I used to listen to "Caroline on 259" in my car on the sea front at Southsea when I was studying for my degree at college. I was 20 and it was 1966. My favourite memories are listening to Stevie Mericq (who had just followed Spangles Muldoon) one warm summer afternoon - 2 hours of recording which I still have on reel-to-reel somewhere, cruising around Mi Amigo and Mebo 2 off Scheveningen and of course the night you became "illegal". I will never forget Johnnie Walker announcing that "Caroline continues" as the clock clicked over to midnight.

Now I am 61, living partly in UK and partly in Spain and I listen to you online and on Sky. I am an astro-photographer (images at www.paulandliz.org) and in the middle of the Spanish night your music reminds me of those earlier days, of Ronan O'Rahilly and those fine people who made it all possible.

Be safe guys - live long.

Paul Downing
Bradwell, UK

I can't believe you're still at it, I remember when you all started, and I was in the Isle of Man at the age of 15, and listened to your great radio, and of course I'm much older now, but still have my 350 45 rpms in very good condition and also tuned to Luxembourg many times, such memories, but live in California, but was looking at the web re: pirate ships, keep going, great!

Sylvia Pingleton, 
California, USA

It’s amazing that some good things continue to rock on in life. Radio Caroline is one of those good things. You folks are still doing what corporate radio refuses to do: entertain the public. 

The best time I’ve ever had in broadcasting was working on the Ross Revenge as “the Damn Yank” and playing great music to folks who truly enjoyed listening. That is one period in my life that will never be forgotten. I miss all of the folks I worked with and hope everyone is centered, peaceful and happy.

For the record, I’m living in the high deserts of New Mexico with my dog rescue and 5 horses. I record commercials and voice tracks for radio and television from my home studio.

Love to all,

Blake Williams
The Yank

I loved the Easter Weekend 2008 broadcast.

I do not feel like a returnee but I suppose I am as I missed those years from 1991 onwards until I got online a few years ago then I collected all the info I wanted about my passion offshore radio. I have a box full of files now about all the offshore stations.

This listening to Caroline started in 1964 to 1968, Found her again in 1973 and got upset in 1980 when we lost the mv Mi Amigo.

I taped the Christmas broadcast of 1980 when our friend Johnny Lewis then known as Steven Bishop was covered in flour while he was on air. I handed that tape to a friend up in Co Durham who could not hear Caroline, wish I had done a copy now.

Got involved in the Caroline Movement in 1979/80 and got a few friends to join, and now many years later I read Horizon magazine.

To be honest I nearly put all this behind me and had moved on but Caroline is like my smoking habit I cannot give it up, and it looks like Caroline will now outlive me if I don't get into some healthy lifestyle. The Caroline family is made up of all sorts with different ideas about how things should be done, with some falling out along the way, but this happens in family. The truth is even those opposed to how things are done still love the station and this Easter weekend must have brought many together again, and many will want what happened at Easter to happen on a more permanent scale in future finance allowing of course.

What the Easter broadcast also proved is Caroline from the ship can sound as good in Tilbury Dock, as she did out to sea.

How that was achieved was by putting the broadcast staff on the ship to live together as a group. That was the secret ingredient of offshore radio, not where the ship was anchored. We all loved hearing old voices from the past, but even the newer broadcasters who never went to sea could pull off an exciting Caroline sound just like this Easter weekend, if they did weekend shows from onboard the ship. I am listening to Caroline as I write this and I have heard a lot of good music, so it looks like I am back properly now.

John in Norfolk

Just found your web site and I'm listening right now.

Takes me way back, oh boy, I remember the days of pocket radios and people walking down the street, radio to ear and, what else RADIO CAROLINE!!

Keep up the good work.
djricko

My favourite programs were the personal top 30's, I remember 2 an evening, so interesting to hear other people's choices, to discover so much wonderful songs and albums.

Started being a DJ, not at the radio but at student parties, in 1978, Caroline did influence quite a lot our musical choices, and it was always a great success.

And then came the day Radio Caroline stopped broadcasting, early 80's, and I hardly listened to any radio station anymore, only listening to my cassettes, records, CD's later.

Since a few years I started converting the best songs of my collection into mp3, having about 4000 songs now, still have a lot to do.

But it is great to hear good songs back now on Caroline, songs I haven't heard before and of course all those good older ones, so many to mention.

I like to make personal lists, been doing this since I was 12, lol, and just finished my latest top 1000, but too much good songs are not in it so I better go for a top 2500, lol, and an album Top 500 later on this year, it keeps me well busy.

But I already know Radio Caroline will have again a great influence on all this as it used to do so many years ago.

Wishing all the best to Caroline's staff, DJ's and listeners.

Geert Fieuw,
Anzegem, West of Flanders, Belgium

I have listened to Radio Caroline since the first test broadcasts in 1964. I was still at school then and we had a transistor radio in class during�the lunchtime. I had (but unfortunately lost) a live tape of the MV Caroline sailing to the IOM. The reception was really god for us here in Jersey when it sailed past the Dorset coast. Much of the time reception was a bid faint and in the evenings very iffy, especially in the summer.

I have always listened to the station through all its iterations, and I have many off-air recordings going right back to the 1960s.

Keep up the good work and here is to many more years of broadcasting.

Graeme

My name is Michael from the Isle Of Wight and now in Cape Town South Africa and yes I to am a Radio Caroline addict, there must be a name for us but not sure what. How on this earth did a young man of 27 create so many memories and heart breaks, yes I am talking of Ronan the father of the lady. I listened from 1964 until now 2008, she is a part of my soul my life my past and future. Ronan you have brought me sadness and happiness along with the DJs and the wonderful music you guys pick each and every hour, God bless you and wishing you a long future.

I still have a tape from the 60s of the station, of course with the 50 cycle hum!

Michael CORKE, Cape Town, South Africa

Living in Guernsey reception could be a bit garbled at times and all sorts of aerials were tried by us enthusiasts, including tin foil to block out interference.

Then one day Caroline and Atlantis became Caroline South and North. I remember spending a Sunday on the beach listening as Caroline North sailed around the south coast to her new position. Reception became louder and clearer all day - magic, for a while anyway.

Now we have the internet and satellite even better!

Ray Scholes, Guernsey, Channel Islands

I found Radio Caroline a few years ago on MW waves in my home radio. I had no access to internet, so I was trying to find any interesting UK radio station in this way. The reception of programmes wasn't good, but I was listening to Radio Caroline because of the presenter's voices, so smooth and deep. I was learning English by listening to Radio Caroline. I remember words and sentences from those programmes, as "Oh, it's 4 a.m., time for coffee", or melodic jingle "Radio Caroline". Now I have the Internet and I can listen to You by all means. So, I do. Hope so do you...

Piotr Balkus, Krasnopol (Poland)

Just to say how pleased I am that Radio Caroline is now available on line. I used to listen to Caroline in the late 70s along with land based pirate stations. 

I was involved with London Music Radio - which seems to have provided a good number of your staff. John Brocks, Steve Hampshire, Cliff Osbourne and the late Rob Leighton.

Good luck to all of you.

Ray Harrington-Vail
Isle of Wight

I listened to the offshore stations from Belgium for the first time in 1970:RNI.Then I became a really fan: as often as possible I listened to the "pirate" stations, to Caroline too. Then Seagull, Mi Amigo of course (the golden years of the Mi Amigo), sometimes to Atlantis and later to Laser 558. I listened to the end of RNI, Veronica, some dramatic events on Caroline. I was a Caroline and Mi Amigo member. I must say that I lived with the people on board and sometimes I couldn't sleep wondering what was happening on the ship. I often phoned a friend in Holland, Eduard Van Loon, to know what was happening. Now I moved to Italy and listen everyday to Caroline again on the web. I run a hostel and put Caroline on my hifi in the dining room. So many memories! Thanks!

Dirk from Northern Italy, BIONAZ, in Aosta Valley

At last I am able to hear Caroline..courtesy of Broadband...my name is Allen and being a teenager of the 60s I of course listened to Caroline.....what a wonderful time.....we thought it would never end....but sadly it did. The trouble is once you had heard the Pirates...anything after that never came close. 

I now live near Lowestoft in Suffolk...and up until 2 days ago I had dial up and was not able to listen to Caroline...but now I can and it is.......FANTASTIC. It brings the past, the present and the future together in such a wonderful and exciting way.....I hope it goes on and on...good luck everybody at the station and Thank You.

Best wishes......Allen.

It's so great that old Lady!

I used to listen to Caroline - so many memories; it would take too long to tell it here but I'm so happy to hear you again. I went on you a few weeks ago when I was searching on the web.

So, God bless.

Hello to all Caroline's listeners, specially French: I'm from Boulogne/mer (North of France, on the coast).

Michel Duval, France

I went on holiday to Lanzarote, there was a satellite box with radio stations set. I started to listen to an old uk enemy of yours, but searching up & down the list of stations I spotted Caroline. I thought could this be "THE" Caroline that I use to listen to when I lived in Folkestone back in the 70's, sure enough when I selected it I found that I had become a returnee. The LP only format suits me down to the ground, very refreshing to my ears. Unfortunately I can't find you on my none sky satellite box now that I am back in Leicester England hence me being on your website. But it won't be long before I'm listening full time.

