December 2008
In het International Radio Report deze keer onder andere bijdragen van Robbie Dale en Roger Day en herinneringen aan de zeezenders Radio Atlantis, Capital Radio, Radio Caroline (foto) en de Voice of Peace, het nummer Botch-a-me van Daisy Dynamite en aan Radio Caroline DJ Samantha Dubois. Verder nieuws over het boek van Steve Conway over de laatste jaren op zee van Radio Caroline en nieuws over Radio Waddenzee en over Ronan O'Rahilly.HANS KNOT INTERNATIONAL RADIO REPORT DECEMBER 2008
Hi there all radio friends, all over the globe. Good to get again a lot of e mails and memories to share within the report. Also it was good to see that some 450 persons from several countries came to our annual Radio Day in Amsterdam, which was held for the 30th year in a row and organised by Martin van der Ven, Rob Olthof and myself. We we’re assisted by a great team during the day, for which we’re very thankful. I can tell you that the audio from all the interviews, made on the Radio Day, as well as many photographs can be found on: www.offshore-radio.de
Go to the photo of the Radio Day on the main page and you will have some hours of fun, like we did on November 8th. And don’t forget to watch the special video made by Ben Meijering featuring the MEBO II and Graham Gill singing live before the audience his famous ‘Way back home’.
In this issue, which is the longest ever produced, we have a lot of memories from several parts of the world and also we look to the resemblance of radio hobbyists and the lovers for trains and trams. We do this together with former Veronica deejay Klaas Vaak, also known as Tom Mulder.
A rare Caroline Board Game from the sixties was for sale on EBay in Oktober. I don’t know if it still there but the next thing was mentioned”Radio Caroline TOP POP SPIN Board Game (2 to 6 players): Dimensions - 35cm x 28.5cm. The groovy game that takes you round the top temples of pop, meeting famous stars, carving your own career in this exciting world – it’s top pop spin! All you need to spend swinging hours of pure pleasure is the spin disc and record counters and you’re away, racing your friends to top pop honours! Squares mention such things as RSG (Ready Steady Go), The Animals, Cavern Club, Heaven and Hell Club, Music Echo and of course Radio Caroline. In complete unused condition – all is exactly as it arrived in 1965 or 1966. Including all original 6 Disc counters (one is The Caroline Crowd), Spin Disc, 60 250,000 Credit Sales tokens (some of the tokens are in sheets, but most are pairs or singles – from what I remember this was the way it arrived) and Rules and Instructions. The board is folded in its original envelope so there is obviously some slight creasing at the fold. Other than this slight blemish the game is in incredibly good condition considering it is over 40 years old. NOTE - This game is not Waddingtons quality but it is original Radio Caroline memorabilia.
This is so rare, I can find no mention of it anywhere – if anyone knows of more info please contact me at Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.
The above info about the game was sent to me by Robert at the Monitor department in Guernsey and I wrote him back asking why during the past year or so no update was made of the Monitor Site. He came back with a sad e mail, in which is shown that some people can make really a bad way of responding to other people working hard to make our hobby still living after so many years with no offshore radio on the air:
Thanks for replying and you asked me if I'm I still working on the Monitor Guernsey Websites? The answer is not at the moment as I have been very ill over the last year or so since I last did any thing on the web sites or did the articles on the M.V. Ross Revenge in St. Peter Port and St. Sampson's Harbours. I have had to put a hold on every thing concerning the Guernsey Branch of Monitor.org.uk. As I run the branch single handily with no help what so ever (apart from my partner whom did some scanning but has no interest in pirate offshore radio), I have had to stop all work on putting the Monitor Magazines online for what might be a very long time! This will disappoint a few people but not many as I've had nothing but negative feed back about putting the Monitor Magazines online, like: "why bother with them (Magazines)online when nobody is interested in past events and most people will have them any way!" I had other negative ones which were even more hurtful and which I won't say what they said. My idea was to keep Buster's magazine alive on the net while I was ill and gave me some thing to do, it grew from one web site into three web sites which took me by complete surprise! The Monitor Guernsey Branch web sites will stay up for the time being but may come offline at some stage with out warning, as I'm on benefits and not able to work at present and no money coming in it will be a struggle to carry on keeping them up. This is not a appeal for funds/money I would not accept any monies sent any way, thank goodness we don't have a snail mailing address any more! I will one day get back to working on the web sites but at the moment I don't have the heart to work on them as the interest seems to have waned from the history of our great offshore radio stations! Keep up the good work on your International Radio Reports Hans they are needed more than the web sites. I try to keep going! Regards
Robert Clancy’.
Hi Robert, a pity no positive readers of your website replied. I know for sure that there are enough people who never had a single copy of the Monitor Magazine in the seventies and eighties. So all go to see Roberts work on the website and give him a proper response and please no comments on the guy with the beard, that’s a photo of 2,5 years ago: http://www.guernsey.net/~deejayclancy/
A few things about and also partly from the Admiral Robbie Dale starting with an early November mail: ‘Good morning Hans. Thank you for including the Sunshine Radio event in last months dispatches. Upon returning to sunny Lanzarote, from that most enjoyable crew reunion, (The Sunshine Radio 20th year celebration) in Dublin’s fair city. I have had a busy month in and out of hospitals getting my ageing heart vessel surveyed. I am now back at home for a few days,” in dry dock so to speak” whilst Stella and I considered the possible options. After conducted extensive tests, the best Medico’s on three islands unanimously agreed that a triple cardio vascular bypass and aortic valve replacement is the only real option open to me. With blockage in (CT1), the hearts communal trunk. The cardio vascular dynamics team at Doctor Negrin Hospital in Las Palmas declined our request to try angioplasty and a relatively new “Stent” technology. “Too risky” they say! So! For the cardio bypass and valve replacements procedure I now need to return to the Rambla Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. According to those in the know,” it’s the best cardiac unit in Spain” and Dr Llarens is the top surgeon in this field of expertise, a very busy man with a full schedule by all accounts. So! Next week I’m off to see the wizard. I will be in the Rambla for a week or so, then recuperating at home for a while before I can bee-bop again. I’m currently medicated up to my tonsils; my private and personal “nurse Stella” is taking great care of me. I am having great difficulty just sitting around twiddling thumbs, but that’s the way it has to be whilst we get things ship shape again. I wish you all a very enjoyable get-together at “Radio Day 2008”
(Soft Rock-N-Steady Roll). Greetings, Robbie Dale.’
In the meantime Robbie has fallen in hands of the big specialist, marked as the best and Robbie’s assistant manager at his holiday park at Lanzarote kept me informed, so you all can read how the Admiral is going. on November 14th I received this kind e mail: ‘Hi there Hans, I would like to send a message to let you know that I have spoken to Stella and all is well. Robbie had a double bypass and valve replacement yesterday afternoon and everything has gone very well. Robbie is today sitting up and talking, obviously weak but seems to be fine and is doing well. It is expected that he will be leaving the hospital in 6 days time. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you wish any further updates. It sounds like Robbie will be making a good speedy recovery so I'm sure it won't be too long before he is back on his feet and sending emails! Kind regards, Tamsin Timmers, Assistant Manager, Apts San Francisco Park.’
A few days later Tamsin brought more good news: ‘Hi there, just to let you know that I spoke with Stella today and Robbie is making an excellent recovery.....of course! They will be flying back to Lanzarote tomorrow so all is well. Kind regards, Tamsin.’
So if you want to send a get well e mail don’t hesitate to contact Robbie and get him back on his feet to run to next years Radio Day: Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.
