Hans Knot's International Radio Report - September 2009

Welcome to the September edition of the Hans Knot International Radio Report and thank you so much for all the e mails and memories. I hope I didn’t take too much time from you by sending those three extra e-mails with info about the memory programs which went out versus several sources. Let’s see what we have in this issue. First we go to John Bennet:

‘Dear Hans, please may I ask for your help? I've managed to collect all the odd, unusual and obscure tracks played by Caroline North - except for one.
In 1966, she played a track that went: "Ramsey, Ramsey" followed by 6 notes-might have been a Tommy whistle or a trumpet behind the 6 notes. Although the reason for playing it is the obvious connection to the area, I suspect that the track may have been about Alf Ramsey, manager of a team of footballers who won a cup or something like that, in 1966. This track is not the Roy Hudd, ‘The Day We Won The Cup’ B/W, ‘Ramsey's Men’ on Polydor, but might be something similar. I recall it was really hammered out for a month or so, Daffy Don Allen definitely played it. Any clues, ideas or leads, most gratefully received. Who recorded this, ‘Ramsey Ramsey’ track? If I can nail this one then I can rest in peace. Best wishes, John Bennet
Sloopy Radio Caroline North.’

So anyone out there who worked on Caroline North and who does remember it, or any listener who recalls it, send the answer to HKnot@home.nl

Time for an update of the Pirate Hall of Fame: ‘New this month
• When Lord Charles Brown stepped aboard Radio Caroline North in November 1967, his arrival was marked by a 72-gun salute and an RAF flypast (thanks to a few handy sound effects discs!) but, like many of the guys who worked on Radio Caroline after the Marine Offences Act, little was known about him..... until now. This month we hear the Charles Brown story, told by the man himself
• (http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/album85.htm)
• we have added three more pages of pirate-related press cuttings from the sixties, courtesy of contributors Nigel Fell and Ray Monk (http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/list34.htm)
• there is the sad news of the death of a former offshore radio engineer;
• and it seems we have been fooled by a hoax (http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/prog01.htm#sutch).
My thanks, as ever, to everyone who has provided information, news or memorabilia. More: next month. All the best, Jon Myer

LORD CHARLES BROWN PHOTO COLLECTION JASON WOLFE

Well let us see who we have here so early in the report. The Emperor who wrote: EPM is the first to say, thank you for your report. It just arrived. Hans, I found a name check within two minutes of reading the report. This will be a banner month. I will now pack a lunch and try to get to the end!’

Well Rosko hope the lunch was good and also hope you’ve time to write some memories too!

From California to England: ‘This is to let you all know that the Jaybee Infoline has switched numbers from today following the change to non geographic numbers (including 0870).which means that the old number would be a non rebatable line and so would start to cost me money instead of being self financing. I have chosen an 0844 number because it is not a premium rate number and the line can - as before - be called from anywhere so preserving the facility available to my regular callers in Europe, Scandinavia and the USA - a facility not available to callers to premium rate lines. I could not continue on this basis and so have had to change to a new number. This took far longer to organise than it should have done and so I had very little time to warn of the new number. The new service has gone live today and is running alongside the old number for a short period to help with the switch over. I am paying for the continued use of the 0870 number for a short period. Once the new number has bedded in I intend to relaunch the service with a monthly watery and naughty wireless news update with a dose of nostalgia during the intermediate 2 weeks. It will take a few days for me to find my way around the update commands on the new number so I will leave the holding message on both numbers for a while to allow everyone to get used to the new number. Perhaps you'd all be good enough just to leave a quick message on the line to confirm you've found the new number and let me know that the message has got through! The new number - which I hope will be easy to remember for offshore radio enthusiasts, is:  0844 576 0 199
Please tell anyone you know that calls the line as it may be that the old number will cease before they discover the change has taken place. John Burch.’

I got an e mail from Stephanie Caballero who asked me if I have contacts with Ron Dolman who worked for Radio Caroline Dutch service in 1972/1973. She would love to get in contact with him as she wants to share something very special with him. I personally had some short contact with Ron Dolman way back in 2003 when we were busy with organising the Caroline 1972/1973 reunion. He then promised to send me some personal memories but never heard anything back. Also Ron didn’t come to the reunion, which took place in 2004. So the question to his old shipmates is ‘who does have contact details for Ron Dolman’. The last I know was that he was living in Rotterdam or surrounding. So please if you know something and/ or have special memories to the time together with Ron Dolman, please let them come at HKnot@home.nl

Next news from Peter Ford: ‘Radio Northsea International can be heard on Surfradio for two days. On August 31st. 1974 the offshore radio stations off the Dutch Coast had to cease their transmissions due to a Dutch Governmental decision to bring in an act against the radiostations transmitting from ships. This is coming weekend 35 years ago and that is why Surfradio will replay the original programmes as broadcast on Sunday, August 30th. 1974, from 12 noon till midnight European time. This will let you listen to the close down of the International/English service of RNI = Radio Northsea International. On Monday the 31st. of August Surfradio will give a complete replay of the 31st of August 1974 from 9 in the morning until 8 o’clock in the evening when the station closed down forever. Between 13.00 and 15.00 hours you can hear the final two hours of the International Shortwave service of RNI. These programmes come from my own archives and are in Studio quality. So re-live those dramatic RNI days again on Surfradio So come for 23 hours of ‘original’ RNI programmes to
www.surfradio.eu
Peter Ford

Have a look at the brand new internet site for the Dutch radiostation Radio 227, which is run by former 227 deejay Look Boden: www.radio227.nl

