Nov 2024 Caroline Southampton Support Group Meeting

Derek May report

Many thanks to all who attended the Southampton Support Group Meeting on 27 November 2024.

 It was the most successful meeting to date, with £865.60 being raised, after paying for the hall and buffet, which will go to the Ross Revenge Charity.

The evening was dedicated to the memory of Dave Foster. Thanks to the djs who attended: Johnny Lewis, Andrew Austin, Ray Clark, Phil Meek, John Ellery and Ray Copeland, and who gave amusing anecdotes in the memory of Dave Foster. Albert and Georgena were also there.

Thanks also to Alan Beech for being Master of Ceremonies, and to Steve Comer for running a successful auction which boosted revenue income.

The next meeting is Wednesday 26 March 2025.

November  2024 Photos

Albert Hood, Johnny Lewis and Ray Clark

David Bowen and Ann May

Alan Beech

Johnny Lewis with Alan Beech

Johnny Lewis

Albert Hood with Johnny Lewis

Video man David Esp

Johnny Walker with Alan Beech

Johnny Lewis and Ray Clark

Johnny Lewis, Ray Clark and Alan Beech

Johnny Lewis and Ray Clark remembering Dave Foster

Johnny Lewis, Ray Clark and Andrew Austin

Albert Hood, Johnny Lewis, Ray Clark and Andrew Austin

Yummy Yummy

Sept 2024 Caroline Southampton Support Group Meeting

Derek May message "Report on Southampton Support Group Meeting, Wednesday, 11 September 2024.

Many thanks to all who attended the Wednesday 11 September Radio Caroline Southampton Support Meeting at the Hamble Club.

A special thanks goes out to Ray Robinson, who attended from Los Angeles, and who organised a challenging 3-part Quiz centered around Offshore Radio. The quiz consisted of 3 rounds (the 60s, 70s and 80s) with 20 questions in each round. The winning team consisted of Trevor Legge, Richard Legge and David Hutchings.

Apologies were received from Alan Beech and Mandy Marton.

Derek May remembered David Williams, who was a long standing visitor to the Meetings, but who had passed away since the last Meeting.

Also Dave Foster was remembered. Dave had supported many of the Meetings and his contributions to Radio Caroline will be sorely missed. We plan to remember Dave Foster during the next Meeting.

Some facts and figures concerning the Meeting:

·         40 attendees,

·         Door receipts £ 400.00

·         Receipts from sales, raffle and additional donations £ 301.00

·         Total income £701.00

·         Cost of room hire and buffet £ 215.00

·         Total to Ross Revenge Charity Account £ 486.00

The next Meeting will be held on Wednesday 27 November.

September  2024 Photos

Derek May starts off the evening

Grand gathering

Ray Robinson quizmaster

Ray Robinson quizmaster

Quiz underway

Quiz winners I believe

Martin Kerr, Bryan Tucker and Roger Bowen

David Esp left

Roger Bowen centre

Keith Stimpson, Andy Miles and Ann May

Derek May left

Quiz winning team with Quizmaster Ray Robinson

Dave Foster passes away

Sadly Dave Foster a very popular presenter on Radio Caroline passed away on the 15th of August.

Dave was a regular guest on our Southampton meetings, having attended our recent meeting in June.

R.I.P Dave

Southampton Group member David Williams passes away

 Message from Chris Mould

David was one of the first people to send a reception report to my SW pirate station, Empire Radio, in 1978. We quickly became friends as he was a regular listener to the station.

In 1979 I was on a DFDS ferry to Copenhagen. Sitting on the back deck of the ship I was wearing a Caroline T-Shirt and twiddling around with my radio. A guy came over to me and said "Ah, a radio enthusiast!". We got chatting and, yes, it was was David Williams! We kept in contact, over the years, often talking on the phone. Each Christmas, the first card I received was invariably from him.

 As diabetes took its toll, he became weaker over the years. I think it was March 2023 when he phoned me up and said he hoped to attend the Southampton meeting, having missed the previous couple. I promised to bring along copies made from the master recordings of Empire Radio that he wanted to hear.

David failed to turn up that evening. I decided to call on David, who was living in sheltered accommodation in Bursledon. I rang the bell. He shouted that he couldn't answer the door as he was ill in bed. So I put the tapes through his letterbox and left.

