Radio Six International celebrates 10th BIrthday
Congratulations and "Well done!" to our friend Tony Currie (right) on the 10th birthday of his internet station Radio Six International, on March 9th 2010.

Dorothy Calvert (née Rowe) 1928 – 2010 "I had a terrible struggle to keep things going and the people who worked for us, in employment." Dorothy, on the subject of running Radio City. (Right) *Reg had bought William the monkey as a gift for daughter Susan, but William decided he liked Dorothy best. He was often to be found perched on her shoulder, became very protective of her and was liable to attack anyone who went near her – including Reg!

Dorothy Calvert, who died on February 21st, will always be remembered as the courageous lady who took on the onerous task of running Radio City only days after her husband was shot dead and who continued to run the station successfully despite receiving threats and intimidation.

Dorothy had been so against the idea of her husband Reg running Radio City, that for a while the matter had caused a serious rift in their marriage. Therefore, it came as a shock to everyone who knew the couple that after Reg's untimely death, Dorothy chose to take over the reins of the Tower of Power, insisting on soldiering on with the Radio City broadcasts for as long as possible. She must have felt that to do so would be the best tribute she could pay to Reg. Dorothy was to prove a very competent station boss and from the staff memos she sent it is clear that she would stand for no nonsense and she knew exactly how she wanted the programming to sound. "Anything resembling jazz must be deleted," she instructed, while complaining that, "We seem to be hearing rather an over-abundance of echo."

The Calverts had married soon after WWII and Dorothy worked hard at various enterprises as she raised her daughters Susan and Candy. The print business, Hartex Agency, that she started from the ground floor of the family's rented Southampton home, kept bread on the table while Reg was establishing dancehalls and booking bands.

A few years later, the Calverts purchased a former stately home in Rugby, called Clifton Hall, where Reg ran a school for pop singers. It fell into decline after Reg's interests turned to acquiring and running Radio City.

"My father was always one step ahead, planning his next scheme rather than sticking to the one he had made successful," daughter Susan recalls. "My mother had to pick up the pieces and carry on managing whatever he had started. She helped to manage the groups, pay the wages, organise the dances and keep my father in check!"

TOM EDWARDS, RADIO CITY HEAD DJ, pays his own tribute

After the shooting of Reg Calvert, his widow Dorothy, with no hesitation, took over the running of Radio City transmitting from the Shivering Sands Towers. She was a strong, determined lady who not only had to cope with the death of her husband but also look after her two daughters Candy and Susan. Dorothy not only became my boss but more importantly was a friend. Her memos to me have surfaced again on sites such as The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame. Memories of 45 years ago come back in an instant as I read them.
 
Dorothy kept City going for many months, but after receiving a fine at Southend courts in February of 1967, she instructed me that the station would have to close down almost at once. She did promise us all that she would try to get us work and was true to her word. Both myself and Ian MacRae found ourselves on board Radio Caroline South within days, while Paul Kramer went to Caroline North. The rest as they say is history. 
 
After many years, I re-connected through the internet with both of Dorothy's daughters and the years just fell away. Little did we realise all those decades ago, that computers would change everyone's lives in an instant.
 
Last Sunday, 21st February 2010, I heard from Susan that her Mother had died. Always a strong woman, even in her early eighties, Dorothy remained young at heart. I would like to think she was proud to be the female boss of a station that is still remembered by so many to this very day.

Shivering Sands Towers still stand strong although the MOD have warned me not to go onboard as they are in a highly dangerous state. That wont stop me going to maybe have one last look this year. They remain as a reminder not only to this country's safety in WW11 but also to the change in broadcasting that began in a small way but gathered momentum over the following decades. Without doubt both Reg and then Dorothy gave me my kick start into broadcasting.
 
My condolences to both Candy and Susan Calvert and their respective families.
 
Rest In Peace Dorothy Calvert

*See Tom's first memo from new boss Dorothy, April 12th 1966, signed 'will be listening - Mrs C'.

JOHNNY FLUX, DJ RADIO CITY remembers

Dorothy was my contact at Radio City, she offered me the job and was very supportive. It's so sad to hear of her passing, but at last she'll be with Reg again. Knowing them, they'll soon be planning their next business move; perhaps we'll soon be listening to Heaven Radio?

*An interview with the Sun less than a week after her husband Reg, aged 37, had been shot reveals Dorothy's courage.

Pirate Radio Hall of Fame obituary

Davidstjohn.co.uk tells the story of Reg Calvert and his family and has a wonderful collection of photographs. The pages include contributions from both Susan and Dorothy herself.

Obituary in the Coventry Telegraph

*(Grateful thanks to The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame )

Marie Crofford Bailey
4 December 1926 – 15 February 2010

Mary Payne writes:
We are deeply sorry to report that Marie passed away on February 15, 2010 in Irving, Texas, after suffering from ill health for some time.