In the last issue I mentioned that on www.offshore-radio.de the memories from Johnny Lewis to his time on Laser, which were first published way back in the eighties, are republished. Well Johnny read the article again after more than two decades and wrote: ‘Morning Hans, I hope your well. Just one thing regarding the Laser story, it was nice to remember it all again, brought it all back. Only seemed like yesterday, and not 25 plus years ago. Regarding South Coast Radio in Cork, the credited should go to both Don Stevens and Keith York for keeping the station on air, they both worked like troupers. It was a pleasure to have worked with them both. Cheers Johnny Lewis. See you in November. ‘

Well good to see you liked to read it again Johnny and it will be nice to see you at the Radio Day again. Hopefully Don and Keith will also join in again.
Talking about the Radio Day for all the last information go to www.radioday.nl

Next a link to an internet site where the story is told in Dutch about youth books regarding radio and television. For those who are not known in the Dutch language it’s a must to see all those old covers of the books
http://home.planet.nl/~meuls003/books/radio.html

The next site is from one of the Belgian TV stations and has a little movie about the sixties and offshore radio:
http://expojaren.canvas.be/video/piratenzenders/

In last issue I told that former Veronica newsreader from the seventies has a new job, but what was I wrong in saying that Leo started his career on the Veronica vessel. Within hours after the report was sent away I did get the next ones: ‘Dear Sir Hans, as ever, thank you for the latest report. You wrote that Leo de Later began his news reading career on Radio Veronica. In fact, Leo was one of two newsreaders, the other being Henk Meeuwis, on the Mi Amigo in 1973. He joined Veronica to replace Arend Langenberg who had left the Norderney. All best wishes, Andy Archer.’

Dear Royal Hans: ‘Leo de Later did not start his news reading career on Radio Veronica - he began on Radio Caroline, 259, the Dutch service, on the very same day as did I - 4th June 1973. I remember him very well, as he was a very n ice guy. He and Amsterdammer Henk Meeuwis wrote and read the news in Dutch every hour on Caroline 259, the Dutch easy listening channel programmed by Andy Archer. They also presented some programmes when the tapes did not arrive. Hans, you were there some days in June 1973, so I am sure you will now remember this - it is a sign of old age, forgetting such things! Or maybe a sign of going blonde? As always it was a superb and fascinating report. Thank you. Greetings, Paul Rusling.

LEO DE LATER PHOTO: FREEWAVE ARCHIVE

Hi there Paul. Yes how could I forget our trip which went out on the 2nd of June that year? We were all on the same tender, all on the same radioship. I've looked in the mirror but no blond hair and no signs of old age. Photos from these days show me without beard far much younger than 10 years ago. Maybe I’ve written the last report during a warm summer evening. Sorry so much!

Message time with Mike Terry: The next Radio Caroline Support Group meeting is on Wednesday 30th September at the Netley Victoria Club, Netley Abbey near Southampton, SO31 5DG starting at 7.30pm. Keith Skues has promised to come along and talk to us about his book and answer your questions about his days on the high seas. You will also have the opportunity to buy one of his books which he will autograph for you. Come along and meet some of the Radio Caroline broadcasting staff and crew of the Ross Revenge. Hear an update of the refurbishment of our ship from Alan Beech. A buffet will be available for a donation of £5 and everyone is welcome so please bring your friends. All money raised goes towards the refurbishment of our Radio Ship, The Ross Revenge." Regards Mike Terry

Question time from last issue: ‘Hi, Hans, in the latter days of the Ross Revenge being at sea (1988/1990), Radio Caroline was running a promo for 'water'. It was recorded by an American/Canadian man and was played at the 'top' of each hour....have you any idea where I can obtain a copy? Cheers, John Wesley.’
Answer time: ‘Dear Hans/John, was this one of the adverts for Dawn Valley health food? They started "Earth, Air, Water.. The Bounty of Nature..." and was a Canadian product (hence the accent), and was played before the top of the hour ID for most of 1990. Dawn Valley was the answer:
http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/Caroline1983_4/Caroline1983_4.html You can hear one on this page, but I don't think it was played in 1983 or 1984. Only it was transmitted in 1990. Regards Duncan Hill.’
Thanks Duncan John Wesley will be happy with the answer, I think.
Back now to the USA with the next e mail: ‘Hi Hans: Your newsletter was great, as always. I’ve moved my AFRTS site. The old one will stay there until google deletes it. The new one can be found at: http://afrtsarchive.blogger.com
Thom Whetston
There’s an internet station where they’re playing old RNI programs as well doing live shows, which can be heard on Saturdays and Sundays. Really a good one so you should take a listen at: http://www.rni.net.ms

It’s a long time ago we had nicknames in the report but thanks to reading Steve Conway’s book I found two ones from Caroline’s eighties days: Steve ‘condom’ Conway and Tom ‘Moira” Anderson. Wonder why Steve got the condom thing.

Some excellent footage that I have not seen before is uploaded on internet.
In the summer of 1967 Maths Lindgren (ex Radio Syd) visited the offshore stations Radio 355 and Radio London. Watch John Aston, Ed Stewart and Mike Lennox on the air:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH8kDs8LdXI
Radio Caroline South, Johnnie Walker was on the air
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpESC87z_Xw

I was just talking, when mentioning the nicknames, Steve Conway’s book and someone else also read the book: ‘Hi Hans, I can say that both Steve Conway's book and Keith Skues latest version are really good reading having read both over the last few months. Not a great deal of books seem to be around about the last. Caroline at sea era, so it’s good to get something like Steve's book. I was brought up on listening to Caroline when she started and listened throughout her sea periods and still do on Sky! Your reports are a great way to keep up with the news as we all get older the people involved are either no longer broadcasting or worse still dishing. Anyway please keep up the good work. Regards. Tony Burns.’
Thanks Tony and keep on enjoying the sounds of Caroline.

