40th Anniversary News

Radio Caroline celebrated our 40th anniversary throughout 2004 with a series of special events. 

March 28th, the 'date' anniversary of Radio Caroline's very first test broadcast in 1964 saw a reunion of Caroline staff from past and present. Organised by Roger 'Twiggy' Day, the reunion took place at the Red Lion Pub in Mayfair, London. This fine watering hole (Public House) is situated just around the corner from Radio Caroline's grandiose 1960s HQ, Caroline House at 6, Chesterfield Gardens. It is now the head offices of the Reed Midem organisation. 

The Red Lion Pub was the 'local' for Radio Caroline DJs and staff in the 60s and also for the main rivals Radio London (Big L)  whose offices were also close by in Curzon Street. An impressive array of names from Radio Caroline's history showed up for a memorable and moving day. Amongst those present were Caroline founder Ronan O'Rahilly, Caroline manager Peter Moore, Simon Dee, Johnnie Walker, Robbie Dale, Chris Carey (Spangles Muldoon,) Paul McKenna, Peter Chicago, Dick Palmer, 'Ugly' Ray Teret, Roger 'Twiggy' Day, Tony Allan, Keith Skues, Tom Edwards, Robb Eden, and many, many others.

Pictured (left to right) are: Tom Edwards, Robbie Dale, Johnnie Walker, Roger 'Twiggy' Day, Chris Carey, Paul McKenna & Ronan O'Rahilly.

Stephen Merchant & Ricky Gervais, co-creators of Golden Globe award winning TV series The Office returned to their roots on Radio Caroline in Bristol. They co-hosted a show at 2pm on Saturday 27th March, the last day of Radio Caroline's month long Bristol RSL broadcast. Stephen Merchant previously broadcast on Radio Caroline's last RSL in Bristol and his career has gone downhill since! Former Radio Caroline DJ Andy Bradgate (aka Colin Mueslibar/Steve Satan) headed up the successful Radio Caroline RSL for the Bristol area. The broadcasts started 29th Feb and continued until March 27th. Another RSL in the Bristol area took place to end our 40th anniversary year throughout December.

Easter Sunday April 25th saw Radio Caroline celebrate our official birthday party at the Riga Music Bar in Westcliff-on-Sea. The party included a set from The Fortunes who performed Radio Caroline's theme song Caro-line, Carol-i-i-ine. Caroline DJs Dave Foster and Roger Day presented the day with Mark Dezzani interviewing veteran Caroline staff including Tony Allan, 60s engineer Carl, newsreader John Aston and Caroline North DJ Gordon Cruse, who flew in from Canada for the event. 

Pictured are from left to right: Mark Dezzani, Engineer Carl, Dave Foster, John Aston (photo: Ad Roberts.)

On Easter Saturday, Radio Caroline's radio ship Ross revenge was open to the public at Strood, nr. Rochester, Kent. The day was an outstanding success with many visitors enjoying a guided tour and meeting several Caroline legends including Tony Allan.

Radio Caroline broadcast a special programme on 9290kHz in the 31 metre short wave band between 10:00 and 15:00 BST on Easter Sunday. Coinciding with Caroline's 40th birthday, the transmission acted as a window on Caroline's current satellite programming for short wave listeners who are unaware of Caroline's extra-terrestrial activity.

BBC Radio Essex celebrated the beginning of offshore radio in Britain 40 years ago with the launch of Radio Caroline. BBC Radio Essex turned over its AM frequencies to offshore broadcasts from the Light Vessel MV18 off of the coast of Harwich for a week commencing April 10th. Former offshore DJs who presented programmes included own very own Roger 'Twiggy' Day plus Keith Skues and Dave Cash. Radio Caroline Sales had a stand for the duration of the broadcast quay-side, along with a 'pirate radio' exhibition. To read the BBC press release about the event, click here. To visit the BBC Radio Essex site on the broadcasts, and listener memories of the hey day of British offshore radio click here

A highlight of Radio Caroline's 40th anniversary was the special RSL broadcast on media and across our regular network from our radio ship Ross Revenge berthed at Tilbury, Essex. Congratulations are due to all who took part this in making the broadcasts from the Ross Revenge so successful. The month long special broadcast has been widely recognised as probably the best yet. Thousands of visitors were given guided tours of the Ross Revenge and listener response was tremendous. Serious amounts of merchandise were 'shifted.' The special broadcast was a great promotion for Radio Caroline, undoubtedly boosting our audience. Internet listening hours almost tripled and phone, email & text messages rose significantly. Much media attention was also generated.