Next a hello and welcome to all AFN/AFRTS lovers as Thomas Whetston has put more rare recordings on internet. You can find it at: http://afrts.cjb.net/
Thom also wrote: I'm getting the December update ready. As always do you have any requests? There have been some great new acquisitions and I hope that you like them. Wolfman Jacks people have asked me to pass this on. They've finished a new CD of classic bits of Wolfdom. Go to the website, listen to it online then buy a copy (Wolfwoman could really use the money).
When an artist uses cdbaby they get a much better split than a 'real' record company. I will be getting this and I hope that you do too.
The long lost tapes of the Greatest DJ of all time, Wolfman Jack, have at last been discovered! Wolfman Jack: Greatest Bits and Ringtones contains 31 hysterical and historical clips taken from tapes of the Wolfman's radio show. The Wolfman Jack radio program can be heard in syndication throughout the United States and Canada and on XM Radio. These clips are perfect to put on for entertainment or to use as ringtones on your iPhone!
http://cdbaby.com/cd/wolfmanjack
Have a look and listen at www.ifellinlovewithasnowgirl.com and hear the song from Mickey Mo, who we all know as Mike Hayes on Radio 270. He made a special Christmas song for 2008. Next Jon from the Pirate Hall of Fame who didn’t make it to the Radio Day this year: ’I am glad to hear the Radio Day was a success. I have just been enjoying the recordings of the Caroline sessions via Martin's web site. You are probably having a well-deserved rest after your busy weekend so I apologise for bothering you now. It is just that I will be adding the next page of the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame 'Seventies Supplement' to my site in a couple of weeks, covering those broadcasters of the decade whose names begin with the letter J, and there are a couple from Radio Atlantis that I can't find. I wondered if you have contact details for either Dave Johns or Derek Jones. My thanks to you, Hans, for your help. With best wishes,
Jon.’
Well I only remember this time a jingle from Atlantis stating: ‘Derek (where’s my generator gone?) Jones. So anyone from the Atlantis family reading the Hans Knot Report please inform me if you know where Dave Johns or/and Derek Jones have gone after Atlantis days and where they now are. Please respond at Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.
Our black cowboy from Ireland is getting into the report again: ‘Hi Hans,
myself and Ad Roberts maintain very interesting Facebook Profiles... Ad makes some good videos of the old days, and I post memories of the old days from various broadcast sources. Let the friends know that we are part of the whole, Facebook provides a valuable new resource for Free Radio.
Peace, Don.’
And that brings me to the subject ‘yes or no on internet’. I get a lot of e mails from the readers that they have added me to Facebook as a friend or other friend pages. Thanks, very friendly from you all, but I don’t have the time to share those sites with you as I’ve too much other things to do. Sometimes you’ve to make choices.
Thanks and Don also took with him recordings from the VOP days which can be found back at: http://www.mediafire.com/?6yweg1wo3ey
Of course, thanks to Martin for the upload.
Congratulations to one of our German readers, Burkhard Nowotny as he wrote: ‘This is what I got on November 12th from Professor Zhang, Assistent President of Beijing Normal University: This is to certify that Dr. Burkhard Nowotny has been appointed as a Visiting Professor of International Faculty of Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. I was asked to give lectures on media whenever I am in Guangdong or China, so once or twice a year. But the International Faculty is giving media training and wants me to help that students can go for one month to Germany during their courses and do research on media. Greetings, from Burkhard.’
Well Burkhard maybe you can also train them how to start an offshore radio station as the one planned many years ago failed! Good luck and greetings Hans.
Then news from Steve Conway: ‘Hello Hans, Probably for as long as you have known me, I've been telling people: "I'm writing a book" and indeed have occasionally published excerpts in various places online. It never seemed to be quite finished, and I always said I'd get it published "someday". Well, someday is here, and I'm pleased to be able to announce that the story of my time with Radio Caroline during her final years at sea will be published by Liberties Press in March 2009, priced£12.99 in the UK (€14.99 in Ireland). Title currently subject to change, but I'll update on this and an exact date over the next few weeks. The book will be illustrated with my own pictures, and also shots from the extensive collection of John Burch. I'll keep in touch and let you know about an exact publication date and other details over the next while. one of the things I love about reading your International Radio Report is the fact that people from just about everywhere in the world managed to stay connected to the offshore radio family through you. Good news from Phantom FM too, we continue to gain listeners, and our weekly audience is now 63,000, which is not bad for a very niche rock station in a small city. Hope you are all keeping well, Steve Conway
http://steveconway.wordpress.com
Well Steve congratulations and as we shared some e mails during the past month I surely will make time free to review the book before it’s officially published. Good luck, Hans.
A new internet station, with an old name, is now ‘on air’. Radio Paradijs can be found at www.radioparadijs.eu Big L presenter and former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read has joined Gloucestershire's Star 107.5 to host the mid-morning show, which is also simulcast on Big L. The Mike Read Show is described by owners as a completely different format, where Mike is playing absolutely anything from the past 50 years. Mike has been hosting the same show on Big L for the past couple of years. The programme is broadcast daily on weekdays from Star 107.5's studio in Cheltenham between 10am and 2pm.
Don Stevens has made a wonderful editing on the Voice of Peace Programs in the seventies. It can be downloaded at: http://www.mediafire.com/?6yweg1wo3ey
Now time for an e mail from Sally Mens who wrote: ‘Here’s another bit of information which can be added to the jigsaw puzzle: ‘Offshore Radio’. It must have been in July 1985 that I made a holiday by bus with my then partner Jan Meeuwis to Paris. During the travel we tried to remember which songs where played on the loudspeakers by the bus driver. And also we talked about what we remembered about the played artists. Suddenly a co-passenger turned herself to us saying: ‘You both know a damned lot about pop music. What are you doing for life?’ After a bit of talking she told us she worked on a radio ship on the North Sea. As I had read the Bob Noakes book just a few weeks earlier I clearly remembered who she was: Samantha Dubois. But she represented herself as Ellen Kraal. Of course suddenly I said that she must be Samantha. I can tell you that she was not amused about that. The two of use told her that we were record collectors and we worked now and then for radiostations. We were invited by her to visit her at her house in The Valkenboslaan in The Hague. We lived a few kilometers away in Rijswijk at that time, but it never came to a visit. on the bus tour she was together with a guy who told his name was: ‘Tony James, one bugger of a lazy guy from Ireland or Wales or some of those backwards regions’. Ellen spoke English as well as Dutch and that certain Tony was not saved by her: “He is a lazy guy and has to hurry himself. Above that he has not performed at all last night.” When we arrived in France she told that both had to catch the train to Boulogne and a tender back to the Ross Revenge. As Tony had a hang over and Ellen mood was not too good, the trip on the tender hasn’t been a pretty one, I think.’ Sally Mens
Thanks a lot Sally for sharing this memory with us. Anyone else can send memories to Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.
Who remembers Amanda Redington, a star on radio and television years ago? Well she is back on the radio and happy with that: "One of the best bits about working at Jackie is that the atmosphere is so relaxed and there's no need to wear make up, unlike on TV. I feel I have a great face for Radio!" http://www.radiojackie.com/dj/amandaredington.html
Thanks to John Piek for reminding us that Amanda is back.
