The Radio Academy Celebration of Sixties Offshore Radio
page three
The third session was entitled ‘The Jocks Who Rocked The Ocean’ and was chaired by BBC Scotland's Tony Currie.
The ‘jocks who rocked the ocean’ panel.
Although most of the offshore stations of the sixties were clustered round the south-east
corner of England, pirate radio was not restricted to the home counties. This panel reflected the stations that operated
further north. Left to right: Chairman Tony Currie, Jack McLaughlin,
Ben Healy, Mike Ahern and Noel Miller.
Noel very kindly stepped in at the last minute when Paul Burnett had to cancel due to
illness.
Jack and Ben worked on Radio Scotland, Mike on Radio Caroline North and Noel on Radio 270, where Jack also spent a couple
of unhappy weeks broadcasting under the name of ‘Steve Taylor’.
This session, as with all of them, was introduced by a video compilation of rare and fascinating home movie footage
kindly provided by George Hare, Tony Currie, Noel Miller, Keith Skues and Mark West/Wesley.
The session ended with Tony leading the audience in a spirited rendition of a well-loved jingle
which gave a strong hint as to the subject of the next session: “It's smooth sailing with the highly
successful sound of wonderful Radio London.”
To download a recording of this session, courtesy of the Radio Academy, right click
here.
Jack McLaughlin.
Ben Healy and Mike Ahern. These three photos courtesy of Martin van der Ven.
Tony Blackburn, Norman St.John and Pete Brady. Photo courtesy of Martin van der Ven.
Standing at the end of the session to the applause of an enthusiastic audience. Photo courtesy of Roy
Sheridan.
Various recordings were played including one of Ed Stewart singing a weather forecast and a clip displaying
the unique talents of Kenny & Cash. The Radio London session ended with a tape of the final broadcast from the station on 14th
August 1967. We then ‘re-tuned’ to Radio Caroline South to hear the DJs who were still on the air despite
the new law, Robbie Dale and Johnnie Walker. They were on
the final panel to remember the events and aftermath of that day.
To download a recording of the Radio London session, courtesy of the Radio Academy, right click
here.
The August 14th panel. Left to right: Phil Martin, Mark Sloane, Robbie Dale and Johnnie Walker.
After his offshore career with Britain Radio and Radio 355, Phil Martin
became a journalist with The Daily Express. One of his first jobs for the paper was to go out to the North Sea to
interview the DJs on Radio Caroline South who had continued broadcasting despite the new law. He managed to blag his way
on to the tender and got out to the Mi Amigo - but the DJs refused to speak to him as the interview had not been
approved by the management in Amsterdam. He didn't get his interview in '67 - but he did forty years later
when he chaired this session. Joining Phil, Johnnie and Robbie was Mark Sloane, one of the
team who had carried on broadcasting after the Act on Radio Caroline North.
To download a recording of this session, courtesy of the Radio Academy, right click
here.
Robbie Dale and Johnnie Walker. Photo courtesy of Roy Sheridan.
Mark Sloane, Robbie Dale and Johnnie Walker. Photo courtesy of Martin van der Ven.
A very special guest arrived in time to hear Robbie, Johnnie and Mark: Caroline's founder Ronan
O'Rahilly. Seen here with two more of the broadcasters who carried on after 14th August, Bud Ballou and Roger
Day. Photo courtesy of Martin van der Ven.
As well as the discussion sessions, the event provided a great opportunity for old colleagues to meet
up again.
Pictures on the next page.