A few days later he called to thank me for them. That was our last contact. At Christmas, I never received a card from him, for the first time in 45 years, so I suspected something was wrong. I tried calling him, early this year, but he didn't answer. So the news of his death doesn't come as a surprise, but I shall miss the very pleasant David and devoted radio anorak. Sorry I cannot make his funeral.

Regards. Chris

From William Smith

 Great man and dedicated Radio Caroline supporter, I knew David since the day I formed the Southampton Branch of the Caroline Movement, I was also a SWL and listened on Sundays to all the Shortwave Pirates, they regularly mentioned David in their broadcasts. I will be attending and speaking at his funeral on Friday. Rest in Peace David you will be remembered by all of us who supported and listened to the Pirate Radio stations everywhere.

 From Alan Beech It was briefly discussed at the meeting last week, but Pat at the studio has now had contact from David's brother, Malcolm.

David passed away on 15th May and the funeral will be Friday, 21st June. I think David will be remembered by many for his passionate support for the SW Sunday morning pirates.

I don't think he had been at the meetings recently, and I remember him being quite frail last time I saw him.

June 2024 Caroline Southampton Support Group Meeting

Derek May reportstrong

Many thanks to those who attended the Radio Caroline Southampton Support Group Meeting on 12th June at the Hamble Club.

Thanks to Alan Beech and Mandy Marton for their MC-ing.

Thanks to all the dj's who attended: Mark Dezzani, Barry James, Steve Dack, Rob Ashard, Dave Foster, and George Scullion of Caroline Coastal.

Apologies were received from Jim Duggan, who was busy electioneering as candidate for The Peace Party, but Mark showed exclusive video of an interview with Jim highlighting his work in the 60s and 70s with Ronan O'Rahilly.

The evening was well attended and we raised over £500 towards the Ross Revenge Dry Dock appeal. The meeting exemplified the Caroline spirit through the Caroline Family. The next Meeting will be Wednesday 11th September.  

June  2024 Photos

Barry James, Rob Ashard, Steve Dack, Mandy Marton, Alan Beech and Dave Foster

Steve Dack, Barry James, Rob Ashard and Dave Foster

Barry James

Steve Dack, Rob Ashard, Barry James and Dave Foster

Rob Ashard,  Barry James, Steve Dack and Dave Foster

Rob Ashard, Barry James,  Dave Foster and Steve Dack

Mandy Marton and Dave Foster

Smiley Barry James

???

George Scullion from Caroline Coastal

Video man David Esp

Steve Dack, Barry James and Roger Bowen

Mandy Marton with Mark Dezzani

Mark Dezzani

April 2024 Caroline Southampton Support Group Meeting

The latest meeting of the Radio Caroline Southampton Support Group took place on Wednesday night the 24th April.

Here's a report from  Derek May

Many thanks to those who attended the Radio Caroline Support Group Meeting on 24 April at the Hamble Club.

There was much discussion between attendees before a video was shown from Nick Carter (Bolland when on the Ross) showing excerpts from his days on board as a DJ in 1987, and from Easter 2024 during the 60th anniversary celebrations.  Click button below to view.

Derek May then presented a video of the 60th celebrations in Felixstowe on 27th March by the plaque on the cliffs, commemorating the start of broadcasts from the Fredericia in 1964 - very cold and windy, followed by the opening of the Felixstowe museum by Ray Clark at noon on 28th March, commemorating the official start of Radio Caroline broadcasts from the Fredericia in 1964.  

Alan Beech gave an engineering update on the transmitter/aerial configurations, and future options for enhancing the solar panel arrays at Orford Ness.

In 'Questions and Answers', there was an interesting debate which started on whether the invasion of Ukraine by the Russians, and the resulting tensions in Europe could lead to resumption of BBC World Service transmissions to Eastern Europe. 

This evolved into an interesting, but somewhat depressing, discussion on resilience of National and European broadcast infrastructure against Russian/Iranian interference, and its effect on UK society.

 The conclusion being that the most resilient broadcast network would be a medium frequency, self contained transmitting station - in fact something like the Ross Revenge!   The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 12 June at the Hamble Club.

April 2024 Photos

Alan Beech

Derek May and Alan Beech

Nice to see Georgena Hood there and Chris Martin (right)

Andrew Webb and Chris Cooper

Albert Hood on the right

60 years and Caroline still going strong

December 2023

Radio Caroline Southampton Support Group Meeting

The latest meeting of the Radio Caroline Southampton Support Group took place on Wednesday 6 December.

