwards, editor of the English OEM always is interested in
lost and found deejays and so he was informed and did some archive work:
‘Thanks for this. Looking at some old OEM's, I see that Dave was on Ross
during August and September 1985, which was during time of Eurosiege,
and whilst Fergie was also there. As far as I can see Dave was first
heard on 6th August. Best wishes Chris Edwards.
On
the 8th December, Mike Pasternak, the American DJ internationally known
as Emperor Rosko, El
Presidente, Kaiser Rosko and Le President will be returning to England
to be honoured by the Radio Academy and subsequently inducted into their
Hall of Fame, only the second American to be admitted. Every Saturday
morning from 1967 to 1976 the catch phrase ‘I am gonna make your back
crack’ and your ‘liver quiver’ rippled through the airwaves of Radio One
as “the EMP” brought the latest and greatest in music to his UK fans
Known as a radio rebel, Rosko ‘broke’ countless new artists who went on
to become household names
In addition to accepting this prestigious award Rosko will meeting up
with his fans and talking to the media about his everyday interaction
with superstars like the Beach Boys, Barry White, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy
Hendrix amongst others.’ From Radio Caroline to BBC Radio One Rosko’s
fan base has always been impressive. Even today, broadcasting from his
own studio in Los Angeles Rosko’s BBC specials and the syndicated LA
Connection can be heard on 23 stations across the UK Europe and around
the world. His newest: ‘Coast to Coast Country’ is being well received
around the world. To quote Rosko: ‘radio is my life, and I plan to be at
it for a long time to come’.
So congratulations to you Rosko for getting the Award. I know you had
plans to meet up but as I wrote to you I have on the day you’re in
Amsterdam other commitments. Who knows another time?
On the Radio Day was an unexpected amount of women this year who
attended the program. Well done to you. One of them was
Mandy Marton who I
introduced in another report in late summer 2007. She wanted to find a
place within the radio industry. In the meantime, more than 15 months
later, she has a lot to share with us: ‘Hi
Hans. Sorry not to have been back to you sooner. I hope all is well.
Thank you for contacting me with musical suggestions, while I was
presenting programmes on Radio Seagull/ Waddenzee, out on the lightship
last summer. I am delighted to attend this year 30th Radio Day, with my
friend Alan Beech, captain of the Ross Revenge. I will be Flying the
flag for Radio Seagull and representing many of my friends and
colleagues from Radio Waddenzee and Caroline and who will also be
attending. I have mentioned Radio Day several times on my Radio Seagull
programmes, many of my listeners have written to say that they are also
looking forward to it, especially Sietse Brouwer's speech. Last year I
wrote a Radio Day report for the Radio Caroline Horizon magazine. and
have been asked to do so again this year. Chris Cary will be sadly
missed this year by Elija and myself, and so many others who had great
respect for his truly inspirational force in broadcasting. I was greatly
encouraged earlier this year on hearing, at his memorial from Sybil,
that he had great faith in my ability as a broadcaster. That really
meant a lot to me.
2008 has been an incredibly busy year for me with several offers to
present programmes on various radio stations, some of which I have
accepted and others that I would love to get involved with as soon as I
can fit them into my schedule. I will be presenting a special Radio
Seagull Christmas day programme. I seem to spend a considerable amount
of time these days working out on one ship or another, alternating
between the Jenni Baynton and with Alan on the Ross Revenge. I regret
that I was unable to greet you aboard Radio Waddenzee, when we broadcast
back in May. Sietse had joked that if I was able to take part in the
offshore broadcast he would have me playing some Boney M! It was an
overwhelming success and great to be part of a true offshore radio
station. In the spring I was down at Shepperton Film studios, helping
Alan, on the set of the film ‘The Boat That Rocked’, which should be
released next May. They have built an incredible set which looks very
realistic. I will happily send you some of our photos if you are
interested. I was spinning records in the studio's film set in between
helping out. They built the studio part of the set on a hydraulic system
that made the whole set Rock. It felt a little like it did when I first
visited the Ross back in the 1980s. After meeting Peter Moore, at the
Radio Academy, in 2007, it is easy to understand why Radio Caroline
still has such a loyal and faithful listening audience, everyone is so
dedicated. I was happy to be part of preparing the Ross with Alan for
the Easter and other regular Radio Caroline broadcasts that have been
made from the ship during the year. I know listeners love to hear
programmes from a ship
I was receiving the warmest of welcomes from everyone over in the
Netherlands in July, while I was presenting live programmes each
evening, with Chris Kennedy on Radio Seagull/ Waddenzee, as part of our
live Summer celebration broadcasts from the Lightship. It was an amazing
voyage of discovery and an incredible experience that I have many happy
memories of. One of my regular listeners, Charles from Amsterdam,
greeted me at the airport and came out to the lightship to view our
broadcasts, along with other visitors. Sietse had dedicated a
considerable amount of time and hard work on the ship doing a fine job
restoring the Jenni Baynton to, as near as possible, to the original
lightship. I was remarkably impressed with the ship and radio station,
which thanks to Sietse, Stevie Gordon and many others; our listening
audience continues to grow rapidly, an amazing success due to Sietse
Brouwer. The studio provides a panoramic view over Harlingen. Thank you
for suggested I play ‘Harbour light’, it was very appropriate and a song
I enjoy featuring on my show.