Robert Harper

Living in Rüsselsheim, near Frankfurt in Germany I've been listening to Caroline since 1965 although reception in our area used to be rather poor. Therefore only very few people knew about the pirates over here and even less did in fact listen.

But all my friends knew me as the one with that crazy hobby although only few ever listened.

I never managed to get aboard the Mi Amigo or the Ross, but I had the chance to get on the Mebo II when it was called Caroline in 1970. This moment will always be one of the highlights in my life.

Early in the 70s I had a pen friend in England who I found again over the internet two years ago. Her name was BRONWYN DALE that time and was a great fan of the Admiral Robbie Dale.

Well, thanks for all the decades of pleasure and special moments Radio Caroline has given to us nearly all my life (I'm 56 now). (harald-hummel@web.de) if anyone would like to write me?

Harald Hummel, Rüsselsheim, Germany

I used to listen to Radio Caroline in the past. And it is so great that I have discovered you again on the Internet. I used to live with my Parents on the Essex coast so I used to receive Caroline very strong. I Once went on a boat trip to view Caroline and may I say Radio London.

Keep on Rocking, Long may you rock on.

Tom L
Dunstable Bedfordshire

Welcome back Caroline, okay I have only just discovered you on the web, but its like welcoming back a long lost friend.

I spent my youth on the Lincolnshire coast in the late 60's and 70's; my evenings listening to Caroline while doing my homework - hi anyone from Skeg Grammar! Fond memories brought back listening to the great music online - not a track that can be heard on 'commercial' station. Long may it continue, yes I will be joining the Support Group.

It was only while helping my son do some research for his history - 1960's culture - did I discover you. Now I feel old !!!!

Simon
In the depths of Norfolk countryside

I used to listen to Caroline on 199 in the 60s & 70s along with North Sea International and Swinging Radio London. Those were great days.

I've re discovered Caroline now via the internet and now subject all the youngsters at work to it all day long, No complaints so far so it must be good.

Jillian Bowman, Cambridgeshire

Great to hear good music again. Found you by accident while surfing the net. Last listened when I was just a lad. Now a 57 year old about to be a granddad.

Richard
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Since Veronica left the air I listened to Caroline back in the seventies.

I discovered you when living in Morocco and now back in Belgium you remain the ultimate radio station.

Regards

Danny Van Cleven

Hello it is Caroline here. Well we old time Radio Caroline Listeners Know what he is talking about. The story was bringing tears to my eyes. As I missed Radio Caroline a lot I was only 16 I think when I heard Radio Caroline the first time from the North Sea. From 6 PM till Late at night and later till 6 AM. Then the day came the music died from the North sea. All but Caroline and MI Amigo. Since than I have moved to New-Zealand and I never believed I was able to listen to Radio Caroline again. But 3 years ago you came back in to my life thanks to the Internet. It was poor at first on dial up and slow computer I had in those days but now with broadband and a new faster computer and Abacast you are here now 24/7 even when I leave the house Radio Caroline is on and it is the first thing I hear when I come home the welcome sound of Caroline. Oh I missed you all so much. Thank God we have the Internet. Well to all at Radio Caroline I like to wish you a Happy New Year and let's hope Radio Caroline will never leave us again. Love you all and God bless.

From a long and faithful friend

Miss Caroline

Like a number of the other returnees, I too was stationed in East Anglia 1977/1978 and was working night shift and our radio was definitely fixed on Radio Caroline.

Today I found you again and I will say that I have listened to the radio here in the states and they never even came close to being as good as Caroline. There was a station that was close up in San Francisco, but not really that close.

It's like I'm feeling 30 younger today hearing it again and I certainly can use that... lol

So my task today is to spread the word and I'm just getting started :-)

Thanks for hanging in all these years !!!!

Bill Sylvester
In the Heartlands of the US... or cornfields if you want to call it that :-)

When I was 12 years old I listened to Radio Caroline at my friend's in Ipswich. I was there during a holiday to enjoy the English country.

I'm born in Germany and live in Switzerland now. Today I was thinking about the time in GB especially listen to Radio Caroline. Time of "Tears For Fears" etc.

The good thing is I can enjoy you via internet radio now again. Thank you that you are still there.

With best regards,

Volker Tempelmann
Zurich/ Switzerland

It was just about a month ago when I found you again on the web. Great that you're around again.

I remember fondly many, many happy hours listening to you - in my case from the mid 60's through to now.

It's almost impossible to describe how drab radio is here in Germany. It's such a relief to listen to Caroline again when I'm at home.

You asked for an anecdote. Well here are just a couple of small ones: The first was when I listened to Caroline late at night in the mid 70's I was in the Air Force at Wyton (good listening territory!), and from time to time we used to have to go on guard duty. I remember well getting a guard shift from midnight till 04:00 the next morning at some forgotten corner of the airfield. I had a small pocket set with an earpiece which I used to listen to when I was out on guard duty! Caroline got me through the night as far as 02:00 I think, when she closed for the night to the sounds of New Riders Of the Purple Sage. I can really say that Caroline helped me through the dismal, dark and lonely nights out there.

The other memory (goodness..there are so many) was one Sunday morning - also mid 70's. Tony Allen was on (and what a magnificent presenters voice that man had), and after the current record had finished, Tony went suddenly very serious. He apologised for what he was about to say, explaining that as a radio presenter you don't usually do things like that. He then went on to do an appeal for "bread" - donations for a bigger and more powerful transmitter so that Caroline could reach an even wider audience with her LA message. As far as I can recall the idea didn't get off the ground, sadly.

It is indeed grand to be able to listen to the old lady again. Everything is there, the relaxed presentation, the great music of course. But one thing is missing, for me at least. This little resume might capture what I want to say:

• 11:15 pm leaving the pub, listen to Caroline on the way home.
• A few numbers read out which usually meant something was afoot.
• 07:00 next morning. Switch on radio - silence.
• Panic.
• Drive to work wondering what's happened. (Ran out of diesel? Got raided? Sank? - there was no rough weather last night)
• 12:00 lunchtime. Run out to car. Switch on to 319. Silence.
• Is my car radio duff?
• Tune down to 247 Radio One. It's there (bloody would be - too safe, the Beeb) - Back into work. Got shouted at because I wasn't concentrating on the job.
• 17:00 Rush out to car. Switch on. Hear Abba's Dancing Queen. Not really Caroline, but oh well..
• 2 minutes later the dulcet tones of a Radio One presenter! I'd left the car radio on 247!
• Tune back up to 319. Roger Matthews: "..and that was the Marshall 'Tooker' Band. Good afternoon, this is Caroline on 319"
• Oh joy - Caroline's back!
• Why do they do this to me?
• What happened?
• Drive home elated.

What am I saying? The danger, the constant fight against the elements, the DTI and everything Caroline had to battle against on the North sea, the swashbuckling atmosphere, all added that extra tingle.

The mug shot is of myself, now 57, and my long suffering German wife Claudia who understands all about Caroline, but, bless her, can't quite fathom what all the fuss was about. I guess if you've never experienced good offshore radio, you have missed a lot.

Keep on rocking.

Tim, just outside Munich.

I used to listen to the mighty 319 back in the eighties. I'm very pleased that I can still listen to Radio Caroline in the internet. I like it very much it brings back memories of the Ross Revenge at sea. I did always listen to guys like Tom Anderson (where is he??), Dave Richards and Jay Jackson and all the others. My favourite that time was the Yank Blake Williams.

Keep on doing the good work and keep on rocking

Groeten,

Jacob Bosscha

What a surprise!

An avid listener in the 70's and early 80's..... I googled radio Caroline out of curiosity and - hey presto, I'm listening on-line right now!

I remember the roadshows in Kent, getting sweaty and headbangin' away to the hard rock sounds... and sneaking out of work to enjoy the Summer road show thing on the Leas in Folkestone. 

Favorite moment? Spending hours and hours listening to the all-time top 100, as voted by Caroline listeners (probably late 70's). Fantastic music, almost drunk(?) djs, and a run down to number one.... The DJ announced ...."and here IS the number one....". The next bit was pure bewilderment for the listeners as we were treated to, "I wish to register a complaint", Monty Python's Parrot sketch! After which, the applause, the laughter, the MP music and..... the acoustic guitar of Led Zep's 'Stairway to Heaven'!

I will always remember the times I came home late/early and flicked the switch of the radio - only to fall asleep with classic tunes playing.... magic!

Long may you continue!

David

Folkestone, but now residing in the Netherlands!

Hearing Radio Caroline during the beginning of the Seventies (Tony Allan, Andy Archer) while they played all those great albums, that really was wonderful.

Special when wind and rain kicked the window of my teenagers room, knowing those DJs out there were far away on a ship and my old tube-radio let me hear the music.

Great to hear you again!

Andre, The Netherlands

I used to be a totally avid listener in 70's and 80's when I was at school/University in south England - you played simply the best album music ever and I bought many LPs having heard them on Radio Caroline! Everything from Quantum Jump, Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat" to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin. Perhaps some of my other favourite memories were the Roadshows in Kent with "Free Bird" played as the last song - just brilliant nights!

My Radio Caroline T Shirt was worn for years until it pretty much fell apart! It was a very sad day when you eventually left our airwaves............ BUT what a fantastic surprise when I heard that you were back! And how ironic when it was on the BBC that I learnt about it! I Googled " Radio Caroline" a few months ago and I have been listening again as avidly as before. Again you still play the best music. Two new T-shirts and the book on Radio Caroline too!

