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Caroline North Broadcasts 2020


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Southampton Support Group

Restoration 2020

Tony Prince interview with Elvis
Featuring Todd Slaughter
June 1977

128 Radio Caroline Videos

Caroline North Broadcasts 2019

Anorak JukeBox

Various Caroline Events

Ross Revenge Visitors

Caroline North Liverpool 2014

Restoration 2019

Cambridge Rock Festival 2018

50th Birthday Bash

Aug 14th Weekend 2017

Various Anorak Photos

34 Presenter Interviews

Move to River Blackwater

Anorak Man (Roland Beaney)

My Vinyl Record Collection

Anorak Links

Radio Caroline History

A look Back at 2012 website

Clive Pearce Diary 2004

Another Radio Caroline North broadcast successful weekend

These monthly broadcasts are online, and on the 648 AM service and also on Manx Radio 1368 AM.

This Radio Caroline North broadcast took place on the weekend 21st and 22nd of November

Sadly again, due to 'social distancing' restrictions, they could't use the radio-ship Ross Revenge again, so the broadcast was land-based.

Much of the weekend was broadcast live from the new Flashback studio at Strood in Kent.

For photos of the latest and previous broadcasts click or tap here

SCHEDULE and PODCASTS

New Caroline Community Radio

Listen into test transmissions from the New Caroline Community Radio Now On Tunein

Caroline Community Radio will have a power of 200W, and the voices you may hear will be Ray Clark, Peter Phillips, Johnny Lewis and Graham Bannerman among others. Radio Caroline owns all the broadcast and other equipment previously owned by Saint. This was such an extensive inventory that Pete Crisp and Peter Moore were able to build the studio with plenty of items left over.

Since this is not a 100% Caroline project it seemed unreasonable that Radio Caroline should fund all costs. The start-up costs have been covered personally by Ray Clark, Peter Phillips, Peter Moore and a range of local firms and individuals. Surplus equipment will be used on the Ross and elsewhere or sold to recoup Caroline's expenditure. Thereafter this station will be expected to self fund from grants and commercial advertising. Radio Caroline's advertisers will be carried at no charge on 94.7.

Listen Here

Caroline Archive Hour

Message from Radio Caroline Flashback

Ray Robinson started making and collecting recordings of the offshore stations in 1970. That was when he was first able to buy a tape recorder with money saved from a summer holiday job while in high school. Since then, he has amassed an archive of many thousands of hours of broadcasts from all the offshore stations, and of course, Radio Caroline in particular.

A number of these recordings, often from momentous occasions, have been very skillfully edited by Alan Sheead to restore their music quality to modern day standards, while retaining all the original presenter links, jingles, commercials and promos.

Through these ‘Caroline Archive Hour’ shows, we will be bringing you the best of these restored recordings, focusing mainly on those from the 1960’s and 1970’s. More recent recordings will also be played from time to time, when their content includes music from these two decades, in line with the format of this channel. By listening to shows as they were originally presented all those years ago, you will not only hear tracks that never made the charts (and which you may well remember!), but you will also be able to re-connect with former Caroline DJ’s who became ‘friends’.

Enjoy exploring the archive with us, every Saturday and Sunday evening at 8pm UK time.

FLASHBACK SCHEDULE and PODCASTS

Ofcom sets out licensing plans for small-scale DAB

Local radio listeners will be able to tune into new stations following measures announced by Ofcom

Ofcom is setting out how we will license ‘small-scale DAB’, an innovative technology which will provide a low-cost route for local commercial, community and specialist music stations to take to the digital airwaves.

Small-scale DAB will expand local digital radio coverage and ensure that listeners will be able to tune into a diverse range of radio services across the UK, on the Digital Audio Broadcasting platform which now accounts for 40% of the UK’s radio listening.

They will advertise license's for small-scale DAB in batches, starting with 25 local areas across the UK, including five where trials are already underway. The second round will be for north west England and northeast Wales.

Southampton Support Group Meetings

Will announce when next meeting is possible

Click below for last meeting photos

Latest Ross Revenge restoration crew photos

The Ross Revenge restoration team spent last weekend on the Ross 22nd and 23rd February doing safety testing and painting.

Pictures show George Johnson testing electrical circuits, top 15 producer Kevin Bradley installing safety lamps and group photos of the rest of the crew. Thanks to Andre Van Os for flying over from Holland to join us.

Thanks also to Jodie Lingard for taking the group photos.

Click or tap here for PHOTOS

Radio Caroline Facebook Page

Radio Caroline

Radio Caroline Facebook Page

I'm helping Radio Caroline to raise money whenever I shop online - could you do the same? It's very simple - just visit.....

Easy Fundraising

....to register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever I buy something, the retailer makes a donation to Radio Caroline. No extra cost to you. It really does work.

£11,775.73

raised so far (21-11-2020)

Woodley Net presents the Anorak Jukebox..

You can listen to all your favourite anorak songs and jingles on Woodley Nets Anorak Jukebox.

Songs include Caroline - The Fortunes, Man of Action, Because They're Young (Johnnie Walker theme), Peace - Peter. Also Caroline and Mi-Amigo jingles. Just added is a recording of the Caroline DJ's Xmas song from 1944 featuring Tony Allan.

Also features the 1972 Radio Luxemburg broadcast of an Elvis Presley special. It was called "The Elvis Presley Gramarathon". It was presented by Tony Prince and Mark Wesley and includes a rare interview with Elvis and also quite a few words with a young Todd Slaughter.

To go to the popup player click HERE

Tom Rivers report on ABC

US ABC Radio network correspondent (and ex-Laser jock), Tom Rivers with a report from the MV Ross Revenge on Radio Caroline North. This was carried coast-to-coast across America

Radio Caroline at the Cotswold Exhibition 2019

Our retro studio exhibit is still on display at the Cotswolds motor museum in Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire. New features were included last year when we added a piston from one of our generators that supplied power to the ship when it was broadcasting from sea and one of the ships life-rings is now on display.

Over the bank holiday weekend 25th and 26th May several of our supporters were in attendance to answer your questions and Caroline merchandise was on sale.

The Cotswold Motoring Museum’s collections are full of vehicles, toys and memorabilia from a bygone age. Maybe you’ll find a classic car just like the one you learned to drive in, or a vintage motorbike that reminds you of the one you used to ride.

For photos click here

Clive Garrard guesting on Conquest Hospital Radio

Johnny Mason's recent 60s and 70s Show on Conquest Hospital Radio with special guest Clive Garrard. Johnny Chatted to Clive about his memories of 37 years of radio broadcasting, from local radio to Radio Caroline, the people he has met along the way including George Martin, Emperor Rosko, Kenny Everett and more. With tracks from George Harrison, Billy Joel, The Kinks, Squeeze, Wings, The Eagles, Dire Straits, Ralph McTell, Harry Chapin, Elton John, Glen Campbell, David Bowie and more.

Radio Caroline "Listen Again" service

Caroline message- "New Listen Again Service

Over the years we've often been asked by our loyal listeners whether it would be possible to listen again to a particular show broadcast by Radio Caroline. Until now we have not been able to respond – now we can.

We are delighted to announce that we can now provide a 'Listen Again' service whereby you can listen to your favourite shows again when you wish, or for the first time if you missed any. You must be quick though because each show will only remain available for fourteen days after it was broadcast.

You won't be able to download a show, but you can stream any hour you wish using the built-in media players. The service includes an RSS feed if that is something that you'd like to use. " LINK TO LISTEN AGAIN

Nick Carter's Peter Moore interview on Kennet Radio

Click photo below to listen

Tim Allen, Nick Carter (Bolland), Albert Hood and Martin Fisher at a recent Southampton Support Group meeting

Ross Revenge visitor photos

Several excellent photos taken by John Loader a visitor to the "Ross" recently.

CLICK THUMBS TO VIEW

Caroline presenters on Radio Tech in the States

This Week in Radio Tech takes a look at Radio Caroline - interview with Rob Ashard and Nick Jackson from studio 2 on board Ross Revenge last night, with technical support from Dave Foster.

Click on the thumbnail to watch the YouTube video. Number 3 on playlist. Excellent video which is about one hour long. Plenty of photos and discussions about Radio Caroline's history

44 Caroline Presenters interviews

Radio Caroline presenters (past and present) interviews with Roland Beaney. 44 interviews altogether including, Dave Foster, Alan Watts, Roger Mathews, Tom Lodge, Rob Leighton, Martin Lewis and Johnny Lewis. Very interesting reading, Click Here For Menu

Cambridge Rock Festival 2018

This was the Cambridge Rock Festival's 14th event, with some 75 bands appearing on three fully covered stages set outdoors in the grounds of Horseheath Lodge at Linton, Cambridge CB21 4PT

The festival took place between Thursday 26th and Sunday 29th July 2018.

Caroline presenters there included, Barry James, Mike Brill, Lee Shuttlewood, Marc Griffiths and Phil Meek

To find out more about this year's Cambridge Rock Festival click this link . cambridgerockfestival.co.uk

PHOTOS

DAB+ in your car

Many new cars now come with Digital radio DAB as standard, for many others its an optional extra but there are still a lot of cars with no DAB at all. With DAB expanding and DAB+ adding even more stations many of them not available on the older DAB radios, you will be losing out. So if you want to hear dozens of new stations including in some areas Radio Caroline you should be thinking about upgrading your car radio. The EZi–DAB–BT is the easiest way to update your audio system in your car, van or truck without actually replacing it.

read lots more info

Radio Caroline now on DAB in London

Radio Caroline can be heard on DAB+ throughout the London area. This is great news for suitably equipped London car users who cannot hear the 648AM signal with clarity and don't want to mess with mobile device/bluetooth solutions. If you are located within the M25, the nearer to central London the better, simply give your DAB+ radio a full scan and then you should find it. If you're technically minded the frequency is 'Block 9A - centre Frequency 202.928MHz'.

Predicted coverage map as of 2016 – this does not take account of transmitter additions since then.

Caroline is also broadcasting to the following areas on DAB/

Brighton and Hove on DAB+. The area is home to 275,000 people, not counting the outskirts where the signal may also carry.

Aldershot. Previously the Aldershot area was covered by a transmitter in Woking but reception was patchy so another transmitter has been opened in Aldershot in addition to the transmitter in Woking which is still on air. Reception reports have been received from Fleet and Farnborough and further down the M3

Birmingham area. Try doing a search on your DAB Radio and save it on one of the buttons. Please let me know the results of your search on the contact button below .

Glasgow, fourth largest City in the UK with 1.2 million residents and home to over 40% of the Scottish population.

Portsmouth area in DAB +. Some radios that do not support DAB+ will be unable to find this new service. According to Solent Radio who are operating this new service the DAB digital radio transmitter was relocated to Fort Widley on Portsdown Hill and Ofcom have also kindly allowed a change to the transmission antenna which will result in an effective doubling of power. This means that coverage should be improved in the Southsea, Gosport, Hayling Island and Waterlooville areas.

Caroline is also on Norwich DAB.

Now on Cambridge DAB+

Good "DAB" News for Radio Caroline?

Ofcom has written to the 10 small-scale DAB triallists (Radio Caroline is one) to propose further extending their trial licences until 31 March 2020.

By extending the trial period, around 150 radio services will continue to be available to listeners in the test areas. The trial extension will also allow Ofcom to continue gathering useful information to help inform a new, formal framework for licensing small-scale DAB multiplexes across the UK, which is currently in development.

Ofcom expects that interested parties, including the current trial licensees as well as those not taking part, will have the opportunity to apply for such licenses under the new framework in 2019.

More information is available.

Listen to Radio Caroline on Google Home Mini Device

Caroline are on Google Home and Mini devices, via tune-in. To listen simply say: "OK Google, play Radio Caroline" or "OK Google, play Radio Caroline Flashback" or even "OK Google, play Manx Radio" for Manx Radio weekends

A powerful little helper. Google Home Mini keeps you informed and up to date with instant news, weather and commute updates without lifting a finger. Master the kitchen: Google Home Mini helps with timers, step-by-step recipes, and conversions and substitutes. By using your voice, ask for things like translations, calculations, nutrition information and unit conversions, or other information.

All the Mini needs is a mains supply and a Wi-Fi connection. It is a brilliant Internet Radio, just start by saying, "Ok Google, Play (name of station)" No setting up presets. Just say what you want and its there. Control volume with your voice also. This also works with Alexa devices

How to build a AM Frame / Loop Aerial

The picture shows a design for an aerial that was very popular in Radio Caroline's AM days when they were broadcasting from the North Sea and it pulled in a good signal over a wide area. Might be useful once more now Radio Caroline are on 648KHz AM

How to build a Frame / Loop Aerial

This aerial replaces the long wire and is very compact and and can conveniently sit next to the radio and as long as the radio has its own built in ferrite rod aerial, no connections to the set are needed. It is directional and after tuning in the aerial, it can moved in different directions to cancel out interference.

Materials needed

6 ft of 1 and a quarter inch timber 100 ft of single plastic coated wire 1 x 400pf variable tuning capacitor 8 large rubber door stops screws, wire clips and solder

Assembly

Cut timber into two lengths of 25 inches and four lengths of 5 inches and assemble the frame as per the drawing. Where the wire goes round the corners cut 16 evenly spaced grooves (17 on the corner where the wire starts and finishes) the wire must start and finish on the same corner.

Tack the start of the wire onto the frame and start winding it on, keeping each turn nice and tight. When you have 16 turns of wire on the frame bring the wire back down the same leg you started on and make secure with tacks.

Solder the two ends of wire onto the two terminals of the tuning capacitor, it does not matter which one goes where just as long as they are well soldered.

The capacitor should be fixed with araldite or similar in the corner.

Fix the rubber feet as on the diagram.

The aerial is now ready for use. Try different positions for the frame as all sets have their ferrite rods aerials in different places.

Good luck with this, we would appreciate any comments on the construction.

Lots more details and ideas CLICK HERE

Susan K Moore and her Reg Calvert Book

This is a well-written account of the early business and family life of Reg Calvert written by his daughter Susan who lived for a while in a flat over Tates TV shop in Church St, Romsey. Reg later became involved with Radio City and also managed The Fortunes
He was well known for the dances he organised in the Drill Hall in Station Rd, Romsey

A must read available along with her latest book "Life and Death of a Pirate" at Amazon

"Life and Death of a Pirate" available at the Radio Caroline Webshop.

Offshore Radio Weekend 2017

The Felixstowe Society, in conjunction with Felixstowe & Offshore Radio, held a Offshore Radio Weekend on Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th of September 2017.

The Commemorative stone in Felixstowe marking launch of Radio Caroline in 1964 was unveiled in Wolsey Gardens at 2:30 pm on the Saturday.

Unveiling of the Commemorative Stone

This was be preceded by a parade of Mini Mokes through the town from around noon with Emperor Rosko. They were joined by Caroline DJ's from the 60's to the 80's, including Alan 'Neddy' Turner (on board in 1964/5), Peter Antony, Tony Prince, Roger Day, Emperor Rosko, Ray Clark, Johnny Lewis as well as some present day staff.

There was also be displays by the Flashback 67 Exhibition, Albert and Georgena Hood with Radio Caroline merchandise, a display of vintage radios & technology, & a Record & CD Fair on the Saturday.

Albert and Georgena Hood setting up the Caroline merchandise stall

The Caroline Party commemorating the 50th anniversary of the UK Marine Broadcasting (Offences) Act took place on August 13th 2017

This year (2017) saw the 50th anniversary of the UK Marine Broadcasting (Offences) Act. Radio Caroline's commemoration of the important events of August 1967, took place on August 13th at the Princes Theatre, Clacton, Essex.

As part of this commemoration, Radio Caroline and the Top 15 Team have put together a week of very special Top 15 programmes to be broadcast at 9am between Monday 14th and Friday 18th August. Starting with the Emperor Rosko.

Woodley Net photos of the event plus Manx Radio broadcast are here

Pirate BBC Essex 2017 The LV18 was again the host for Pirate BBC Essex. The station ran from the 12th to 14th August 2017 and marked, on 14th August, the 50th anniversary of the Marine Offences Act which closed most pirate radio stations. Keith Skues presented his Sunday late show from the LV18, with other Saturday/Sunday shows.

Pirate BBC Essex had programmes from 9am – 3pm on Mon 14th live from the LV18 on all frequencies (for the first time!) including presenters Johnnie Walker, Roger ‘Twiggy’ Day, Tom Edwards and Norman St John.