ROSS REVENGE IN 1983 PHOTO FREEWAVE ARCHIVE

Now we go to a sad message from David Miller in New Zealand who send a message from the Dominion Post from August 8th: ‘One of New Zealand's best-known broadcasters and colourful radio personalities has died.
Paddy O'Donnell, 65, had a career spanning more than 40 years in radio in New Zealand and Australia, as well as stints comparing television series, including Top Town. He died on Tuesday night after a long battle with cancer. He was one of the radio pirates who took to the Hauraki Gulf in the ship Tiri to challenge the state radio monopoly. He broadcast on Radio Hauraki for about a year before returning to the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation. Former Radio New Zealand network manager Johnny Douglas, who worked with Mr. O'Donnell for about 40 years, said broadcasting as the boat was being tossed around on the gulf was "no bed of roses".
Mr. O'Donnell was a radio reporter when the Wahine sank in Wellington Harbour on April 10, 1968, and is well remembered for his graphic descriptions as people tried to rescue passengers from the ship foundering off Barrett Reef. He presented New Zealand's first talkback show on 2ZB in 1968 and was fronting it in 1974 when Radio Windy arrived on the scene.
His well-known radio racing show, which he shared with Peter Kelly, Keith Haub and Mary Mountier, ran on the ZB network for many years. He went on to establish the Radio Pacific Racing Service. Renowned for his impish Irish sense of humour and a penchant for practical jokes, he was a colourful character on the Wellington scene. "He had an incorrigible sense of humour and loved teasing people," Mr. Douglas said. Mr. O'Donnell worked in Australia for 10 years before returning to New Zealand in 1998, when he established a small community radio station on the Kapiti Coast. Retiring in 2002, he moved back to his home town of Wanganui. His funeral has been held at St Anne's Catholic Church in Wanganui East.’ Thanks to David Miller for informing us.

Next from California not far from the place were the Emperor lives, the next email from Larry Steinman, who we know as Larry Tremaine from RNI:
‘Dear Hans, as always you do a terrific job of keeping us informed on the great pirate scene. I must say that I enjoy your reports so much. It is interesting to realize how much is going on even to this day in pirate radio.
The stories and the books and now even a movie. I have been told that Ronan O’Rahilly is not too happy about the movie and asked not to be involved and did not even go to the premier. I do know that when you know the story the way he does, you do not like to see the story muddy. There is a lawyer in Los Angeles that works with Ronan and is working with Universal Pictures and I was told that they will not release the movie in August in USA and will cut out 20-30 minutes as thought it was too long. Did you see the original? Do you or anybody you know have a copy of it yet? I would love to see the original uncut version. All is well here in Beverly Hills, business is slow, so what else is new. Love to come over the pond and see everyone. Do you have the email for Meister and Bollier? I have not spoken to them in a few years so would like to say hello. All my very best to you and yours, and I hope to visit you in the near future. All my very best to all..... Larry Tremaine larry@art90210.com
Sending you photo of the great Pat Boone with me and my girlfriend Dona, so anyone can see what the 66 year young pirate looks like today! Young!

Larry Tremaine, Pat Boone and Donna Photo collection Larry Steinman

Thanks Larry and answer on the movie has been given to you in a separate e mail from the Foundation for Media Communication. I’m not in contact with Meister and Bollier myself so surely when you send me an e mail I will forward it to the person who is in contact with Bollier.

August 27th was a special day for many people who followed the work of Abie Nathan. It’s the day that it’s a year ago Abie died. Special celebrations took place in Tel Aviv. I was personally also invited but due to working load I couldn’t take time free to make a long trip to Israel. I hope to bring you next months a report from those who intended the day in memoriam to Abie.

Next one is from another ex Caroline and RNI deejay, Roger Day
‘Hi Hans, as you will know next year will be the 40th anniversary of the launch of RNI. I am assuming next years Radio Day will feature that. But I would like to also organise a reunion of as many former RNI people as possible next year in England. As many old RNI colleagues read your excellent news letter, could you please get them to contact me at RTD259@aol.com. Thanks, Roger Day.

So everyone who has been involved with RNI or the Dutch Service Radio Noordzee between January 1970 and August 31st 1974 please make contact with Roger on the above e mail address.

One of them is Martin Kayne who also worked on the MEBO II and wrote in:
‘Hi Hans thanks for the latest Radio Report and the 50 years of Radio Veronica, I will look forward to hearing this. I can't help noticing that each time I attend an offshore radio reunion we are all just that bit older. The offshore radio memories are becoming increasingly distant for us and possibly face extinction in years to come. I was wondering if there was still sufficient interest among UK anoraks to establish a lasting monument or plaque to commemorate the existence of the offshore stations. This could possibly be mounted at Frinton sea-front or similar suitable local recreational area, depending on local council permission. Costs could perhaps be covered by mixture of collection and sponsorship. Just a thought,
Andy Cadier. ‘

Well not a bad idea to get this on the road Andy but let’s see what our British readers have to respond on this. So please let hear your voice when you’re living in Britain to talk about the ideas from Martin Kayne and write to me at HKnot@home.nl

Another one from Great Britain: ‘Hi Hans I enjoy your updates and hope to see you again in Holland in November. I thought you may be interested in having a listen to a station on http://www.backtobasicsradio.co.uk/ it’s a bit of fun from the group that brought the Radio Atlantis broadcast from the Ross Revenge and you can hear some good music on there, we are trying to make it sound a bit like Caroline in the 80's. Tim Faderman’.

Thanks a lot Tim and keep it going. Hope my readers will tune in to have some fun too!

Now some memories to the MV Communicator when it was near a quay side near Enkhuizen some years ago. It was a camera team which took former Caroline deejay Paul de Wit (1979) to talk about the ship and his memories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f092pkJZdkk&feature=related

We can now add also two names to the list with female deejays on offshore radio. One was already mentioned in the list when she worked for RNI in the seventies on Sunday Mornings. I’m talking about singer Willeke Alberti who now also joins the list on Radio Veronica. In the mid sixties she co presented a morning program together with Tineke Vos. Another name is ‘Laura’ a one time guest deejay on Radio Veronica in the seventies.

