Exterior shots for the "Danger Man"/"Secret Agent" episode "Not So Jolly Roger" (about an offshore pirate radio station) were filmed at the Thames Estuary forts featured in this program.
WOW. This is great. Been out to see the forts on the Waverley and going back out again later on in the year. This has certainly brought to life the Radio City writing still written on there .
The Pirate Stations I remember were great to hear popular songs. It was great to see and hear Johnny Flux, who Ive known since we were 13 years old in the group, Reg Black and the Blackjacks.
Radio City was far easier to get a request played than London or Caroline. I met DJ Paul Kramer when he came to Basildon and Kelley's Records in January 1967. I still have the promo records he handed out at the store. It's a pity permission can't be sought to visit the forts.
Wonderful piece of history. No one under 60 has the faintest idea what this was all about and what an unbelievable influence on every single aspect of UK radio this period had. Everyone who remembers this turbulent radio time should leave some form of comment. It was, without exaggeration, the foundation of today's vast range of radio options.
The 'true' story of Pirate Radio stations and the conspiracy and murder of Reg Calvert who ran Radio City is now published in a trilogy/ book 'Life and Death of a Pirate'. (Book 3: Shivering Sands - 1960s Pirate Radio.) Reg managed the Fortunes and Pinkerton's Assorted Colours. His death became the catalyst to change the face of British Broadcasting. All the witnesses at the Hearing and Trial were mysteriously cancelled and Reg's killer and associates convincingly made Reg out to be a violent man (which he was not) and that he owed them £10,000, which he did not. National archives were not released for more than 40 years. (Normally 30 years).
Just now reading your excellent book. Thoroughly recommend it. Reg seems like a great pioneering character. What a tragic end. I loved City and all the pirates.
Horst Jankowsky Reminds me of the skit that Goodies did when they started a pirate radio station A walk in he black forest was the only record they hadt
RADIO SUTCH 1964 - I was their - along with DAVID LORD SUTCH - REG CALVERT - BRIAN PAULL - AND MYSELF COLIN DALE - Listen to my Story's on You Tube - COLIN DALE RADIO SUTCH - I grew up with David Sutch in Kilburn London NW6 - We went to the same school in Kilburn and both of us later moved to HARROW - He went to SOUTH HARROW - and I went to the PINNER ROAD HARROW - RADIO SUTCH started out as a publicity stunt for DAVID SCREAMING LORD SUTCH - But then events took over after it was found out about the Gun-Towers - I was taken of the Gun-Towers in a helicopter while I was a DJ - with food poisoning - REG CALVERT Changed the name to RADIO CITY - After he brought out DAVID SUTCH, who went on a USA Tour at that time - RIP DAVID MY MATE - Thats us in the photo on left !
Beginning @ 24:20 I see government officials in the UK were quite capable of lies and deceit as well as their counterparts in the states.. The interference claim was false. Playing records provided musicians with invaluable promotion. It was all about control and maintaining a broadcast monopoly. The Labour Party got what they deserved.
There was a lot more behind the story of the 1960s offshore stations than was admitted, by either side, at the time. I tried to include much of it in my book "Pirate Gold" but I'm sure there is a lot more to uncover. l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FPirate-Gold-Brian-Lister%2Fdp%2F0244017182%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR246I84m6NsN9-a6mC3ZnUJRjju2leHQZaamxMHyt0sh2TsTbCoZ24SkGE&h=AT0StoI7GNLX3qld7aOqeYpWqJSpbPcx4efXnKa_Nowd8bqW04W_kneKjKdkojQazEnvaad93jHbnEMLrPxiolaUNayydMQfEX0RAgurX2trhzI4lRVKKZXwv7AhR6wAxVQ2dg0ywEACwgvbkA
Hello Davina, I have written a book 'Life and Death of a Pirate' about pirate radio. Covers most of the stations and the inside story about Shivering Sands, Radio Sutch, Radio City and the truth behind the boarding party and murder of Reg Calvert. More information on www.regcalvert-plays.co.uk
It's fun to listen to the pirates, but compared to radio in the states at the same time period the pirates were more of an "easy listening" presentation than not. The talent in the video suffered from the same rookie mistake, the stilted voice, the "Hi I'm a DJ" sound typical of rookies..If he's still around he probably cringes when he sees the video. But the rookies blew away the BBC and helped bring commercial radio to the UK and for that I salute them..