Sven Martinssen saw some interesting postings on internet about Radio Hauraki:
http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1226308099.html
http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1226395412.html
http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1226341622.html
The Radio Hauraki book ‘The Shoestring Pirates’ is still for sale in very good condition. This is Adrian Blackburn's tale of NZ's brave offshore radio station with the history of the pirate days 1966-1968, also with a dedication of the author, in its 2nd edition, 1989. It is a very exciting book, many great photos, also in color. Unread, Paperback 170 p. GBP 16 or $24 or EUR 19 +postage at http://www.qxl.no/accdb/viewitem.asp?AuctionNr=508330768
Next one comes from Paul Fraser: ‘Hello Hans. I'm another member of the VOP family. I found the comments by Don Stevens interesting and educational. I first joined in April 1987 (April 1st.!), so the changes Don referred to would have been implemented by then. I remember a daytime pop format, with new, recurrent and old material, plus dedicated slots for local music. I'm sure everyone's familiar with ‘Twilight Time’ then at night, there were specialist programmes. I tried to follow the format, always aware that Abie Nathan disliked anything too loud or 'discoey'. I had no prior radio experience of the caliber cited for 'Ashton and the Aussies', so I guess I was easily controlled by the man on the Motorola! It seems that a huge change in VOP output occurred in a short period, around the mid-80s.
The breakfast shows of Dave Asher were allowed more freedom. I'm glad they were. Dave had been involved with the station for some time; perhaps he came from the earlier group of more assertive staff. I personally found more freedom with the program Nightbeat, 3-6AM. Wit Abie asleep! I played a mix of current and older tracks, emphasis on album material, generally avoiding the Top 40 stuff which was played a lot in daytime. My final stint was from June 1992 to April 1993. When I arrived, the station sounded extremely tight and professional, with experienced talent led by Kenny Page. Later that summer, Abie introduced an easy listening format. Should we have fought against it? Would the market have backed us if we had? I guess these questions are academic now, but I'm grateful to Don and to you, Hans, for telling me about a VOP I never knew about. 73s,
Paul Fraser.’
Thanks Paul, well more can be found in the book about the History of the Voice of Peace and Abie Nathans work. For more info just go to www.hansknot.com and see how you can order your own copy. After receiving the e mail I answered Paul and sent him the next photo and he then came back:Paul Fraser: Hans Knot Archive
‘Hans: thanks for your reply. That picture really reminds me how I've aged! I'd guess it's from the period 1987-1988? I'm no longer in radio; I realised on my last VOP stint that I do not have the level of drive and commitment, needed to make it a career. I take my hat off to those who do. I'm currently unemployed; I worked for a time in electronics and I have been learning IT.
Here's a question which you might like to put to the Report readers: does a station at sea sound different to one on land? Or in port? I suppose listeners to a seagoing station could appreciate the dedication of its presenters, as they live in more demanding conditions. But does the actual 'flavour' of the station differ? Of course, I'd say it does, but I am biased!
Paul Fraser.’
Alright, up to you as reader to answer the question!
We go to Scotland where Graeme wrote to me: A fascinating 10 minute video about saving VOA Delano which also looks at the historical impact of shortwave from the US:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qlLhWlDbKbI&fmt=18
Graeme Stevenson
It started with the wonderful painting from Martin van der Ven his mother, followed by the artwork in Mary Payne’s home. Suddenly I counted one and one and remembered I had made a photograph of a painting of the old Radio London vessel MV Galaxy and found the photo back. I’ve taken this some 4 years ago in Frinton on Sea, when it was displayed at the Big L office. MV Galaxy. Photo: Hans Knot
Oeps, I’ve made a mistake in last issue, putting a wrong photograph next to the Fergie McNeal story. Lucky it was Leen Vingerling, the Ross Revenge tender king remembering me: on the photo it was Jay Jackson from the back and Tom Anderson. Lucky enough Leen had another photo featuring Fergie. But Leen was not alone as the same day I got an e mail from Chris Edwards from Hanwell: ‘Thank you for the latest report, most informative as usual. I was saddened to read of death of Fergie McNeal. I remember meeting him on the Ross Revenge and recall him as a very genuine, warm and friendly person. Think I may have done a short interview with him, and if that's case will put it on our website as tribute. Incidentally the picture you have captioned as Fergie, looks more like Tom Anderson. Just found a couple of pictures of Fergie which I have attached. Best wishes: Chris Edwards.http://www.offshoreechos.com/
Right: Fergie at the left among his students with thanks to Leen VingerlingLeft: Fergie at the Ross Revenge. Photo: Francois Lhote.
In last issue we had the question from a BBC producer. She was on search for people who had seen The Stax Show in 1966. Well we got response and have forwarded it to her: ‘Hi Hans. The Stax Show was also at Billy Walkers Uppercut Club in East London. I know because I was the resident DJ as the club had an agreement with three of us former SRE jocks. I even got to introduce them (including Otis Redding). It was just before I joined Caroline South. Cheers Roger Day.’Then next a plug for Chris Baird who wrote: ‘Hi you big strong men. Yes it's true folks, I'm back on the radio after two years in the wireless wilderness. I'm now a fully fledged voice tracking pop rocking jock. I've taken over a top classic rock show called ‘OVERDRIVE’ on an established contemporary online station called www.radio2xs.com. It’s on Sunday 2-6 pm with a playlist to die for. Full of fresh gold from the vaults when rock stars eat hamburgers and drank whiskey all night, with nicotine for breakfast just to put them right.
Good radio isn't dead; it's just a click away. All plugs gratefully received.
Cheers , Chris.
Than time for another former shipmate: ‘Dear Hans thanks for another great Report-especially about the Manx Caroline North exhibition. I was too ill to go at the time of the bash, but will be going to see the exhibition in January. Do you recall a track called, "Botcha A Me", AKA "Botcha Me"?
Radio's Veronica, Northsea and Caroline played the arse off this in the 1970's. The track was always on the Dutch service of RNI and Radio Caroline -never on the English transmissions. I recall not being able to get hold of a vinyl copy from anywhere-then. Sometime in 1977, I managed to get a cassette copy from a friend in Holland and thus I always assumed is was a Dutch track. In 1975, my radio career was just starting so I was earning a living in the disco's and nightclubs and at this time was offered a job in a leading Gay nightclub (was a complete idiot back then and had some initial misgivings the money was fabulous and I found out that almost all Gay clubs employ Hetero Jocks so that they can do the job properly and not chase girls).
Anyway, one night I had the warm up tape on prior to starting my show and was deep in conversation, not noticing that the tape had played past its usual point and gone on to, “Botcha A Me”. I hurriedly remedied the situation, and was surprised to get a lot of customer enquiries about: "the Gay Record"! I worked out which one they meant-however I didn't know the song's title, nor who had recorded it, I just called it: "The Unknown Dutch Track from RNI".
However, what the customers heard was not; "Botcha A Me", they had heard it as, "Butch, Butch", which was obviously of great appeal to the Gay clientele, who, to that date, had very few records to call their own-this was before The Village People arrived. I recataloqued the disc as: "Butch, Butch".
Since then I've obviously learned that the track is called, "Botcha a Me",
was written in 1942, featured in a film, and was originally sung by Rosemary Clooney. The track is of Italian, not Dutch origin. However.....the version I had, by an artist I later learned was called, ‘Daisy Dynamite’, appears now on YouTube. If you watch the video, it seems to have been shot in Amsterdam, has a very definite Dutch feel about it, and is filmed on a boat that looks for all the world as one of the tenders for Veronica, Caroline and RNI.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLdmkCeWFU
At the end of the video, there's a message that appears, saying, "Thanks to Hans...." Is there a Dutch or Offshore connection to this track-is this why the three stations played it so much? Perhaps you could include the information that, "Botcha a Me", AKA "Butch, Butch" by Daisy Dynamite is available on YouTube, for all the UK listeners to RNI, Veronica and Caroline-who have probably been searching for the track for decades without success! Thanks again Hans. Best wishes, John Bennett.’
