A thought for August 14th

No real radio enthusiast will ever forget Monday 14th August, 1967. Nor will many Radio Caroline fans forget Sunday 3rd March, 1968. At 14 August 1967 the Marine Offences Act was introduced to silence the offshore radio stations. Caroline, however went on after the introduction of the Marine Offences Act, mainly with plugging records of Major Minor Records, the record company of Philip Solomon, one of Caroline's directors. Also some smaller advertisers could be heard.

All this now has become radio history and something to remember thirty years later. It is also something that makes one feel sad, if not a little pathetic because Radio Caroline has been silent for so many years. Of course there still is a station called Radio Caroline broadcasting once a week on satellite and shortwave and, certainly, it will memorate and celebrate August 14th. But, do not tell me that it is the same Caroline, and forget trying to convince me that a piddling 1 Watt transmitter licensed by the British Radio Authority is anything but a sad joke on someone's part.

Radio Caroline came on-air and pioneered British broadcasting's development. Even when faced with tough competition, it managed to carve a niche and won the hearts of millions of listeners — not only in Britain, but also in Ireland and on the Continent. From 10,000 Watts it became 50,000 Watts on an even better frequency. From playing pretty-much easy listening and jazz, R&B and swing, it became the station that promoted new music — from Tamla to Stax, Atlantic and so much more.

Despite a setback in 1968, it returned in the early seventies and brought Europe the first taste of the album format. In the eighties, aboard the superb Ross Revenge with its 300 foot antenna mast, Radio Caroline was a match for anyone — even the popular Laser 558. But time went on and Radio Caroline was allowed to fizzle out. Can anyone remember the day Radio Caroline stopped broadcasting? Who was to blame — and the blame began with Harold Wilson. We will not major on here — except to say Caroline should not have ceased broadcasting, should not have been allowed to become a low-power imitation of what was being done ashore by ILR, and should not have been left in such a state that some regard it as a bit of a joke today.

As we had recently 14th August 1998, thirty-one years after the introduction of the Marine Offences Act (which Caroline claimed recognised her right to be at sea, and broadcast), one can ask the question — is there still a need for Radio Caroline? Has the time past by when a station operating offshore can do any good? Would anyone listen? Say Caroline appeared with a mighty 50,000 Watts on a good channel, with superb audio quality — it is possible, she is done it before — and playing more than the same 300 tracks heard on your average local station? Would you listen? I would be interested. Like in 1964, or 1967, or whenever, Caroline can exist legally. She was not a pirate. It was and always shall be legal.