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Mike Spenser Originally from Brooklyn, New York, but now resident in Britain, Mike was the vocalist with rock group The Count Bishops before forming The Cannibals. He was
heard on Laser Hot Hits, using the name ‘Micky Baron’, hosting a pre-recorded sponsored programme called The Garage Goodies Radio Show. His co-presenter was Bal Croce, known as
‘The Count’. The idea was that bands would pay £65 to have their demos aired on the programme. The first show was on 8th March 1987 but unfortunately the station closed the following month. Passionate about sharing
his love of guitar-driven rock'n'roll, he later operated Pirate Radio 603AM, a licensed station broadcasting from a ship, the mv St Paul, in Finland's Swedish speaking Åland Islands during 2004/5. Mike also hosted some shows
on a Radio Caroline RSL and on Resonance FM in London. More recently he has run Trashcan Radio on-line. (This photo is taken from Mike's Linked In page. Thanks to Mark Keable for his help.)
Part of the first Garage Goodies Radio Show on Laser Hot Hits, 8th March 1987. This clip is edited from a recording cleaned up and posted by the Offshore Radio Archive, then shared on www.azanorak.com. Our thanks to Harm Koenders and Ray Robinson (duration 4 minutes 20 seconds)
Richard Staines also known as Steve Silby, started in radio from the first moment he had money in his pocket. In 1977 he joined the land based London Music Radio in south-east
London where he met soon-to-be Caroline stalwart Richard Thompson. Also on the team was Cliff Osbourne who spent time on the Mi Amigo too and, more recently,
was Programme Director for the internet version of Radio Caroline. Richard/Steve considered himself far too inexperienced to go out to the Mi Amigo at that time and was
busy with a less than promising career in banking. In mid-1980 he joined Kevin Turner in heading for Ireland, where the local pirate radio scene was flourishing. (They were two of the earliest English-born DJs
to work on the Irish stations.) Throughout this period he took occasional sabbaticals and spent time with Radio Sovereign in Italy (again with Turner), The Voice of Peace and, in January 1987, joined Radio Caroline. Sent out to manage
‘Caroline Overdrive’, this was over-ruled when he reached the ship and he mainly found himself on the Caroline-558 pop service instead. He remembers: “During this time Overdrive, with its increasing reliance on
religious programming, ceased broadcasting. I may have been Overdrive's final presenter.” He says that in hindsight he laments the closure of Overdrive as it was “an interesting alternative and an early broadcast champion
of indie music”. Immediately after his tour on Caroline, he returned to Ireland but a career in British radio beckoned with time spent on Ocean Sound, Gold AM, 2CR FM, Wave 105 and others. In 1997 he joined BFBS Television as a
transmission controller and continuity announcer. Richard/Steve returned to permanent residency in Ireland in 1999 to campaign for and manage the application of Ireland's first regional radio station. Re-joining Richard Thompson
(now known as Bob Lawrence) and Cliff Osbourne a quarter of a century after their initial meeting, he returned to Caroline on the internet in 2003 for long periods on Breakfast (and more recently Friday afternoons). Since 2001 he
has worked with the US developer responsible for the popular Powergold music scheduling software. Representing the product has allowed him to visit and teach music scheduling
all over the world. He also works as an occasional voice-over artist and produced the epic 8 hour Voices From The Sea two-parter, broadcast by Caroline on the day of the station's 50th anniversary. He also helped cement
Caroline's recent relationship with Manx Radio, producing a series of programmes which included contributions from The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame. (Many thanks to Richard/Steve for his assistance.
This photo is from Offshore Echo's magazine.)
Richard Staines on Caroline-558 from the afternoon of 23rd January 1987. This clip is edited from a recording posted on www.azanorak.com. Our thanks to Ray Robinson (duration
3 minutes 11 seconds)
David Lee Stone From Los Angeles, California, David had been a DJ, Programme Director, actor, model and singer before joining Laser-558, most recently working as a DJ in
Phoenix, Arizona. He was part of the original team on Laser, being heard on day one, 24th May 1984. He was Head of Music for a time then Programme Director, staying with the station until April 1985. He then joined Radio Luxembourg,
presented some shows on Chiltern Radio, then moved to Italy from where he provided pre-recorded ‘Magic Motown’ shows for Laser Hot Hits. He presented a few shows on Chris Cary's Radio
Nova International, opened a production company in London, was heard on Radio HMV and Atlantic 252 but sadly died from alcohol-related medical problems back in the United States in 1997, aged 37. (This photo is from
Offshore Echo's magazine. There are more pictures of David in Michael Dean's and Mark Stuart's photo albums.)