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLdmkCeWFU
Well John the video on you tube is not Daisy Dynamite. It just a redone song but with thanks to Hans means: thanks to Hans van den Hoek, which was the real name for Daisy Dynamite. He was a travesty. Hans van der Hoek died last year June at the age of 78. In 1973 he had a hit in Holland with Botch a me. It was indeed a heavy plug record on RNI and also Caroline and Veronica deejays played it as lot. Already in 1948 Hans went to Paris to work as a dancer and soon it became a glory for him to travesty. First he had a success as a black woman, but soon ‘Daisy’ was born. He was successful in Holland as well as other countries. Under his own name he also was in some television series as well as in movies, including together with Donald Sunderland in ‘Casanova’ from Frederico Fellini.
Next an email from Tenerife: ‘Hi Hans, Love your monthly reports even though I retired from radio after 30 years to live here in Tenerife and do a bit of property renting to make money www.golfdelsur.me.uk I listen to http://www.los40.com/player/Radio/40Principales most of the time if I'm not ‘surfing’ or listening to my ‘old’ stations I worked for like http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/
I can confirm this month's interest in Mark Stuart - (Mel Bowden - MD of MBI international in the 80's) The Chairman of MBI was Mike Fabricant now an MP in the UK Parliament... Employees included Chris, "Yettie" and Christine, who was the receptionist at their office/showroom in 69 Ship Street, Brighton; where I have many happy memories from 1981/82. Mel married Christine in the mid 80's (I think - from memory).Mark Stuart in his office. Photo: Rob Yarnold
I was Chief Engineer (Technical Director - as founding director of the Company) at Radio Wyvern (Hereford & Worcester). I bought 3 MBI Mixing desks for Wyvern and their crew "did a turnkey" as we only had two engineers. I went to Leceister Sound to see their first installation, bought by their Chief Engineer Bob Smith. GB Radio 230, Newport Gwent was their next contract, where I also did free-lance engineering in 1984 as they had a very small staff and no engineers not long after opening! Mel Bowden was a great lad, full of fun, and we really had some great times building Wyvern... bit of an anti-climax though once it was built!
My good friend, the late Crispian St John, was also mentioned in the piece. I was out on a Caroline Visit in 1984/5ish? and we brought Crispian back on our boat; he didn't return there and stayed on dry land to launch The Radio Magazine... and the rest is now history. Just add another photograph with me on the left with the now late Jack Spector; I was in New York in 1988 when this picture was taken. Midlands DJ/VO commercial producer Colin Day was with me on that trip, which included being guests and reading ads etc on Z100 breakfast with Scott Shannon and guesting on Morton Downy Jr. TV program on National TV! We spent 2 weeks in New York visiting radio stations and doing ads/guesting on a number - great fun. You can get in anywhere with a BBC ID press pass! Rob Yarnold. Photo: Archive Rob Yarnold.
Thanks Rob for these wonderful memories, most appreciated and enjoy your retirement.
And of course it was Willem de Bruin who started with the question what happened to Mark Stuart after his RNI days in 1971. I informed him by e mail and came back with the next: ‘What a wonderful reaction. It’s so many years ago. It’s good to see Mark has done it so good with his business. Also very nice to hear the thoughts Hans Hogendoorn wrote down about Mark and his days on RNI in 1971. Hans is really an RNI icon. I heard him once on Radio 192 and he hasn’t changed in style at all. on that station was also once a one time special, Radio Noordzee Days. Well together with Nico Steenbergen, John de Mol sr. and Hans they remembered a lot of things from the RNI days. For instant De Mol sr., the former boss of the Dutch Service, told that he never met Meister and Bollier again after August 31st 1974. Also he added that those two were a bit of strange guys. And let’s not forget Paul May from 1971 days. Indeed a big radio personality. He had his typical own style and always said in the microphone ‘Love you’’. Thanks a lot Hans for your effort to bring these memories back.’
I’m pleased to so do Willem. Well the three directors haven’t seen each other for 34 years. There is a change that next years Radio Days will bring them together again as the organising committee is already in contact with one of the Swiss directors and we try also get in contact with de Mol sr. and ask him to join us in November 2009. More about that at a later stage. Paul May came back in Europe in 1984 and became Paul Dean on Laser 558. Last time I heard about him was that he was running his own brewery in the USA.
Hello Hans, one of your readers wanted to know if there was any truth in the rumour that the Mi Amigo wreck was to be raised. If your reader would like to look at this page (you need to page down when you get there) he will see the most recent hydrograph of the wreck. The boat is breaking up and mainly buried in the shifting sands. The ship is also very near the Foulness weapons research establishment and is in a restricted area.
http://www.pla..co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/268
It is highly unlikely that the vessel will ever be raised. Paul, Essex
Watch out: further on in the report the radio hobby connected to trains and trams!
Sybil Fennell, the wife of now deceased Chris Cary, has objected to the use
of the name Radio Nova by a new Irish radio consortium who intends to launch next year. The new station plan to use the name Radio Nova 100 but Sybil, speaking on the message board at the Chris Cary tribute site, said that she was "stunned". "I don't believe it. I objected in writing to the BCI regarding the application for the use of the name Radio Nova". Radio Nova was a pioneering pirate radio station which launched in Dublin in 1981. Although only on air for five years the station is still revered today by former presenters and listeners alike. Although other stations, like Q102, have directly adopted the names of former '80s stations, these stations tend to have people associated with the old stations involved. Cary himself was known to be displeased that a former Dublin dance pirate (Nova Dance, Nova 946) station used the Nova name and old Nova indents’ but this
station carried on regardless. Although the Carys undoubtedly own the intellectual rights to the name Radio Nova in Ireland it is not clear whether they have any legal standing over a 22 years dead pirate station.
www.radiowaves.fm/newsart/080910nova.html
From Belgium I got an email from a reader concerning the long article in last issue about Capital Radio. As told the ship had as special round aerial. Herman writes: ‘Once I got to read from my late neighbor, a Radio Amateur, an article about such a system as used at The King David. It seemed that such aerials had not the supposed effect using it on AM. It was in a magazine called CQDL from Germany. A pity I haven’t the article, but who knows if someone else has it and can send you a copy.’
Thanks and if anyone has it, please send it to Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.
The next internet site was mentioned by a reader last time but he gave the incorrect one. So it was Mr. Luc de Groot himself who gave the correct one. Thanks Luc and a wonderful interview you did on November 8th with Adriaan van Landschoot. www.lucdegroot.com
Theo from Leeuwarden in Holland want to pay attention to the next internet page where a lot of interesting recordings from radio’s past are to find:
www.radiotime.com/affiliate/a_33029/ABC_Radio-stations.aspx
More about internet as Norman Tomalin's 1998 book Daventry Calling the World has now been made available on the BBCeng.info site as a pdf download:
http://www.bbceng.info/Books/dx-world/dx-world.htm
More to watch and read on another interesting subject is here:
http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/kneesflashes/happenings/octnovdec08/octnovdec01.html
And you thought that this is almost the end of the December edition of the Hans Knot International Radio Report? No, we’re halfway now. Don’t forget that later we have an interesting item about radio, trains and trams and ships too!
Next an e mail about last issue: ‘Great report on Capital Radio! Thanks.
Seeing the photo of Trips Tender made my stomach turn over. I still have vivid memories of the horrible trip to MV Mi Amigo from Scheveningen in a force 10 gale. The captain who was frying quantities of eggs and bacon, in the galley, laughing as I (and others) vomited over the side, wishing to die. Something like 8 hours of heaving and lurching through seas like black glass. Next I was transferring barrels and bales to the Mi Amigo while still vomiting over the side. What a madness. Clive Warner (Corell)’.