It was nice talking to Tim Gillett from BBC Radio Essex for an interview which was transmitted on the 23rd of August. We were talking about my knighthood, which I got some months ago as well my interest in radio history. I did sent some rare records to play around the interview part. Nice doing it Tim and thanks for the plug.

Dear Hans, it has taken four long years and finally, it’s here. My long awaited book is about to be published and I thought you would like a first look at the new website which came on today. When it’s ready, I will send you a copy. Best wishes, Nigel Harris Radio Caroline.’

Congratulations Nigel and of course I will write a review as soon I’ve read it. Anyone who can’t wait please visit the new site from Nigel Harris:
www.radiocor.net

Talking about books: In next issue I will review the heavy weight book by Keith Skues which is out since a couple of weeks. Keith kindly has sent me a copy and I will make a review for next issue. He has already planned to present the book on the Radio Day in November, so it will be good seeing him again.
Keith did visit the Radio Day for the last time way back in 1994.

HANS KNOT EN KEITH SKUES 1994 PHOTO: ROB OLTHOF

*****************************************************
Keith Skues made an update of his book: When pirates ruled the waves.
Nearly 700 pages and 385 photo's in the book for just € 35,--
You can order this book (weight 2 kilo's) by remitting to
Mediacommunicatie Amsterdam
IBAN NL85INGB0004065700
BIC INGBNL2A or using PayPal.

Rob Olthof Stichting Mediacommunicatie Amsterdam
olt@xs4all.nl
*****************************************************

Next it’s time for our monthly memories from Ian Godfrey. I’v e so much respect for this visual handicapped guy who has so much to tell, that I’m not only sending him the report but also regularly uploads from my archive recordings, so that more memories are flooding back into his mind:

‘Dear Hans, many thanks for the latest Report and the recordings uploads a couple of days later. I haven't had quite enough time too spend on either over the past few days as I've spent most of my free time listening to the commemorative programmes on Veronica 192 - I'm sure I heard you on one of the 1999 shows, last Thursday I think. The reason for emailing at this point is that I was sitting here 24 hours ago, sending another email, with another of the 1999 shows in the background when suddenly I heard a voice I was sure I recognised - I was right, it was the guy I mentioned in my last email, who'd introduced me to Radio Veronica just over 40 years ago. I knew it was him when he said he lived at Lowestoft on the east coast of England. He spoke for a couple of minutes in fluent Dutch to Tineke and one of the other presenters. I listened to a lot of the 1999 broadcast on 1224 but didn't hear him then and it was a bit bizarre to think that I was listening to him ten years after the event!’

Thanks Ian for your first part of reflections. Indeed I was on twice doing two hour programs about singing deejays as well as strange offshore radio records in 1999 which were now repeated on Veronica 50 years. Indeed a strange story that you heard this old friend from Lowestoft, although ten years too late. Thanks to Ad Bouman, Juul Geleick and Ruud Poeze for the re transmissions from old Veronica programs for a whole month! Well done lads! As you know during August I sent some special short messages including the one about the last two hours of Radio Veronica and Ian also responded on that one too:

‘Thanks a lot for this evening's email, giving the revised times for the Veronica transmissions on 558 and also DAB in London, plus the brief email about twenty-four hours ago. This really is a momentous event which I'm sure wouldn't have been possible this time last year. The information about DAB is quite a surprise! How much we should thank 'The Boat That Rocked' is obviously difficult to gauge but it does seem to have created much more awareness of offshore radio. I agree that 31st August, 1974 was a hell of a kick at democracy - almost a 100% repeat of the events this side of the North Sea seven years earlier. It seemed quite clear to me by 1974 that no offshore station would ever get an invitation to broadcast on land and that it was much easier for Governments to legislate against them than create something which was completely against their political ideology. Ronan said once that he was convinced that all political parties disliked Caroline but that the Tories probably disliked them the least - or something to that effect - and it probably wouldn't have made much difference which party was in power. Whenever I read about van Minister van Doorn it seemed that the offshore stations had absolutely no chance. He seemed to be a harder-edged and even more left-wing version of Harold Wilson although they were both left with the reputation of stifling the listening enjoyment and freedom of choice of the majority of the public. I feel fortunate to have been introduced to Veronica, just over forty years ago and tried to tune in every day - which was difficult in some areas - and liked their slick programming style and variety of music played. Every DJ sounded enthusiastic about every record they played. I've found that I've appreciated the shows even more recently when listening to Veronica 192.
Today August 19th, as we all know, is another key anniversary - the raid on the ''Ross Revenge,' the boarding of the ship in international waters - with the object of arresting the Dutch nationals on board - was arguably the death-knell of offshore radio. Very Best Wishes. Ian Godfrey.’

Thanks Ian and yes time goes very quickly and almost unbelievable it went so fast with the time. 20 Years after the raid will be soon remembered with a special photo page on www.mediapages.nl. It are the photo’s taken in Scheveningen harbour when the Dutch tug Volans came back in Holland.

PART OF THE RECORD COLLECTION, TAKEN BY THE AUTHORITIES IN AUGUST 1989. PHOTO: LEENDERT VINGERLING

Sunday, 23rd August was the final day of Manx National Heritage’s highly successful temporary exhibition ‘Pirates of the Irish Sea’ at the House of Manannan in Peel. Offshore station Radio Caroline North broadcasted from the MV Caroline anchored off Ramsey, between 1964 and 1968, and broke new ground in British broadcasting history. The exhibition, which celebrated the phenomenon of Radio Caroline North forty years after it left Manx waters, has been running for just over a year and has proved very popular with visitors. To mark the end of the exhibition, former Caroline DJ Alan Turner has organised a special reunion of former DJs and engineers who gathered at the House of Manannan on the last day of the Exhibition. Among those attending was DJ Tony Prince, who went on to broadcast on Radio Luxemburg. Exhibition curator Matthew Richardson commented: “The story of Radio Caroline North was one of the most significant chapters in Manx post-war history. The station was a real icon of the swinging sixties, when young people decided they no longer wanted to listen to what they were told they should by the establishment, and decided instead they wanted their own kind of music. It was revolutionary, and it all happened right here in the Isle of Man.”

