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. 

[Enlli]

@BobM Keynsham has changed big style since then. I was there last year

[Mi-Amigo]

Thank you @Cleoriff and @BobM for your memories of Radio Caroline.

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[Cleoriff]

Not forgetting your avatar is the ship itself @Mi-Amigo 😎

[Enlli]

 Chris Moore and Simon Dee

 

[TallTrees]

Was it illegal to listen to radio Caroline?

@Mi-Amigo 

[TallTrees]

Nice @Enlli 

Love the curtains 🤣

[jonsie]

Listened every day as a young motor mechanic in a Bolton garage. |We had an old school radio placed on the wall playing full blast. This was an age when very few cars came with a standard radio installed. Anyone remember the old school radios? Square grey boxes complete with valves and a large speaker and grill at the front making a deep rich sound.

And the very first song played on Caroline?

It's All Over Now ~ The Rolling Stones (Decca Label)

[TallTrees]

TONY BLACKBURN ON RADIO CAROLINE 

 

[Enlli]

No only remember old school valve radios, I repaired them!

[TallTrees]

Cor that's some memory @jonsie 

I have tried to find an old school radio image ...can't