There was also a unique link up with Radio Caroline aboard the Ross Revenge during Monday afternoon.

Tony Prince and Mark Wesley Podcast

IIn 1942 Radio Luxemburg broadcast an Elvis Presley special. It was called "The Elvis Presley Gramarathon". It was presented by Tony Prince and Mark Wesley and includes a rare interview with Elvis and also quite a few words with a young Todd Slaughter. I put my Akai reel to reel tape on at the time and left it recording the show and went down the pub for an hour. Luckily Luxemburg reception was pretty good that night and I got a fairly good recording. Its been on Podomatic for quite a few years now, so I thought I'd give it a bit of a plug. Here's the Podomatic Link Or listen on the Woodley Net, Anorak Jukebox

Visitor to the "Ross"

Michael Barrington was a recent visitor to the Ross Revenge, here you can see

Alan Beech showing him the transmitter that he lovingly cared for so many years ago.

Surrey Anoraks Society

JJust to let you know that the Surrey Anorak's Society (formerly the Caroline Movement East Surrey Branch) still meets on the first Tuesday of every month. The sasradiogroup are now back at the Home Cottage, Redhill, Surrey . Venue on Google

Ken James ran this branch from 84-90. They meet at the Home Cottage pub near Redhill railway station. Regular attendees included Graham Foy, Geoff Rogers, Ray Adams, Sue Buckle, Richard Buckle (Jackson), Gabe (Steve) Conway, Benny James and Dennis Jason. Happy days! Any queries, get in touch with Ken. email:- khtj62@gmail.com

The meetings have been held every month since January 1985. A chance to have a drink, meet old friends or new and talk about radio. Meet old land based pirate DJs, and a few of the crew of Susy Radio - Reigate and Redhill community radio).

They produce their own newsletter SAS Interference (formerly the SAS Home Pages.

The SAS now has its own website sasradiogroup.org Info from Graham Foy and Ken James

ioLight digital microscope has professional features in a pocket package

The ioLight portable microscope has a resolution of 1 micron with built-in illumination from both above and below the sample. A glass sample stage allows for samples up to 35mm thick, or samples mounted on standard microscope slides. Despite all these professional features, the microscope folds flat and fits in a jacket pocket or desk drawer. The rechargeable battery lasts all day in normal use. Images and videos are displayed on an iPad, iPhone or Android app making it a go-anywhere high-resolution microscope. The microscope also works with all laptops. For more information on ioLight’s folding microscope, read the full patent here.

ioLight, creator of the world’s first high-resolution portable microscope, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent 10,254,523 B2 entitled ‘Digital Portable Microscope’ to the UK-based company. The focus of the patent is the microscope’s unique folding feature, making it compact and light enough for in-the-field use, whilst still delivering detailed images. The US patent, which follows the ioLight microscope’s granted UK patent in May 2018, uses British engineering, with the design conceptualised and created by Oxford University-educated Chief Executive Officers Andrew Monk and Richard Williams. “We are pleased to strengthen our intellectual property protection with the addition of this patent in the US,” explains Andrew Monk Co-founder, ioLight. “We have consistently sought to protect, expand, and improve uses of our self-contained portable, high-resolution microscope.

ioLight Website

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Radio Caroline's 50th birthday bash 2014

Its 50 years since Radio Caroline first started broadcasting music around the clock and before then radio was very different to what it is today. To mark this outstanding achievement the station had a day of celebration at the Corn Exchange in Rochester, Kent It all started at 10am with Peter Antony broadcasting live from a studio built within the complex Hundreds of people began arriving and soon the main hall was full up with people watching Roger Day introduce the first panel discussing the 1960s era. Panels discussing the 1940s and the 1980s took place during the day with DJs from each decade telling interesting stories and sharing their memories with the large audience. It was nice to meet so many current DJs and staff from the station and legends from the past and it was an event I will never forget. There was further audio from the party during the course of the afternoon going out on a separate internet stream. After a break at 5pm Charlie Dore entertained us and featured the Pirates of the airwaves song that later became an anthem for the station. (Listen Here No 32 on playlist). The evening finished with the Counterfeit Beatles that got people dancing until late. Thanks to Andrew Austin and his team who worked so hard over the last few months to make it so successful.

