R2OK!

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

......to the radio station that changed the face of radio broadcasting in the UK and without whose existence the Sixties might not have been so swinging and Radio One wouldn't have been hastily brought into existence by the BBC (using the same format as Big L Radio London and presented by a few ex-pirate DJs that included Tony Blackburn and Kenny Everett) after the pirates were outlawed on August 14th, 1967.

Radio Caroline came to air 50 years ago today (which, in 1964, was Easter Sunday). Simon Dee's voice was the first to be heard from the MV Frederica, broadcasting from a position three miles off the coast of Frinton-on-Sea, Essex. It was soon joined at this location by Radio Atlanta, which broadcast from the MV Mi Amigo and owned by Allan Crawford, a man who managed The Batchelors and thought that a radio station was the perfect means by which he could promote his various singing acts (many of which were just plain awful!). It wasn't long before Radio Caroline's owner, Ronan O'Rahilly, did a deal with Crawford that resulted in the Mi Amigo becoming the home of Radio Caroline South with the Frederica travelling north to a position off Douglas on the Isle of Man to become Radio Caroline North.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

http://radiocaroline50.co.uk

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Yes Happy Birthday Radio Caroline!

I didn't get much of an opportunity to listen as reception wasn't good in the NE. I first heard it on the beach at Blackpool when we were staying with cousins who lived there.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Yes, I first heard Radios Caroline South and Big L Radio London on my first ever visit to London to stay with an aunt in Edmonton, north London in 1965. I retuned one of their radio sets, turned up the volume and was promptly remonstrated for listening to "all that pop rubbish"!

That same year, we stayed with my mum's sister and her family in Chester. My cousin Colin (a bit confusing since my Dad has the same name!) played bass in a local band who gigged in Liverpool, listened to Radio Caroline North because it featured the Beatles and other Merseybeat acts regularly, and that's how I got to listen to both stations. The North ship used a whopping 10kW of power on its transmitter and this just came in loud and clear to my cousin's transistor radio.

Very exciting times never to be replicated, I fear.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

It was Caroline North (obviously!) that I heard during the summer of 1964, and I can still picture, and hear, in my mind someone's transistor radio playing The Supremes' 'Where Did Our Love Go' as we all played on the beach.

Strangely many years later whilst in a London taxi, having been to the theatre, the driver had the radio on where there was a competition to guess the track that they were playing backwards. You've guessed the one it was that I told the driver, yes that same Supremes' track!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Growing up in St Helens I never had any problem in getting fairly good reception - I've no idea which version of the station I was listening to but all I remember was just how good it was - a real breath of fresh air in those days Very Happy

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

I grew up in Kent, excellently placed for a lot of the stations, Radio Caroline being my favourite. I was broken hearted at the thought of losing them in 1967, me and my friends collected signatures on petitions to try to stop the MOA. We were too young to understand how impossible that was going to be. I was listening to JW as Caroline went into illegality, sobbing under the bedclothes, frightened in case he was about to be arrested.

My hubby reckons that this is what made me the rebel that I am today. Laughing

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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Came across this from Tony Gillham on BBC Radio Jersey from Friday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01t7xg3

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

He used to broadcast on BBC 3CR from Luton/Bedford years ago. He had a programme called "Gillham Gold" I believe.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

He was also on Radio Devon (?) a few years ago on a Sunday morning.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I knew someone down there who recommended it Colin, and I think he did Radio Oxford too following on from Richard Allinson on a Sunday morning. Gosh that was nearly a decade ago! <yikes>
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

The nice thing about the BBC's "circuit" is that you can effectively do your show from any BBC studio. I remember a friend of mine used to do a Saturday morning show on BBC 3CR in Luton, but as he working in Devon for a couple of weeks he simply booked one of BBC Devon's studios in Plymouth and did it "up the line" instead. What impressed him was that the two studios were almost identical in their layout and operation!

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Here's a nice idea for a little break in early August, if you've a spare few quid...

http://piratebeatboatcruise.com/

Johnnie Walker, Dave Cash and Rosko, along with Georgie Fame, Eddie Floyd and The Rhythm Kings, so what's not to like.

Some excursions, too, if you like. The Howard Marks one looks interesting. Wink

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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans