Simon Dee (Cyril Nicholas Henty-Dodd)
28th July 1935 – 29th August 2009
Pioneering Radio Caroline broadcaster between 1964 and 1965

Many obituaries have been written for Simon, but we felt the best tribute we could pay him would be to quote his own description of presenting his first programme on Caroline, taken from 'The Simon Dee Book' (published by Purnell, 1968).

The station's test transmissions had consisted of prerecorded programmes. At the launch, Simon admitted to being scared stiff, but this was not merely because he was presenting the station's first live show. No one had any idea how well Caroline would go down with the public, or indeed if the government could and would intervene. Might they take the station off the air, impound the ship, arrest the staff and throw them all in jail? Everything was unknown and much was at stake.

Click on the Caroline Bell to read Simon's recollection of his feelings on March 28th 1964 at noon, when he made that first live announcement. There are also tributes from friends and links to newspaper obituaries.

Click on the picture for info

"You Dog! You Son of a ****! You Speckled-Shirt Dog!" – Pirate Curse, 1722
Yes, Septembaaaar 19th and International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD) is that time of year when nobody in the world needs an excuse to don their favourite Captain Jack Sparrow wig and take a cutlass into work to aid with negotiating that long-awaited pay-rise with the boss.

ITLAPD started in 2002 and gets bigger every year. Our old sea dog friends (and Honoraaaary Anaaaarrraks) the pirate guys, Mark 'Cap'n Slappy' Summers and John 'Ol' Chumbucket' Baur, want to know how you celebrated, so they can post the details on their site. They have individual sections for each participating country and are particularly interested in hearing about ITLAPD events arrrrganised in aid of good causes. They'd also like you to buy copies of their new book, 'The Pirate Life – unleashing your inner Buccaneer'.

Should you decide to amuse the aforementioned boss with a selection of gangplank gags prior to running him through, you can visit piratejokes.net or twittaaaaar. Unfortunately, they don't get much better than, 'What goes thump-thump Arr!, thump-thump Arr!? A pirate falling down the stairs.'

'Bootylicious – What do the pirates of yore tell us about their modern counterparts?' is a 4-page New Yorker review by Caleb Crain of 'The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates' by Peter T Leeson. The piece and Crain's subsequent blog are a mine of information on the subject of high seas buccaneering. As there were only four known female pirates, the on-board ambience of a pirate ship was, according to Leeson, "energetic and testosterone filled, probably similar to a college fraternity only with peglegs, fewer teeth, and pistol duelling". Sounds a bit like the Sixties offshore stations!

Some believe that talking like a pirate is is not a worthy cause for celebration, but the New York Times thought otherwise. Their Crossword Puzzle on Sept 19 2008, featured two piratical clues. 31 across was 'talklikeapirateday' while 8 down was 'shivermetimbers'.

Meanwhile (with his eyepatch fixed on Hallowe'en) Tom Smith has combined the unlikely themes of brain-eating undead and hook-wearing shipmates with true romance, in his song Zombie Pirates in Love.

A large number of ex-offshore radio pirates, all experts on Marine Offences, be appearin' in our special Radio London ILAPD Supplement, presented by PARROT – Pirate Anoraks Revere Real Offshore Terminology. They represent Radio Caroline North and South, City, Essex, London, 270, Scotland and RNI. We even have renegades from the land-bound Radio Luxembourg!

Mini-reunion for Caroline Goodguys
Caroline South's Steve Young and his wife Trish were in London recently on their first UK visit from Canada since 2002, so they took the opportunity to meet up with a few shipmates.

Above left, John Aston with Steve and Mark Sloane. Above right, Steve and Trish with Johnnie Walker.

We hope they'll be back to see us again soon.

Happy Birthday, Duncan!
Duncan Johnson has kindly sent a photo of his recent birthday celebration. He says:

"My 71st birthday was celebrated a fortnight early with ex-Radio Invicta friends who I worked with in Canterbury in the mid-Eighties."

Rick and Joy loved Alaska
Radio England's Rick Randall has shared photos of his recent holiday. He writes:

My wife, Joy and I have just taken a trip with friends to Alaska, and have a couple of pictures for you. Top right, we are standing on the deck of our ship, a few hundred feet in front of a glacier that spills down out of the mountains and into an inlet off the Pacific, near where we docked the previous night. We saw at least a dozen of these magnificent creations on our journey.Bottom right, there's a shot of some of the mountains south of Anchorage, where we travelled by motorhome after disembarking from the ship.

As a Florida boy, I enjoyed an eyeful of all the snow and ice all around us, and the magnificent scenery Alaska has to offer. 
 
I appreciated the card you sent for the 4th of July, as you have also done in the past. In fact, it is always a real treat to hear from you and to keep up with the many radio adventures that you always seem to be involved with.
 
Maybe we'll get a chance to see you again someday, somewhere down the road.
 
Rick Crandall

August 14th 2009 – We'll never forget you, Lil!
"Forty-two years and you both are still faithful. Thanks for all that you have done for Lil. Much, much more than the rest. You deserve some sort of recognition, but I guess you'll just have to accept my appreciation."
Mark Roman, 14th August 2009

A statement endorsed by all!  It’s good to hear that kind of remark from someone who was there. 
We were there too, but on dry land, listening but hardly believing. Forty-two years on, we still remember vividly. I’ll be raising my tea mug at 3pm. Alan Hardy

Absolutely. I’ll have a cup o’tea on my knee at 3 today.
 