Christopher Mould report and Steve Szmidt's excellent Photos here..

Caroline returnee visits the Ross

Unfortunately due to all the work taking place on board the Ross Revenge at the moment we can’t have many visitors. But recently Ed Nuhfer a regular listener to the station at home in Burbank, California visited the UK for the first time since 1964 so we couldn’t resist showing him around. He found the station on a tour of Europe back in 1964 while trying to find Radio Veronica. He thought the station had closed many years ago but found us again on the Internet and started listening again. Keep listening Ed and tell all your friends. Ed can be seen in the photo about to walk the plank! PHOTO HERE

Photos of the Ross Revenge in Queenboro' & Southend

Steve Worrell a staunch Radio Caroline supporter has kindly sent in some interesting photos of the Ross Revenge taken during RSL's at Queenborough (2002) and Southend (1998). One photo includes Tony Allan with Steve's wife Lynda. There is also one of Pandora with a gentleman we hope you can help us name



Click thumbnail for photos

Mini Caroline "Ships"

One of Caroline’s faithful listeners, Ron Hubbert commonly called Narrowowboat Ron, is the proud owner of a narrowboat called "Caroline" complete with bell.

Tommy Gerrard also has his own boat on a canal in Cheshire. Tommy is seen doing a bit of "rust bashing" on his boat which has the same name as Caroline's old ship Mi Amigo. But it looks like there is a bit of piratical activity going on as he finds another canal boat with the same name as our famous station and it also has its own mast proudly reaching for the sky. He is now looking forward to meeting the owner of this other vessel.

Message from Tony Lake (doughnut)

Hi There,   Some of your group maybe aware of the Tug Boat Challenge that is now in Southampton? There is a big link to offshore Radio of the 1960s, in that she helped to tow all of the Sea Forts into place in WW2. She is the Tug in the picture of the Twin Legged Mansell Fort, I have been part of a team who have spent their Saturdays in Shoreham helping to put it back to sea. She is now next to the Shieldhall in Southampton Docks. Back in 1990 I was lucky or unlucky to spend 5 weeks on the Ross Revenge on the North Sea. and then worked on her in Dover and then Blackwater, Regards Tony Lake (doughnut) Click thumbnail for larger photo

http://www.stchallenge.org/timeline

The Irish PPI Radio Hall of Fame 2015

TThe PPI Radio Awards Committee in Ireland recently announced the establishment of a "Hall of Fame" category. The prestigious honour recognises individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to radio in Ireland both North and South and is decided upon by the Radio Awards Committee, representing both public and commercial broadcasters on the island of Ireland.

Ronan O’Rahilly of Radio Caroline fame, along with a further three individuals were inducted at the PPI Radio Awards Gala event in Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny, on Friday October 12th 2015

Source:- http://www.ppiradioawards.com/

Harry makes the news...

from the Sunday Times By Jonathan Leake and Jack Grimston 15 August 2010

From pirates to poltergeists. A ghost called Harry has apparently been haunting a ship that once housed Radio Caroline at sea and still does in more recent years in the River Blackwater. The spirit is said to have been seen flitting upstairs and has been blamed for pranks such as tapping crew members on the shoulder and stealing their tea.

The antics have been reported by enthusiasts restoring the MV Ross Revenge, from where Radio Caroline made its final offshore broadcast in 1990. The ghost stories have been logged by Kimberley Peters, a researcher at Royal Holloway, London University, who will present her findings next month to the Royal Geographical Society.

One crew member told Peters: "I've had several encounters with Harry. My first one goes back to 2004. Having finished work, we were sitting in the studio having a beer when we heard footsteps.

"I looked up just in time to see someone coming round the landing and going round the next set of stairs to the bridge. When we went to investigate, no one was there and downstairs the doors were still bolted."

Peters believes the hauntings could be a psychological reaction driven by the nostalgia of the restorers for the ship's history. "I cannot say whether such ghostly experiences were real, but they were real enough for the crew members who experienced them," said Peters. "Underlying it is a very real sense of seeing apparitions, conveying something else, like lost heritage."