Just a shame I can not listen to you in the car. I hope we will be able to soon.

Keep it going!!

Alan Lahaise, North Berwick. Scotland.

Wonderful to hear that you are still going. Long may you do so and prosper!

David Vickery
Worthing.

I used to listen to all the “pirate” stations out there in the North Sea in the 70’s and 80’s. Caroline has always been my most favorite station during those years. I grew up in the Netherlands and have been living in the US since the early 90’s. A TV show here in the US about the Who and how Caroline played their music prompted me to do an internet search on Caroline and to my surprise you are actually broadcasting online. I am back listening again!

Paul van Rijn
Doylestown PA, USA

My name is Tom Kiernan and I live Philadelphia, PA. I am 67 and I started to listening in the 1964-65-66. At that time I was in the US Air Force, in and out of RAF Upper Heyford and Madrid. It was really great music and the "Kissing in the Car" contest was funny. I always enjoyed Radio Caroline and was happy I caught up with you again.

Tom Kiernan, Philadelphia

It is great to hear all the music that I remember my brother listening to all those years ago. It brings some great memories back. Trying sneak a listen to my brothers tranny when he was not in late at night. Risky! It was he would have killed if he knew listening to his radio. I used to wait for him to come, and put the radio on. 

Good Memories. I'm now 51.

Keep up the good music

George (Leicester)

I was born on 25th of April 1967 but when I got my PC on 2005 I discovered your station when the old listeners in Greece who they heard your radio in 60's and 70's told me about this historical radio station. So also I see the request of my favorite songwriter Justin Hayward for the 40 years of your radio and love more this super historical radio. So hope for a live programme some day, with all old rockers who you play on your station and speak of course with Justin, who can see him in concerts so far for me. So hope your station is the best in Europe and on web. Also with the Greek Radio Gold rock radio which is the best radio rock station in Greece, and when I drive my car I listen to it. But can't listen to Radio Caroline in my car. Hope in the future we hear you on car satellite radio like USA Sirius radio in Europe some day.

My best to RADIO CAROLINE, waiting Justin Hayward and other rockers made there a live program and we talk to them with e-mails or from the air. Can hear a lot of times your program I'm on road all days in the week, KEEP ROCKING with Radio Caroline and Radio Gold. Also love to play Vangelis and Jon Anderson from your radio I have their LP collaborations on vinyl - that was my first record in 1984 when I was student.

Grace Karali, Athens

I must say that it is most INCREDIBLE that you are back!! I'm in my mid 40's and can remember listening to Caroline on the med wave on an old valve radio most nights until shutdown where very often you would play h

Hotel California by the Eagles (played with a coin on the stylus because of the rough seas etc!!). The station was so good and kept me good company.

Keep on rocking!!

Keef B.

I used to listen to Radio Caroline in the late 70's while in the US Air Force stationed at RAF Lakenheath.

I was glad to find you on the internet and really enjoy listening while at work. It's impossible to find such a variety of music on one station here in the States.

Andy Turner, USA

I was 10 when Caroline started and my 10 year older uncle introduced me to the world of pop/rock music on the medium waves.

Caroline very soon got my attention - and whenever I have been able to devote time to listen - I have always enjoyed the sound of Caroline.

Have listened to your station from offshore oilrigs in mid 70's on medium wave and later via Astra satellite. I am still listening to you while at work in the North Sea but now via the Internet.

Geir T. Christiansen
Sirdal, Norway

I've only just discovered you after all these years. I was in at the start living in Ongar Essex in 63 and listening to David Whitfield and co and then Caroline came along I am still a out and out rocker and go to many rock and roll "weekenders" so I am still living in the past. Have sent a Five Pound donation (sorry I'm a pensioner now). 

Keep Rocking

Glyn Mallett

I am a new listener to Caroline on the internet if not to Caroline. I listened to Caroline North every minute of the day and was devastated when it went off air.

I made a promise to myself never to listen to Radio 1 when it was foisted upon us and have kept that promise to this day.

Good Luck

Ian Butler
Mancot, DEESIDE, North Wales

When I was a very young radio amateur (Ham) I once heard you on medium wave sitting on a beach on Cape Cod Massachusetts on a dark night. I think it was in the late 60s.

My mother once ran into Mrs. Kennedy and young Caroline as the presidential family was not far away from our summer home. Your station was one of the inspirations to go on to electronics and radio.

At age 57 and a practicing electrical engineer I still fondly remember you. I just sent you 50 pounds to support you.

BTW we saw Roger McGuinn of the Byrds the other night live at a small local music hall. He is a most charming man. You need to get him on the station for a live interview some day.

All the best. Keep rocking

73 de WA1HUM

Dana

Just flicking through the new Sky Box and there you were!! Those FAB tunes from my childhood, and MANY thanks to Barry James for playing my request today 'CAROLINE' by the Fortunes!! I may be 58 now but those were the days, just like everyone else I had my 'tranie' tune to Caroline, my Dad would say "turn that racket off!", but I continued, even when the signal was jammed, I just went off tune a bit and there you were again.

I always wanted to broadcast after that, and managed to broadcast RSL's on 'Raven Sound' in Bromley Kent. I met Eric Cheshire and Dave Cash in my travels, even attempted to get a licence for South East London, which Dave Cash was after, then FLR 107.2 got the licence, but never mind. I'm now glued to you on Sky!! Keep up all those records of the day. Thank you.

Regards,

Eric Coppin, 
Eastbourne, East Sussex.

We had a bit of a Party recently in our garden on one of the few fit days this summer lots of 50 somethings all trying to relive our youth in fancy dress this was me. Oh dear, Oh dear.

Used Caroline as a background when our son's band, mostly Cream, Santana and Rory Gallagher had done their repertoire.

Almost everyone thought it was a recording from the 60's or something, so I've re-educated them and hopefully you've got some more returnee/new listeners. The only thing missing is some really slick commercials for Pepsodent toothpaste or Consulate cigarettes god forbid.

Keep doin' what you're doin'.

Kind Regards

Robert Halls,G4MJZ

I've just re-aquainted myself with your excellent classic rock selection. I look forward to more of the same. The quality is a far cry from the old Mi Amigo days with Johnny and Robbie and the Frinton flashers as listened to on an old transistor radio.

You are now my internet station of choice.

Best wishes

Ken Evans

Great to here the old station is still alive & kicking out the real music the people really want to hear, just a shame it has to be a low key affair. Well I suppose if we all tell a friend about C-a-r-o-l-i-n-e is on air again we could double the listening audience and become the greatest radio station yet again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember listing to Caroline North and recall a DJ (can't recall his name) getting married on board and the whole ceremony was broadcast. I doubt whether auntie beeb would do something like that today apart from the fact I don't think Broadcasting House can officiate weddings and lets face it it doesn't look as romantic as Radio Caroline.

Keep up the good work

Sue, Blackpool

"I love Caroline on 199"

Johnnie Walker's 'Kiss in the car' contests.

Percy Sledge's Warm and tender love

Flashing head-lights out to sea from Frinton.

I hope these are all 'Caroline' memories. I know there were several 'pirates' around at the same time but nothing could compare with Caroline.

I remember the Hoo-haa when Radio One started, it was a very poor imitation of Radio Caroline.

Keep up the good work and good luck to you all. We need you.

Regards from John, a just turned 60 fan.

I'm Dutch and born (1963) in the North of the Netherlands and Caroline - Radio Mi Amigo fan of course.

The album station in the late seventies with Nigel (Stuart Russell) was okay. Roger Matthews was my favourite jock and Marc Jacobs in the Dutch crew.

Gerrit Blaauw, Netherlands

I happened across you online and am listening. Lots of memories coming back. 

I listened to you back in 1966 - 1968, a teenager, living in The Hague, Netherlands (my Dad was working there for a few years). You guys were a very important part of my life back then. Thanks for the music and memories.

DT, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

It's great! I have just tuned into Radio Caroline (on the internet) after some 30 years. Long live Radio Caroline! Elaine Lambley formerly of Basildon, Essex now of Shrewsbury, Shropshire

I remember driving to the beach for some surfing and chill time near Skeggie and listening to Caroline, this would be in the days of your rival Laser. And I remember sometimes tuning in there by mistake when Caroline had problems but been watching a program on Sky that mentioned the paranormal activities on the ship but couldn't make out if it was Mi Amigo or the Ross as these days I'm a practicing psychic artist the thought of possibly contacting to see if could maybe see if the spirit would talk and identify themselves rebooted my interest in Caroline as I knew you were still operating just but wasn't sure if still broadcasting but glad to see you are I'm back with a vengeance and trying to find the channels to listen in again.

And I'm also trying to restart my life as a singing performer so maybe one day I'd be heard on the best station ever created since the rock years.

Ian Stevenson

I first listened to Radio Caroline north in 1966 when I was seventeen and living in Lancashire. I'm old now but I can still look back at fond memories of my teenage years in the sixties, and yes I know if you can remember you were never really there. That's not always the case.

Caroline always played great music of that era as well as rarities and obscure. I became a returnee this year 2007 at Fairport Convention's annual reunion festival in Cropredy when I came across the Caroline stall, friendly people there gave me information.

