Hans Knot's International Radio Report - June 2009
Hi and welcome to the
June edition of the report and thanks for all your mail and memories.
Before going over to the news and more; I want to tell you about
something very special, which occurred to me April 29th.:
‘Queen
Beatrix of the Netherlands has honoured me, Hans Knot, as a
Knight of the Order of Orange
Nassau, as part of her Official Birthday celebration. The Mayor
of Groningen officiated at the award ceremony, which honoured my forty
years as a researcher and writer about radio history; thirty as the
final editor of Freewave Media Magazine; thirty years as unpaid advisor
to the Foundation for Media Communication and almost thirty-four years'
service at Groningen University, including the many extra activities, I
do there next to my normal tasks.
What can I say more! Photo: Egbert
Knot
The knighthood also recognized my charity work for many years in
hospital radio as well in reading the Freewave Media Magazine and other
radio news for more than twenty years for the visually handicapped
people in Netherlands and Belgium. However I have to thank all who did
participate with me in doing the many work during the four past decades.
So thanks: to all who worked together with me at the editorial staff at
Pirate Radio News, The Freewave Media Magazine, as well as Ger at the
Soundscapes on line Journal for Media and Music Culture. Without your
assistance the knighthood was never given.
Of course I would like to thank Rob at Foundation for Media
Communication in Amsterdam, the people at Belgian RadioVisie, Martin at
Offshore Radio Guide, the people at the Monitor Magazine, Offshore
Echo's, Radio Journal in Germany and a lot of other magazines around the
world, who gave me the opportunity to publish countless articles about
radio’s history. Also a big thanks to Ingo Paternoster, Mary and Chris
at Big L, Jon at the Pirate Hall of Fame, Jelle Boonstra and Bob Le-Roi,
who all did support my work through the years. Last but not least thanks
to Jana and my other dearest, who gave me all the love and space to
explore the very interesting history of the radio world.
Above all it’s a most happy feeling that with this knighthood all the
work I did to get the history on offshore radio on paper, as well as
reporting on it during the times it became illegal (1974-1990), is
recognized officially by getting this knighthood. And I can tell you: I
will go on researching and writing as long as possible.
Let’s start with the e mails and first we go to Belgium: ‘Hallo Hans. In
your last report, as always masses of striking news, but the story that
touched me the most was the one of Kate Nicholls about her stepfather
Don Richardson and her mum Nan. What a coincidence that now more than
forty-one years later, a tiny memo revealed that her mum used Kate’s'
telephone number at work as a contact in case of. Last week I was
listening to some of the mp3 recording from Pirate BBC Essex and I was
especially happy to hear Steve England and Dave Owen, who worked on both
Radio Caroline and Radio Atlantis, again. They had lots to say about
radio both then and now and I still miss that great sound of the
International Service of Radio Atlantis. And as I searched on the
internet I found a short movie about Pirate Johnnie Walker called the
Jingle Sessions Sneak Peak at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG0rNuFGkBQ and later found out that
S2blue was the maker of that jingle package. As you probably well know
S2blue was formed in 2001 when Steve England merged his company with
Simon Prentice and as I searched on the website of S2blue I've found the
master video of the YouTube version at
http://www.s2blue.com/videos.cfm and many more. Yes “Pams Master”
Steve England did it again! So that was my story so far, many thanks for
what you've done for free radio past and presence and cheerio! Philip
Taghon (Jabbeke - Belgium)
Thanks Philip for the nice words and surely Steve will also be smiling
when he reads this month’s issue of the Hans Knot International Radio
Report. Next from the UK it’s Phil Hilton:
‘Dear Hans, as a well connected person I would like to know if you ever
hear of or know stations or groups in Europe or elsewhere who could
benefit from my radio consulting. I specialise in Station Sound and
on-air promotion, winning several awards along the way at Promax, Vox
advertising awards and the New York radio awards for my production work.
I have turned many stations around from poor ratings performers into
stronger successful operations which of course means more revenue in
commercial terms and greater justification and success in BBC terms. My
work varies from promo making, working with station Editors/Managing
Directors on campaign planning and promotional priorities, advising on
overviews of the on-air sound and commissioning on-air ID and jingle
work. I help to develop and train staff and presenters on how to grab
and hold listeners and raise their production values! Recently I worked
with BBC Radio Cornwall helping them get ready for new commercial
competition in the form of Atlantic FM who posed a threat to Cornwall's
40+ audience. Prior to Atlantic's launch we boosted Cornwall's reach,
share and listening hours to an all time high (38% reach) giving them a
strong base to defend their patch. I continue to enjoy your radio
reports. Kind regards Phil Hilton.’
Thanks Phil and anyone who wants to know more about his work and
possibilities to work for you can check at:
www.philhilton.co.uk
***********************************************************************
THE 9th ERKRATH RADIO
DAY ON SEPTEMBER 19th,2009.
That Saturday it’s again the meeting for European radio makers and
listeners in the rooms of the observatory in Erkrath . The event is
scheduled from 13.00 to 20.00 hours at Observatorium of Sternwarte
Neanderhöhe at D-40699 Erkrath. We expect our guests: Roger Kirk, Radio
Victoria; Peter Verbruggen, Free Radio Service Holland; Don Stevens,
Voice of Peace Radio Caroline; Herbert Visser, Radio Monique, 100& NL
and others. Details on programme will be announced soon.
For more info:
http://snh.rp-online.de
or
http://www.offshoreradio.de
*******************************************************************
Car time! Remember we started a few month ago the search for cars with a
radio sticker on it? We
already had some nice ones and this time an e mail from Ruud van der
Kuijl: ‘I’ve searched for my photos with my cars. I found first a photo
of my Citroën 2 CV, which I had in the mid eighties. I painted the MV
Ross Revenge on the backside of the car. Later on I had a Fiat
transporter with I also painted with the Ross Revenge and the words
‘De middengolf leeft’ (Medium wave lives’).
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Thanks a lot Ruud, most appreciated. You must have a lot of questions
from people when seeing your cars. Ruud also sent some photo’s taken in
the harbour of IJmuiden when the
MV Communicator left the harbour, a couple of years ago. It was
heading for England and would never come back to Holland again.
Photos: Ruud van der Kuijl
Next an e mail from Roger Davis: ‘Hi Hans I Just wanted to thank you for
always sending me your brilliant informative report whenever you issue
it, always a very interesting read, and I learn a lot from your report
thank you very much, I hope you are keeping well. I seem to remember
receiving reception reports from you during BRIs 1st year on SW in 1980!
We are still broadcasting in 2009 mostly via Laser hot hits 4025khz
outlet, also occasionally on 6255khz during the 2nd/4th Sundays, also
sometimes the shows are put out via our webstream at
www.geocities.com/britainradio48
I noticed in your report that Ian Godfrey has been listening to some of
my shows on Atlantic oldies website
www.atlanticoldies.com I
present a rare 60s show on there each week, times are 8pm Tues/Thurs
1am/ and Saturdays from 5pm. All times are UK, any publicity for this
programme would be much appreciated, I also still present weekly shows
on Radio Seagull 1602khz AM. I enjoyed the Pirate BBC Essex Easter
programming, I was also surprised how much the veteran DJs have aged
while watching the live webcam! Anyway Hans keep up the good work with
what you are doing. Kind regards. Roger Davis from Britain Radio
International.’
