Ok, I’m a huge radio fan. You might have guessed that by now! I’m constantly listening to the radio, talking about radio, chatting with other people about radio, – I study radio in college, I’m making contacts in the industry, etc. etc. – so it’s hardly surprising that I’ve got a big interest in the history of radio and the stations & people that got it where it is today.

45 years ago, one station that made a huge contribution to doing just that – in fact, one of the most ground-breaking, important and bleeding-edge radio stations of modern times – took to the airwaves – bucking the trend, challenging the norm and flying in the face of authority!

That station was Radio Caroline, and it was the literal definition of a ‘pirate station’, broadcasting from a ship anchored in international waters, garnering a regular listenership of over 20 million, and providing a very pointy and painful thorn in the side of the established media and the British government. If you’ve seen the (entertaining but sadly quite inaccurate) movie “The Boat That Rocked”, you’ve some small idea of what went on.

The story of life on board and on air is told brilliantly in new book, “Shiprocked” by Phantom 105.2 DJ, Steve Conway – a book which I highly recommend. It charts his own history with the station from his shaky and nerve-wracking start as a radio fan who is given the chance as a newsreader to filling the position of Head of News and Programme Controller as well as documenting the dangers and challenges of keeping the station both on the air and afloat.

During Steve’s time with Caroline, the station broadcast from the former Icelandic Trawler, the Ross Revenge (pictured) in the often wild and tumultuous North Sea. Now, almost 20 years after the Ross ran aground, the station – alive again on satellite and the Internet – will return to the iconic ship – and to the medium wave band – for a special commemorative weekend of broadcasting. They say they “are also using the opportunity to determine the possibilities for future broadcasts” – which is great news to radio geeks like myself

The following is from the Radio Caroline web site:

Radio Caroline will be live from the radio ship Ross Revenge this August Bank Holiday weekend.

Our special programmes start at 6pm on Friday, August 28th and run through until midnight on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31st.

The team on board for the weekend is made up almost entirely from staff who served on two of our radio ships, the Mi Amigo in the 1970’s and the Ross herself in the 1980’s. Three members of the restoration crew will also be taking part. You can see the full programme schedule here.

“Now! That’s What I Call…Radio Caroline” is the theme for the weekend with music that you’ve told us encompasses the spirit of Caroline, the tracks that make you think of us every time you hear them. We’ve come up with our own suggestions too and guarantee that you’ll hear some excellent music across the weekend.

In addition to our usual outlets on line and on SKY 0199, if you live in south Essex or north Kent you will also be able to hear Radio Caroline on 531 kHz AM over the weekend. Details