Offshore Radio TV Programme BBC 1 East

Following on from the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) hugely popular Radio Caroline talk on 3rd January comes news that BBC 1 East will be showing a item on Offshore Radio in their "Inside Out" TV programme on Monday 16th Jan at 7:30pm. Sky Channel 951.

For details see halfway down the page at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/east/index.shtml

Pirate radio

For nearly 40 years the BBC ruled the airwaves with little or no competition.

But then in the mid sixties something happened which would change the way we listened to music for ever… pirate radio. It challenged the BBC's monopoly.

The government tried to shut them down, but couldn't, as they operated out to sea in international waters.

Several pirate ships were launched, probably the most famous was… Radio Caroline which operated off the Essex coast

One of the pirate DJs was Keith Skues. Recently whilst clearing out his attic he came across some movies he shot on board. It has never been broadcast before. It's a unique insight into what life was like working on pirate radio.

All aboard!

Keith takes a trip to a replica of the original Radio Caroline ship moored at Tilbury docks in Essex. With ex-pirate mate, Tony Blackburn, and the help of the movies, they relive pirate radio memories.

The ship itself was quite large and comfortable, but there were a few rules, alcohol was strictly rationed and overnight visits from girlfriends definitely not allowed. Looking after us was a Dutch captain and crew.

It's difficult now to imagine just how popular the pirate radio
stations were.

Back in the mid sixties there were only two TV channels and they only broadcast for part of the day. Radio was still the most popular medium. The DJ's were even more famous than the pop stars whose music they played.

By the summer of 1967 the days of the pirate radio ships were numbered.

The Labour Government who had tried so hard to close down the pirates, finally, succeeded by passing the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act.

Pictures of CARS talk:
http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/pastfold/past06-jan-jun/index.htm

Southgate Report:
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2006/cars_record_breaking.htm

Page 13 of the February issue of RadCom due out at the end of the week will also have a report on the talk.

Classic recordings of some of the early offshore broadcasts can be downloaded from the following URL:

http://216.19.216.108/caroline

73 Trevor M5AKA

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