Best wishes Radio Caroline, peace and love to all.

Len, Essex

I'm Dave, aged 54, now in California but originally lived in Walton On Naze, Essex, so I knew the pirate ships almost from Day One! In 1964 I won a signed postcard from RC, I think of Brian Vaughn or maybe Tony Blackburn - for entering the most unusual place to listen to Caroline competition (from up our apple tree). I saw the Mi Amigo in the snowy distance washed up on the beach while on the school bus to Clacton, but they'd got her off and back to sea before I had the chance to cycle to see her the next weekend.

I went from Brightlingsea on a couple of boat trips to visit Mi Amigo and we were intercepted by the Authorities on our way back from one, they had even planted a mole amongst us on the boat trip to gain evidence against the organiser, poor bugger!

Near Northampton I was driving home from work once when I suddenly remembered my boss telling me the shock news that Caroline had sunk. I turned on my car radio to check, and at that very moment a mud flap flew off a truck in front of me and snapped off my radio aerial, so I had to wait till I got home to confirm the news. Spooky!

I remember listening to RNI while Caroline wasn't around, then when it became Caroline International, the transmission jammings, the General Election, all that! I got on board the RNI ship Mebo II years later while she was in dock in Holland shortly before she sailed to Africa, and I later built models of her and Ross Revenge when I looked younger and cuter, as you can see! The latter model has radio control and goes like a bomb on water! I have shipped the models with me over to USA from England. I emigrated to California in March 2007 and got married to local girl Kim who'd love the Caroline sound, and am currently living in an 'RV' in South Bay area of Los Angeles, where I've found free wireless internet access which has enabled me to find that unmistakeable Caroline sound once again on the computer! Wow it's SO nice to come around full-circle!

Warmest Wishes to everyone involved with keeping Caroline going we SO appreciate your efforts!

Dave Reid, LA, California USA - via Essex and Northampton UK

You can see further pictures of Dave's wonderful models here.

What a surprise! The last time I listened to Caroline was 1973/4 when the Mi Amigo broke her mast off and it fell into the sea. Since then I've moved around and refused to have Sky TV. However, having moved to Spain recently, Satellite is the only way to get UK TV and guess what. Flicking through the channels to see what I could receive on these hundreds of things, there it was. Channel 199 - Radio Caroline.

Oh the happy memories! I was forced to wade through the record collection and I found it. A double LP (remember records) of The history of Radio Caroline 1964-1975. It was narrated by Tony Allen and released by Jumbo Records in 1975.

Keep the legend going and I promise never to stray again

Many thanks

Rob Eames

Found you again after spotting the link on the Pirate BBC Essex website. An avid listener up until you got towed away in '68 - us teenagers had never had it so good as far as pop music on the radio was concerned. Rediscovered you when Caroline was a night time album station. Seems just about every listener who sent in their personal Top 20 put "Stairway To Heaven" at number 1. Glad to see you're Mac friendly with a stream available via iTunes.

Keep on rocking,

Ian

I was too young to remember Caroline from the 60's, but was a loyal listener in the 70's. I recall one August 14th being at a party and I went outside at midnight with a small radio, just managed to tune in enough to hear "all you need is love" being played at midnight.

My Morris Minor had a "Caroline 319" sticker in the window for many years- I still have the car, but a new windscreen so no sticker. When my second daughter was born in 1984, we were trying to agree on names, and I wanted to include Caroline as one of her names, but we could not find a suitable first name so she became Caroline - and has lived up to the name since. It is great that Caroline is back broadcasting and available on-line.

I also listen to what I believe is the only Pirate to "go legal" on land - Radio Hauraki from New Zealand and they still play great music. I have been unable to listen to Caroline streaming at work due to a block by web security software, but it seems to have been unblocked just in time for 14th August 2007.

Here is to the next 40 years.

Colin
Sussex, England

Way back in 64' I gave a hand on the tender Essex Girl as she took supplies out the the mv Fredericka anchored in Ramsey Bay -- whilst the oil and water was pumped aboard I sat in the studios chatting to Bob Stewart and Daffy Don Allen I was hooked and Caroline changed my life in a huge way -- thankfully instead of a life just fishing , I kept in touch with Don and Tony Prince for a while but life moves us on and it was only after I got broadband that I sought Caroline after my old 1969 club card fell out of my wallet one day -- it was sad to go aboard the two ships moored and in a scrap condition at the Orangeboon wharf in Holland early 70's - even the Essex Girl has been decommissioned and is here at Fleetwood, Lancashire used as a private pleasure boat called now the Roving Swan -- sadly I heard of Daffy Don passing away some 9 years ago and was very sad that we hadn't kept in touch -- but the beat goes on so ring the bell and lets play a Caroline flash back to honour the guys who made it happen especially god -- errr I mean Ronan O'Rahilly LOL

Alan Rimmer -- ( the Caroline Kid , club member -- 69229 )
Hatfield Stores Fleetwood, Lancashire

Found you today 12th August 2007 while on pc. Been a fan from the start in the sixties even followed 'Caroline North' round the coast with my tranny as far as I could till the signal was lost. Also remember the days of the jamming from Beacon Hill. What memories and good times. Glad to be back and to call myself a 'returnee'. Had a chance to step aboard the Ross Revenge while she was moored off Rochester. I then was working for a tug company who's yard she was moored off. 

Keep up the good work all the very best.

Pete Williams 58 from the Medway Towns

Great to hear Caroline again and brill to hear Johnny Lewis.

I remember his stories of the GBH home brew and him raving about Stan Ridgeway's "Camouflage" - brill record.

Dave Smith (aka Scaniaman)
Thatcham, Berkshire

I was in the merchant navy from 1960 to 1968 (17 years of age to 25) and, when Radio Caroline was broadcasting, one of the greatest joys was to pick up Caroline on a personal radio. One would go from cabin to cabin boasting that one had Caroline whilst in the Bay of Biscay, off the coast of Africa, in the Med. etc. Of course the most exciting thing about Caroline was that it played the music of the time. My home port was Liverpool and I first saw The Beatles etc. when they played the Star Club in Hamburg. Very heady times and I feel very privileged to have been a young person in the 60s.

John Stratton

Hello Radio Caroline !!! Only "found you" again this very day, August 2007.

I listened from the very start (1964-1967) as a 13 year old schoolgirl, absolutely loved the programme, and listened every night on the old transistor radio, under the bed covers!!! --as I suspect many did. Again, I know I was among many-- who was heartbroken at your "demise". Till today, (and reading about the 40th anniversary of the end of Caroline) I had NO idea, I could listen online!!! Needless to say I have been rooted to the spot all day!!

Keep "rocking" You STILL are the best.

Lizzie, Nottinghamshire.

I was 12 in 1964 and a fully paid up member of The Admiral Fleet, Robbie Dale Fan Club. I had the badge to prove it! Most of my listening was done with a bunch of kids at lunchtime at school (the school being Sexey's Grammar in Blackford Somerset); we had a transistor radio with an aerial lead attached to a wire fence that went around the school.

Warm sunny days, listening to Radio Caroline. Made even more exciting by the fact they were operating without a license. And of course the music that is as memorable today as it was then.

Lots of returnee's remember pre-Caroline days of the BFPO (and all the kids at No 11) and Children's favourites. I have to admit I am still a "Round The Horne" fan as are my children.

Well I'll keep it short for other returnee's.

Cheers,

Bernie Lawrence,

Ex of Marlow Bucks, Shipham, Soms, Orange County, CA and now
Pennsylvania, and a few other places.
PS dont forget Kenny Everett.......................

It is great to hear you again. I was an American ex-pat working in The Hague and Esberg from November of 1967 on. I really missed rock music and the BBC and Armed Forces Radio seemed to be the only English stations extant. Listened to Roger "Twiggy" , the evening DJ. He introduced me to Smarties, which I had never seen. And more importantly, to "Nights in White Satin" and the Moody Blues who hadn't made it to the States radio yet.

It was magic, listening to good music late at night. I missed it when I moved to London in 1968 and couldn't receive Caroline any more. It was a noble experiment and a sad day when the brain dead raided the ship. Now you are back and more power to you! May Caroline live forever.

Billy Pettit - now in Southern California

I am now 52 and have just rediscovered RC thanks to a friend of mine, Chris Pelling, who was back on the Isle of Man with his family for the TT races. I have lived all my life on a farm in the Isle of Man 7 miles north of Ramsey and I can well remember RC sitting out in Ramsey Bay with small boats coming into Ramsey from RC to stock up on supplies. All the local people were very proud to have the Island's association with RC and I remember joining the RC Club and receiving a booklet, photos (including one of a very thin looking Ronan O'Rahilly) and stuff and in fact I still had the booklet kept in the loft until a few years ago. Wish I had kept it now!

When Chris and Co were over for the TT I persuaded them to come and see a great local blues band, Back Door Slam, who were playing in Ramsey. Chris must have been impressed as he bought their debut album, Roll Away, and passed it on to a friend of his, Clive Garrard, who just happened to be a RC DJ. An email suggested I tune into RC via the web and when I caught Clive's excellent Saturday lunchtime show he was singing the praises and playing tracks from the Back Door Slam album.

I never knew Caroline was still going or that I could tune in via the web so many thanks to Chris and Clive and I will spread the word too. Anyone who is interested in the superb young blues band Back Door Slam can log into www.backdoorslam.com

Thanks to you all and good luck for the future.

