Gordon Sheppard's Radio London photo album

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Gordon was Radio London's promotions manager. Together with his secretary, Brenda Cogdell, he set up and organised all the onshore promotional activities. These included the Big L shows at the Marquee Club in Wardour Street on Saturday afternoons and Wimbledon Palais on Saturday evenings. There were other regular shows at Greenford, Lowestoft and Ramsgate. They also ran motor race meetings and stands at events like the Camping and Outdoor Life Exhibition and the Schoolboys and Schoolgirls' Exhibition - both held at Olympia. He has very kindly sent us some photographs from his collection.

	LEFT: Gordon is on the right. Managing Director Philip Birch is in the centre. Pictured on the tender, they are taking a guest out to the Radio London ship. RIGHT: In the centre of the photo, left to right, Paul Kaye, Philip Birch and Earl Richmond on board the mv.Galaxy.
	LEFT: Mark Roman in full regalia, as befits the leader of The Roman Empire! Gordon says: “Here's one for the archive, Mark Roman at the launch of his programme. I can't remember where it was taken. It might be on the stairs leading to the basement of 17 Curzon Street (Radio London's offices). As soon as you entered the door at Curzon Street, the promotions department was just to your left. When we created too much activity we were moved down to the basement.”   RIGHT: Promotional photograph for Managing Director Philip Birch.

Gordon says of his old boss: “The Americans came up with the idea and the investment but, make no mistake about it, Philip Birch was Big L. He was the real financial brain, the controlling wizard, that made it all work. He put together that terrific team: Alan Keen (Sales Director and Programme Controller after Ben Toney left), Eddie Blackwell and Dennis Maitland (they were the ones who pulled in all the advertising and the cash to keep the jocks out at sea), Mike Stone handled the press and publicity, Brenda Cogdell and I created the promotions. We were all part of that great story but, in my own estimation of pirate offshore radio, Philip Birch stands taller than most. He put together that amazing team and has to have pride of place.”

Many thanks to Gordon for the use of his pictures.
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