Thanks Clive and never forget you had the experience that you’ve broadcasted from the good old lady. That makes the whole thing much better.
Then a long and nice e mail from Ian: ‘Dear Hans, thanks a lot for the November newsletter, received last Thursday evening. I had spent most of the evening listening to Mi Amigo 192, Veronica 192, Seagull and Radio Waddenzee during the afternoon and then, at about 00.15 on Friday, I thought I'd better check for new e mails and, to my amazement, I found yours! I have a system on my computer called 'Guide,' designed for visually-impaired users, that reads everything for you; because the reading speed is relatively slow it took me from 00.20 till 01.35 to read through the newsletter! Having only been using e mails for a few weeks I'm learning by experience so I thought I'd better stick with the newsletter for fear losing it. I wanted to refer to it this afternoon but found that both your e mail and the newsletter had disappeared! At this stage it's a mystery; maybe it's something connected with attachments.
I was fascinated with the Tim Tomasson interview including all the information on the fitting out of the 'King David,' the Verweij brothers (apologies if the spelling is slightly wrong) and the links with the fire-bomb attack on the 'MEBO 2' and also the subtle differences between each countries' Marine Offences Bills, e.g., removing of crystals, etc. In 1970 I had a valve radio on loan from Southend Social Services; it could only receive medium wave! I would spend most of my spare time listening to Radio Veronica and, to a lesser extent, RNI. I'd read about Capital Radio and, moving the dial up towards 270 meters I found classical music, quickly decided it wasn't for me and switched back to Veronica. It was a very strong signal and must have been Capital. I wish I'd given it another try but, as a nineteen-year-old, I found the format a complete turn-off!
A few weeks ago I heard about a Radio Marina successfully bidding for 1485 kHz, with 1 kW, obviously not receivable hear in London but a few minutes ago I thought I'd see if it was on the Internet. All I found was continuous Spanish music - must be a completely different station! The original Radio Marina never materialised but I may have picked it up in late January 1971. I was in north-west England at the time and found a very strong and consistent signal on 1367 kHz; it was probably RNI testing before it moved back to its position off the Dutch coast. Thanks for publishing my request for 'Script no. 3.' Hopefully someone can help. I'd like to get over to the Dutch Radio Day but don't have a passport and it would probably take me a few weeks to obtain one. With Very Best Wishes,
Ian Godfrey. ‘
Thanks a lot Ian for these wonderful memories of yours. Radio Marina was a Belgium project whereby they tried to buy airtime from Meister and Bollier early 1971. Just some test tapes, recorded in Belgium, are the only things remembering to this ill fated project. Good to see Ian that you succeed in reading the report. The modern technique helps a lot to the visual handicapped people. Hope you have some time to get a passport in the coming 11 months as next year there will be another Radio Day in November in Amsterdam.
RTI, Radio Tatras International, is proud to announce it has been selected as the exclusive launch station for the latest Face book radio software from Silicon Valley and Buenos Aires-based Streema. The new Pages software from Streema enables anyone, even without a Face book membership, to visit radio station pages and listen instantly to their favourite radio station. With just one click of the mouse listeners can listen any time, any place, anywhere to RTI where there is a Net connection. And it’s freeware! Jan Telensky, RTI Owner and Managing Director, said, “We are delighted the team at Streema have teamed up with RTI for this exciting software launch, it is further proof that RTI is radio for the digital decade and further radio for young cosmopolitan listeners”. Juan Trouilh, Streema Co-Founder, added, “We have seen in RTI a station that is keen to be part of the future of radio and that is why we chose them to launch our most recent radio player software. “Streema is focused on bringing radio back to young people and RTI makes radio for young people, the future for radio. “We are looking forward to the launch at 8.00pm CET on RTI and we’ll be live from our Buenos Aires office to answer any questions RTI listeners may have”.
Eric Wiltsher, from RTI commented, “We are very proud to be launching this service with Streema. Facebook is a major meeting place for people and it’s growth in both Slovakia and globally is astounding. “By the hour, even in the middle of the night, people send RTI messages via Facebook and now listening will be even easier! “I am looking forward to chatting with Juan, using an Internet telephone naturally, as we launch the new Facebook Pages software with him”.
Access to the Facebook page of RTI, simply called RADIO, is via the Facebook logo on www.rti.fm. Even if the Browser is closed the Streema software will continue to play RTI! In order to add Streema to a Facebook Page, go to http://apps.facebook.com/streemapages
Ton Bodenstaff from Leiden in Holland did send me a couple of photographs featuring the MV Communicator in the harbour of IJmuiden as well as the Ross Revenge in Dover. The latter one we publish, of course with thanks to Ton Bodenstaff. Talking about IJmuiden, we have to go to an e mail from Chris Vermeulen from Zutphen in Holland. Some 18 months ago he sent me a message in which het talked about photos he had somewhere and which he had made way back in March 1968. It was on the 25th of that month that he was there by coincidence and thought he saw a ship with a huge mast coming into the harbour. Some weeks earlier the MV Mi Amigo was towed into IJmuiden harbour and all the press was there to report. But when the MV Caroline or Fredericia suddenly was towed in that day, no press was there. Chris, lucky enough, had a camera with him and took some excellent photos. He wrote me: ‘Finally after removing a few times I’ve found them back. I can reveal that no one else but me has seen this photos before. ‘Indeed nowhere on the internet and also not in my archive were photographs of the Fredericia towed into that harbour. Now more 40 years later they can be seen on www.hansknot.com Of course thanks a lot for this exclusive ones Chris!
Photo: Chris Vermeulen
Just a quick note to let you know that The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame has been updated.
What's new?
• We have added a selection of pirate recordings from Keith Martin's collection, including a very early Radio London test transmission;
• Colin Nicol provides us with a 1964 newspaper cutting which tells the story of the birth of Radios Caroline and Atlanta;
• we get a phone call from Carl Conway, the voice of all those Caroline commercials;
• there are more dates for Johnnie Walker's tour of UK theatres;
• we may - possibly - have identified the mystery Caroline newsman in Keefer's photograph;
• we link to web pages telling us about a train named after an offshore DJ and the early years in the music-biz of Radio City founder Reg Calvert;
• we have added a press cutting, dating from the Caroline North ship's 1964 voyage around the UK coast;
• there are some new / updated audio clips;
• And there is news of a forthcoming BBC Radio 4 Archive Hour programme on the early career of Kenny Everett.
All this and more on www.offshoreradio.co.uk
With best wishes - and many thanks to all the contributors,
from, Jon.