Steve Martin, Isle Of Man

I am a returnee. I remember back in the 70s after going to bed, listening to Caroline on my little yellow trannie which I've still got with the telescopic aerial up behind the curtain, huddled in a ball under the blankets in case my dad looked in on me, earphones in so I wouldn't know if he had or not, trying desperately to stay awake, then being so tired at school next day having a nap at lunch break. 

I had a go on the yes/no comp & was doing well until he said "look what Mickey Mouse is doing behind you on the clock" I still have a tape recording somewhere of that particular show.

Also going to Clacton and listening to the broadcast as Customs & Excise were boarding and the DJ insisting on playing until the last second. The tide must have risen a couple of inches that day!!

Brill yr back!

Cindy Atkinson
Cambridge

I was 11 when RC started broadcasting, there was Altlanta, London, England, Britain Radio and oh so many more. I used to like to tune the MW dial at night under the bedclothes to see what stations I could hear. To my joy I found there was a hobby where others did the same and my interest in Amateur (Ham) Radio was born.

43 years later I am still enjoying the hobby thanks to Caroline who started the interest off. I did visit the ship in 1966 on a boat trip from Frinton (anyone remember Frinton flashing)?

Yes come on Government let's have Caroline back where she belongs, on a ship in the North Sea on the Medium Wave.

Mike G3ZCC

I'm a Yank that grew up overseas (oilfield gypsy), with the bulk of my teenage years being spent in England. I remember how badly BBC Radio One sucked when it came to what they tried to pass off as music. There were a couple good shows on the Beeb. Stuart Henry on Saturday morning, I think it was. And the Old Grey Whistle Test on the telly, introduced by that quiet spoken guy who's name escapes me at the moment.

Then I discovered Radio Caroline around 1972. I was going to a boarding school in Suffolk, and used to lay awake at night after lights out and listen to "Caroline-on-259-the-Voice-of-Peace" on my secret radio with one of those horrible little white earpieces. You kept me grounded during those rough teenage years.

I lost track of Caroline when I went away to the states to college in 1975, but recently another old gypsy friend of mine from those days told me about your webcasts.

Now I live in Alaska. We have two good listener supported public radio stations here, but good radio is like a kiss, in that you never really forget your first one.

Glad you're still on,

Rodney Evans

I used to listen to you during the mid-seventies while I was miserable as sin in a Dover boarding school. You kept me sane, and also kept me awake until 4am.... flying to the sun.... Aw, shucks, lovely to find you online! I even went on to become a musician, the pic is me onstage in Vienna a couple of years ago....

Do you still do the personal top-ten lists that always ended up with Freebird and Stairway to Heaven heheheheh....?

Guy Maile

I remember listening to Radio Caroline in 1974 as my boyfriend was really into all the Pirate Stations since the sixties. I did a History Project at school on pirate radio and I got a C GRADE for it. I found it very interesting researching through books and listening to the 'Story Of The Pirates' on vinyl record, especially Radio Caroline.

I am so glad I have got a PC as I can now listen to you once again. Fantastic shows all the time.

Glenda Shaw, Bedford

It's causing some pain: I've heard you on Sky but don't have it myself and this PC is a bit creaky and not bringing you in (it hates player programs and will have to go). But I was there too; I turned 16 a week and a half after the shutdown in '67.

I'm looking at my copy of John Venmore-Rowland's book even now. I think I became quite an expert, for a schoolboy, on all the offshore stations at the time. I lived in West Bromwich and had a small Perdio portable with aerial and earth plugs that I used to tap into the antenna system that all our houses had built-in for old valve sets to use and it made daytime listening a doddle. However, we were going on holiday to Scotland at the time the Act came into force; I thought that I would be unable, a further 350-odd miles north, to hear Johnnie on the South ship (I listened every night) and particularly at midnight on the night. So imagine my relief when the Perdio picked up the nighttime sky wave signal - as loud as in the Midlands - in a ground floor bathroom in Fort William surrounded by the biggest mountains Scotland has. At least I was connected and I heard several of the others go off air until only you were left...and you're still here. And every other station since, including the awful ones we won't name, owes its existence to you and to Ronan in particular. I hope, occasionally, that some of them remember it.

And you provide a continuity with a happier past. I'm glad you're there. And I will get properly connected.

Nick from Sutton Coldfield

My name is Caroline and I was born six weeks before Radio Caroline was launched.

I grew up in Suffolk listening to Caroline - radio one just couldn't compete! I remember crying for hours when the ship sank and as the song says "the music died".

For the last seven years I have been living in Cyprus and had to listen to Greek radio stations. However, that all changed today when I discovered Radio Caroline on-line - heaven!!!

It's fantastic to hear the best radio station in the world again.

Caroline in Oroklini, Cyprus

Caroline is like a woman you just don't want to get rid of ! I have been a listener on and off since 1967 and the halcyon days for me were the mid 70's, Loving Awareness and all that! Lois Jeans adverts! ...... and of course during that most golden period I was hooked by the most wonderful music from bands I had never heard of, and probably would never have heard of if it weren't for my very special 'Lady'! Who could ever forget 'Annie Austere' or 'The Perfect Wish'? What other station would ever have dared to play 'Prince of Darkness'?

Found you again a few years ago on the internet, but listen through Sky nowadays ... as if you had never been away ... Caroline, may you live forever !

John - London E2

I have just discovered Radio Caroline back on air. Can't believe it, I did use to listen to you all the time sometimes before you went on to 558 mw then when Laser 558 left that frequency I listened to you more on 558 mw until you got forced off air.

I wish you were able to go back on 558mw as well as transmit on Sky because I miss hearing your station like when I'm in the car or when I use to go fishing on Dover pier or when I used to travel to South of France with my mum and dad on holiday would listen to you but lose your signal when we got to Paris.

Keep up the good work - please try to get back on mw just like old days.

Keith Hadley, Dover, Kent.

Nice to see you back on air, I used to listen to you in the late 60s and early 70s, I learnt that you were back on air when I went to my brothers party and then he told me where to find you and here I am. I am glad to hear you again playing great music, keep it up lads.

Thank you all

Martin from Bedford

I used to drive around Merseyside in my old Black & Yellow mini (Hand Painted" with Caroline Carol-ly-y-yine blasting out of the windows...doing all the clubs from Cavern..Twisted wheel & Lido in Prestatyn, along with many others on the Wirral. When I got older I was a rig mover on the Offshore Mercury, first offshore oil rig, drilling for gas, in Morecombe bay. 

I used to talk to the guys on Caroline using the ships radio. We had lottsa requests played on air, and requested lonely girls to write to us. We used to receive TONS of mail & the company had to stop flying it out to us by chopper as there was sooo much. For the buffs there is a triple CD pack, with a lovely little booklet, covering the C flashback. I met a guy in the Smugglers Inn down at Hartland Point, he was one of the original guys involved in the purchase of the vessel & he sent me the CD pack.

KJ. Clarke

Absolutely wonderful!

I discovered Radio Caroline in 1974 while stationed at RAF Mildenhall. It became a second home. Now, 33 years later I have found you again. I'm having flashbacks! Everyone I know now knows how to find you.

Michael A. Wirt

I'm delighted to hear you again after all these years. I saw a programme about your blind DJ yesterday on ITV south, so I looked for you on the web and there you are. I am a retired teacher of English. I used to listen to you all the time when I was younger, from the Mi Amigo, the Ross Revenge... until you disappeared. I live in the north of France. I still have the video cassette you issued and quite a lot of your programmes that I recorded on cassettes in the sixties, seventies and so on.

It's really great to be able to listen to you again! Do you also broadcast on medium waves (because I am not always in front of my computer). I expect if you do it is no longer on 319 which was your usual wavelength at a time, and in the north of France I cannot listen to you on FM or DAB...

Long live radio Caroline!

Jean-Marie Florin

I used to listen to Caroline North when I was a teenager working in my home county of Lancashire and when I move to Suffolk, Caroline South - great music years the 60's!

I then moved further south and hadn't really listened to radio for years as (to me) radio one and its kind just cashed in on what free radio pioneered in the 60's - that people wanted to listen to pop music.

Excuse my ignorance as I have been using the internet for some time and hadn't thought to look for a Radio Caroline website. I had no idea you still existed until a friend gave me a tip off. Saturday June 9th 2007 was the first time I put Caroline on in the background while doing some computer work. Big mistake as I was drawn into the email questions and facts being fired at Clive Garrard, who obviously knows his stuff, and which I found extremely interesting.

The music is still great and it is good to have found Caroline very much alive and kicking.

Keep the bell ringing!

Frank from Crawley

I've never gone away from Caroline, I've been through all the stages. I'm 53 now, and was only young when I started with Caroline on 199, tried Radio London, but didn't like it, Caroline was much more fun, and always has been. Had the chance to go on board the Ross Revenge a few times, and chat to various DJs. 

Over the years, my favourite was Johnnie Walker (met him twice, first years ago and again today at a book signing event (he has at last written his biography) also liked Steve Conway, Peter Phillips and think most the current DJs are good too.... 

Listen now on my pc and on satellite, but wish the station would broadcast again from the Ross Revenge.