Well thanks a lot Roger and I hope a lot of the readers will try to tune
into one of your programs soon.
Now memories from the
USA: 'Hi. You asked for personal memories of
RNI so here goes: In 1972
and 1973 I was building sports cars for a small company in Oxfordshire,
UK. Our workshop was the old shower block on an abandoned World War II
airfield. Although the location was cold and windy it was also fairly
high in elevation and I could pick up RNI fairly well on my portable
transistor radio with a makeshift antenna attached. As I was still mad
at the BBC for being part of the government Marine Offenses Bill that
had shut down Radio London and other pirates years earlier, I really did
not listen to the BBC's Radio 1. So I listened to RNI all day and
although the daytime transmissions were in Dutch most of the music was
in English. The three numbers that always to this day remind me of RNI
are: ‘Child in Time’ by Deep Purple, ‘Popcorn’ by Hot Butter and
‘Brandy’ by Looking Glass. I was at Clacton in the UK when Radio London
(just a few miles offshore) closed down and we listened live to the sad
final closing moments after ‘A day in the life’ by the Beatles was
played. The following day we went out on a boat to sail around the
remaining pirate Radio Caroline and wave our support. I think it
satisfied my still rebellious instincts to be listening to RNI a few
years later. I even listened when the government was sending the jamming
signal out on the same frequency and found that after a while you could
ignore the jamming noise. I know it easy to be nostalgic but the kids
today will never know how important that tinny sound of the pirate radio
stations on AM radio were to our pop music starved generation. Thanks
for keeping some of these memories alive. Keep up the good work. Larry
Simpkins. (Now I’m living in the USA).’
Thanks Larry for these wonderful memories. Indeed you’re right when
talking about nowadays kids. Lucky enough we still can tell them what
happened in those days. Thanks for sharing it with us. You can all share
your memories at HKnot@home.nl or
Hans.Knot@gmail.com
From the USA we go to Sweden and Ronny: ‘A reunion of former
Radio Nord staff members
was held at the DeGeer concert hall in Norrköping on May 8th. It was
arranged by local Radio Nord-enthusiast Håkan Thornell. The venue was
actually sold out and apart from participation by some former "pirates"
a number of beloved performers from the days of Radio Nord were
entertaining us. In all a very good mixture of offshore radio nostalgia
and music from way back when. More about this evening can be found on my
blogs
http://www.radioenthusiasts.blogspot.com (English) and
http://www.ronnybgoode.se There
is also a film from the event which can be downloaded from
http://radiohistoria.jvnf.org/rn/v/radionordafton_norrkoping_20090508.wmv
Participating from Radio Nord were Lars Nestius, Lars Branje and Seve
Ungermark (former news readers), Owe Sjöström and Kenneth Agehed
(technicians), Lennart Atterling (DJ) and Miss Radio Nord, Christina von
Sheck. Also present was Jan Kotschack, whose Radio Nord book will be
published in September. There is a discussion forum on the subject of
Radio Nord and those of you who are interested are welcome to join us at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radionord although the forum is in
Swedish it is also possible to post questions and comments in English
and there are lots of images and soundfiles. All the best, Ronny
Forslund.
In last issue I wrote about
Rosko: ‘although you're were not the first you're a runner up
this month.’ For those who read the report for the first time, the
Emperor Rosko and I are playing a little game for a couple of years.
Sometimes he has important news but mostly he wants to be mentioned in
the report. So here we go again from California USA: ‘Thanks for the
plug, I was about to give up!! It was better to be last than not to be!
Or (knot) to be. Have a good one and see you soon. EMP. ‘Thanks buddy
more on you later in the report as some people have news on your person
too!
It's less than a half
year until this year's
Radio Day in Amsterdam
takes place on Saturday 14th November. At the moment, we're
concentrating on the scheduling of the "Laser is 25" reunion. We have
been in contact with many former jocks, technicians and employees, but
at this very moment we won't reveal the list of those people who will
definitely attend. Be assured that it will become a big happening. Hans,
Rob and me would be glad if the readers of this report can possibly help
us to get in touch with the following people we haven't yet been able to
locate: Paul Dean (Paul May on RNI), Chris Carson, Erin Kelly (Erin
Weber/Erin Cavanagh), Dave Chaney (David Holderman), Craig Novack (Alan
Bishop), Chuck Cannon, John Leeds, Jay Mack, John Allen, John 'Rock 'n
Roll' Anthony, Robby Day (Paul Faires) and Bill Voight. So if anyone
knows any e-mail address, telephone number or postal address, please get
in contact with us and write to
hknot@home.nl
As a sort of appetizer the former tender captain Leendert Vingerling has
opened his scrapbook with splendid
Laser pictures
at:
http://www.offshore-radio.de/leendertvingerling/laser
Don't forget that this year's Radio Day will see the second "Radio Day
Awards" ceremony. The 2009 awards (commonly known as ‘The Radies’) will
again have 4 categories and are awarded for: “An Outstanding
Contribution to Offshore Radio” (3 awards), “Offshore Radio Top
Technical Support” (1 award), “Offshore Radio Writers and Historians” (1
award), “The Radio Anoraks Award” (1 award). You can start guessing who
will be the lucky ones! More information on the Amsterdam Radio day at
http://www.radioday.nl
The Radio Days Radio Awards (Photo
Robbie Dale)
Theo Bakker is next: ‘Thursday morning 14th May 2009 I got in the car
after a message from Mandy Marton from Radio Seagull that the
Jenni Baynton, the
radioship from Radio Waddenzee and Radio Seagull, would be docked. In
the meantime it had been towed from it’s mooring in the Willems Harbour
in Harlingen to a wharf outside the city. On the way to Harlingen I
passed the transmitters on land from which is broadcast temporarily.
Because I could hardly see the ship from the road around the harbour I
decided to drive to the wharf itself. When I called the reception from
outside the gates a nice lady allowed me to come in and make photos of
the Jenni Baynton. I got a pass for a day and could stay as long as I
liked! In the meantime the ship was tightly anchored on the working
place. Several people were busy with the ship that already had been
stripped of the shells which in the
course
of many years had stuck themselves to the hull of the ship which had got
the skin of a whale. The men, who were wearing gasmasks, were busy
spraying primer on the part beneath the waterline. They asked me to stay
away from it as it was dangerous. The ship itself is a solid round
shaped ship that has been built as a lightship. The lighthouse is still
there very prominently and was a beacon at sea. Now the electronic
signaling has taken over from the lighthouses and lightships they are
not needed anymore and the Jenni Baynton is one of the very few that
escaped scrapping. And that is very nice. On the bottom of the ship is a
kind of ring that should prevent the ship from swaying and gives it more
stability. Also on the Waddensea it can be very dangerous seen the large
number of shipwrecks on the bottom of the sea. So it may be very useful!