David Lee Stone on Laser-558 from the afternoon of 19th October 1984 (duration 4 minutes 5 seconds)
David Lee Stone on the very first Magic Motown show on Laser Hot Hits from the morning of 7th December 1986. Both clips are edited from recordings shared on the Internet Radiocafé, now known as the
Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by Vincent. Our thanks to him (duration 3 minutes 54 seconds)Charlie T presented one show on Radio Caroline, 5-9pm on 17th May 1986. Kevin Turner remembers: “He was sent out on a tender during one of my spells on board. Lovely chap, a fair bit younger than the rest of us, and with absolutely no experience. The story we were told was that (station founder) Ronan was trying to tap-up his very wealthy father and had told him he'd send him out to the ship where he would become ‘the next Tony Blackburn’! Poor lad was extremely nervous so we suggested he ‘spun’ the overnight show without saying anything to get used to the studio. Even then he struggled. The next day we got a message from shore to say ‘where was he?’ and that Ronan wanted to hear him doing 5-9pm. This was the slot I'd been on so I drove the desk for him and he did an occasional announcement. Somehow we got through the 4 hours and went down to the mess-room for a well deserved shandy where he told us all very apologetically that he didn't think he was cut out for the life of a DJ and when could he go home please? We duly relayed this to shore and a boat arrived the next day to take him off. We never saw or heard from him again.” (Thanks to Kevin for the information.)
Dave Taylor was heard on Radio Caroline between 27th January and 8th February 1990. We asked if anyone could provide information about him. Thanks to correspondent Leigh Preece for telling us Dave was also heard on south London's Radio Jackie where he used the name ‘Dave Small’. There is a recording of him on Jackie on The Pirate Archive. Can anyone provide a photo?
Dave Taylor on Radio Caroline from the morning of 3rd February 1990. This is taken from a recording shared on the Internet Radiocafé, now known as the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by Vincent. Our thanks to him (duration 3 minutes 33 seconds)
Shaun Tilley was first heard on Radio Caroline presenting a one-off show, 4-6am on Monday 5th November 1984, while working on the mv Ross Revenge as a cook. He then spent
some time with the BBC World Service but returned to Caroline as a full-time DJ in June 1989. He then joined Radio Luxembourg and has since been employed by numerous stations including Capital Gold, Sunshine Radio and Magic, as
well as hosting syndicated series about Radio 1 and the Top Of The Pops TV programme which have been transmitted by a number of BBC local radio stations around the country. Shaun Tilley's ‘Big Drive Home’ is
on Liverpool Live every weekday afternoon. (Photo shared by Shaun on Facebook.)
“Young Shaun in the morning” on Caroline-558, 18th June 1989. This clip is taken from a recording shared on The Offshore Radio Club Forum (duration 3 minutes
37 seconds)
Tracy Then girlfriend of DJ Ricky Jones, Tracy presented a few late night shows on Radio Caroline, the first being on 14th April 1990.
She says “I was 16 on my first trip out to the Ross Revenge and celebrated my 17th and 18th birthdays on board (and possibly my 19th while the ship was in Dover harbour). My first experience inside a studio was when I met
Ricky. He was working for Coast AM and I instantly fell in love with it. When Ricky lost his job at Coast he was offered work on Caroline. I don't know what God I need to thank for it but I was allowed to go out to the ship
with him if I worked, if not on air, then behind the scenes. I started by helping to rebuild the record library then moved on to pulling all the records for the shows. Nigel Harris was on board
during my first trip and he taught me how to type up the playlists so I moved on to that. That quickly changed to writing the weather and travel news. After Caroline went off air at night, we used to grab a few beers and doss in
the studio playing a whole host of music. I can honestly say my entire music taste was born on that boat. So I learned how to use the decks, mixer and cartridge machines. I also learned how to cue up records and how to segué
- and I learned how to do this while rolling in some of the most awful storms! I think the first time I actually went live on air it was just before my 17th birthday. Rico suggested it. I have so many
memories from on board but the happiest usually circle around Steve Conway and Neil Gates, both of whom I am still in contact with. I remember waking up in the early
hours of the morning on my 17th birthday and Rico was busy in the kitchen. He was making cakes for my birthday. I remember hazy summer days spent painting the ship ... it was like the Forth Bridge. As soon as you got to the end
it was time to start again. But mostly I remember the people and growing-up out there and being lucky enough to do so. Sadly Ricky and I are no longer together but to him I will always be eternally grateful, for Caroline and for
the people that came into my life because of it.” Tracy and Ricky stayed on the Ross Revenge as part of the caretaker crew, looking after the ship following the suspension of programming in November 1990. She went ashore
just before it went aground on the Goodwin Sands. She says: “I came off two days before that night and thank God I did, I was just pregnant with my daughter.” Tracy is now head of music and a co-owner of
Cinque Ports Radio, a community radio station that broadcasts to Rye and the Romney Marsh on 100.2MHz. (Thanks to Tracy and James Clark for their help.)