Bill Barnes has compiled an illustrated record of the broadcast including links to Alan Beech's web pages with many web-cam pics. Click on the link below to visit these pages.

For more details and pictures click here.

Caroline Christmas Party 2004

The annual Caroline Christmas Party took place at the Riga Music Bar in Southend from 3pm on Sunday 12th December 2004. Caroline DJ Dave Foster hosted the event that included an address from station manager Peter Moore and several guest speakers. Pictured from left to right are Dave Foster with Mike Brill, Albert Hood, Dave with Alan Beech and Chris B. with Paul Welton. Caroline DJ & our IT expert Mike Brill announced the imminent launch and testing of our new Abacast stereo stream. Albert and his wife Georgina recalled the supply of the Caroline ships Mi Amigo and Ross Revenge in the 70s and 80s. Alan Beech talked about developments on-board the Ross Revenge. Caroline South Party DJ Chris B. flew in from Canada and is pictured with listener Paul Welton. Peter Moore gave details about our new satellite signals including the Astra 2C 19.2 service launched with Technisat in Germany.
60’s group the Magnets performed in the evening and merchandise sales were brisk throughout the event. For more pics and details of the party visit the Horizon Magazine web-site.

Mass Media Coverage of Radio Caroline's 40th Anniversary

Much media coverage was generated by the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the launch of Britain's offshore radio stations, marked by the arrival of Radio Caroline. Here is just some of it!

Friday 26th March 2004:

BBC Radio 2: Johnnie Walker programme. A tribute to Radio Caroline on the 6pm 'Cruisin' feature.

Saturday 27th March 2004:

The Guardian article: Radio's pirate queen still rules at 40 by Tania Branigan

BBC Radio 4 PM Programe Feature on Radio Caroline including Interviews with Johnnie Walker & Dave Foster

BBC World Service feature on Radio Caroline

Dutch broadcaster Radio 192 broadcasts a special on Radio Caroline

BBC Local & Regional Radio coverage: Radio North, Radio Midlands, Radio York, Radio Oxford, Radio Kent, Southern Counties Radio plus Manchester's commercial station Key 103

Teletext item

Meridian TV

Sunday 28th March 2004:

Megastar Web site remembers the launch of Radio Caroline

Sunday Mirror Special Offshore Radio CD offer 'Don't Touch That Dial.'

Dutch broadcaster Radio 192 broadcasts a 3 hour special on Radio Caroline at midday.

Talksport Radio Charlie Wolf features Radio Caroline on his late night show

Monday 29th March 2004:

Daily Telegraph article Caroline Crew Gathers For Memory Voyage by Stewart Payne.

Tuesday 30th March 2004:

Ipswich Evening Star 12 page pull out on the history of Radio Caroline
To obtain a souvenir copy send a cheque to the value of £1.42 and
payable to ARCHANT SUFFOLK to:
Ipswich Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook St, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1AN

Wednesday 31st March 2004:

LBC 97.3 London News station. Special on Radio Caroline in the Media Zoo programme with Eric Wiltsher.
For details click here.

Thursday 1st April 2004:

Interview with Radio Caroline DJ Tom Edwards (1967) on Anglia Television regional news

ABC Radio, Australia

IC Berkshire Web Site 'Pirates Of The Airwaves Embark On Reunion Party'. Click here...

Wednesday 7th April 2004

LBC 97.3 London News station. Part 2 of a special on Radio Caroline in the Media Zoo programme with Eric Wiltsher.
For details click here.

Friday 9th April 2004

BBC Radio Gloucestershire - Good Friday 3pm. On the 40th anniversary of the launch of Radio Caroline, Vernon Harwood
celebrates a radio revolution.

BBC Television produced a documentary on the history of the DJ called 'Hey! Mr DJ' directed by Rob Bayly. It includes a sequence on Radio Caroline. The programme was broadcast in November 2004 on BBC4.