During my stay I experienced extreme contrasts in the weather. Including
spectacular storms, lightning, that lit up the sky over Harlingen. Wind
and waves rocked the lightship; being at the furthermost point out in
the harbour we really felt some of the offshore experience. Chris
Kennedy was almost blown off the pier while trying to make his way back
to the ship that night, The wind was so strong that I was almost unable
to lower the gangplank, with the torrential rain lashing the ships deck,
almost sweeping me off the side but jointly we eventually managed it.
Even trying to bolt down a door or hatch was difficult. The wind
continued howling into the night. It was still rough in the morning as I
checked the extra mooring ropes that Sietse had securely tied the night
before. One of my colleagues, Wim van Egmond (Radio Waddenzee) was
disappointed to have missed the storm. Such a storm was unusual for
July, as Chris Kennedy commented, it was the worse storm he had every
experienced on the Jenni Baynton and Chris has seen some great storms,
being on Radio Caroline on the Ross in the 80s when the 300ft mast came
down. We shared many interesting stormy evenings on lightship in the
mess room recounting stories of his days out at sea and mine as a dancer
on BBC’s Top of the Pops. We all were dancing to the music in the
studio. I was very pleased with Chris's company , although incredibly
atmospheric, it was a little spooky when I came off air and was alone on
the Lightship at night! I must practice my languish skills as many of my
Dutch friends are encouraging me and I would love to learn. I have been
delighted by the response I have received from listeners from all around
the world, that is truly the wonder of Radio bringing people together
though music. Regular listeners that have become friends and either
visited the Ross Revenge or the Jenni Baynton. Especially PJ from
(Special Music Radio) in Bristol, Achim in Austria and Charles in
Amsterdam to mention just a few.
I have also been able to promote new young talent; a music teacher who
wrote to me from the Mayflower School in Essex in the UK asked me if I
could play the song "Rocket Girl" by Laura Green and the Mayflower
school choir. It was dedicated to the memory of a classmate Declan
Heath. I listened and was really impressed. It was originally recorded
by the Wire daises , part of the proceeds of the downloads go towards
the Click Sargent cancer charity. More info can be found on
www.moonbootson.com. Seagull
and BBC stations are also playing it but I was delighted to have been
thanked for being the first for helping to make the song a success.
Finally thanks for all of your fascinating Radio reports over this year.
I have always shared a passion for free and offshore radio. Regards,
Mandy Marton.’
Well Mandy congratulations on doing so many things in one year and also
for the fact your dream to become active in radio succeeded. Thanks for
all the plugs on Radio Seagull/Waddenzee for the Radio Day and indeed I
spotted several people from your listening area on November 8th. It was
good to see you and Alan there too. And many photos of the Radio Day can
be found on www.offshore-radio.de
including some on which Mandy also appears.
There’s a lost video shot on the Ross Revenge now on you tube. ‘During
the Ross's visit to Docklands in 1995, a music video was shot on the
ship. We were promised a copy, but I never saw one and I doubt anyone
else did, but I managed to find it on YouTube. Is anyone else aware of
this?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yAJpB-Ct6P0 Steve Satan
More internet news from David: ‘If you are interested, there is now an
internet version of RNI. It's an automated system with live programmes
on Sundays. It's at:
www.radio-northsea.co.uk David Parkin
Hi Hans, I hope that you are well, and many thanks for the Radio
Reports, and I bet I received your Radio Report in the most unlikely
spot, half way across the Atlantic Ocean on my home from New York on
board the QM2, and it made very interesting reading too all at sea. What
a better way to read about offshore radio than been at sea! Greetings,
Colin Wilkins.