Peter from Orpington, Kent

I was 20 back in '64 and as all us oldies are saying, Caroline was a breath of fresh air, I saw someone mention our lack of music in those days with just Alan Freeman on Sundays, and Family favourites, and of course Luxemburg. Let's not forget though, Jack Jackson, Saturday lunchtimes and the TV's Six-five Special, take a look at You Tube it's nearly all there. Nostalgia, I love it, remember "Cathy Come Home" "Poor Cow" and "Up the Junction". Now you must realise how I refound Radio Caroline, keep the memory alive, absolute magic.

Stan Prior

What a great surprise to see an old friend on digital radio through SKY. Radio Caroline got me through my teenage years when I had a lot of sad issues going on. The reception in a high up village in Dumfries and Galloway was always perfect. I remember years later in Edinburgh fiddling about with the radio dial and finding Radio Seagull - what a class station I thought, and after listening a few nights it was disclosed that it was Caroline after all. Does anyone remember Mike Haggler the night they had problems with transmission and he played guitar and sang? Lots of happy memories and thanks for introducing me to Steely Dan!

Lorna

I have been a Caroline listener since the 60's in the Mi Amigo days. Brought up on rock and heavy metal. My favourite time was listening one Sunday afternoon in '76 when they played the whole of "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" by Country Joe McDonald from Live At Woodstock (with F.*.*.* bit at the beginning!). Or late at night when they played rock by bands like Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AC-DC - there's just no substitute for it! No there's not a mistake on my sweat-shirt they were going to change the ship's name to the MV Imagine! Glad they kept Ross Revenge.

Welcome back to a long lost friend, long may you Rock 'N' Roll.

JOHN BOY (Clanky)

I first came across Radio Caroline as a 11 year old back in 1987. Someone had bought me a cheap AM radio and on this I had found Luxembourg at night. The reception was awful so I nagged my parents into buying me a better radio and from there I came across Caroline. My first memory of it was the Lotto 649 advert. I was convinced that I had found a station from Canada! 

Learning that I had not, in fact, picked up Canada but a radio station on a ship was still of considerable interest to me, living as I did in Walsall in the West Midlands which was just about as land-locked as you could get. And so was to follow 4 years of the most interesting radio that I have ever listened to. It was Caroline in the day and at night during the light summer months and Luxembourg in the dark winter nights. I was listening to Caroline on the day of the raid in 1989 and following that I kept the radio tuned to 558, checking almost daily for any signal. Then in the autumn I heard the voice of Caroline Martin on my Sony Walkman, very faint but it was there. Caroline is back I shouted to my mother, not that she was interested. She was quite happy with the new Xtra Am from Birmingham. 

Through another Pirate station in Wolverhampton I became aware of Anoraks UK, and for Christmas 1989 I persuaded my parents to buy me a loop-frame aerial which I still own to this day and occasionally use if I fancy some nostalgia! Using this I was able to record Caroline and I kept many of the recordings. When Caroline left the air in June 1990 I was somewhat distraught, having listened as often as I could for the previous 4 years. I managed to catch the end of the remember the raid broadcast and the evening programmes in September 1990, but that was the last time I ever heard Radio Caroline, the Caroline I remember from the ship. Much of my taste in music was formulated from listening to Caroline and Luxembourg. It's a strange taste, mixing Fleetwood Mac with some of the dance music of the time and indeed now, but you know, I wouldn't change it. Today, the music takes me back to a period of my childhood as though it were yesterday. I can never listen to The Mission and Butterfly On a Wheel or Deliverance without immediately thinking of Radio Caroline. You should do a Caroline 558 programme today, dedicated to the music of the late 80's and 1990, it would be very enjoyable with the old jingles.

Kindest Regards

George Ashcroft

My first exposures to Caroline came indirectly during the 1990's, when Radio NewYork International was doing leased-time programming on shortwave station WWCR. That was the time I discovered Offshore Echos Magazine (I was a subscriber for a very short time), and when Caroline did a short offering that aired as part of Radio NewYork International's Sunday night show.

Rediscovering Caroline online feels a lot like coming home after so many years of being away, occasionally wondering whatever became of you and the Ross. It is wonderful to learn that you've not only made the adjustment to a satellite/Internet environment, but that you have so much support from other listeners as well - including some from my side of the Atlantic. (And this is despite our living in a nation that's OD'ing on DA. I think the fellow anoraks will understand -that- one.)

I'm genuinely amused by the banner ad on your site promoting a Wi-Fi tabletop radio; I'd snare the North American model if I had the USA $300 right now (NPR sells it on their site). Our own radio ogre, Clear Channel, is trying to sucker people into throwing money at the "HD Radio" format, which offers none of the musical variety found in the Internet radio scene (let alone on Caroline) and carries a high price tag.

If the price on the Wi-Fi radios came down a bit, no doubt I'd tell people to invest in one and promptly set it up to play Caroline. But I -can- and do tell people to check your station out whenever they can. We have no commercial "pop" radio station comparable to you, period.

Recently, I made a one-off donation to the RCSG (£5), and I am hoping that I can contribute more on a monthly basis. For now, I can at least contemplate what to buy next from your online shop - maybe the 2CD set of Tom Lodge reading from his book, or one of the DVDs (I have PAL-friendly gear)...?

As I said, we have nothing in commercial radio comparable to Caroline. That's all the more reason for me to give you my support.

LA in perpetuity,

Philip David Morgan
Saint James, New York USA

Hi, what a surprise, Radio Caroline is back. I listened to Radio Caroline in the 60's, often during school lessons. It's nice to see that radio Caroline still exists with its excellent (strong) music. It's real fun to listen to Radio Caroline after all those years. Keep on rocking. I am listening on the isle of Langeoog.

Many greetings from our lovely island.

Sigurd

Hey guys you are still doing a great job.

I lost track of you in the later sixties when I went to college and vinyls. Then I have been living and working all over the world for the last 35 years.

Now I'm listing to you from southern-most Chad....as clear as a bell on Worldspace Digital Radio.

The music is as great as it always was!

I'll be sending you a donation & buying some of your stuff to support the cause!

Best wishes for the future, and thanks for the past!

Pete, Chad

Found you by sheer accident this week on my PC. Won't let you get away again ever. Presentation and music as good as it ever was. Even sent a request in and got it played straight away - is that good or what.

Love to have you on my car radio etc..

All the best and keep the "Old Lady" rockin'

Dave

Hope one day we will hear Caroline on the car radio just like the good days of radio.

Thanks for all the music over the years.

Tommy in Windsor

Odd comment from Jamie about living in Guernsey [see further down this list] and being unable to hear the early Caroline transmissions, because I lived in Guernsey too and Caroline was loud and clear from day one - as were all the other southern stations. At night & in the winter we could get Caroline North, Scotland and 270 also, but with a bit of interference at times. (Scotland was fitted out in Guernsey). Guernsey was an ideal place to receive the pirate stations because it was situated out to sea ,well away from the mainland radio stations and with an unobstructed path over the sea from the stations off Essex. Radio Veronica was also well received in Guernsey and many people tuned into 192 after Caroline closed down in 1968.

However, Jersey, with the transmission path from the pirates passing over France was not quite as good!

Still listen to Caroline on the internet, although it is sad that John Patrick has retired. He is an ex-colleague of mine in Air Traffic Control and was always an avid listener to the pirates and "behind the scenes supporter" in the 60s,70 & 80s.

Keep up the good work.

Regards,

Keith Cockayne

Been listening to Caroline on the internet every day for weeks now since I rediscovered you. Helps the day along a treat.

Used to listen in the 60s and have been a great fan of offshore radio ever since.

Geoff Nurse

Listened intently to Caroline and the other stations in the 60's, based on the Hoo Peninsula we were in the forefront of 'free radio'. Years followed of running mobile disco's in North Kent with the 'free spirit'. Was at the small protest when the government used the Military Radio Station 'Beacon Hill' to jam RNI.

Wedgy Benn could not stop Caroline or RNI, carry on Caroline I'm educating my family into the concept of 'free radio'

Long Live the Ross Revenge.

Alan Jones

Very Nice To Here Caroline Again This Takes Me Back To The Sixties And Is Much Appreciated From One Of Your Original Listeners. Keep On Running.

Bob Abel, Costa Blanca

Glad I've found you. Listened to Caroline in the 60's. Lived on Mersea Island. Now live in Ireland.

Was thrilled for weeks after had my requested played on Caroline in 1964. It was the Fortunes "You've Got Your Troubles".

My husband found you on sky. I'm now trying to get you on my PC!

Cathy, Ireland

How many of you can remember Family Favourites, when British servicemen and families would request records for their loved ones on the BBC Light Programme every Sunday Lunchtime. If we were lucky there might be a request for a top twenty record, otherwise it was Alan Freeman's (God Bless him) top twenty and Radio Luxembourg and Horrace Batchelors win a draw method............. How starved we were of music, then came Radio Caroline, both North and South. Against all the trials and tribulations, it still with us today, playing good music with presenters who treat the listener with some level of intelligence. The format is great, music and more music.

Dave Sandall, Birmingham

At the young age of 17, I simply loved tuning in to Radio Caroline...living in Wednesbury around 6 to 7 miles from Birmingham.

Caroline North...its signal was somewhat weak...living too far away. But fortunately, my father had made an aerial, which hang from the loft. Consisting of copper wire, with copper hoops on the outside. The lead from this home made aerial, trailed down into the sitting room. Upon...plugging this lead in to my transistor radio. It then enabled perfectly, clear reception. Listening in to Tom lodge and many others...