And from Jon to another regular: Bob LeRoi:
Welcome to the November 2008 Update
This time it’s an island off the Kent coast as ‘Scrapbook’ looks at the link between Laser add the tiny Community station BRFM‘One Subject one Link’ tunes away from terrestrial radio in search of entertainment landing sourly instead with the choice on Freeview. We open a new auction for a rare and collectable album by Caravan. In the Record Store we’ve the 1st Bee Gees album & CDs include the Beatles Past Masters and Jukebox Instrumentals: www.bobleroi.co.uk
Suddenly I got, versus Martin van der Ven, an e mail in which Dave Collins made good compliments about the www.offshore-radio.de site. And Martin decided I had to take contact with him too as he’s a former Voice of Peace shipmate, and a day later he wrote an e mail to me: ‘Good to hear from you. Here is my radio past: Voice Of Peace 1984-1985 My name on the ship was Paul Rogers. Radio Caroline 1985. My name was Dave Collins, I was told I could not use the surname Rogers as Del Rogers was one of the DJ's. So I picked Dave Collins. I applied to work on Radio Caroline after spending one year on the Voice of Peace. I got a call from the office and made my way to the south coast to get on the tender. I travelled out to the ship with John Ford. It was dream come true for me. I worked alongside Neil Francis, Susan Charles, Peter Philips, John Lewis, David Andrews and Andy Johnson. To spend time on the Ross Revenge was too magical to describe, it was just a pity the DTI ruined matters during "Eurosiege!" After my time on Caroline, I worked for Radio Top Shop in Newcastle until 1988. Then Marcher Sound (Wrexham), until I joined Red Rose Radio in Preston. I was one of the presenters on the Red Rose Gold station that launched in 1989. I joined Radio City in Liverpool in 1992 and then was one of the original presenters on a new station in Lancaster, The Bay in 1993.In 1994, I headed up to Carlisle to CFM to do the lunchtime show. I also became Head of Music and Deputy Programme Controller. In 2005, I went back to The Bay, Lancaster, to be Programme Controller/Head of Music. In 2007, I joined Alpha 103.2 in Darlington to be Presenter/Programme Controller.
I am now taking a break from broadcasting to travel around the world. In the past 8 months I have been to Canada, USA, Bahrain, Jordan, India, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines and Laos. I am currently in Vietnam with Cambodia, Macau, Hong Kong and New Zealand to come next! That's the update! Many thanks, Hans. Dave
Well wonderful that in this edition two former Voice of Peace deejays are found back. Thanks for all the info about your career, have a nice further trip around the world and hope to see you too one time on our Annual Radio Day in Amsterdam.
I know Chris Edwards, editor of the English OEM always is interested in lost and found deejays and so he was informed and did some archive work: ‘Thanks for this. Looking at some old OEM's, I see that Dave was on Ross during August and September 1985, which was during time of Eurosiege, and whilst Fergie was also there. As far as I can see Dave was first heard on 6th August. Best wishes Chris Edwards.
On the 8th December, Mike Pasternak, the American DJ internationally known as Emperor Rosko, El Presidente, Kaiser Rosko and Le President will be returning to England to be honoured by the Radio Academy and subsequently inducted into their Hall of Fame, only the second American to be admitted. Every Saturday morning from 1967 to 1976 the catch phrase ‘I am gonna make your back crack’ and your ‘liver quiver’ rippled through the airwaves of Radio one as “the EMP” brought the latest and greatest in music to his UK fans Known as a radio rebel, Rosko ‘broke’ countless new artists who went on to become household names In addition to accepting this prestigious award Rosko will meeting up with his fans and talking to the media about his everyday interaction with superstars like the Beach Boys, Barry White, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Hendrix amongst others.’ From Radio Caroline to BBC Radio one Rosko’s fan base has always been impressive. Even today, broadcasting from his own studio in Los Angeles Rosko’s BBC specials and the syndicated LA Connection can be heard on 23 stations across the UK Europe and around the world. His newest: ‘Coast to Coast Country’ is being well received around the world. To quote Rosko: ‘radio is my life, and I plan to be at it for a long time to come’.
So congratulations to you Rosko for getting the Award. I know you had plans to meet up but as I wrote to you I have on the day you’re in Amsterdam other commitments. Who knows another time?
On the Radio Day was an unexpected amount of women this year who attended the program. Well done to you. one of them was Mandy Marton who I introduced in another report in late summer 2007. She wanted to find a place within the radio industry. In the meantime, more than 15 months later, she has a lot to share with us: ‘Hi Hans. Sorry not to have been back to you sooner. I hope all is well. Thank you for contacting me with musical suggestions, while I was presenting programmes on Radio Seagull/ Waddenzee, out on the lightship last summer. I am delighted to attend this year 30th Radio Day, with my friend Alan Beech, captain of the Ross Revenge. I will be Flying the flag for Radio Seagull and representing many of my friends and colleagues from Radio Waddenzee and Caroline and who will also be attending. I have mentioned Radio Day several times on my Radio Seagull programmes, many of my listeners have written to say that they are also looking forward to it, especially Sietse Brouwer's speech. Last year I wrote a Radio Day report for the Radio Caroline Horizon magazine. and have been asked to do so again this year. Chris Cary will be sadly missed this year by Elija and myself, and so many others who had great respect for his truly inspirational force in broadcasting. I was greatly encouraged earlier this year on hearing, at his memorial from Sybil, that he had great faith in my ability as a broadcaster. That really meant a lot to me.
2008 has been an incredibly busy year for me with several offers to present programmes on various radio stations, some of which I have accepted and others that I would love to get involved with as soon as I can fit them into my schedule. I will be presenting a special Radio Seagull Christmas day programme. I seem to spend a considerable amount of time these days working out on one ship or another, alternating between the Jenni Baynton and with Alan on the Ross Revenge. I regret that I was unable to greet you aboard Radio Waddenzee, when we broadcast back in May. Sietse had joked that if I was able to take part in the offshore broadcast he would have me playing some Boney M! It was an overwhelming success and great to be part of a true offshore radio station. In the spring I was down at Shepperton Film studios, helping Alan, on the set of the film ‘The Boat That Rocked’, which should be released next May. They have built an incredible set which looks very realistic. I will happily send you some of our photos if you are interested. I was spinning records in the studio's film set in between helping out. They built the studio part of the set on a hydraulic system that made the whole set Rock. It felt a little like it did when I first visited the Ross back in the 1980s. After meeting Peter Moore, at the Radio Academy, in 2007, it is easy to understand why Radio Caroline still has such a loyal and faithful listening audience, everyone is so dedicated. I was happy to be part of preparing the Ross with Alan for the Easter and other regular Radio Caroline broadcasts that have been made from the ship during the year. I know listeners love to hear programmes from a ship
I was receiving the warmest of welcomes from everyone over in the Netherlands in July, while I was presenting live programmes each evening, with Chris Kennedy on Radio Seagull/ Waddenzee, as part of our live Summer celebration broadcasts from the Lightship. It was an amazing voyage of discovery and an incredible experience that I have many happy memories of. one of my regular listeners, Charles from Amsterdam, greeted me at the airport and came out to the lightship to view our broadcasts, along with other visitors. Sietse had dedicated a considerable amount of time and hard work on the ship doing a fine job restoring the Jenni Baynton to, as near as possible, to the original lightship. I was remarkably impressed with the ship and radio station, which thanks to Sietse, Stevie Gordon and many others; our listening audience continues to grow rapidly, an amazing success due to Sietse Brouwer. The studio provides a panoramic view over Harlingen. Thank you for suggested I play ‘Harbour light’, it was very appropriate and a song I enjoy featuring on my show.
