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Pirate Memories
teamed up with BBC Radio Essex between the 8th
and 14th of August as they presented “Pirate” BBC
Essex. The Radio station, operating from the last manned
lightship to be built in the UK – the LV18, was situated
half a mile out on a buoy in the River Stour off Harwich.
Presenters on
board included Emperor Rosko, Dave Cash, Johnnie Walker,
Norman St.John, Keith Skues, Tom Edwards, Ed Stewart, John
Kerr, and a number of BBC Essex’s own staff.
The BBC set up
internet feeds so that the station could be heard around the
world, and local listeners were able to hear their
programmes on three frequencies in the Essex area.
Programmes from
the ship were unashamedly reminiscent of the 60’s offshore
pirates, and featured music from the years 1964 – 1967. On
board, the DJ’s used vinyl records and vintage technology to
get the authentic sound which also included an echo machine
on the presenters voice, a gimmick used by many of the
offshore stations.
The shows were
presented in three hour segments, using the same kind of
news and weather formats pioneered by the 60’s pirates.
The only
difference between ‘Pirate’ BBC Essex and its 60’s
counterparts were the many hundreds of people who were
e-mailing the station with comments and requests, and these
were being read out on a continuous basis by the presenters.
On Land, at the
Ha-Penny Pier Centre at Harwich’s ‘Old Quay’ there was an
opportunity to see the “Flashback 67” exhibition, presented
by Pirate Memories.
With over 400o
people through the doors by the end of the weeks activities,
this exhibition proved to be a focal point for the
happenings on the Ha’Penny pier, where DJ’s Johnnie Walker
and Keith Skues signed books, and the on board DJ’s came to
sign autographs and have their photos taken with a regular
stream of fans.
Also in the
Ha’Penny Pier centre, were the Pharos Trust, who look after
the LV18 lightship, under the watchful eye of Tony O’Neill.
He was selling ‘Pirate’ BBC Essex
T-shirts, and
the Beebs own stand was selling the Commemorative ‘Pirate’
Essex Mugs.
The Café on the
Pier did a roaring trade, and the ferry taking listeners out
to the LV18 for a closer look at the ship, was busy every
day.
On Tuesday
August 14th, the weather dawned grey and windy.
As the day progressed, the situation deteriorated and the
ferry was replaced by a harbour tug, which brought several
members of the BBC team off the lightship for safety
reasons. As the weather got worse, and the station went off
air at 3.00 p.m., it was time to bring the DJ’s from the
vessel back to shore, and whilst they all got off safely,
there was some concerns about them arriving on the pontoons
near the pier which were pitching and rolling some 6 feet up
and down.
Once on shore,
the DJ’s made their way to the exhibition centre, and the
room was soon full to bursting with damp fans, and soaked
presenters. After about half an hour, people began to move
out, but it seemed that no-one wanted to leave, such were
the feelings that were running high from the last few days.
All in all the
event proved that there is a significant need for a radio
station playing just the kind of music ‘Pirate’ BBC Essex
broadcast over those seven days.
Indeed, there
is a petition doing the rounds, asking them to consider
presenting this station on a yearly basis : -
See: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/121078786
Naturally,
Pirate Memories supports any move to have this type of radio
station on air on a national basis, as we believe that this
age group is largely ignored by the majority of the UK’s
radio stations and radio companies.
Finally Pirate
Memories would like to thank the many people whom we spoke
to during the event, for their time, their patience and
above all their recollections. We met everyone, from a
member of the breaches buoy crew
which took the
DJ’s off the stricken Mi-Amigo in January 1966, to a
gentleman who brought us a huge amount of pirate radio
memorabilia for our exhibition. We spoke to a number of
‘celebs’ and to many ordinary folk, who just wanted to be
there to soak up the atmosphere. You were all truly amazing!
Thanks to the
chap who brought us copies of the ‘Radio News’ articles from
1967, thanks also to Jan, Paul, Drifter Bill, Steve, Ron,
Steve B, Alan, Mr Fletcher, Cari, and the many dozens of
others who spoke to us, but didn’t leave their names…..
Thanks to Mike
on the Pier, Alan on the Ferry, and Tony from the LV18.
Also, our grateful thanks to Shaun who helped us find our
way around Harwich, and to Carly for helping us put up the
exhibition on the Tuesday night.
We hope you all
enjoyed the exhibition as much as we did presenting it…..We
hope it certainly won’t be the last time….!
Finally, thanks
to everyone who has given or sent pictures to us for the
Pirate Memories website. I am also grateful to Hans Knot for
the pictures of the Radio Academy event in London on August
4th, and to Chris and Mary Payne, Dave Knight and
Tom Campbell, for their permission to show a number of the
pictures.
Enjoy…..and please all keep in touch.
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