Big L in 1997
Update: 23rd January 2009 Issue: 1
The first commemorative broadcast of the 60's station that closed exactly 30 years earlier on the 14th August 1967
Audio |
The
Radio London (Big L) Jocks of the 1960's, how many can you name?
|
Alan Trainer passes coil of copper for antenna ground
Skipper Phil Payne takes the Yeoman to her mooring off Clacton
Big L '97 came from a small coaster the "Yeoman Rose" moored off the Clacton Essex coast
She was chartered from Nick Murray of N E Murray Tugs (Nore Maritime) Marine Contractors based at Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent
The Murray Tug Nore Commodore
On station in Newhaven East Sussex
The Yeoman Rose anchored a respectable mile from the seaward end of Walton pier, & provided the many former offshore DJ's a taste of the conditions they once lived & worked in & how music led personality radio could sound today
Our tender the Lady Gwen
Big L '97 off Clacton Pier
A recreation of the original ships logo on the ships port side, in addition to the main sponsors "Canon" branding on the bow
Crew member John standing by with lines to secure the tender
It's all his fault, Ray Anderson takes the blame from Mark Roman
Looking down into the hold, to see the roofs of our luxury accommodation modules
The caravans provided adequate but basic accommodation
Nearest module also housed the transmitter
Close up of the rig
Well it gave John Kenning something to smile about
For more of Solid Gold John Kenning navigate from Radio Sovereign
Chris Baird selects a jingle cart
Our engineer Les tweaks the Oxo Tin
Captain Pete starts the main engine
We're underway further inshore following a gale warning, other than the Oceaan 7 (Radio 270) who serviced herself, no other offshore ship re-entered Territorial waters as a matter of course during the offshore period
Pete at the wheel with Mark
Steaming towards Harwich the ship was to moor in the backwaters for more than a week whilst the weather abated
Out of the way the Yeoman Rose at anchor in secluded waters
Don't even mention the tie, instead of being stuck on a sandbank I should have been greeting my new team of presenters elsewhere! Thanks to Kevin Turner above left who also provided pictures for this feature
For more of Kevin Turner see Caroline & Radio Sovereign
Alan Trainer, Mark Roman, Kevin Turner, John Kenning, Chris Baird, Steve Silby & Paul the cook. Just some of the crew that made the broadcast authentic & memorable
Leaving the Yoeman Rose at its mooring in the back waters
Yeoman Rose arrives back at her mooring off just off the River Medway in the Swale at Queenborough, Isle-of-Sheppey, Kent
She appraches the Ross Revenge to pick up fore & aft buoys
Secure the ships in centre of the Swale
I especially enjoyed the BIG L 97 and RNI 99 scapbooks which brought back recent good time memories on board that now seen so long ago as we continue on our journey to oblivion. Best regards - Chris Baird
Wondeful mate and on 266 mmw - Grant
Grateful thanks to Lin & Nick Murray for the extra pictures of the Yeoman Rose
Learn how Radio London might have broadcast permanantly from sea again off the Irish Coast in Pipe Dreams
See more of "Big L" in the summer of 2001 in Radio London 2001