It is a very impressive ship that looks much smaller above the waterline
than it is in reality. The iceberg! If you have to be on a ship for
months it is very nice of course that you have space for victuals and to
live in. At this moment the ship will probably be back in the Willems
Harbour from where it will leave for the island of Griend in the
Waddenzee at the beginning of next week. On that small island was in the
Middle Ages a small city with a monastery. From this location Radio
Waddenzee and Radio Seagull will broadcast live from May 20th until June
6th next.Then, how nostalgic, there will be a real working radioship
before the Dutch coast! A lot of thanks to the people at the wharf!’
The other photos taken by Theo Bakker can be found at:
http://www.offshore-radio.de/images4/drydock/index.htm
Red Sands Radio the local
radio station that has to date broadcasts from the Offshore Forts has
found a new home. Said project-redsand chairman Robin Adcroft, “The WWII
original fendering collapsed in the winter storm, it’s staggering it
lasted 65 years! We’ve cut away the debris and are in the process of
remaking replacement steelworks, but this won’t be completed in time for
the Red Sands Radio broadcasts”. However, Whitstable Angling Club has
come to the rescue and offered Red Sands Radio its premises. Roland
Joint Chairman of the club said “We welcome Red Sands Radio with open
arms, we’re about to undergo a major refurbishment of our club house at
the old Steam Packet public house. The radio will help promote the
activities and the fast growing membership of the club”. Radio Red Sands
launches on 4th July 2009. For more information contact Red Sands Radio,
PO Box 299, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2YA or telephone 07961 601 893. Bob
Le-Roi - Programme Director
‘I’m trying to locate deejay
Keith/Dave Rogers (Keith Chanter), whom I known as a child
because he worked for Radio Atlantis; as my parents did. I’m really
interested how he’s doing. Can you help me to find him please? Yours
truly, Daisy in The Netherlands.’ So if anyone can help Daisy with the
current whereabouts from Dave Rogers please inform me at
HKnot@home.nl
Next one for Steve: ‘Hi Hans Nice website... Check out
www.radiokaleidoscope.com
you will find our good friend "Buster" in full DJ form! Along with a
list of other 1967 DJ's that you may also remember. Kind Regards Steve
Taylor.
Next from Australia it’s Ian MacRae: ‘Hi Hans, I thought you’d be
interested in the review I wrote about The Boat That Rocked for
www.RadioInfo.com.au....
By the way interesting you should mention that the Radio City story
would make a good movie. I’ve had a script based on that very subject
sitting in my bottom drawer for a couple of years now. Can’t seem to get
any interest in it. Cheers, Ian
MacRae.
THE BOAT THAT
ROCKED...
In the sixties, DJ’s on the UK’s “Pirate Radio” ships did nothing but
party and have sex with the constant visiting supply of lusty young
ladies. Oh yes, and present the occasional radio program, which was
totally off the cuff as no preparation was required. At least that’s
what the new movie “The Boat That Rocked” would have you believe. OK,
you expect a movie to have a bit of artistic license and it’s great that
a whole generation of British kids will now be aware that it was us
broadcasters who were directly responsible for forcing later Governments
to legalise land-based commercial radio in the UK.
However I squirmed for the over-long 135 minutes the movie runs watching
misrepresentation after misrepresentation of what really went on flash
up on the screen. Firstly I have to take issue with the title of the
movie “The Boat That Rocked”. Radio Caroline, on which the story is
based, was a “ship” not a boat. People row boats. Secondly no visitors
were ever allowed on- for insurance and safety reasons. The idea you
could invite 200 fans and have them running all over the ship is
ridiculous when you have generators running and transmitters putting out
50,000 watts. Which makes the scene, where the two guys compete to climb
the mast, even more ridiculous. The few visitors who did come on board
were people like pop stars and entertainers, for on-air interviews, and
they had to have special permission from head office in London. The
movie makes no reference to the station even having a head office, which
was actually a salubrious building just off Park Lane, but gives the
impression the whole operation was totally run from the ship.
I’m being careful not to put any spoilers in this review, in case you
haven’t seen the movie yet, but you’ll probably be a bit confused as to
what the Bill Nighy character is supposed to be. He seems to be a
combined ship’s captain, Program Director and owner. In real life there
were two sets of crew on the ship the seamen, headed by the Captain, and
the radio station people such as DJ’s, engineers and technicians.
Neither group had the faintest idea what the other actually did. The
movie makes it appear there was only one radio ship, which they call
Radio Rock, with one DJ telling his listeners he has 25 million people
listening to him. In fact there were at least twelve stations that I can
think of broadcasting around the coastline, with about six positioned
off London, all with a combined audience of 25 million. The movie really
totally misses the point when the police attempt to raid the ship to
close it down. The vessel was in international waters and outside the
jurisdiction of any British authority. A raid like that would have been
real piracy by the police. The only way the government could eventually
close the pirates down was by cutting their supply lines. They made it
illegal to supply them with everything from advertising to food, water,
fuel or even supplying labour. That is, working for them. Come ashore
and you’d get arrested. That’s when I decided two years at sea was
enough and came home to Australia where you weren’t a criminal if you
worked for commercial radio.
As for the movie enjoy it what it is – entertainment. But don’t regard
it as history.’
Thanks Ian and I must say a very honest review from point of the
historic truth! I hope you’ll find someone who will be interested in the
script.
So let’s go to another former offshore deejay from the sixties as here’s
a comment from Tony Prince:
‘Hi Hans, It’s pointless asking Rosko to remember engineers, he can’t
even remember working with me on Caroline South, although he remembers
us sharing a hotel room for many moons when I went North and he on South
had the same weeks off rota. I remember
Barry Goldberg, a British
engineer, big round lad with a mass of beard. He told us of his
adventures to the Antartic, swimming in the sea after breaking through
the ice, even showed us photos. I also remember an engineer called
Manfred but can’t recall his last name. Both were Radio Caroline North.
I’ll ask Bob Stewart who’s in Texas, he has a good recall. Regards, Tony
Prince.
PS: What 40 years did to the Royal Ruler:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM5fHu6r9Ck a happy dive!
Hi Tony, of course I didn’t ask him for the technicians. I only
mentioned two reports ago about a special page from the Pirate Hall of
Fame where a lot of technicians are mentioned as asked the reader in
common if they had an update to mention it. Manfred was
Manfred Sommer. As I
recall a very nice easy going lad and a long time engineer. Thanks for
responding, Greetings
Hans
From Bob Stewart a few days later: ‘Barry Goldberg died a long time ago.
I don't know Manfreds' last name. He was Austrian. Chief engineer on
Caroline North was another Austrian by the name of Paul?. In the early
days before you came aboard there was an English guy named Trevor. I
don't recall last names. i think trevor came from Yorkshire. I think
it's all long ago and far away.’
Also thanks to Bob Stewart for his comments.
Paul Dale came from Graz
in Austria and it was Manfred Sommer in 1965 and he worked on the
Fredericia till closedown in March 1968 and indeed he came from Austria.
Trevor Grantham was the
name and for much more about offshore technicians go to
http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/engine1.htm
Next it’s Peter Messingfeld from Germany: ‘Dear Offshore Radio Friends.
