From Radio Caroline North
Paul Douglas started doing
shows for Radio Caroline about 4 years ago but its only
since February that he's been on Satellite. Previously
his shows went out in Caroline's slot on American Shortwave
station WBCQ The Planet, along with programmes from Tony
Christian and Dave Fox. He's also had shows aired on
Tony's internet station TNI. The Radio Caroline North
studios are spread over 3 locations. Paul has one in his
home, then there's one at the station that Doug Wood
works for where he records his shows and although he doesn't
realise it Rob Leighton's "Imagination" studio
is included in the Radio Caroline North studios family as
he only lives about 15 miles from Doug and Paul who both
live in Stoke on Trent. They are both currently involved
with a local group that are trying for a University and
Community licence so that takes up all their spare time.
Paul has had background connections to Radio Caroline since
1975 that's 30 years! He almost ended up on the Mi Amigo
in autumn 1976, but it was thought by a friend who could
have made it happen that he was better off joining the army
and he didn't tell him about it till it was too late.
So as a child of the 60's
Paul was a listener to Radio London and admits to listening
to Radio 1 when it started. He hates to admit that he never
listened to Caroline between 1967 and 1968.The arrival of
RNI was the boost he needed and when it became Caroline
in the build up to the election it was an electric experience
for him despite the jamming. He has many memories over next
few years and then one Saturday RNI tested as RNI 2, Radio
Veronica changed frequencies, Radio One was 5 years old
and The Lady returned to the air and he heard it all laying
on his bed at home in Bournemouth celebrating his 17th birthday.
Paul was born and lived for
the first 16 and a half years of his life in Sussex. At
13 he started doing a paper round as most kids do at some
stage and all his pocket money went on his main passion
MUSIC. He remembers when singles were 6 shillings and 8
pence and 3 for a pound. From about 15 onwards he was invited
to lots of parties as it became known that he had a good
record collection and that didn't worry him at all.
His parents bought a guest house in Bournemouth when he
was 16. Late in 1972 Mecca renovated a theatre in Boscombe
and it became one of the many Tiffany's through out
the country. It was 5 minutes walk from his house. He spent
many nights there pestering the D.J's for songs and
generally getting known by the management as someone who
wanted to be a D.J. One of the D.J's that worked there
for a while was Roger Kent who went on to broadcast from
the Mebo 2 on RNI. His chance came in April 1974. They were
looking for a Jock and held an audition night, guess who
entered. Paul didn't get the gig and was later told
that he had done very well and it was only because of being
18 that he lost out.
In May 1974 an agent wanted
to take him on his books to work at a Pontins Camp in Weymouth
for the summer. With the help of his best mate David they
built a brand new Disco Setup, lights, base unit, amps,
deck unit, speakers etc and got a cheap mini-van to drive
there 5 nights a week. 1975 saw another summer and xmas
at Pontins, along with forming a friendship with James Kay
from Radio Caroline.
The glorious summer of 76
again found him at Pontins however this time he lived on
camp working just 3-4 hours a night and listening to Caroline
on 192 during the day and of course sun bathing as well.
Like many 20/21 year olds at the time his hair was pretty
long, half way down his back in fact and supported by a
full beard. In Autumn 1976 out of the blue he decided to
join the Army and had to loose his long hair and beard.
During his 6 years in the Army he spent more than 4 years
in Germany on the Dutch border. He came home with a van
and collected his trusty disco and was earning more doing
disco's than when he was being a soldier. He got married
and is still married today. He also got a slot on the Canadian
Forces Radio Station CFNB which broadcast from Brunsum in
Belgium presenting a show called Prime Colours, which was
more or less the same as he does now. Before returning to
the UK he sold his disco. He met Doug Wood in 1984 and found
they had so many things in common and they have been the
best of friends since.
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