During my stay I experienced extreme contrasts in the weather. Including spectacular storms, lightning, that lit up the sky over Harlingen. Wind and waves rocked the lightship; being at the furthermost point out in the harbour we really felt some of the offshore experience. Chris Kennedy was almost blown off the pier while trying to make his way back to the ship that night, The wind was so strong that I was almost unable to lower the gangplank, with the torrential rain lashing the ships deck, almost sweeping me off the side but jointly we eventually managed it. Even trying to bolt down a door or hatch was difficult. The wind continued howling into the night. It was still rough in the morning as I checked the extra mooring ropes that Sietse had securely tied the night before. one of my colleagues, Wim van Egmond (Radio Waddenzee) was disappointed to have missed the storm. Such a storm was unusual for July, as Chris Kennedy commented, it was the worse storm he had every experienced on the Jenni Baynton and Chris has seen some great storms, being on Radio Caroline on the Ross in the 80s when the 300ft mast came down. We shared many interesting stormy evenings on lightship in the mess room recounting stories of his days out at sea and mine as a dancer on BBC’s Top of the Pops. We all were dancing to the music in the studio. I was very pleased with Chris's company , although incredibly atmospheric, it was a little spooky when I came off air and was alone on the Lightship at night! I must practice my languish skills as many of my Dutch friends are encouraging me and I would love to learn. I have been delighted by the response I have received from listeners from all around the world, that is truly the wonder of Radio bringing people together though music. Regular listeners that have become friends and either visited the Ross Revenge or the Jenni Baynton. Especially PJ from (Special Music Radio) in Bristol, Achim in Austria and Charles in Amsterdam to mention just a few.
I have also been able to promote new young talent; a music teacher who wrote to me from the Mayflower School in Essex in the UK asked me if I could play the song "Rocket Girl" by Laura Green and the Mayflower school choir. It was dedicated to the memory of a classmate Declan Heath. I listened and was really impressed. It was originally recorded by the Wire daises , part of the proceeds of the downloads go towards the Click Sargent cancer charity. More info can be found on www.moonbootson.com. Seagull and BBC stations are also playing it but I was delighted to have been thanked for being the first for helping to make the song a success.
Finally thanks for all of your fascinating Radio reports over this year.
I have always shared a passion for free and offshore radio. Regards
Mandy Marton.’
Well Mandy congratulations on doing so many things in one year and also for the fact your dream to become active in radio succeeded. Thanks for all the plugs on Radio Seagull/Waddenzee for the Radio Day and indeed I spotted several people from your listening area on November 8th. It was good to see you and Alan there too. And many photos of the Radio Day can be found on www.offshore-radio.de including some on which Mandy also appears.
There’s a lost video shot on the Ross Revenge now on you tube. ‘During the Ross's visit to Docklands in 1995, a music video was shot on the ship. We were promised a copy, but I never saw one and I doubt anyone else did, but I managed to find it on YouTube. Is anyone else aware of this?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yAJpB-Ct6P0
Steve Satan
More internet news from David: ‘If you are interested, there is now an internet version of RNI. It's an automated system with live programmes on Sundays. It's at: www.radio-northsea.co.uk
David Parkin
Hi Hans, I hope that you are well, and many thanks for the Radio Reports, and I bet I received your Radio Report in the most unlikely spot, half way across the Atlantic Ocean on my home from New York on board the QM2, and it made very interesting reading too all at sea. What a better way to read about offshore radio than been at sea! Greetings, Colin Wilkins.
What an amazing way to hear where the Report is read Colin, thanks a lot.
Then to reader Wim from Holland: ‘Hi there, with great interest I've read the story on the Radio Atlantis vessel Janine. Please find enclosed a picture of her arriving at Flushing which is according to my info 01/09/1974 and not 01/10/1974. Regards, Wim KostenPhoto: Wim Kosten
Well just some minutes to go before our special about radio, trains, trams and ships!
Offshore Echo's story of Radio Caroline continues through 1977 and 1978, at a time when the UK authorities were practicing for "1984" by prosecuting radio listeners for such heinous crimes as displaying car stickers, and wearing badges that dared to promote Radio Caroline.
Life wasn't all so bleak, and the story includes photo features on the offshore radio commemorative events - Flashback 67 and Zeezenders 20.
There's also a complete set of the listeners magazine - Caroline Newsletter (in PDF format) to read. Visit www.offshoreechos.com for the Caroline story. Chris Edwards
Earlier on, Mandy mentioned that she was, together with Alan Beech, on the set for the movie ‘The boat that rocked’. Posters from the upcoming film "The boat that rocked" are to find on internet: http://gordonandthewhale.com/the-boat-that-rocked-has-got-some-rockin-posters
I hope that you also enjoyed the Dutch part of the Caroline reunion 1979/1980 on the Radio Day. It was hosted by Fons van Winteraeken in a very relaxed and professionally way. Just three days before the event he was asked by the organisers to do the interview. Thanks a lot Fons. Well done! Also have a look on the memories from Fons on internet.
http://radiocaroline79.punt.nl/
Again back to the tiger in your tank. ‘Dear Hans, in your last Report, there was mention of the ‘Esso Blue’ commercial. I might have an item of interest. In the early 1970's I received one of the old, ‘Lyntone/Flexitone’, plastic records. These played just like their vinyl counterparts, but it was usually the case that a large coin such as a two shilling piece had to be placed on the stylus arm, in order for it to play. The Lyntone disc in question was titled: ‘The Great Blue Singer’, by, Joe, the Esso Blue Dealer, and the disc tells the story of Joe's World Tour. I found this disc to be strangely addictive! I should explain, for those who aren't British, and for those Brits who don't understand the Lancashire dialect; the ‘joke’ in the record. In Lancashire, people can pronounce words very differently to the Standard English. So, "water" becomes, "waiter", "right" becomes, "reet", and "lighter" becomes; "leeter". In the song, a German chap asks: "Ja, und how much for eine litre?" Joe misunderstands the word, "litre" and thinks the German is asking him, "How much for a leeter" -and replies that Esso Blue isn't leeter fuel-that is, fuel for a cigarette lighter. Yes, a pretty poor joke I agree. What is funny, although unintentionally, is Joe singing the Esso Blue song in French. Please pass this track on to the people who were interested in Esso Blue. Best wishes, John Bennett’.
Thanks a lot John for your contribution and I’ve forwarded it to the person who asked for it. Most appreciated.
Ray Terret sent me a photo impression of the Caroline North Convention held on the Isle of Man. My webmanager Martin allready put them on my internet site and so go to see them at: http://www.hansknot.com/IoM/
Of course with a lot of thanks to: Ray Terret.
Well it’s time for
RADIO, TRAINS, TRAMS AND SHIPS
His career, in radio, begun in May 1969, while he was working for the offshore radio station Radio Veronica. Using the name Klaas Vaak he first presented a late night evening program. But in the four years he worked with Veronica he also presented programs on every other part of the day. For many people it was joy time when Klaas Vaak could be heard on 192 meters and later on ‘538’. He made us awake when it was time to get out of bed and surprised us on weekday’s afternoons with ‘the playing quarter’. The program ‘Bubling under Britain’ brought us, versus the presentation of Klaas Vaak, the latest releases from the British Record Companies. Also he has a very good feeling for ‘the time’. Special jingles were sung for each minute one could depart from home in the morning. Jokes and antics were heard a lot in his shows, partly ‘lent’ from Tony Blackburn. once he told the story that he, on the way from his home in Amsterdam and on the way to the Veronica studios in Hilversum he put his car on a parking place so he could write down a joke, Blackburn used on BBC Radio one. And surely the same joke could be heard in Dutch a week later on Veronica. This as the program tapes were recorded a week on forehand.