During April the British media reported on a nearly daily basis on the
former offshore radio stations. The 45th birthday of Radio Caroline, the
new movie "The Boat that Rocked" and the special broadcast of
Pirate BBC Essex must
have been the most outstanding events. On Easter Monday I had the chance
to visit Pirate BBC Essex. My report is now online:
http://travelseries.de/trav2009/trav09_1.htm
Also we’ve an e mail from a Caroline jock from the early seventies,
Leon Keezer: ‘Dear Hans,
I was amazed to find my picture in the last issue of the Knot Report.
About that picture I can say it was taken by my then girlfriend Dory, a
few days before the Mi Amigo was taken to Amsterdam harbour by RNI's
Eurotrip and got impounded, more pictures on my
fotowebsite
Anyway, I'm still active in radio in the Netherlands where we recently
upgraded Amsterdam's Radio Decibel by taking over City FM and Hofstad
Radio in Den Haag. Decibel can now be heard in the entire mid- and
western part of Holland plus the city of Eindhoven on 6 transmitters
(Amsterdam: 98.0, Noord
Holland:
98.3, Utrecht: 98.5, Rotterdam + Zuid Holland: 97.6, Den Haag: 99.4 and
Eindhoven: 93.6. After 2 months in this new setting we're now the
fastest growing radiostation in the Netherlands and it is great fun
working with many talented young jocks such as Eline Lacroix, Barry
Brand, Barend van Delen and many others, all people totally dedicated to
radio as we were in the offshore days. In fact it was Eline who send an
email to the Decibel crew to invite us all to go see 'The Boat that
Rocked' together and that's why I send back aforementioned picture.
Funny detail is that Ruud Hendriks (formerly
Rob Hudson on Radio
Caroline) did the same as me and send in this picture of him in that
very same Caroline studio. Ruud recently also returned to his 'first
love': radio and now hosts a (house) program on Sundaynights on Radio
Decibel, which is now very much a modern 2009 radiostation. I made a
short video when Decibel 3.0 as I call it was launched, last February
1st and it can be seen here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/user/keezer/video/x8bqo0_radio-decibel-kickoff-122009_music
My first video on the -then- landbased pirate station Decibel 1.0 was
taken exactly 25 years ago and can also be seen on the internet here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/related/x8bqo0/video/x8irnq_the-decibel-tapes-radio-decibel-198_music?hmz=74616272656c61746564
Comparing both video shows that Radio -as our society- has changed a lot
over the years, however it is still very much alive today and it's a lot
of fun to still be
a part of it. All the best, Lion Keezer.’
Hi Leon very good to see it all goes well with you and of course the
radiostation too. Also thanks for the links and keep it going man!
Remember last issue’s radio t
shirt was one with Radio Caroline and promo on it? It was from
1990 and it was the former Editor of the Freewave Media Magazine, Jos
Leijgraaff, who wrote in to tell that the shirt was made to make some
gain for the Magazine. About 150 shirts were sold in those days.
Jos also comments on Liz West: ‘I’ve met her a few times. I know she has
some chronically problems with her lungs. One I bought medicaments for
her which someone else took to the Communicator. A week later she played
some songs for a great friend in Holland and told that she had much more
air after using the medicaments.
Talking about t shirts here some
from the 1972/1973, a photo which I took in those days from a part of my
own collection
From t shirts , you can always send your own photo to
HKnot@home.nl, we go to the USA and
former Laser and Caroline deejay
Blake Williams: ‘Please forgive my last message for being so
short. It's been a busy time these past few weeks. I've been working on
some films lately and loving every sleep deprived minute of it. Things
are going to get even more interesting soon when it's time for me to
jump back up on the tractor to cut and then bale hay for the farm I work
for. The state I live in has offered tax breaks for the film industry so
many of the big companies are here making movies. Many people like me
are getting involved in different levels in film making. It's a lot of
work but I love every minute of it. I'm still doing voice work but that
has throttled back some what due to my tight schedule. We had a late
spring as it seemed like winter never wanted to leave us here. Finally
it's beginning to get warm and the weather is nice. My horses have been
acting rather ornery due to the spring air. Please feel free to keep in
touch and if you have any questions, please do ask. Blessings, Blake’.
Well Blake thanks for the update on all your activities. It’s good to
hear you’re still going strong and hopefully there’s a change you show
up in Amsterdam. In the meantime we now also know for sure the
originally Steve Masters
from Laser 558 is joining the gang at the Radio Day in November
Mary Payne: ‘It's been a long wait since Easter, but our eight-page
photo gallery of Pirate BBC Essex 2009 is finally finished! We hope you
all enjoy it.
www.radiolondon.co.uk
Of course Mary and Chris have much more updates on their wonderful
internetsite.
Next one a question from Robert: ‘Hi Hans, I was wondering whether you
might be able to find space in the next International Report to ask if
anyone could provide me with a copy (photocopy would do) of Caroline
Movement Bulletin no 56? I have a complete collection from about
bulletin 3 onwards except for this one issue which I think was the
penultimate one. I would be really grateful if one of your readers could
help and will be happy to cover any costs. Kind Regards Robert James.’
So please if anyone can provide this issue please mention it to
HKnot@home.nl
But Robert wants to share also nice things with us: ‘Please find
attached to this mail some scanned photos which I can guarantee you
would not have seen before. My Father before retirement worked in the
British civil service and was attached to the Naval base in Portsmouth.
A friend of his was one of the Naval photographers and he took all of
these images for me. The first two were taken from a Royal Navy ship
sailing past the South Falls head in January 1990. The other three of
the Nanell/Mi.Amigo II were taken when it was laid up at the top of
Portsmouth Harbour in the autumn of 1989. It was moored right out in the
middle of the harbour a long way from land so unless you had official
reason to be there it was hard to get close up photos. This was very
near to where the King David ship that went to Israel was fitted out.
The interesting thing about the Nanell photos is that the centre vent
which the mast was built around is fully intact, yet the stories at the
time were that the mast had collapsed. Having seen these photos I find
that difficult to believe as it would have caused severe damage to the
central vent. I always thought that for some reason the mast had been
removed in a port somewhere, but have never found anyone who knew the
truth. I understand the mast was no longer there when it was off the
Belgian cost. I wonder if any of your readers know what really happened.
Kind Regards Robert’.
![]() MV Ross Revenge South Falls |
![]() MV Nannell Porthmouth Photos: Collection Robert James |
Hi Robert, thanks for sharing and hopefully someone comes with the
answer to the mast question.
Last issue we mentioned that we found Angelica, also know as
Kim Frazier on Radio
Caroline. I did get back to her: Can you tell me some more about how you
got on Radio Caroline, what you did afterwards so I can take a mention
in the Hans Knot International Radio Report which come out every month
during the past last 11 years?
‘Hi Hans, Thank you for your reply (I wasn't expecting one!). I got onto
Radio Caroline via a recommendation from Tony Kirk. I'm afraid I've done
very little broadcasting since then (though I'd love to go back to it
some time). Instead I have put my energies into my art
www.sl-art.co.uk and photography
work. I am still in contact with Tony Kirk and Gerry Wright (who now
works on Radio Jackie in South London). Kind regards, Angelica.’