There was merchandise on sale, a bar and the chance to catch up with Caroline presenters. All this took place at the Hamble Club, Beaulieu Road, Hamble-le-Rice, SO31 4JL.

Report from Derek May

We had a very successful meeting recently in Hamble-le-Rice. I counted 44 people in attendance. I am pleased that the entry cost (albeit voluntary) rise to £10 has not diminished the number of attendees. Thanks go to Mandy and Alan for their MC-ing and organisation, and to Dave Foster, Rob Ashard, Ray Copeland and Steve Bishop for their attendance, who gave a brief talk on Radio Caroline North. Alan Beech did an engineering update, and Chris Cooper gave an interesting presentation on life aboard the Ross at sea over Christmas 1989 and New Year. Albert and Georgena Hood brought merchandise and Keith Curtis looked after entry and raffle tickets.

We plan to hold the next meeting in March 2024.  

 All the best for Christmas and 2024.

Derek May

December 2023 Photos

The Grand Gathering

Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper

Steve Bishop, Rob Ashard and Alan Beech

Video man Chris Martin on the right

Three happy supporters

Georgena and Albert Hood

David Webb and Tony Chennery

Rob Ashard and Dave Foster

Mandy Marton, Steve Bishop, Rob Ashard, Dave Foster and Alan Beech

Rob Ashard, Dave Foster and Alan Beech

Mandy Marton, Steve Bishop, Rob Ashard, Dave Foster and Alan Beech

Rob Ashard, Alan Beech and Steve Bishop

Alan Beech, Ray Copeland, Derek May, Steve Swallow, Mandy Marton, Alan Beech, Steve Bishop and Rob Ashard

Southampton Support Group History

Another decade has started and the Radio Caroline Southampton support group meetings have continued to grow. The group was formed when Radio Caroline and Laser 558 were broadcasting from sea but when the broadcasts from the ships closed the group numbers began to drop although a few kept it going by having meetings in their houses. When I took over we found a club in Netley called the Netley Victoria club where many of the original members lived nearby and we were given a small room. We outgrew that room and moved to the main part of the club when numbers grew to over 60.

We have now moved to the Hamble Social club for the year 2020. This has proved to be a big success with numbers increasing even more. We now have a much bigger room with a stage and alcove for our buffets and more room to park. We've hope to have some very special guests this year including DJs and engineers that kept the generators going back in the days the station broadcast from the high seas.

Thank you to everyone that have joined us over the years some travelling many miles from Wales, Yorkshire, Cornwall in fact from all over the country and some from abroad.

The group that now meets in The Hamble Club Beaulieu Road, Hamble-Le-Rice, near Southampton SO31 4JL is thought to be the only appreciation group in the south and its four meetings a year attract people from far and wide. Two regularly travel from Wales, some from Manchester and Leeds a couple of ladies from Ireland, a lady from Belgium arrived at the March 2017 meeting having heard it mentioned on the air and occasionally a man from California has been known to make it over.

Although the group is a meeting of minds, a chance to share memories and talk about the station and radio in general, fundraising plays an important part. The station still has its own ship, the Ross Revenge, now moored in the River Blackwater in Essex and all money raised at the meetings goes towards the restoration of Caroline's ship. The group has purchased a lot of equipment and money is raised through selling memorabilia and merchandise as well as raffle tickets and donations. Albert and Georgena Hood now bring along a large collection of Caroline merchandise for sale during the evenings.

The group has its roots going right back to the days of the Free Radio movement as the Southampton branch. They then had what you might call a resurgence during the Laser 558 era but membership fell away when Laser closed down. The group continued to meet for a long time in members homes and then they contacted the station during a request show. We started promoting he meetings on Caroline and eventually we had to find a bigger venue and we found the Netley Victoria club. With the help of promotions on Caroline we've now got 8 times more people coming along and we grew too big for our side room so the club offered us the main room where we can now expand even further.

All supporters are very welcome to join us and meet Caroline DJs and restoration staff and hear all the latest news about the station and its ship the Ross Revenge. A £5 donation includes a buffet and all proceeds go towards the cost of work on board our ship Ross Revenge.