Marie was the wife of USS Density crew member Laverne (Verne) Bailey. They were a devoted couple who had been married for nearly 55 years and were instrumental in organising the popular shipmates' reunions that took place bi-annually, beginning in 1965. The organisation of these events had more recently been taken over by their daughter Tanya Baugus, with assistance from the families of other shipmates.

In September 2001, when Chris and I attended our first USS Density reunion in Dallas as representatives of Radio London, Marie, Verne, Tanya and R.V. welcomed us with open arms and immediately accepted us a part of the Density family, which made us immensely proud. Marie shared her birthday with Chris and decided to 'adopt' him as she had never had a son. We called her our Texan Mum and are privileged to have been able to do so. We loved her and shall miss her very much.

Tanya has written to say that the memorial service on February 18th went well and was a celebration of her mother's fun spirit. She also wrote:

"Dad received a letter yesterday from the WWII museum in Fredericksburg stating that they have the ship's bell on display in the Okinawa section of the museum! It took a while to get the paperwork all completed, but the bell is now on display for thousands to enjoy and experience. We were so excited to hear that, and wanted you all to know.  I told Dad I'd try to take him down there this spring to see it.  We really needed some uplifting news right now, and this was just the thing to raise our spirits! If we get to go, I'll be sure to try and get a picture of the display for you."

(Left) Marie, Tanya and R.V. with the bell at the ceremony in Fredericksburg. The story of the bell and how Ron Buninga took it back to its rightful owners, is here

Tanya's husband R.V. has written a heart-warming account of his wife's devotion to her parents, which has led to her being chosen as a finalist in The 2010 Parentgivers of the Year. We wish Tanya the best of luck with winning a well-deserved prize and hope that all our site visitors will cast a vote for her.

Of the other finalists, Tanya says, "I feel totally honored just to be included with all these people."

Neil Christian (Christopher Tidmarsh)
4 February 1943 – 4 January 2010

Neil Christian is mostly regarded as a 'one-hit wonder' from 1966 when his recording of 'That's Nice' became his only national success, a #14. His singles, however, received plenty of offshore airplay (as the advertisement, right, indicates) and he fared much better in the Fab Forty. 'That's Nice' appeared as a climber on March 3rd 1966 and spent seven weeks in the Big L chart, hitting #2 on April 17th.

Neil had already disbanded his backing group the Crusaders when he recorded his hit. Its writer Miki Dallon was friendly with Tony Windsor who, according to Micki, "Played the a**e off 'That's Nice'", which had been released on the newly-formed Strike label. When the single took off, Neil had to reassemble his band, with Richie Blackmore, Tornado Evans, Avid Andersen and Tony Marsh, in order to play live shows to promote it. It was at one of these shows, at High Wycombe Town Hall, that the band joined the Knees Club, and Neil became member #218.

The follow-up 'Oops', released in the summer of '66, proved controversial. It was banned from being played on both Ready Steady Go and Five O'Clock Club, as the lyrics were deemed overly sexually-suggestive for early-evening TV. Unfortunately for Neil, the usual formula of having your record banned resulting in a massive hit, failed to work for him. There was no ban on Radio London and 'Oops' was picked as Dave Dennis's climber, inhabited the Fab Forty for five weeks and peaked at #5 on July 24th. Caroline and Radio England were not averse to the record either and in August, Neil Christian and the Crusaders starred alongside the Small Faces on Radio England's Swinging '66 tour.

Released in October, Neil Christian's third Miki Dallon-penned release 'Two at a Time' became Norm St John's climber. Perhaps too similar in style to the two previous singles, the song enjoyed four weeks of Fab Forty action, but reached only #25. However, 'Two at a Time' captured the public imagination in Germany and became a big hit there gaining Neil a new fan base.

Neil Christian is understood to have died following a long battle with cancer.

More info about Neil Christian and the Crusaders here. The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame has a recording of Jerry Smithwich reading a promo for the tour.

Norm's on the Road to Recovery (updated 29/01)
Norm St John has written from Australia, where he has been recuperating from a nasty illness.

I hope that you had a really happy birthday Mary, I am sorry that I could not make it over. Unfortunately I have not been well and it ended with a spell in hospital, where I was suffering from double pneumonia. I am still in recovery mode and spending three weeks in Victoria, whilst slowly on the mend. The doctors say it will be at least another four-to-six weeks.

I do not have his address, but would you please pass on to Mich (our steward on Big L) my best wishes. He came from Haiti and whilst it was a long time ago, he may still have relatives living there who may have passed away in the recent earthquake.

We are very relieved to hear that Norm (left, aboard LV18 during Pirate BBC Essex, Easter 2009) is on the mend and have passed on many 'get well' messages from former shipmates, such as Ed Stewpot, Cardboard Shoes and Ian Damon and from the friends he made during Pirate BBC Essex.

On behalf of all our site visitors, we send our very best wishes to Norm for a speedy recovery and of course to Mich Philistin and his wife Jeanne, who must be going through an unbearably anxious and distressing time.