What
an amazing way to hear where the Report is read Colin, thanks a lot.
Then to reader Wim from Holland: ‘Hi there, with great interest I've
read the story on the Radio Atlantis vessel Janine. Please find enclosed
a picture of her arriving at Flushing which is according to my info
01/09/1974 and not 01/10/1974. Regards, Wim Kosten
Photo: Wim Kosten
Well just some minutes to go before our special about radio, trains,
trams and ships!
Offshore Echo's story of Radio Caroline continues through 1977 and 1978,
at a time when the UK authorities were practicing for "1984" by
prosecuting radio listeners for such heinous crimes as displaying car
stickers, and wearing badges that dared to promote Radio Caroline. Life
wasn't all so bleak, and the story includes photo features on the
offshore radio commemorative events - Flashback 67 and Zeezenders 20.
There's also a complete set of the listeners magazine - Caroline
Newsletter (in PDF format) to read. Visit
www.offshoreechos.com for the
Caroline story. Chris Edwards
Earlier on, Mandy mentioned that she was, together with Alan Beech, on
the set for the movie ‘The boat that rocked’. Posters from the upcoming
film "The boat that rocked" are to find on internet:
http://gordonandthewhale.com/the-boat-that-rocked-has-got-some-rockin-posters
I hope that you also enjoyed the Dutch part of the Caroline reunion
1979/1980 on the Radio Day. It was hosted by Fons Winteraeken in a very
relaxed and professionally way. Just three days before the event he was
asked by the organisers to do the interview. Thanks a lot Fons. Well
done! Also have a look on the memories from Fons on internet.
http://radiocaroline79.punt.nl
Again back to the
tiger in your tank. ‘Dear Hans, in your last Report, there was mention
of the ‘Esso Blue’ commercial. I might have an item of interest. In the
early 1970's I received one of the old, ‘Lyntone/Flexitone’, plastic
records. These played just like their vinyl counterparts, but it was
usually the case that a large coin such as a two shilling piece had to
be placed on the stylus arm, in order for it to play. The Lyntone disc
in question was titled: ‘The Great Blue Singer’, by, Joe, the Esso Blue
Dealer, and the disc tells the story of Joe's World Tour. I found this
disc to be strangely addictive! I should explain, for those who aren't
British, and for those Brits who don't understand the Lancashire
dialect; the ‘joke’ in the record. In Lancashire, people can pronounce
words very differently to the Standard English. So, "water" becomes,
"waiter", "right" becomes, "reet", and "lighter" becomes; "leeter". In
the song, a German chap asks: "Ja, und how much for eine litre?" Joe
misunderstands the word, "litre" and thinks the German is asking him,
"How much for a leeter" -and replies that Esso Blue isn't leeter
fuel-that is, fuel for a cigarette lighter. Yes, a pretty poor joke I
agree. What is funny, although unintentionally, is Joe singing the Esso
Blue song in French. Please pass this track on to the people who were
interested in Esso Blue. Best wishes, John Bennett’.
Thanks a lot John for your contribution and I’ve forwarded it to the
person who asked for it. Most appreciated.
Ray Terret sent me a photo impression of the Caroline North Convention
held on the Isle of Man. My webmanager Martin already put them on my
internet site and so go to see them at:
http://www.hansknot.com/IoM/
Of course with a lot of thanks to: Ray Terret.
Well it’s time for
RADIO, TRAINS, TRAMS AND SHIPS
His career, in radio, begun in May 1969, while he was working for the
offshore radio station Radio Veronica. Using the name Klaas Vaak he
first presented a late night evening program. But in the four years he
worked with Veronica he also presented programs on every other part of
the day. For many people it was joy time when Klaas Vaak could be heard
on 192 meters and later on ‘538’. He made us awake when it was time to
get out of bed and surprised us on weekday’s afternoons with ‘the
playing quarter’. The program ‘Bubling under Britain’ brought us, versus
the presentation of Klaas Vaak, the latest releases from the British
Record Companies. Also he has a very good feeling for ‘the time’.
Special jingles were sung for each minute one could depart from home in
the morning. Jokes and antics were heard a lot in his shows, partly
‘lent’ from Tony Blackburn. Once he told the story that he, on the way
from his home in Amsterdam and on the way to the Veronica
studios
in Hilversum he put his car on a parking place so he could write down a
joke, Blackburn used on BBC Radio One. And surely the same joke could be
heard in Dutch a week later on Veronica. This as the program tapes were
recorded a week on forehand.