In august 1973 he decided to work for public broadcaster TROS doing radio programs on Hilversum 3, the so-called national pop station in the Netherlands. Several successful programs followed like: ‘Poster’, ‘de Havermoutshow’ (early morning show), ‘Vijftig Pop of een enveloppe’. (Fifty guilders or an enveloppe’ and ‘Nachtwacht’ (night watch-man). Famous in the Netherlands is his co broadcast with Benny Brown from Radio Luxembourg. Tom Mulder third from left in the early eighties (TROS promo photo)
1988 Tom Mulder, which is Klaas Vaak’s own name, went to work for Cable one, the very first satellite radiostation. He was there also part of the managing team. However Dutch government decided that the time wasn’t there yet for such form of radio and Cable one had to close down. Next Tom Mulder went to satellite television Veronique TV, were he worked as voice over in a game program. But 1991 it was possible to work for a real legal satellite radiostation and so Tom went to Radio 10. Next to the fact he presented a lot of programs through the years he also became program director. Live programs from location were also held on regular base, for instant from Graceland in Memphis and Disneyland. Tom still worked for Radio 10 in 2004, doing the early morning show, whereby he was assisted by ‘My golden girls’ (René Verkerk and Ger van den Brink). August 2004 Tom Mulder became very ill due to a cerebral hemorrhage. His daily program was taken over by Peter Rijsenbrij. Tom Mulder recovered partly and on April 4th 2006 he could be heard again on Radio 10 Gold, where between 12 en 13 hrs his item ‘250 pop or an envelope’ was done by Tom during the Peter Holland show.
However restarting was more difficult than expected and after some time Tom stopped again with his work. During the past 2 years revalidation has gone very well for Tom Mulder, who was honoured on the 2007 Radio Day with a Radio Day Award for his whole career. He was still sitting in his wheel chair but on this year Radio Day he came walking in to the event room! Next to his interest in radio Tom has a big love for trains and trams. Through the last five decades he has travelled a lot for this healthy addiction, seeing radiostations, trains and trams everywhere. About 45.000 photographs of trains and trams are made by him. Tom, who I know personally from his early days in radio, recalls his love for radio and trains and trams in e mails, which we exchange a lot. As I have the same addiction for trains and trams, only in a smaller way, we exchange also memories about this subject in our e mails. Some weeks ago Tom told me he had an idea for an article in the report and so here it is: HANS KNOT AND TOM MULDER IN 1983
RADIO/TRAMS/TRAINS AND SHIPS.
Persons, who made radio their occupation, are, often, very enthusiastic people, who almost ever live in a dream world. Radio, of course, fits completely into this dream world. Radio was always a dream for them, which became reality for some of them. And for them who were lucky enough to step into the radio world, a lot of them needed another subject which was appropriate enough to fit into the dream world. And which is always said by their woman, men always behave like children. Dreaming and the combination from Radio, trains, trams and ships is almost a self evident combination.
In their youth radio was everywhere available. Radio gave the listeners a pleasant and relaxed feeling. Of course this was on the top if it was a pop radio station. That cheerful and relaxed form of radio took care of expanding the fantasy of all those dreamers within the listenership of the same radio.
Later, after the television became a common part of live, the dream world of course became smaller. Television didn’t give us the same dream world as radio did. This was simply because you could see everything in reality on television.
Above statement almost automatically means that there is a link between radio and trams, trains and ships and the generation which enjoyed the radio, trains, trams and ships and not the television, but indeed also the world of trains, trams and ships. And really, if you were such a dreamer, you also thought that you couldn’t believe what your eyes saw and your ears heard that there were more of the same persons who talked about the same subjects: radio, trains, trams and ships. Lucky enough, you were not the only one. Everywhere the addiction took me I could see there were many more people who loved radio in combination with trains, trams and ships. For those who thought it was something typical Dutch I have to tell that they’re wrong. It seems that in a combination of countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands there are more than 7.5 million people who have a small model railroad in their home, garden, garage of whatever. An impressive amount of people regularly visits special markets in their hobby field. In Dutch Radio World you can find a lot of people addicted to trains and trams. In Hilversum, original the radio village of the Netherlands, it was easily to point them. Nowadays as radio in the Netherlands is not only in Hilversum, the radio, trains, trams and ship fans can be found everywhere in our country.
Next a rundown of men and their mentioned hobby in radio country: Erik de Zwart (former Paul de Wit from Caroline), Tom Mulder, Edward Niessing, Wim van Putten, Joop van Zijl, Willem van Kooten aka Joost den Draaier, Kees Buurman, who sadly departed us, Paul van der Lugt as well as Ferry Bosman, better known as Ferry Eden from Radio Mi Amigo and Radio Monique.
By the way, did you know that on international waters, to be exactly on the MV Laissez Faire, home of Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio and later three other stations, the American Boom Boom Brannigan had his own model railroad track so he could be train engineer between the moments he had to do his radio show? No, I would not expect his hobby direct related to Americans, although the American version about trains on EBay is fascinating. Even German companies are advertising there. BULL VERWEIJ AND TOM MULDER IN AN OLD TRAIN
WHEN TOM CELEBRATED HIS 30 YEARS IN RADIO IN 1999
PHOTO: ROB OLTHOF
We have all the time in the world to add more and more names to people within the radio world who are addicted not only to their first love called ‘radio’ but also to trains, trams of ships. For instant I want to mention the name of a guy with a most wonderful ‘fifty’s voice’, called Bert Steinkamp, who worked for Radio Netherlands World Broadcasting Corp. for many years and has written a lot of books about steam traction. My question to you, the reader of the Hans Knot International Radio Report, is what your link is with the addiction to radio, trains, trams and ships. Feel free to let them come in at Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.
TOM MULDER
Thanks a lot Tom, and I hope a lot of our readers tell their story too, why they are healthy addicted to radio, trams, trains and ships.
Well before you think this edition is becoming a book, two more items before I say farewell for this edition, with Petula Clark singing in the back ground ‘The show is over now’: ‘First an e mail from Rotterdam, where Ger Kruidenier is living. I know him also since the seventies but we rarely are in contact these days. He wrote: ‘I was listening to some old tapes from Veronica transmitted in 1994 on Radio 2. The program was called ‘History on Offshore Radio’ and it featured Ad Bouman, Ad Stenders and on a regularly basis also a certain Hans Knot. Well I must say, very well done my boy. In that program special made Veronica jingles were used, who seemed to be made by PAMS and were used in earlier days by Radio London, SRE, Britain Radio and many more stations. Of course I would love to have these jingles. Do you know how to get them or where I can download them?’
Well the best way is to get in contact either with Jelle Boonstra or Benno Roozen of the Foundation for Radio Jingles and Tunes. Surely they can help you. http://www.jingleweb.nl/index.html
But Ger went on with: ‘Also I heard you talk in one of the programs about the Radio Nord movie as well as the movie about Radio Hauraki. Are they still available?’
Well you can write to Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken. for a copy of the radio Nord movie. The documentary ‘1111 days at sea’ which is the Hauraki Movie was shown at our very first radio day in Noordwijkerhout, way back in 1978. We did this three day event together with MRP and the movie disappeared and no one within the Dutch side of the organisation knows where it went. I tried in New Zealand to get a copy but also there it can be found. I’ve the soundtrack and can provide you with a copy. I read also that you’re going to New Zealand. We have there also a group of readers and I wish you a lot of pleasure. Don’t forget to tune into Radio Hauraki as it is the biggest station in the country for many years.
Next month we have more about two new products on the radio market. A DVD video about Tony Allen and a book, which will be realised in March next year about the last years from Caroline in the late eighties. It’s written by Steve Conway. Last item for this issue is the fact that Ray Terret provided me with his photos of the Caroline North Reunion, which took place in September on the Isle of Man. You can find them back at: www.hansknot.com
And what about Ronan O’Rahilly, posing with the Fredericia bell at the exhibition venue? The exposition at the Isle of Man has been expanded till the month of April 2009.Photo: Ray Terret
Dear Friends I hope you enjoyed this bunker edition. Next month I have much more. And I will get back to you with Christmas wishes in a couple of weeks.