Jean Pierre from Belgium is next with some news: I want to tell your readers about New Radio Caroline Spain 103.7 FM at the Costa-Blanca. http://radiocaroline.es/listen.htm
Radio Caroline Spain is a sister company to Radio Caroline UK. The station is independent of Radio Caroline UK but operates with the permission of Peter Moore, the station manager at Caroline UK. Radio Caroline Spain broadcasts across the Costa Blanca on 102.7 FM since May 2009 from a land based studio just outside of Benidorm, Spain. Caroline Spain broadcasts 24 hours a day, from 9 am till 10 pm weekdays programming is carried out from the Caroline Spain studios. Through the night the station acts as a relay for Caroline UK rebroadcasting, the signal sent to Caroline Spain via the Astra satellite. Caroline Spain plays a similar mix of music. ‘

Remember we were on the search last year for ex Laser deejay Liz West and found out that she died years ago. Since it’s published some people, who have known here after the Laser days reflected. This because her brother Geoff, who had not seen her sister since early eighties, wanted to know more about the years he didn’t see his sister. Another person reflected this month, who was also on the search on internet for Liz West:

‘Hi Hans - My name is Holly, and I was a good friend of Liz's during the late '80's/early '90's. I had often wondered what happened to her - and was very saddened to read about her passing. She and I became good friends after she relocated to Richmond, Virginia. It was my understanding that she had fallen for one of our local rock and roll musicians while he was on tour in Europe - and she then made the jump across the Atlantic to pursue a relationship with him. Unfortunately, she made the move with incomplete information - because her would-be rock star had been in a relationship with a woman in Richmond for many years. Liz and I spent a lot of time together - playing tennis - going to see bands - spending time with my family - hanging out at the radio station while she was on the air... At the time, she worked for a station here called XL102 (call letters WRXL). We even hung out during her grueling bouts of back injuries/surgeries. You name it - we did it! I, too, lost track of her, after I relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1992. We reconnected briefly when I heard her on Atlanta's classic rock station, Z93. I believe this was in 1996. I'm not sure if you're still in touch with Liz's brother - or what additional insight I would be able to shed for him, but feel free to pass my email address along to him, if you'd like. Thank you for the information, Holly Townes.’

Thanks Holly for the additional information in our search. In the meantime Geoff West is in contact with Holly. Now on to an announcement for another reunion in radio: The Atlantic 252 20th Anniversary reunion will be held in Trim on September 12th. The message from Enda Caldwell, which follows, is attended to those who are reading the report Hans Knot International Radio Report and had a relationship with Atlantic 252.

‘Firstly we hope that you can make it for even a part of the weekend's celebrations of the station that you were either a big or small part of or were connected to over the years. It is being organised mainly by me, Enda Caldwell, and with the help and advice of well known Atlantic 252 people like Charlie Wolf and many others. Who is funding it? Well that is a good question! We would hope that you would donate say €20 as the cost of the room for the event is coming in at under €1,000. What I propose is that the "Public" part of the event if it gets enough publicity would make enough money to cover the cost of the room.

What we are doing is getting the original team together to speak in conference form from 3pm on The Saturday. So that means Travis Baxter, Gary King, Henry Owens, Tony West, MaryEllen O'Brien, Charlie Wolf and Andrew Turner and Al Dunne, Dusty Rhodes, Jeff Graham and Paul Kavanagh are all invited to attend along with all of the original Engineers and Off-air behind the scenes team. There have been concerns raised to me by many original members of the on air team that they hoped that it would not be all people from the latter end of the station's history and I assure you it will not be. We are here to celebrate Atlantic 252 in all its forms and all of the wonderful people who made this great radio station possible but mainly it's Peak Days from around late 1991 to late 1994. With of course talk also about the other times in the station's history from the people involved from 95-98, 98- 99, and 00 - 01 divided up into panels of 5 people from each "era" of the station's great history.

We are looking to get as many people from the station's 12 year history to come along as possible. Now whilst it is impossible to get everyone we would hope that you would try and put a little time aside to make it as it is looking to be a great weekend. The program is planned for Friday 11th and Saturday September 12th. Anyone who wants to get more information about the planned reunion please contact at once Enda Caldwell at: endacaldwell@gmail.com

Remember that one of the extra newsflashes sent out started with the question: Do you remember where you where and what you did on August 31st 1974? Well some of the readers took this question very seriously and gave their answer. First Jos from Nieuwegein in Holland who wrote: ‘Up till 13 hrs I listened to Radio Veronica. Then I had to play football with my team against DSO from Utrecht, a 1-2 loss. Next I took one beer in the football cantina and headed home. First I tuned to Veronica until their closedown and next watched the transistor radio full of disbelief as there were only dry noises on 538! Next I listened to 220 and the closedown on RNI. Again the same disbelieve. Next I tuned to Caroline, which was still on the air. Tuned in several times that evening to see if the lady would close down too but after midnight Caroline was still there. When I awoke on September 1st I checked Veronica’s and RNI’s frequency to see if it was a bad joke but no familiar sounds at all. Next I went back to Caroline, together with Mi Amigo the only free radio stations left in September 1974.’