In august 1973 he decided to work for public broadcaster TROS doing
radio programs on Hilversum 3, the so-called national pop station in the
Netherlands. Several successful programs followed like: ‘Poster’, ‘de
Havermoutshow’ (early morning show), ‘Vijftig Pop of een enveloppe’.
(Fifty guilders or an enveloppe’ and ‘Nachtwacht’ (night watch-man).
Famous in the Netherlands is his co broadcast with Benny Brown from
Radio Luxembourg.
Tom Mulder third from left in the
early eighties (TROS promo photo)
1988 Tom Mulder, which is Klaas Vaak’s own name, went to work for Cable
One, the very first satellite radiostation. He was there also part of
the managing team. However Dutch government decided that the time wasn’t
there yet for such form of radio and Cable One had to close down. Next
Tom Mulder went to satellite television Veronique TV, were he worked as
voice over in a game program. But 1991 it was possible to work for a
real legal satellite radiostation and so Tom went to Radio 10. Next to
the fact he presented a lot of programs through the years he also became
program director. Live programs from location were also held on regular
base, for instant from Graceland in Memphis and Disneyland. Tom still
worked for Radio 10 in 2004, doing the early morning show, whereby he
was assisted by ‘My golden girls’ (René Verkerk and Ger van den Brink).
August 2004 Tom Mulder became very ill due to a cerebral hemorrhage. His
daily program was taken over by Peter Rijsenbrij. Tom Mulder recovered
partly and on April 4th 2006 he could be heard again on Radio 10 Gold,
where between 12 en 13 hrs his item ‘250 pop or an envelope’ was done by
Tom during the Peter Holland show.
However restarting was more difficult than expected and after some time
Tom stopped again with his work. During the past 2 years revalidation
has gone very well for Tom Mulder, who was honoured on the 2007 Radio
Day with a Radio Day Award for his whole career. He was still sitting in
his wheel chair but on this year Radio Day he came walking in to the
event room! Next to his inte
rest
in radio Tom has a big love for trains and trams. Through the last five
decades he has travelled a lot for this healthy addiction, seeing
radiostations, trains and trams everywhere. About 45.000 photographs of
trains and trams are made by him. Tom, who I know personally from his
early days in radio, recalls his love for radio and trains and trams in
e mails, which we exchange a lot. As I have the same addiction for
trains and trams, only in a smaller way, we exchange also memories about
this subject in our e mails. Some weeks ago Tom told me he had an idea
for an article in the report and so here it is:
HANS KNOT AND TOM MULDER IN 1983
RADIO/TRAMS/TRAINS AND SHIPS.
Persons, who made radio their occupation, are, often, very enthusiastic
people, who almost ever live in a dream world. Radio, of course, fits
completely into this dream world. Radio was always a dream for them,
which became reality for some of them. And for them who were lucky
enough to step into the radio world, a lot of them needed another
subject which was appropriate enough to fit into the dream world. And
which is always said by their woman, men always behave like children.
Dreaming and the combination from Radio, trains, trams and ships is
almost a self evident combination.
In their youth radio was everywhere available. Radio gave the listeners
a pleasant and relaxed feeling. Of course this was on the top if it was
a pop radio station. That cheerful and relaxed form of radio took care
of expanding the fantasy of all those dreamers within the listenership
of the same radio.
Later, after the television became a common part of live, the dream
world of course became smaller. Television didn’t give us the same dream
world as radio did. This was simply because you could see everything in
reality on television.
Above statement almost automatically means that there is a link between
radio and trams, trains and ships and the generation which enjoyed the
radio, trains, trams and ships and not the television, but indeed also
the world of trains, trams and ships. And really, if you were such a
dreamer, you also thought that you couldn’t believe what your eyes saw
and your ears heard that there were more of the same persons who talked
about the same subjects: radio, trains, trams and ships. Lucky enough,
you were not the only one. Everywhere the addiction took me I could see
there were many more people who loved radio in combination with trains,
trams and ships. For those who thought it was something typical Dutch I
have to tell that they’re wrong. It seems that in a combination of
countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands there
are more than 7.5 million people who have a small model railroad in
their home, garden, garage of whatever. An impressive amount of people
regularly visits special markets in their hobby field. In Dutch Radio
World you can find a lot of people addicted to trains and trams. In
Hilversum, original the radio village of the Netherlands, it was easily
to point them. Nowadays as radio in the Netherlands is not only in
Hilversum, the radio, trains, trams and ship fans can be found
everywhere in our country.