Thanks a lot Angelica and really wonderful artwork on your internet
site.
Time for Jon: New this month on the
Pirate Hall of Fame:
• We visit Harwich for the 2009 broadcasts from Pirate BBC Essex;
• we hear from Johnny Lark, one of the first DJs on Radio Invicta back
in 1964;
• we discover more about Radio 390's Samantha Leigh;
• we hear studio quality audio of Radio City's Tony Carroll, a DJ whose
career was cut short by acute appendicitis;
• we meet Sylvan the stowaway girl who spent a weekend on Radio Caroline
South in 1965;
• there is news of another pirate special coming up on the BBC;
• and we hear from the daughter of the late Guy Blackmore (alias "Jumbo"
Jimmy Gordon). It has been a bumper month for visitors to the site -
undoubtedly helped by Pirate BBC Essex and The Boat That Rocked. More
than 25,000 people visited The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame during April.
• With kind regards, Jon Myer
www.offshoreradio.co.uk
And also we have the
Bob Le-Roi update:
‘Welcome to the May 2009 Update
In ‘ScrapBook’ some more photographs of the MV Communicator, which have
just come to light. The ship is undergoing its painful transformation
from its Dutch incarnation to the Super Station RSL for the Orkney
Islands. ‘One Subject One Link’ takes on the Global economy with a
contribution saying radio was on the slide before the money markets
crashed. The East Kent (UK) Battle of the Bands 2009 took place in March
we’ve pictures of the young groups that appeared. We’ve updated Fort Fax
& the Caroline Roll Call with more information and finally the sales
pages list a Dave Clark 5 Album, a Greatest Love CD and useful Telco
Unit. Enjoy Your Visits
www.bobleroi.co.uk
John
mentioned already in his update that there is a report on a visit singer
Sylvan took to Caroline:
http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/odds52.htm
And that brings us to the subject
artists visiting offshore
radiostations or their ships. If you can mention one please send
a photo of the artist mentioned to
HKnot@home.nl Next a photo which remembers me on RNI's radio days.
It shows daughter and father
Willeke and Wily Alberti. Both had many hitsongs in the Dutch
charts and were played a lot on Radio Veronica in the sixties. In the
seventies RNI Dutch service even had an own radio show for the two on
Sundays. Photo: Collection Soundscapes.
Almost every month there’s an e mail from Australia and former Caroline
deejay Colin Nichol, and
I must say it’s always interesting: ‘Patricia Adkins (now Adkins-Chiti)
was the assistant to Chris Moore (real name Stephen Christopher Moore),
who was programme director at Radio Caroline. She was a sensible spirit
in the madness that was Caroline House. Also she was a very nice person.
She has made a major career for herself as mezzo-soprano, creator of
"Women in Music", a foundation she created and a prominent member of
Italian government (she lives in Italy)
as well as a prominent musicologist. She is married to conductor Gian
Chiti. For full information, I suggest you search her on the internet. A
great career and one of the women of pirate radio. COLIN’.
Patricia Adkins Photos Collection:
Colin Nichol
Oké from Australia we go to Germany: ‘Hans, we talked a few times in the
mid-90's about my stint on the Red Sands at
Radio Invicta (as
sponsored by Houchin Engineering of Ashford). It was just after Ed
Moreno had left and together with Eddie Jerrold, Bruce Holland and Phil
Perkins (the engineer), but we never got past a couple of preliminary
calls. You even sent me a cassette which I never got round to talking
onto. I'm buzzing you now to find out if you have any archive recordings
of broadcasts from Invicta from around that time, or if you know anybody
who has.
My interlude with Invicta has a prelude to it: I'd moved up to London in
1962, in that first flush of young adulthood (you may remember) and was
living with my girlfriend in the back of her father's shoe shop at 98
Queensway, in Bayswater. In the "Golden Egg" next door we hob nobbed
with a couple of gals called Christien Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davis -
just innocent, neighborly stuff over pancakes and whipped cream, mostly.
Next to the Golden Egg was the Picasso, where, as I remember, they even
had nude models - and this was (protestant) London in 1962! One day I
noticed an advert (postcard, next to ads like: "French model, call:
Bayswater for appointment") in the newsagent's shop window at the top of
Queensway, where it joins Bayswater Road. The ad that interested me said
you would earn a lot of money, so I rang the number, and, bingo: there I
was working for a fast-talking speed freak (and I don't mean that in any
derogatory way) called Ronan O'Rahilly, giving out invites in and around
Piccadilly Circus to suitable looking youngsters to go to his club "The
Scene" in Ham Yard, just opposite the Windmill theatre. The Thursday
resident band, as I recall, was a scruffy crew calling themselves "The
Rolling Stones". All was more than well, until one day we burnt down the
shoe shop and consequently moved back down to the parent's place in
Whitstable; so goodbye Ronan. But, as fate will have it, standing at the
bar of a pub down by the harbour, a complete stranger to me (Eddie
Hinkins) asks me if I'd like to be a DJ on the radio station off
Whitstable. The conditions - one week on, one week off and 15 pounds a
week - convinced me. So the next evening I was at the harbour, got on
the fishing boat with EJ your DJ, Bruce Holland, Phil Perkins et al and
the adventure began.’ Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
Helmut (Lee) Taylor.’
Well Lee, thanks a lot for your interesting story and I’ve uploaded the
Invicta recordings I have. Also sent the e mail to Bob Le-Roi who really
is specialised in the Offshore Fort Radio Stations, so hopefully he has
more. By the way please let your stories come. Just hours later I got
another e mail from Lee: ‘Hello again Hans, and thank you very much for
the broadcasts; takes me back to some carefree times, when I felt like I
was broadcasting to the world (but was actually only getting a listening
public from South London to Brighton - but egal, it was a lovely time!
Writing to you now has put me in mind of a further episode which might
be of interest to you – it’s not to do with broadcasting, but sort of
"alled". See what you can do with this:- In around 1975 I bought some
(b/w) video equipment and went around the clubs and pubs in London and
recorded about 50 or more of the bands performing - paces like the
Marquee, the Speakeasy, The Greyhound in Fulham Palace Road and a number
of other venues. One night at the Greyhound there was a band scheduled
called Jigsaw, and they played their latest number/release, called
"You've blown it all sky high", which I recorded. Subsequently their
manager asked me if I would do a separate "video" of their entire album.
So we hired a local south London hall, they stood on the stage and mimed
to the album. I think one can say that this was the very first music
video - sort of like the first b/w movies made, with piano
accompaniment. Another band I recall were called Stray (recorded at the
Marquee),
but there are lots of them. I haven't gotten the video recorder (old
National Panasonic half inch reel tape) out for about 15 years, and I'm
not sure that it will work any more, but you never know. Could one get
somebody to work up a sweat about this documentary evidence, do you
think? Helmut.
PS: Any info on Eddie Hinkins, the some time station manager who hired
me? 'Cos I recall you told me about the demise of Bruce Holland, Eddie
Jerrold and (Dr) Ed Moreno; ‘schade - mais, c'est la vie, eh’?