From Colin Dale came the next response: Regarding Veronica 1974. I get your drift; we felt the same way as you did when a rotten labour government in 1967 took away the right to broadcast from our Pirates Caroline, London, Sutch, City etc. Good Luck, I will be listening. Regards from an old pirate, Colin Dale.’ Thanks Colin and he opened his internet site this month with memories too:
www.colindaleradiosutch.com

More reflections later in this report. Next a You Tube movie with an item about local BBC radio in 1967 including the start of BBC Radio Leichester featuring a young Roger Mathews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTx3t1yQeYw&NR=1

Let’s have a look what is in next issue of the Horizon Magazine: ‘In the September October Issue 127 of our long running Caroline fan Magazine
we have photos and reports for the first organised tours of the Ross Revenge. In a long while Cliff Osbourne gives The Caroline interview and talks about Caroline’s great music mix. Summer broadcast news from Seagull afloat and Red Sands Radio on dry land Caroline and all the bands at an eventful Cambridge Rock Festival. More on Caroline’s newest relays around the world and on cable. Also all about the exciting August Holiday Ross broadcasts by Mi Amigo and Ross Revenge era offshore presenters.
All your views and memories as usual. Best wishes Bill Barnes for Horizon Magazine www.horizonmagazine.co.uk for new cover photos and details...

The next photo is sent by Paul Ciesielski from France. First I thought that the MEBO II finally was found back but in reality Paul took one of his own built models to the beach to make some publicity photos. Paul has built a lot of models from offshore radio ships including the Norderney and the Mi Amigo. Underneath the photo more information how you can obtain your own copy of one of the models.

Hi....Hans...
Thank you Very much for your answer and now I give you information on my models radio ships productions:
Norderney:scale:1\90,L50cm,H35cm,80€ (packing and postage included).
Mi Amigo:1\90,L55cm,H54cm,80€(packing and postage included).
Mebo2:1\90,L60cm,H54cm,90€,(packing and postage included).
Ross Revenge:1\110,L55cm,H65cm,80€ (packing and postage included)
I built many other radio ships models, with another dimensions on order.
Every model is built with use of brass, plastic, plate cardboard, resin plastic and more. But, I ask people who want a model just little bit of patience, because I’m the only person that works on the models. If one is interested, he can take contact with me, via e mail: paul.ciesielski@orange.fr
Time of delivery at the moment is 3 to 4 months. I don’t ask money at the day of ordering, you pay after the delivery, you are informed via internet on your delivery. Greetings. Paul Cisielski

Another tip to visit a special blog on internet, this time from Ronny Forslund in Scandanavia:
http://radioenthusiasts.blogspot.com/

Earlier this month the former REM platform, once in use as radio and television station in 1964, was transported from Vlissingen to Delfzijl, where it will be renovated to become a restaurant, museum and broadcasting school to be opened next summer in Amsterdam. Here more about it:
http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/4/AMSTERDAM/article/detail/258653/2009/08/14/REM-eiland-op-weg-naar-het-IJ.dhtml
With thanks to Peter Damave

Next Mary Payne: ‘The Radio London site update for August 14th 2009 includes greetings from Mark Roman and many other friends, remembering the sad day 42 years ago in 1967 that "no man shall ever forget". All of us will be together in spirit today at 1500 BST. On the more cheerful side, we have Part 4 of Ben Toney's memoir, 'The Amazing Radio London Adventure'. In this chapter, Ben is wined and dined by the record companies and he – and Big L – create a new Superstar. We have also received reassurance from Willy Walker that he has survived his 70th birthday! All good wishes,
Mary at www.radiolondon.co.uk

More reflections on the extra newsflashes I sent out this month regarding the Spectrum Radio retransmissions of the last two hours from Veronica on August 31st (1974): ‘Hans, I will try to listen. I remember the closedown of Veronica well. Mike Hagler and I were listening on his houseboat the ‘Avontuur’ on the Dijksgracht, just behind Ammsterdam's Centraal Station.
Hope all is well with you and Jana. Andy Archer.’

And very surprising: ‘Hi Hans, will it be the last two hours? Do I understand it very well that the last hour of my Tipparade will also be broadcast? Tom Collins.’

John Piek also reflected on the question ‘where were you on August 31st 1974? ‘I remember exactly where I was when Veronica was on the air for the last time from international waters. I also know exactly where the transistor radio (Loewe Opta) stood with his fake wooden front. It was on the floor behind the long curtains in the living room from my parent. There reception of the Veronica signal was the best. ‘

From Belgium it’s Alex who wrote: ‘hello Hans, very nice those extra reports. I surely will tune in to AM. Sometimes I pass the Norderney in Antwerp harbour and take some time to sit down on a pile next to the ship and dream away a bit about those wonderful offshore days. When I take my bicycle again on my way home I think that it is really strange to have the Norderney so close and at the same time all that happened with it, concerning radio, is such a long time ago it all happened. Greetings, from Merksem.

Another one from Belgium: Hi Hans, fantastic news but at the same time I ask myself how reception will be on AM. Of course I wonder if I really can receive a signal here in Gent. Listening versus the computer is not my cup of tea as it brings not the atmosphere from days gone by. A wonderful happening would be the start of a very well organised and high power offshore radiostation. That really would bring us real radio. The fact is that in those days in 1974 I didn’t listen as I was only 13 years of age and only knew by hearing it from other people that Veronica closed down. It is strange that I knew that Veronica transmitted from a ship but I don’t know how. I can’t recall. Best greetings Geert Roelandt.’

Well concerning an offshore station I can tell you that it will probably a dream forever as the laws are so strong that it’s almost impossible to run a station from international waters. But the other thing you wrote about ‘how you heard and don’t remember that Veronica came from a ship’ I find very interesting.

