HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY RADIO CAROLINE

[Mi-Amigo]

Radio Caroline, the famous "pirate" radio station, began broadcasting on 28 March 1964 [Easter Sunday] from the radio ship MV Caroline, anchored in International Waters off the coast of Essex.

Before Radio Caroline, pop music on the radio was restricted to 2 hours a week on the BBC Light Programme and the evening transmissions from Radio Luxembourg, with the signal fading in and out, and the records played were from the Big Five record companies - so there was little chance of hearing up-and-coming or new singers or groups.

Radio Caroline broke the monopoly. It gave new singers and groups airtime - including The Who and Status Quo who have said Radio Caroline played an important part in their success.

Radio Caroline played the music which the listeners wanted. I listened from Day 1.

It`s djs became household names. Tony Blackburn, Johnny Walker, Paul McKenna, and Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale were all djs on Radio Caroline.

Radio Caroline broadcast from five different ships during her life at sea

MV Caroline [1964 - 1968];

MV Mi Amigo [1964 - 1968; 1972 - 1980;

MV Cheeta 2 [1966 - while MV Mi Amigo was being repaired]

MV Mebo II [June 1970];

MV Ross Revenge [1983 - 1990; RSLs 1990s; Ofcom licence 2017 - date]

Radio Caroline is still broadcasting today on 648khz AM, and on the internet, from MV Ross Revenge in River Blackwater.

Happy 60th birthday Radio Caroline - long may you continue. 

[pgn]

BBC R2 is broadcasting Clash of The Pirates, with Johnny Walker and Tony Blackburn, in honour of this, @Mi-Amigo:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xfll?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

[TallTrees]

That is so interesting @Mi-Amigo 

Thank you.

HAPPY 60th Birthday Radio Caroline and all those brave happy funny DJs❤️

[Enlli]

We had Radio Caroline North broadcasting on 199 meters from off the coast of the Isle of Mann.

An excuse they gave for wanting to close it down was their frequency was too near the Medium Wave shipping band.

When Radio Merseyside was launched it broadcast on 194 meters, even nearer to the shipping band!

[Mi-Amigo]

Thank you @pgn 

Good to know Tony Blackburn and Johnny Walker remembering and honouring their pirate past.

Thank you @TallTrees 

As you said, the djs were brave, happy and funny.

Thank you @Enlli 

As to Radio Caroline North broadcasting close to the shipping band, this was a weak Government excuse. The shipping band was from 185m down, so even allowing for "skip", interference was extremely unlikely.

[Enlli]

But who is old enough and willing to admit listening to Luxembourg on 208?

[Cleoriff]

Happy Birthday Radio Caroline. Just my era and how we loved you. Still do. 😍

[BobM]

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@Enlli wrote:

But who is old enough and willing to admit listening to Luxembourg on 208?

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Oh yes @Enlli and I can also remember Horace Batchelor from Keynsham ...

(spelled KEYNSHAM) Bristol 🤣

[BobM]

Great thread @Mi-Amigo - brings back lots of memories of my younger days 👍

Happy 60th Birthday Radio Caroline. 

[Cleoriff]

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@Enlli wrote:

But who is old enough and willing to admit listening to Luxembourg on 208?

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I am @Enlli and remember as @BobM has mentioned, Horace Batchelor, predicting footie results. Oh the good old days xx