Earlier on we had a former Laser deejay and here’s another one: ‘Laser
576 KC. Hi I just wanted
to let you know that part of the journal I kept while on Laser is back
on line with this picture of the ship;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirkclyatt/3354350333/ Some may
find it interesting. Have a good week! Kirk
Another short but interesting one from Andrew Dawson: ‘Hi Hans I was in
Dublin for a reunion dinner. And while walking to town I saw this street
sign. It’s named after Ronan's grandfather. Best wishes,
Andy Archer.’
Photo: Andrew Dawson
The Dutch Society for
Radio jingles and tunes has produced a new CD called PAMS in Holland. On
the cd several packages who
are produced by the legendary PAMS in Dallas for stations in Holland. Of
course the offshore lovers all know PAMS from the jingles they produced
for Radio London, Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio. The first
ever legally used jingles in Holland were heard in 1975. It was the NCRV
radio, one of the public broadcasters who ordered a package. The CD is
produced by Jelle Boonstra and Benno Roozen and next to the package as
produced in Dallas by PAMS they have added also material from PAMS
produced by others like Mike Eisler, Toby Arnold and Ben Freedman. This
was possible as
PAMS went
bankrupt and it was possible to buy several packages by other sources,
who partly bought the rights. Very special are the jingles produced for
Radio Paradijs as they never were aired due to the fact the ship, the
station used, was caught in international waters by the authorities.
Former Voice of Peace deejay Kas van Iersel tells in the cd booklet how
he went to Dallas to get the Paradijs jingles. Furthermore resings from
PAMS packages can be heard for Radio Veronica (1994) and Cable One,
first ever satellite radio station in Holland with the Marlboro Country
program. Also the jingles Top Format produced in PAMS style for Radio
10, way back in 1995 and 1996.
The cd booklet is in English and had several unique photos from masters,
singing sessions and the famous PAMS building in Dallas. People in
Holland can find information in Dutch on
www.jingleweb.com
The prices of this unique CD:
18 EURO (for all countries worldwide)
Post & packaging is included also for all countries worldwide.
This unique CD is available in limited edition.
How to order?
FOR CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE NETHERLANDS
1) FILL IN THE FORM ON
WWW.JINGLEWEB.COM
2) Please transfer your money to Stichting radiojingles, Maaslaan 72,
8033 DP Zwolle, The Netherlands. ING Bank 999736, IBAN: NL52 INGB
0000999736, BIC: INGBNL2A.
Make sure you write down your full name, address, zipcode, city, country
and
your complete order. Please allow us 14 working-days for guaranteed
delivery, see
www.jingleweb.com or
www.jingleweb.nl
Now over to Ian Godfrey and his monthly meanings: ‘I
feel a bit reactionary about what has become the established formatting
of radio stations. For several years I worked on Reception in a
Community Centre and would usually have a female assistant, for the
purpose of writing out messages, etc., who would always tune the radio
to one of two London stations: Heart 106.2 and Magic 105.4, both of
which have very restricted playlists. It didn't take long to notice that
particular records were being played at particular times of the day with
different pitches of tempo at different times of the week, in order to
'plug in' to the emotional state of the listener. Every artist would
have between one and three records played - for example the only track
by Otis Redding would be 'Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay,' usually
played early in the week and it would be unusual to get to lunchtime on
a Friday and not hear Aretha Franklin's 'Dancing in the Street,' an
upbeat record related to anticipation of the weekend.
I work with groups of doctors in February, June and October, when a taxi
is arranged to and from the hospitals. I noticed that the same record
was played at about 07.35 on the first Tuesday of October one year and
February the next, which I felt was more related to programming policy
than coincidence! Both stations are aimed at a MOR 35-50 age-range and
have an almost identical format, featuring mainly Top 3 records with a
sprinkling of new releases. There is clearly wariness, possibly paranoia
that listeners will tune away if they hear more than a couple of
consecutive tracks unfamiliar to them. The chances of this probably
increased a couple of years ago when a station that had started as Jazz
FM (in the days when stations all had distinctly different formats) and
went through at least two radical changes including name and rebranded
as 'Smooth,' with similarities to Heart and Magic but generally more
upbeat with a fair range of oldies, pitching itself fairly near to Gold.
The ideal of a variety of stations all catering for a particular genre
was clearly not commercially viable, as the general overheads and
presenters' salaries are so high. There are so many music stations -
arguably too many - targeting particular middle-ground markets, with
slight tweaks of format, that commercial survival is more important than
ever. The Heart and Magic audience figures are consistently quite good
so they wouldn't risk changing. Presenters claim that they can play what
they want to play although I have my doubts. Either their choice just
happens to fall within the playlist range of the station or they're
deluding themselves! Slightly amusingly, and something no-one could have
imagined only a decade ago, is that the greatest chance of getting our
choice of radio is from the BBC, with programmes like 'Pirate BBC Essex'
and 'Pirate Radio Skues,' although there are some imminent radical
changes affecting the latter. This afternoon Tony Blackburn is
presenting another commemorative show on BBC London, featuring Roger
Day, and Johnnie Walker and, for the first time as far as I know,
Richard Curtis - should be interesting!
Living in Southend I was in probably the most ideal position for
recording offshore radio, English and Dutch, but, unfortunately (in this
respect) we had an electrified railway at the bottom of the garden.
Every time a train passed I would get interference on the radio, in the
form of clicks and brief crackles, so I never felt it was worthwhile
buying the equipment. When I needed a new radio in about 1975 I bought
one of the radio/cassettes of the time and did make a few recordings,
for example, Tony Allen on Caroline with a 192 test transmission in
April, 1976. I haven't played it for about twenty years so I'm hoping it
hasn't deteriorated. With Best Wishes, Ian Godfrey.’
Well Ian – who has very visual problems – I hope someone can help you to
learn how to download. Very nice story on formatting and if anyone will
comment, please feel free to do so at:
hknot@home.nl
Another interesting site to take a few minutes to explore:
http://svtplay.se/v/1550967/minneskvall_for_radio_nord
From Ian to Ian Anderson
on the Shetland Islands who reflects on last issue where we talked about
mast lengths: ‘That's a good effort by the "very investigative" Peter
Phillips on the length of the Big L mast when he said that "we knew her
breadth from the plans, and by factoring that we came up with about 140
feet". In fact the length of the mast is near enough 150 feet (46
metres). In "factoring" something as long as the big L mast with
something as short as the beam of the vessel there is fore-shortening
from the angle of view. The closer the camera to the object then the
wider the angle of view and this leads to greater fore-shortening away
from direct right-angle from the object. In the picture in question, the
distance from the camera lens to the bottom of the mast is shorter than
to the top, and so the top will be of a smaller scale than the bottom.
There is a formula for this but you need to know at least one length and
one angle, or two lengths, given that the mast is at right angles to the
vessel. In recent days I have completed the actual lengths of all the
main offshore masts (very few were the lengths published at the time and
since). I have
done
this mainly from first hand information checked against the formula.
This will be published as soon as I write it up. Ian Anderson, SIBC.