Andrew Turner Born 22nd October 1954, Andrew had worked in local radio - both commercial and BBC - before becoming a journalist on BBC Radio One's Newsbeat. His was
a regular voice on Radio One's Breakfast Show during the time it was hosted by Dave Lee Travis, Mike Read, Mike Smith, etc.. Andrew then went freelance and joined Laser Hot Hits as news chief (and
occasional DJ) in December 1986. He alternated months on Laser with stints on Radio Blue Danube in Vienna, but in May 1987, with Laser silenced, he turned up reading the news on LBC/IRN. He then worked for publisher Robert Maxwell
for a time before joining the Press Office of Sky TV. He was later heard on Atlantic 252 and Capital Gold. Sadly Andrew died on 7th March 2024. (Photo ©Pat Shea from Offshore Echo's magazine.)
Andrew Turner on the first full day of programming from Laser Hot Hits, 7th December 1986. The clip is taken from a recording shared on the Internet Radiocafé, now known as the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by Vincent. Our thanks to him (duration 3 minutes 40 seconds)
Kevin Turner grew up in Reading, Berkshire, and trained as a printer. He got into radio full-time in 1980 when he was offered a job at Suirside Radio in Waterford (through
his friend Richard Staines). He was there for a year then joined the Israeli offshore station the Voice of Peace in 1981. On leaving the VOP, he and some collagues set up ABC Radio in Tramore, Ireland. Then
another ex-Voice of Peace colleague Grant Benson got in touch and told him of a vacancy on Radio Nova in Italy. When Nova was sold in 1983, Kevin returned to the UK and joined Radio Sovereign in
Twickenham, staying with the station when it re-located to Italy the following year. When Sovereign was sold in 1985 he returned to the UK and worked with GWR and Severn Sound, joining Radio Caroline in January 1986. He also did
shifts on Radio Blue Danube in Vienna while on leave from Caroline. Kevin shared responsibility for programming Caroline-558 with Peter Philips and was a mainstay of the station during the mid-eighties.
He left Caroline at the end of 1987 following the collapse of the aerial mast. He joined Ocean Sound in Hampshire, then Contact 94 and Sunshine Radio, both in France, before returning to Ocean in 1989 where he stayed until 1992,
working as Senior Presenter on the Gold AM service. He was Head of Music for Spire FM in Salisbury until 1995 when he transferred to Cheltenham Radio to become Programme Controller. In 1998 he moved into television when he became
a continuity announcer for BFBS, becoming Programme Editor of BFBS-2 TV when it launched in 2002. He stayed in that role until the channel closed in 2013, and is now “semi-retired and enjoying life on the allotment”
(apparently his parsnips are most impressive!). Kevin has since been heard on the internet incarnation of Radio Caroline and oldies station Atlantis. There is an interview with him here. Kevin has been a
huge help in compiling The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame ‘Eighties Supplement’. We are very grateful to him for his assistance. (Many thanks also to Kevin for providing this photo.
There are more pictures of him in Nick Bolland's and Caroline Martin's photo albums.)
Kevin Turner on the Breakfast Show from Caroline-558, 15th July 1986. This clip is taken from a recording shared on the Internet Radiocafé, now known as the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by Vincent. Our thanks to him (duration 4 minutes)
John Tyler was first heard on the ‘Caroline Overdrive’ rock service in the early hours of 24th August 1986, later moving to the Caroline-558 pop service as well.