I have a ten years old brother, who took his radio with him into our sleeping room from the late fifties and told us all about radio and when I was ten years of age I started to read the daily newspapers more and more. Took the pair of scissors on almost daily base and cut all interesting pieces regarding radio. And yes the articles spoke in 1960 already about a radio ship. Well to you the reader the question how you learned that your favourite station came from international waters. Let them come at HKnot@home.nl

MV Borkum Riff Veronica’s first radioship: Photo: Freewave Archive

Next Jan Sundermann from Germany with his memories to the question ‘where were you on August 31st 1974’: ‘Hallo Hans, was that a question?
So, of course I was in Scheveningen that time 19 years old, just past finishing a professional education working in a chemical laboratory, and before going to a further school, that was the time. In Scheveningen, at the outmost popular place, the ‘Hotel Aan Zee’, many other radio listeners had a stay. I think among was there Mike Baron of the Script Magazine, and there was also once Peter Chicago and Samantha Dubois in the breakfast room.
Helmut Slawik had detected a weak signal of the Mi Amigo on 259 metres coming also through on longwave at his receiver. Peter confirmed knowing that. On the 30th, together with Helmut, I had a short visit on board the MEBO II. And then we had several receivers and recorders running in the hotel room, to record of the three (or four with the shortwave) programmes as much as possible. After the end of RNI at 20 hours, we walked out and got into the crowd at the harbour, where the Ger Anna had arrived. And then, later that night, it became a little confusing, when Tony Allen started his announcements in the German language. Sunday morning was the other crowd then, when the MEBO I arrived also in Scheveningen harbour. So it was quite remarkable, the weather on Saturday was not the best, but we did not throw or radios away. Greetings Jan Sundermann’.

MEBO I WITH DEEJAYS AND CREW HEADING FOR SCHEVENINGEN. PHOTO: THEO DENCKER

Then an e mail from the USA: ‘Thanks of course for the Veronica info-and this may not be the right web address to leave a message, but here it goes –my name is George Gucinski in Renton, Wa US. The thing is I was stationed at Royal Air Force Bentwaters in East Anglia UK in the late sixties. What a great time for radio in Europe, and I got a front seat being where I was at the time. When Radio Caroline went dark in 1968 it was BBC Radio One or elsewhere I chose Radio Veronica. Although in Dutch I loved the patter and fine music. Occasional they mentioned in English or hello England. Great fun-great memories! All my best wishes, keep the great newsletter coming. I never miss reading it. George.’

Thanks George and of course I also informed the guys behind the Veronica retransmissions about your memories.

Earlier on we had Ian Godfrey with his monthly reflections and I come back to him as he has also memories to August 31st 1974.

Thanks a lot for the email received yesterday, with the incredible news about Veronica's last two hours being broadcast on 558 - earlier in the day I found the feature on 'mediumwave.info' and had to read it twice! I also had a look at the sites you mentioned and was quite excited to find the two contrasting images of both Veronica ships - the really atmospheric three-quarters view of the 'Borkum Riff' on a fairly rough sea and the beautifully clear and sharp broadside one of the 'Norderney,' with the fantastic blue-sky background. This must be the clearest image of a radio ship I've ever seen. Some of the information about the ships was completely new to me. Now I know that the 'Norderney' took over from the 'Borkum Riff' on 16th November, 1964. This is the first time I've seen a date for this. I remember the disastrous storm of 2nd April, 1973 quite clearly. It was only that I was checking 1187 every day that I discovered Veronica on '259' nine days later. It was slightly bizarre to hear, for example, Freek Simon saying: "This is Radio Veronica with the news, technical support Norman Barrington!" I did chuckle a bit, to think that Caroline had been off the air for much of the previous three months, with technical problems and suddenly sprang to life to give a temporary home to Veronica, with a perfect transmission of the nine-day broadcast, immediately followed by another three weeks of silence until the first tests on 773.

FREEK SIMON: VERONICA ARCHIVE

I remember exactly what I was doing on the day of JFK's assassination. I was at boarding-school and at about 20.00 that evening one of thE housemasters grouped about a dozen of us together and instructed us to watch television, as a way of controlling us (that sort of thing seemed to work in those days!). I sat at the back of the group and had very little interest in the programme - I remember it as a 'western' called 'Tenderfoot' - and then suddenly the housemaster stormed into the room, switched the television off and told us, quite emphatically, that President Kennedy had been shot. We were all immediately stunned - presumably much more by the suddenness of the housemaster's action than the event itself - and within about half-a-minute I suddenly felt vulnerable to criticism, as though I should have been saying or doing something constructive. As a twelve-year-old it was difficult to appreciate the impact of something as dramatic as this. I was much more interested in my first visit to a locomotive shed two days later! As a contrast I have no recollection of the 'moon-landing,' although I presume I must have been affected by the news-items. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I discovered the date it took place!

Having been a regular Veronica listener for about five years I listened for most of the final week - when they mentioned the number of hours remaining at the top of each hour - and listened continuously for at least the last two hours. My reaction to the closedown was similar to that of Big L seven years earlier. The difficulty then was coping with sudden nothingness - helped greatly by discovering that Caroline had continued! Seven years later, I was aware of the inevitability of closedowns of offshore stations, which made the emotional impact slightly easier to cope with. On Friday morning I felt the chances of commemoration of the British MOA were pretty slim, due to lack of new material and the fact that the year doesn't end with '5' or '0.' I was pleasantly surprised when tuning into Roger Day on BBC Kent. His unique presentation style and the fact that he was one of the key personalities on the actual day of the Act helped to rekindle the feelings of those last few weeks, with 'A Girl Like You' by The Young Rascals - which always brings a slight tear to the eye whenever I hear it. With Best Wishes, Ian Godfrey.

Thanks Ian for this wonderful reflections and let them come please! Next we go to Phil: ‘Sir Hans,' Aussie Phil' here. Just a quick note to say (on this special day) that I'm currently in Ramsay (IOM) and saw the RCaroline North exhibition today - even got to ring the ships bell that is still so familiar to us all. I've recently found an old 8mm film of the Mi Amigo in dock around 1970, so will send DVD copy if it is any good. Cheers! Phil.’ I hope you enjoyed the trip to the Isle of Man Phil and thanks for the offer in advance. Really would like to see it.