Next
a rundown of men and their mentioned hobby in radio country: Erik de
Zwart (former Paul de Wit from Caroline), Tom Mulder, Edward Niessing,
Wim van Putten, Joop van Zijl, Willem van Kooten aka Joost den Draaier,
Kees Buurman, who sadly departed us, Paul van der Lugt as well as Ferry
Bosman, better known as Ferry Eden from Radio Mi Amigo and Radio
Monique.
By the way, did you know that on international waters, to be exactly on
the MV Laissez Faire, home of Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio
and later three other stations, the American Boom Boom Brannigan had his
own model railroad track so he could be train engineer between the
moments he had to do his radio show? No, I would not expect his hobby
direct related to Americans, although the American version about trains
on EBay is fascinating. Even German companies are advertising there.
BULL VERWEIJ AND TOM MULDER IN AN
OLD TRAIN WHEN TOM CELEBRATED HIS 30 YEARS IN RADIO IN 1999 PHOTO: ROB
OLTHOF
We have all the time in the world to add more and more names to people
within the radio world who are addicted not only to their first love
called ‘radio’ but also to trains, trams of ships. For instant I want to
mention the name of a guy with a most wonderful ‘fifty’s voice’, called
Bert Steinkamp, who worked for Radio Netherlands World Broadcasting
Corp. for many years and has written a lot of books about steam
traction. My question to you, the reader of the Hans Knot International
Radio Report, is what your link is with the addiction to radio, trains,
trams and ships. Feel free to let them come in at
HKnot@home.nl
TOM MULDER
Thanks a lot Tom, and I hope a lot of our readers tell their story too,
why they are healthy addicted to radio, trams, trains and ships.
Well before you think this edition is becoming a book, two more items
before I say farewell for this edition, with Petula Clark singing in the
back ground ‘The show is over now’: ‘First an e mail from Rotterdam,
where Ger Kruidenier is living. I know him also since the seventies but
we rarely are in contact these days. He wrote: ‘I was listening to some
old tapes from Veronica transmitted in 1994 on Radio 2. The program was
called ‘History on Offshore Radio’ and it featured Ad Bouman, Rob
Stenders and on a regularly basis also a certain Hans Knot. Well I must
say, very well done my boy. In that program special made Veronica
jingles were used, who seemed to be made by PAMS and were used in
earlier days by Radio London, SRE, Britain Radio and many more stations.
Of course I would love to have these jingles. Do you know how to get
them or where I can download them?’
Well the best way is to get in contact either with Jelle Boonstra or
Benno Roozen of the Foundation for Radio Jingles and Tunes. Surely they
can help you.
http://www.jingleweb.nl/index.html
But Ger went on with: ‘Also I heard you talk in one of the programs
about the Radio Nord mov
ie
as well as the movie about Radio Hauraki. Are they still available?’
Well you can write to
rob@mediacommunicatie.nl for a copy of the radio Nord movie. The
documentary ‘1111 days at sea’ which is the Hauraki Movie was shown at
our very first radio day in Noordwijkerhout, way back in 1978. We did
this three day event together with MRP and the movie disappeared and no
one within the Dutch side of the organisation knows where it went. I
tried in New Zealand to get a copy but also there it can't be found. I
do have the soundtrack and can provide you with a copy. I read also that
you’re going to New Zealand. We have there also a group of readers and I
wish you a lot of pleasure. Don’t forget to tune into Radio Hauraki as
it is the biggest station in the country for many years.
Next month we have more about two new products on the radio market. A
DVD video about Tony Allan
and a book, which will be realised in March next year about the last
years from Caroline in the late eighties. It’s written by Steve Conway.
Last item for this issue is the fact that Ray Terret provided me with
his photos of the Caroline North Reunion, which took place in September
on the Isle of Man. You can find them back at:
www.hansknot.com
And what about Ronan O’Rahilly, posing with the Fredericia bell at the
exhibition venue? The exposition at the Isle of Man has been expanded
till the month of April 2009.
Photo: Ray Terret
Dear Friends I hope you enjoyed this bunker edition. Next month I have
much more. And I will get back to you with Christmas wishes in a couple
of weeks.
Hans Knot
Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990
Read Hans Knot's former report