Makes you wonder how different things would have been if the station had been legalised in ’67 and invited to come ashore. My guess is ‘Stewpot’ would still be there! Would Peel have left? You can imagine all kinds of scenarios. Peter Young

Right: (photo captioned by Ben Toney) Mark Roman looking over his Will, before boarding the Galaxy, 1965.

Of course, today, I'll be remembering Big L at 3 pm. So long ago, but so vivid in the memory. Francis Pullen

14 August 2009 - a most memorable date in all our minds. Just 42 years after the Government delivered its evil blow and made most of us walk the plank. Thanks to Mary and Chris for keeping the dream alive via their Radio London website.
'What a crazy idea - it would never work.' 'Offshore radio will be forgotten about anytime now.' 'What do you mean DJs broadcast from a ship?'  
It was a very brave decision of yours and Chris to launch a website ten years ago and my goodness what a truly magnificent  job you have made of it and pulled so many people together – presenters and their listeners. Each one of us owes you both Many Congratulations and a huge thank you." Keith Skues, 14th August 2009

On our way to care for my brother's cats we passed the corridor at the Gorechtkade in Groningen this afternoon, where still the Radio London shed is. And yes Big L was specially in my mind on this day, which still is like the Black Monday way back in 1967. Hans Knot

(written at 14.35)
Some of us are in Carnaby Street – where we were in 1967 – remembering the sad day. A glass of Champers will be raised in 25 mins. Eddie O'Konnor

(written at 14.45)
I remember this day as though it was only yesterday... and it's a Labour Goverment in as well... Colin Wilkins.

 (written at 15.00) FAREWELL RADIO LONDON. Chris Dannatt

Does a caffè latte count? I raised a mug this afternoon and remembered the 42nd anniversary. Sadly, I haven't a clue where the intervening 42 years have gone!
Well done, Mary and Chris, for all you've done to preserve the memory and the good name of Radio London. 'Fab' Alan Field

Thanks Mary & Chris, I am with you in spirit, albeit not Jack Daniels anymore. Cheers Dave Cash, 14th August 2009

Happy Birthday, Willy!
Congratulations went winging their way to Florida, for Big L DJ WillyWalker's 70th birthday celebration on July 25th.The photo on the left was taken at Duncan Johnson's 70th birthday party in 2008. Radio London fans will already know that as well as his DJ work in the Sixties, Willy worked as a male model. Still lookin' good, Willy!

Willy enjoyed his virtual card from Radio London:
"Mary.....Thanks for the 'great' birthday card.....sorry no hammock involved or yacht crusing by, but did have a tropical setting, several cold ones and friends to help the 'milestone'. Even a few of the olde pirates remembered the occasion! And I survived! Trust all is well across the pond. Regards to all the usual suspects there... until the next gathering. Cheers, Willy."

'Children of the World' made Freemen of Douglas
On July 1st, the Isle of Man government honoured the Bees Gees' 50-year musical career by issuing a set of eight commemorative stamps and a crown coin. (see photos below) The issue of the stamps ties in with the ceremony on July 10th, when Barry and Robin Gibb, and their late brother Maurice, were made honorary freemen of their birthplace, the city of Douglas. Council leader David Christian proposed the resolution to honour the brothers in recognition of the Bee Gees' achievements in music and the pride they have shown in their place of birth. Other Freemen who attended the ceremony included 94-year-old entertainer Sir Norman Wisdom.

(left) The Mayor of Douglas Councillor Michael Gelling presents Robin and Barry Gibb with their Freemen certificate. (right) The vellum designed and created in calligraphy by Colleen Corlett

The brothers are notoriously patriotic and when Robin's twin Maurice passed away in Miami in 2003, an appeal was put out on Manx Radio (4th story down) for anyone with a relative in Florida who might have a Manx flag that could be used to drape his casket at the funeral.

In 2008, Robin accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the Bee Gees and recorded the national anthem Ellan Vannin with the island's King William’s College's children's choir, in aid of the local hospice.

The offshore stations had a good relationship with the Bee Gees' manager and producer Robert Stigwood and aired their singles from the outset. Only weeks after the Gibbs' arrival from Australia, the pirates made hits of 'New York Mining Disaster' – # 4 Fab Forty, #4 270 Fun Forty, #14 BBC chart and 'To Love Somebody' – #7, Fab Forty, #49 Caroline Countdown of Sound (final chart before MOA came into effect), #41 Nationals, while the 'Bee Gees First' LP was chosen as Radio London's Album of the Week.

Both Billy J Kramer's 'Town of Tuxley Toymaker' and Johnny Young's 'Craise Finton Kirk' – singles featuring Gibb brothers' songs (and frequently backing vocals) – were in the Big L Fab Forty and 270 Fun Forty in the run-up to the two station close-downs and would invariably have become bigger commercial successes had the broadcasts continued. In 2008, Robin unveiled a plaque on the facade of Robert Stigwood's former home, where the brothers composed so many of their hits. Although Robin and Barry have not performed as the Bee Gees since the death of Maurice, they have considered the possibility of doing so.

Ceremony photographs © 2009 Douglas Borough Council