Thanks a lot Ian and in the meantime I’ve provided Ian with photo
material which he can use by his article. It will be sometime published
in printed form in OEM and a special internet version will be published
in the on line Journal for Media and Music Culture. As soon it’s there I
will let you know.
Next one comes from Larry Grinnel in the USA, who worked together with
the late Mighty Joe Young,
ex Laser 558 and Caroline technician, in the USA in the seventies: I
wrote a rather long blog on my time at WEXY/WAXY which can be seen at
www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?do=something&id=1874 It describes the
station at the same time Mighty Joe Young (Vogel) worked there for the
first time. Thanks for the excellent site you operate.
Joe Vogel Photo: Larry Grinnell
I have enclosed the only picture I have of Joe Vogel from the time I
worked with him. This picture was taken at the WEXY-AM 1520 control room
in Oakland Park, Florida (next to Fort Lauderdale) in April, 1972. Best
regards, Larry Grinnell.’
Well Larry I thank you very much for sharing this memory with us. Most
appreciated.
Another interesting posting from the Pole with the Soul in Manchester:
‘Hi Hans, for
inclusion in your next bulletin, please. I've been a studier of
charts for
many years now and no more so than during the Offshore radio era. From
1964-1668, Caroline played the American chart countdown on Sundays,
actively using the Cashbox charts. For some reason I always thought that
they used Billboard's Charts as they were often announced as the Hot
100. From the late 50s onwards the Billboard chart was known as the Hot
100, whereas the Cashbox chart was simply the Cashbox Top 100. It wasn't
until I was recently asked to date a chart clip that I realised that it
was indeed Cashbox that was used by Caroline - so the term "Hot 100" was
used erroneously in that context. For those interested in such things,
the Billboard charts are available in various volumes through Joel
Whitburn's excellent volumes - I have 1955-59, the Sixties and the
Seventies. Each of these has the week by week rundown of the chart,
photocopied from the original and they make for fascinating reading for
music anoraks like me! I also have the Top R&B Singles 1942-2004.
They're all pretty hefty volumes that were sent by sea mail when I
bought them a few years ago. They are in the process of being
transferred to PDF format on DVD-ROM.
http://recordresearch.com is the
site.
The Cashbox Singles charts have been assembled at
http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives.htm If you click on, say the
60s banner and then pick a year, you will be presented with a page
listing week by week the number one record in the States that particular
week. If you click on the date, that week's Cashbox Top 100 loads up.
Although there were many similarities between the Billboard and Cashbox
charts there were also subtle differences, in much the same way as we
had in the UK with the charts from Melody Maker, NME, Record Mirror,
Disc and Music Echo at one stage! Nevertheless for someone interested in
American charts, a fascinating site.
Staying on the chart theme, the complete Radio London ‘Big L Fab 40’
charts are available online at
http://radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/index.html No such
detail is available for Caroline's charts as far as I'm aware.
Can't remember if I've listed them before but Dutch Charts are also
available online - the Radio Veronica charts for 1965-1989 are in
summary form at
http://home.planet.nl/~elber875/chart_veronica.html, and the Dutch
RNI Charts weekly from 1971 to 1974 at
http://home.planet.nl/~elber875/chart_noordzee.html. The site also
contains the Smashplays / Powerplays of both stations.
I have most of the charts for the 1970 incarnation of RNI and plan to
put them online shortly. Obviously I don't want to duplicate effort if
it is already there online, perhaps you or your readers can advise me. I
would also be interested in hearing about Continental charts online,
especially for France, Italy and Germany - my interest is up to 1980. I
am not interested in charts beyond that date. Also I am aware that
Caroline in the post-1974 era had various Top 500 charts, etc. For
completeness, I would be interested either in that information or being
pointed to the appropriate links. I hope this information is of interest
to the music anoraks among you. Regards, Alan
Milewczyk aka The Pole with Soul
Soul pix on the net at
http://www.soulman1949.com
Soulman1949's Blog at
http://soulman1949.blogspot.com
John Bell is one of the many silent readers and has never written before
but was asking me what Peter
Chicago is doing nowadays. Well as far as I know Peter is working
for the company from Andy Anderson, who’s into transmitter building.
Peter joins the annual Radio Days very regularly so John feel free to
join us in Amsterdam in November and ask Peter himself.
But Peter’s name was mentioned in another e mail too: ‘Hello Hans, I’ve
been reading a book recently about the Enigma code breakers at Bletchley
Park, England 1942/1`943. This Poem comes from an unknown operator
working there and it made me think of Peter Chicago.
I hope that l shall never see
A thing l hate more heartily-
A wireless set which squeaks and then
Just squeaks and squalks and squeaks again A set that makes you swear
and frown A set whose note goes up and down And eats up dots and dashes
too Then spews the whole thing back at you Poems are made by fools like
me But only hell makes things like thee.......
Love, Light and Peace, Ian in Bulgaria.’
Thanks a lot Ian and you see we’ve readers everywhere in the world.
Another regular one is Herman from Gent in Belgium who wants us to go to
another interesting internet site which also will be of interest to Alan
the Pole with the soul:
http://radiohistoria.jvnf.org/radionordT20.htm
Next an e mail from May 7th: ‘Hello Hans I receive the main French
television stations by satellite and tonight (6 May) both TF1 and
France2 in their main news bulletins carried items on the release in
France of The Boat That Rocked. Excerpts from the film and some footage
of Radio Caroline taken in 1964 were included on both channels. But
here's the interesting thing. The film has been renamed Good Morning
England in France, an obvious hark-back title-wise to Good Morning
Vietnam. Incidentally, while writing to you, Charlie Wolf is still often
seen reviewing the next day's UK national papers on BBC News and Sky
News. All the best - Mike Guy
Thanks Mike and in the meantime several highlights have been watched.
There was some excellent footage from French television, recorded in the
sixties in a few of the specials.
Jon from London sent me the next link, in which news about another
daughter for the late Abie Nathan:
www.jpost.com:80/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1239710873284
Steve Jessney is next and I promised you all that I would come back to
the Emperor Rosko: ‘Hi
Hans, I hope you are keeping well. Do you remember when you did a live
interview on a 'Vixen 87' RSL as part of our 'Pirate Radio Day' a couple
of years ago? At the same time Rosko did us some promos for the event
prompting you to say it was the first time both you and Rosko had
broadcast on the same radio station on the same day! Well we are now
'Vixen 101' a full time voluntary staffed Community Radio station for
East Yorkshire on 101.8 FM and our very exciting news is that 'The
Imperial One' - yes Rosko - will be on our station from somewhere in
June, every Saturday night from 8pm to 10pm with 'The LA Connection'.
What is even more surprising is that the show is possible due to being
sponsored by none other than Paul Rusling who now owns The Triton Inn in
East Yorkshire. Two Broadcasting legends are bringing one of the great
voices of the pirates to the region. So - Rosko comes to East Yorkshire!
- What will the residents of East Yorkshire make of him? - will they be
able to understand what he is saying? - will they even know where LA is?
- Does he have a flat cap (essential headgear in Yorkshire) - does he
keep whippets? (the pet of choice for all Yorkshire men) - Is he a John
Smiths or a Tetley drinker? (beer is very important in Yorkshire) – It’s
all very difficult to take in
We will just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.