Another special program can be heard on August 31st as Tom Edwards reports to us: ‘Hi Hans I hope as always that you are well and good. BBC Radio Norfolk are putting out a programme *Edwards the Confessor* in which I talk openly about my professional and personal life to David Clayton, the boss man there who is also a fine good friend. It goes out on Monday 31st August from 1600hrs till 1700hrs BST. Then I follow myself with a two hour *live* show from The Forum in Norwich where BBC East HQ is. And of course Norwich is the place of my birth so long ago now. So really in a way I am following myself. A first for me, and a hard act to follow hahahaha. I jest of course. In total a full 3 hours of me, my life and times then lots of good music from the pirate era. Am I right in thinking this is the same day as the Radio Veronica special day of broadcasting long forgotten memories. I believe it is. Yourself, Mary Payne and Jon Myer and others keep pirate radio alive and remembered. I am waiting for that big one the 50th anniversary in 2014.’

Well Tom good to hear from you again and I wish you good luck with this special program next Monday. Surely a part of my readers will tune in

Now some news from our German friends:
*******************************************************************
On Saturday 19th September 2009, we organise the annual meeting for radio makers and listeners for the 9th time in the rooms of the observatory Sternwarte Neanderhöhe in D-40699 Erkrath. The event is scheduled from 13.00 to 20.00 hours EST, entrance is from 12.00 o'clock EST. We expect our guests: Herbert Visser, 100%NL, Radio Monique, Delta Radio. Patrick Lynen, Media Consultant, Author “Das wundervolle Radiobuch“, hr, RTL, SWF3, N-Joy, RTI, BNL and many more. Roger Kirk, Radio Victoria. Peter Verbruggen, Free Radio Service Holland and Don Stevens, Voice of Peace/Radio Caroline.

Herbert Visser
Peter Verbruggen
Patrick Lynen
Don Stevens Roger Kirk
The location: From Düsseldorf railway station one can get there by train S 8, direction Wuppertal/Hagen. You leave at stop Hochdahl-Millrath and walk the road in direction of the train to small way. on right side hand named Hausmannsweg. After a few hundred meters you see the observatory. By car you leave Autobahn A 46 at exit Haan West to Erkrath, in the town the way is marked 'Observatorium'. The entrance fee is 10.- EURO (6,- EURO for Caroline Support Group members) including a welcome drink. Preliminary registration or requests please to: Jan Sundermann, Millrather Weg 74, 40699 Erkrath, Germany. e-mail: radiotag@fastmail.fm
phone ++49 - (0) 171 - 492 582
*******************************************************************
Hi Hans
Just to let you know that Woodley Net (Caroline News) is now on link below. Geocities link will shortly be closing. Many thanks, Chris
http://www.woodleynet.co.uk/index3.htm

Sad news from former RNI newsreader Peter Ford who wrote us that on August 13th Joop du Pau, former head engineer on RNI’s MEBO II, passed away at the age of 79. From the very start in January 1970 up till the moment the ship was brought to Libya in 1977 he was responsible for the engine room. Peter Ford: ‘He was a top sailor with a golden heart. During talks with him lately there were only good memories when talking about those days on the MEBO II. He talked about the radioship as ‘he was my friend’. We wish his wife Paula and the children and grandchildren much strength to carry this lost.’

JOOP DU PAU IN THE ENGINEROOM PHOTO: THEO DENCKER

An e mail from Mayor Harky. Do you remember him from Radio 227? Well he brings the sad news that VARA Radio 1 presenter Hugo van Krieken died some weeks ago. Hugo really had a good program doing his own thing, playing a mix of folk, classical, jazz, rock and blues in his night program. He wasn’t a deejay but a very good presenter with a lot of knowledge. Change in night programming on Radio 1 is that during Wednesday and Thursday Nights between 2 and 4 CET I will present under my own name Paul van Gelder and from 4 till 6 Hubert Mol will be on air with our own variety of good music. ‘

Look who we do have here. A photo sent by Patrick Cowan from New Zealand who wrote that he liked the idea of showing artists visiting the offshore radio stations in the past. Of course this is John Rowles who started his carreer in New Zealand and had a hit in Europe with the song ‘If I only had time’. On the photograph John Rowles is visiting Radio Hauraki’s land based studio. Anyone who has also memories to an artist visiting an offshore station please mention it to HKnot@home.nl

From Belgium the next e mail: On Radio Mi Amigo there was a program called ‘ Mi Amigo Voor of Tegen’. (Pro or contra). Once I did sent a own written poem to the station where this ‘voor of tegen’ was mentioned a few times. This was before the station started the program. I was wondering if any of the former Mi Amigo deejays do remember where the name for the program came from. Thanks Herman.’

Answers in all cases can be send to HKnot@home.nl

Next a response to the review of Steve Conway’s book: ‘Hans, thanks for the lead on Shiprocked. Steve has written a great account of adventure on the high seas aboard a radio ship. I was impressed with the professionalism of his writing and fascinated with the subjects he chose to cover. The heritage and dedication of the Caroline crew makes a great romantic story. Rick Harris’.

Thanks Rick glad you liked it and a pity you can’t make time free for the Laser Radio Day but who knows another time.

Now we come to a special send in by former RNI deejay Ian Anderson who already lives and works in radio on the Shetland Islands for ages:

Well Ian, thanks a lot for this wonderful special, finishing this months edition of the Hans Knot International Radio Report. Anyone who wants to reflect on the special or other topics please feel free to do so at HKnot@home.nl

Till next month all the best from Groningen,

Hans Knot

Offshore Deejays' Nicknames

Female Offshore Radio Deejays

Radio London Commercials

Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990

Read Hans Knot's former report