Then... after 6.00 pm Caroline North's signal would be temporally blocked out, by a European station interference.

However...later in the evening, my radio's dial would be tuned to Caroline South. I became a real fan of America's Tamla Motown music in the 60s... Where did I hear it first? Radio Caroline South...purely by accident one evening, in trying to tune into something...anything! That's how I found the station...

But for the two Radio Caroline ships, there was nothing out there on the airwaves...for the younger person at that time!

I came across the Radio Caroline web site purely by coincidence. Thinking and reflecting back...typing in "Radio Caroline" on Google. It was great...to see it. Because integral fond memories, of my youth came flooding back.

I'm sixty years-old now...with my bus pass. My...where have all those years gone? But it was great reading and relieving sheer nostalgia on the Radio Caroline website. Listening to it live on a PC...additionally.

Kind regards, best wishes and Good Luck to all concerned.

Alan Cooke

I was 14 ish when I used to be able to get Caroline here in Warwick from my father's flat. I remember hearing when the Mi Amigo sank, it was all over the news and very saddening. I am in total agreement with another returnee on here Derek Knight and I too think Radio Caroline, who should be granted SPECIAL DISPENSATION from the Marine Offences Act and thus be allowed to broadcast from the high seas.

In fact I found a website called www.writetothem.com where you can write to the House of Lords on any subject you like. I have used it before on another subject and I did get a reply. Go on petition the Lords, You know you want too !!!

Anyway I have written again, this time to Lord McNally who has an interest in broadcasting and will keep you all posted - well it's a start and who knows?

John Wheatcroft (G7HMJ)
Kenilworth Warwickshire

Great to have you back and with great sound quality. My recollections of Caroline were listening on a scratchy medium wave radio in rural Ireland in the 60s.

Keep up the good work.

Tom O'G

I am another, I used to listen to you from Lancashire, and then moved to the Isle of Man. I did ask you to play a request for my ex-husband last week, he was 65, and used to take supplies out to the boat in Ramsey Bay. 

Listen to you quite regularly but haven't heard "Good Rocking Tonight" before, my era unfortunately. I didn't think anyone remembered Johnny Restivo but me. He was a bit obscure.

Keep on rocking

Dorothy Cowin, France

I found you on Sky first but thought that I might find you on the Web, Dah Dah.

I first listened to Caroline as a teenager, then the government started jamming the signal with a high pitched whistle.

You arranged a demo in London to march on Downing St, so me and some of my mates squeezed into my 1959 850cc Mini and set off on an epic journey to London (from Spalding Lincs. Well it was 100 miles, and that was a long way in that Mini) We stayed /slept in the Mini over night (not a lot of the latter). From memory I think we all set off from Hyde Park to march to Downing St. Now does anyone remember what we were all singing on the way? "Who do you think you're kidding Mr. Wilson..." sung to the tune of Dads Army. Can anybody remember all the words?

Keep up the good work. Good Music. Great.

Richard Smith. On board a Narrowboat, River Trent, Derbyshire.

Caroline, great to have you back and on air via Sky 0199. But oh what memories. Thankfully I have many hours of tape safely stored. Who can recall the all time top 100 and 500? Broadcast over Easter periods I believe. And the Christmas and New Year specials with Dutch and English crews, plus some friends, the captain and turkey dinners! The little tours broadcast live from ship. The coded items list requests broadcast in numbers, with the add on "and easy start". 

And the day I can't forget when the Mi Amigo sank. And the love affair was seemingly over. I can remember Stevie Gordon talking to the lunchtime ITV news programme after the dramatic Whitstable(?) lifeboat rescue and saying he was hopeful to return and retrieve all the he had lost on board. And, and..... but we could go on 

Anyone recall the Caroline road shows? They were hugely popular and great fun. 

Best wishes for the future.

Terry Whiberley

I always listened to Radio Caroline on 259 metres in 1974/5 when I was barely a teenager, with my small portable radio under the duvet until I fell asleep when my late mother always came in and turned it off !!.....

I always had a blue Radio Caroline car sticker in my bedroom window (made of paper and sellotaped to the window)........Happy days indeed.....great to listen to Caroline 30 odd years later on my PC......

Keep it going.....I am back 100% !!!.......

Best wishes,

Paul Edwards, Portishead, Bristol UK.

Listened to Caroline North when Tom Lodge, Mike Ahern, Ray Territ and Big Jim Murphy were onboard. Those were the days. Also listened to Caroline South when we could pick it up in the evening. The 'Fight For Free Radio' stickers were all over my car.

Good luck to Tom Lodge in retirement and what became of Mike Ahern? He was the best.

Regards,

Harry Wood, Adelaide, South Australia

I was just twelve-thirteen years old when I had only Radio Caroline tuned in to my little portable radio in Tidworth Hants, I was lucky to have my dad get me the radio when he went off with the military band playing all over Europe, that little radio was glued to me it went everywhere in its black-leather cover and strap over my shoulder, and buttons all the way up the strap of my favourite- fabulous-bands. Ah - those where the days "happy happy days".

Radio Caroline kept me warm at night and bopping during the day, even at the school yard on the bus going and coming home from school - and on up to Hull, E Yorks when I was hangin' with my favourite cousin Micky. I miss him and the great songs from that era (kudos for reviving the station.)

Keep strong!

Love Tricia Jerome, Albuquerque, USA

PS. I still have that little radio...

From 1975 to 1977 I was posted to RAF Lakenheath, in the US Air Force. There was where I discovered Radio Caroline/Radio Mi Amigo. I really enjoyed both stations (BBC seemed kind of dry).

Your music & having relatives in the UK (Mum was from Cambridge) made time pass quickly. I also loved being in the UK for other things (Birds). The only regret that I have is that I did not extend my posting there.

I'm presently planning to holiday in England in the near future & look forward to listening to your station on radio. Until then, I will tune in every now and again online.

Cordially,

Donald W. Smith, Texas, USA

I listened from the very first day of Radio Caroline when as a teenager I lived in Woodford Green. I am now early retired and living in France but still listen to Caroline. I well remember the days when the station was “jammed” to try and close it down, the breaking of anchor chains in stormy weather, the falling down of the mast during one bout of bad weather………but still Caroline lives on.

Best wishes……….lets get the Ross Revenge broadcasting back out at sea where it belongs.

Derek Knight

I suppose I must be a returnee although The Caroline Influence is obvious to all in my music taste, so in a way I never left!!

I remember skiving school in the 70's (Monks' Dyke in Louth Lincs if you must) and lounging in the summer sun with a book and a little transistor radio listening to Caroline or RNI.

Just to carry on tradition I've still got a Caroline car sticker in my car, sadly not a 'lets get busted' red and white one, but a new one. Loads of us from Louth listened to Caroline back then. Any more of you out there?

Simon German, Now of Lancashire.

I started listening to Caroline broadcasting from the Mi Amigo in my bedroom in Margate in the mid-1970s. I remember great nights at Radio Caroline road shows in Dreamland, dancing to the 15-minute version of "Freebird" by Lynrd Skynrd. Caroline is simply a brilliant station. Rock on!

Marky

I used to listen in the late 70's early 80's, my first love introduced me to Radio Caroline and we used to listen to you all the time. Sadly, we are not together any more, but I found Caroline on Sky by chance yesterday and I listened all afternoon. Brought back so many happy memories. (I've never stopped loving you - you know who you are).

Caroline W - Essex

Lived in Guernsey so didn't hear the early broadcasts but we used to tune in when I was in the Navy, based in Chatham in 76 and used to listen through the night whilst on duty and had it piped through the ship wonderful, really pleased when Caroline returned on the Ross and tuned in all the time to Caroline as I then lived in Sussex, came to see the ship in Dover and listened on and off on Astra and now we have Sky even more thank goodness you are still with us all.

Jamie, Guernsey, Channel Islands

During the days and nights of the 1960s I would listen to Caroline even though I was working as a DJ and never got home before 4 in the morning. I had to have my Caroline fix before I went to bed with a cup of tea in one had a something to eat.

It's great to see you on air I can now get my fix every day and night of the week.

Keep on Rockin'

Phil

Just had my haircut by my old school mate from the 60's. We were reminiscing about Caroline and he mentioned you can be heard thru the "net" so I have just tuned in. Great - all the fantastic memories came flooding back! Still playing great music.

Very best wishes for your continued success.

Chris Rogers

Jelly tots, Major Minor Records, Who do you think you are kidding Mr Wilson. Radio Caroline was never off the air for long and I'm glad I've rediscovered you again on Sky. I grew up with you in the late sixties / early seventies and you helped me forge my musical taste, and for that I am extremely grateful. Radio Caroline, Radio London and Radio Veronica gave me inspiration and hope. God bless you for surviving and keeping the dream alive.

Rupert Akerman, Aylesbury, Bucks

Just across the river from the home of real music, so nice to hear you again.

I spent many happy hours listening to Caroline ... over the years ...

"From a point at sea to the circles in your mind" ... I think that's how it went ... it was a while ago.