He had learnt his craft on a landbased pirate station and campus radio while a student at Hull University. John stayed with Caroline for a year (last show 15th August 1987). This was followed by a spell as DJ, commercial producer and
eventually Manager of Contact 94 in Normandy, broadcasting to the Channel Islands, where he had the honour of being on-air when the gendarmes raided the studio. After working in advertising sales for LBC he returned to the air with
Island FM in Guernsey, switching after a couple of years to BBC Radio Guernsey. Under his real name, Jon Myers, he then worked in sports broadcasting including time at Sportsmedia, Talk Radio (now Talksport), BBC Sport and various
outlets including Ladbrokes and Turf TV which broadcast to betting shops, but, twenty years later, he returned to BBC Radio Guernsey. Sadly his second stay there was brief as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died on Christmas
Day 2015, aged 52. There are some clips of John/Jon on Radio Guernsey on the BBC website. Caroline colleague Kevin Turner says: “John
was one of the great unsung heroes of the eighties era of Caroline. DJ, cook, mast-climber and stay-fixer. Plus an absolute joy to be on board with. Never a dull moment when ‘Tyler talks turkey’.”
Tom Anderson posted on Facebook: “Another one gone far too soon. RIP Jon, a real genuine guy, a pleasure to have worked with you.” Jamie King wrote:
“Cannot believe Jon has died at 52. He was so cool to hang out with on Radio Caroline, RIP.” and Steve Conway posted: “Apart from being a great music head, presenter, cook and
mast-climber, he was a really friendly and easy to like guy, and was very kind to me when I was a newbie. A lovely guy, who lived too short a life.” John's death was reported in
The Racing Post. (This photo of John in the Caroline Overdrive studio was kindly provided by the man himself.)
John Tyler on ‘Caroline Overdrive’ from the evening of 3rd January 1987. This is an edited version of a recording shared on the Internet Radiocafé, now known as the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by Vincent. Our thanks to him (duration 4 minutes 28 seconds)
John Tyler on Caroline-558 from the afternoon of 10th May 1987. This is an edited version of a recording made available by The Offshore Radio Archive (duration 2 minutes 29 seconds)Graeme Vega A New Zealander, Graeme had also worked on Australian radio before joining Radio Caroline as a newsreader in November 1985. Initially he only read the news but was eventually persuaded to present some shows too - the first in the early hours of 7th December. His last bulletin was on 17th January 1986. He then returned down-under but John Ford tells us that Graeme is now living in Thailand.
Graeme Vega reading the 9am news bulletin on Radio Caroline, 15th December 1985. This clip is taken from a recording posted on the Internet Radiocafé, now known as the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by Vincent. Our thanks to him (duration 1 minute 54 seconds)
Graeme Vega, from his first show on Radio Caroline, 7th December 1985. This clip is edited from a recording posted on www.azanorak.com. Our thanks to Ray Robinson (duration 2
minutes 11 seconds)
Stuart Vincent was an engineer and DJ on Radio Caroline, as well as an engineer on Laser. After completing an HND in electronics at Canterbury College through an apprenticeship,
Stuart followed his friend Dave Richards to the Israeli offshore station the Voice of Peace in 1980 where he used the name Stuart Rogers. He transferred to the Ross Revenge an an engineer but also
presented shows fairly regularly on Radio Caroline between January and December 1984. He later switched to Laser-558 for ten months although he did not broadcast there. In fact he kept a very low profile. He says: “they were
so careful to keep me out of view through the pretence that it was an all-American crew. I hid away in my cabin when the anorak boats turned up! (honestly) but, funnily enough, when I left the ship for the last time, the Captain gave
me a discharge certificate, how funny is that? After leaving Laser I followed my good friend Ric Harris to Radio Nova in Dublin for about a year before returning home and joining Invicta Radio.”
Stuart was with Global Radio in their engineering department for some years but is now working as a freelance engineer. In 2017 he self-published a book about his offshore radio career. Live From the North Sea and Other Places.
Although no longer available new, second-hand copies sometimes appear on Amazon. (Our thanks to Stuart for his assistance and this photo. There are more pictures of him in
Michael Dean's, Caroline Martin's and Mark Stuart's photo albums.)
Stuart Vincent, with Jay Jackson on news duty, from the evening of 24th May 1984. This is an edited version of a recording shared on The
Offshore Radio Club Forum by Hans Hendriks. Our thanks to him (duration 2 minutes 44 seconds)
