Updated: 9th August 2009 Issue: 1
Engineer/DJ Robin Banks recalling his time in the 1970's working on board the Mebo 2
A consortium of businessmen had been working to use the former Radio London ship Galaxy for Radio Gloria, but the German Marine Offences Act became law on 2nd July 1969 & the projects backers ran short of money so the project floundered
Two of the group, Edwin Bollier & Erwin Meister continued with their own plans & purchased the 124' long 374 ton Norwegian ship the Bjarkoy, the first Mebo was named using the first two initials of her owners surnames
It soon became apparent that the Mebo was too small so a larger vessel was purchased
The RNI ship was built by De Groot & Vliet in 1948 at Slikkerveer in Holland, first named the Silvretta the 186 foot 630 ton ship was converted by the same Dutch yard to became the radio ship Mebo 2
Mooring off the Dutch coast the garishly colourful Mebo 2 came on air as RNI with a German on short wave in January 1970
Followed by English on medium wave & later programmes were heard in Dutch
By the funnel on the ships port side
Audio |
Robin
Banks Programme RNI 29th March 1974 |
29th August 1974 Gerard Smit presents 'Buitengaats' live from wheel-house with captain on bridge
Peter Jager was panel operator in studio below deck during this program from 18.00 - 20.00 all the Dutch DJ's accompanied by hunderds of RNI supporters arrive onboard to present their final programs
Gerrit de Winter listens to the panel output
Brian MacKenzie makes his first link, you can hear Brian in RNI with Robin Banks Pt2
Don Allen the hot seat
Audio |
Daffy
Don Allen with King Kong Drop In |
Will the cook the Captain, Bobby Schmitz, Rudi Kagon & all but hidden John de Mol, Roger Kent & Brian MacKenzie
Like the brightly painted ship, the station was to have a colourful time RNI was jammed, became embroiled in politics, had writs issued against her, was fire bombed & even accused of being a spy ship
Just logged onto your site. Very nice to see that you are keeping the great stories alive, as you may know I was one of the Directors, PD & DJs on RNI & Caroline - Larry Tremaine
Radio Northsea International in the 1970's continues in RNI with Robin Banks Pt2
Thanks to John De Blok for additional information