Anyway best wishes for the future

Keith, Gravesend

Hi Radio Caroline

That sad day when I along with a group of friends listened sadly to Les Reid playing Man of Action as Caroline broadcast its last music has not been forgotten. We were a group of dj's who doubled up as hospital radio presenters in those days and we played those sad moments at the gig 'live' and also a recording during my radio show.

Today I was told that Caroline is still alive and kicking, false starts previously had given me a cynical view, so when I went to Google and found Caroline life is worth living again. Sky 0199 is now playing and will play forever.

I have grown a little older since that sad day and began comfort eating and drinking to drown and bury my sorrows. It did not work but who cares - Caroline is back.

Best wishes to all

Dave Andrews 
Barry
South Wales

PS Someone nicked my copy of Man of Action from the studio shortly after.

I was a teenager in the sixties in Southern Ireland, Arklow , Co Wicklow to be exact. I pretty much grew up listening to Radio Caroline (the Isle of Man one).

The memories of the fabulous Caroline signature tune and the up to the minute music and presentation will stay with me for ever. I particularly remember Radio Caroline promoting and running a weekend BBQ at Brittas Bay, a local beach area in Co. Wicklow.  What a scene..

Still love listening to the groove.

Richard Ruxton
Rochester, Kent, UK

I was listening way back that first Easter as a young lad and loved the station. Back in the early 70’s stayed in a hotel in Liverpool whilst on a training course and the Radio Caroline Road show came to the hotel and ran a well supported disco. They were selling all kinds of promotional items.

Dave Lemon

Chippenham Wilts

Rediscovered Caroline just a few weeks ago, it seems just a short time ago listening in the mid 60's with the car radio fading in and out, at that time I was listening in Gloucestershire but now listen on the internet from Florida. Particularly enjoy Barry James, love his 60's style, how come there's no information about him on the Presenters page? Met Tom Lodge once when he lived near Stroud. Am spreading the word to other ex-pats.

John Fletcher

Having been a fan of Caroline since the 60's I have supported the reason for having the station. It broke the grip government had on the people Caroline led the way for change. Without Radio Caroline modern music could not have grown. I am a radio ham and when I am working stations around the world I drift away thinking I'm a DJ on Caroline - I get some strange reports from other hams, incredibly a lot of them are Radio Caroline fans as well! Keep the station of the nation alive and kicking. 

Good Luck

Colin, East Yorkshire

I was so pleased to discover that you are still broadcasting, Johnny Lewis told me when he interviewed me on his KmFm show.

When Caroline disappeared from the airwaves I was heartbroken, as no other station, broadcasting then (or since) has ever managed the fine mix of music - in fact the only radio station that comes close is the Dutch AM broadcaster - Arrow Classic Rock.

Very pleased that you guys are alive and well and are still "rocking in the free world".

Cheers

Chris Kirkham

Hi to everyone, can’t quite believe you are still going albeit via the internet, but I guess for me that’s great because as much as the sea based transmissions had so much atmosphere, I live in Melbourne now so ‘no AM signal gonna get to me from the North Sea’.

I recently imported an old vinyl double album of the ‘Radio Caroline Story’ on to my PC and converted it to MP3 to download to my iPOD, I had no idea there was so much media available on RC. Listening to it, took be right back to my little bedroom in Dartford circa 1967, a tiny trannie, waking up to the Roger Day show and crashing out to Johnnie Walker.

Now that I’ve discovered how good the MP3 streaming is, will beef up my PC’s sound system and listen once again!

Good Luck to all involved with RC and may it continue forever in one form or another.

Kindest regards

Alan Maynard

Melbourne, Australia

WOW!!! You're back - you kept that quiet.

I used to listed surreptitiously to Radio Caroline on a tiny radio with earpiece on the bus to & from school plus at home when doing my homework. I was also a member of the Johnnie Walker fanclub (still have my badge somewhere).

No one felt the loss of Caroline more than I did. Radio 1 never 'did it' for me. These days hubby listens to a Dutch station very much on the lines of Caroline.

Keep on playing & get your name out there so more of us can listen.

Mrs Ghislaine Bedford

I was a member of the original Caroline Club. Joined in Chester music shop, had a membership card pin badge, alas now lost. Tom Lodge was my favourite DJ back then - the good old days. Now live in Poole, Dorset and just got connected back to 199.

Nev Walker

Have been a listener from the early days of pirate radio. Great sounds and memories keep up the good work.

All the best for 2007.

Jack

I have to tell you I discovered your great station while stationed in the US Air Force in Karamursel, Turkey (1966-67). I was planted in front of a radio for 8 hours a day in the operations building. I was supposed to be listening to a Communist satellite country's air traffic but most of the time there was very little activity. Thus I needed to fill my hours with something to motivate me and this is how I discovered RC. I often would search the AM Band for tank traffic, but that that resulted in nothing. So I would run to various music frequencies including the Armed Forces Radio Station, Radio Nederland, and others which always played terrible and outdated music. One day I found RC and spent the rest of my tour of duty glued to your frequency, writing down the names of new tunes and performers that I love to this day.

I remember the first time I heard "Pictures of Lilly" by the Who, the "1910 Mining Disaster" by the Bee Gees, "Whiter Shade of Pale", by Procol Harum, and the list goes on. I would tape several hours of your airwave gifts and play the tape so my peers could enjoy your music with me.

Recently, I was doing some surfing with my newly acquired broadband service and I found your site. I am currently listening to your 60's show, my focal point for the best music. Keep up the good work, and all the best from an older fan.

Chet,
DE, USA

I've carried the flame for Caroline since I first heard the station back in the 1980s whilst growing up in Norfolk. It was my favourite station and biggest influence in learning about music.

I listened to virtually all the top 500 in 1984 (or was it 85) which was my first introduction to so many classic tunes and artists .. that was awesome and I thank Caroline for a key part of my cultural education :)

Looking forward to being a listener all over again.

Seth Atkin, Birmingham

I never realised that Radio Caroline was BACK. What a great trip down memory lane. As a naval cadet in 1970 we used to listen into the wee small hours and hope the instructors didn't find out, or we were in trouble. We were always in trouble. You now have a not so new listener.

Andy Lilley

I am not really a returnee, I never really went away. I discovered Caroline in 1965 when I sailed past the MV Frederica after a camping trip with school to the Isle of Man and have been listening ever since. The days of the great Tony Allen were for me the best, he was the most sincere, professional, and dedicated broadcaster this country has ever produced and so loyal to Caroline. I met Tony on several occasions along with Johnnie Jason, one night in Delft Holland where JJ was living at the time springs to mind (Although we wont go into that). For me Tony WAS Radio Caroline and we all miss him so much.

Caroline you are and always will be the true LEGEND.

Bob Glen
Durham UK

We did our first professional job as a guitar vocal duo at a Holiday camp owned by a company called Maddisons at Littlestone nr New Romney, Kent in the Summer 1967. It was truly dreadful but a good laugh to look back on. The Entertainers chalets were called 'Death Row' and I can still remember the smell of the showers. We were up early to put out calls then going onto do duties such as organise a donkey Derby, Bingo or a trip on the miniature train to Hythe. Ending up with the disco which we locked up at 11.30 p.m. it was then we were able to tune into Caroline and I remember the Marine Offences bill closing down Radio London.

Johnny Walker said we will stay on air and played a wonderful tear jerking episode where the ship sailed down the Thames and had won the day.. Also remember the record about the government wanting to close down the stations, what will happen when they do.. Great Days.

We celebrate 4O YEARS in Show biz this February, Time fly's when you are having fun.

Us Singing our hearts out in the bar. Pay was £15 each a week, which was good as the average take home pay was about £10. They kept back £2 a week to deter us from running away! This was paid at the end of the season. We stuck it to the bitter end......

Derek & Christie Entertainers, Goring On Thames Oxon

WOW! Is this the same Radio Caroline I used to listen to faithfully with Dad in the little kitchen in Plough Lane, Swalecliffe, Kent where my love of 'pop' music grew and pirate radio stations were all the go. I could see the forts from where I lived where other pirate stations broadcast.

Now, after leaving England in 1973 for Australia I cannot believe I am listening to some awesome music again. Keep the dream alive you guys, we listeners are here to support you even after all these years and oceans away. I'm listening to you via my computer.

Ann Atkin (nee Palmer)
Melbourne
Victoria, Australia

One morning in early December 1966 a 12 year old boy was ill in bed at home in Derbyshire with tonsillitis and bored out of his mind.

I had an old wooden Bush radio by my bed and was twiddling the dial when suddenly I came across Caroline South and the Mike Ahern Show. I was hooked immediately and remember the magic as Mike handed to DLT, then Tommy Vance, The Admiral Robbie Dale and then the Master of all, Johnnie Walker. What an amazing line up of talent that was- and my radio dial never moved again until that sad day March 3 1968.

I have been with you and rejoiced at each triumphant return from adversity, though each time the battles against hostile governments and the weather have led to an eventual decline. But your strength is that each new launch captures the spirit of the time- 60s, 70s 80s and now the new millennium.

In the 60s and 80s it was mass appeal and you did it well. In the 70s it was an alternative music format and Loving Awareness, now as a legal broadcaster and free of the problems of trying to keep the ship at sea I think with your current balance of music and programming you are setting the foundation for what will be the longest, most stable chapter in your history.

Keep on moving with the times, I wish you every success, once again we have unique and exciting real alternative radio. Just wish I could get you in the car!