Steve. A same kind of message was received from Paul Stellings, the
manager of the station. And as Paul Rusling was mentioned surprisingly a
couple of days later an e mail was received from Paul Rusling: ‘Paul
Stellings at Vixen FM told me that you were going to mention in your
monthly report that we are sponsoring the Rosko programme to be on their
station. The reasons we are doing this is that it was Rosko's programmes
on Radio Caroline South in spring 1966 that really gave me the radio
bug. His style was so fresh and exciting - I think Rosko was about the
first DJ I heard who sounded as though he was enjoying himself - and its
that style that I have loved and craved ever since. Had it not been for
the 66 Rosko, I would probably have never gotten into radio. So, I just
love the guy to bits and this was a great chance to have Rosko heard in
East Yorkshire – it’s an honour for us to be making it possible by
sponsoring the show. I just wish we could afford to sponsor him on an
international radio station (what international radio station? Good
question!) Last month we had three members of the cast from the Boat
That Rocked at one of our Swinging Sixties Dinner Dance nights. The
TRITON name of the pub is most appropriate - Triton was a sea god in
Ancient Greek mythology, who had a big horn that could stop wars and
even make noisy women quiet! In Western Europe we have the same guy in
our hearts, but call him Neptune. I hope that is OK, Hans and useful to
you.
Have Double Mercy Big Daddio! (Sorry, that must have been 'the man' and
his influence). Met vriendelijke Groet,
Paul Rusling.’
Saturday May 23rd Martin van der Ven, Rob Olthof and me headed out to
the radioship from Radio Waddenzee. It was beautiful weather. Many
seals, a lot of sunshine, rowing boats in a speed game together, Sietse
Brouwer and his perfect team, former Caroline and Mi Amigo deejay Peter
van Dam together with former Monique deejay Nico Stevens, Menno Dekker
and Chris Kennedy (former Caroline) just a few of the many people who
were there on the radio ship, which is anchored in Waddenzee for 2
weeks. It was a year ago I visited the ship the last time and must say
that the conditions on the former light vessel are far much better than
last year. Also on transmitter site Walter Galle has done a lot of good
work. I’ve made a photo impression of the visit which you can find on:
http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=RNQ3SMSD
More photos and this time sent by Leen Vingerling, who had a dinner in
Italy, organised by Mark Dezzani and was organised to get a few friends
together to talk about their memories to the late Bilbo. It was an
informal happening in a restaurant in Seborga. Among the friends: Pyers
Easton, former Caroline technician, Kevin Turner and Grant Benson (both
former Caroline offshore deejays), Mark Dezanni, Dave Finch and Chris
Bent (Caroline on shore and Radio Seagull).
![]() Chris Bent, Kevin Turner, Leen Vingerling |
![]() Mark Dezzanni Photos: Collection Leen Vingerling |
Next an email form
Jaap Been who remembers that in the seventies a large factory pipe was
painted with the word Veronica on it. Jaap told me that it was east of
the A28 near Nijkerk. Jaap drove everyday to his barracks and lately he
had contact with someone living nowadays in California. Also this guy
did remember it. Of course Jaap is wondering if anyone in the readership
remembers it and has a photograph of this pipe. If so the regular
address to react is HKnot@home.nl
Well Jaap hopefully someone has taken a photo some 35 years ago. Next we
go to James Day:
‘Hi Hans, It's James Day: congratulations on your excellent blog;so very
interesting to note that it grows month by month as the interest in
offshore radio obviously never dies and in fact it looks like the 'Boat
That Rocked' maybe breeding a new generation hungry for that which most
of your readers here have already known! The phenomena of Offshore
Radio. I hope they too can experience it somewhere; someday! Since
hearing about the Laser Radio Day I've been wanting to come, and can now
confirm my attendance. I sailed the Communicator out of UK Government
detention that dark blustery night in November 1986, straight out to the
Sunk Outer Anchorage 14 miles off Felixstowe! So started one of the most
challenging and interesting maritime escapades that I've ever had! The
Laser Hot Hits project was certainly beset by difficult problems and
some of the worst weather. Dare I say even 'supernatural' weather that
brought the ships towers down in January 1987! I will look forward to
being able to share more of my memories of the Communicator and of
course the Ross Revenge; rebuilding her early in 1988 was quite a
challenge too; sadly Steve Conway appears to have written me out of his
book which covers the period, and it appears his recollections differ
quite greatly from mine; after all, for the Ross's Easter 88 'walkabout'
of the Southern North Sea; I was on board and he wasn't!
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Listening to Laser HotHits in
Beautiful shot Red Sands |
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James Day and daughter Jenny 2008 |
I've attached a couple of photo's for you Hans; then and now; firstly a
picture of me (sitting) with Ray Anderson and Mike Barrington in the Tx
hall of the Communicator on the 1st December 1986, the first hour of
Laser Hot Hits 576 kHz (I'd love to meet John 'Rock and Roll' Anthony
again. The poor lad got totally freaked by the stormy weather we had
just in the first few weeks!) The second photo is me with my eldest
daughter Jenny on top of the Southern gun tower of the Red Sands Fort
during last years Red Sands Radio broadcast. Once again Hans well done,
for an excellent blog, and I shall look forward to seeing you and my
offshore colleagues in Amsterdam in November. Best regards, James Day,
Deal, Kent, U.K.
Thanks a lot
James and wonderful photos but I presume it’s not Ray Anderson for he
hadn’t a beard in those
days. Maybe another name? And James got back: ‘Glad to know you got the
photo's ok. I've had a think about it and I can confirm that it is Ray
Anderson (Warner).The beard is what we used to call a 'DTI Disguise Kit’
Ray had grown the beard over the previous weeks because when he was on
board earlier in November
we had been overflown by a UK Government aircraft, which was a regular
occurrence; so he'd grown the disguise. Crew on board at the time was:
Capt Bob, James Day (me), Johnny Lewis, Mike Barrington and John Anthony.
Ray and his lady friend were on board for the 'switch on'.
One other thing - You have remembered crew members of 'Communicator' who
are no longer with us. Another one who I think you may have forgotten is
Jose van Groningen, the tx engineer. I was honoured to have been able to
talk and share with Jose on the 'Communicator' during January and
February of 1987 (albeit during very stormy weather for most of the time
he was on board!). A wonderful engineer he was, who I am proud to have
worked with offshore, who is sadly no longer with us in this life.
Keep up the good work Hans; thank you for keeping the dream alive whilst
the 'legal technical problem' has existed, but maybe not for much
longer! sssshhhh! James Day.’
Thanks James and we haven’t forgotten José, who also worked for Veronica
and on the MV Nannell. By the way Leendert the tender king also says it
wasn’t Ray so if anyone recalls the name of the bearded man please
reflect!
José van Groningen in
transmitterroom Communicator
Well finally a very sad photograph taken by Simon Tuder during his
holiday early May. It was in Orkney where he saw what was once the proud
transmitter vessel from Laser 558 and Laster Hot Hits.
Thanks all for your support and till next month all the best from
Hans Knot
Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990
Read Hans Knot's former report