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Press Releases
Shiver me timbers, Sixties pirate radio is back
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More than a dozen Sixties DJs are set to broadcast once more on the
pirate radio that made their names – this time on Pirate ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Essex, and it's legal!
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Johnnie Walker of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 2, Emperor Rosko – who is flying over from Los Angeles to
take part – Norman St John and John Kerr, both coming over from
Australia, are just four of the DJs.
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They will be boarding the LV18, a
former lightship moored half-a-mile off Harwich, for six days of music
and chat, with the emphasis firmly on Sixties music.
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Programmes start on Thursday 9 August 2007 and continue 24-hours a
day until 3pm on Tuesday 14 August – 40 years to the day and time that nearly
all the original pirate stations went off air, scuppered by the Marine
Offences Act.
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Tim Gillett, Programmes Editor for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Essex, says the original
pirate DJs were queueing up to take part in this unique radio event,
legally broadcasting from the bridge of the LV18.
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"We did a similar thing in 2004 when we celebrated 40 years since the
start of pirate radio, when pirate radio, led by Radio Caroline,
broadcast off the Essex coast," he says.
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"It was phenomenally popular,
with thousands of emails and hits to the website from all over the world.
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"Johnnie Walker sent us a recorded message of support then – now he's here
in person, taking up the 9pm-midnight slot he broadcast in way back in
the 1960s.
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"He is also looking forward to a 'flashing' session when people
in their cars on shore communicate with him by flashing their car
headlights."
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The presenting team, which also includes ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Essex presenters, will be
heading out to sea this week along with the supplies they need for their
sojourn which starts at 6am on Thursday.
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Listeners are reported
to have organised holidays so they have time to drive to Harwich to spot
the boat from the shore.
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And there's another treat for pirate radio fans... they can see some of the
original photographs, letters, records – and even an original Radio
Caroline microphone – at a free exhibition to mark the occasion which
runs at the Ha'penny Pier in Harwich throughout the life of Pirate ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
Essex.
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As well as by tuning in to Pirate ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Essex on 729, 765 and 1530 MW, the
shows can also be heard via the website, bbc.co.uk/essex.
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Notes to Editors
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 The exhibition is open 9am-5pm, 9-14 August 2007, and is owned by
Lincolnshire businessman Chris Dannatt.
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The LV18 is a classic light vessel owned by the Pharos Trust,
which has been restoring it.
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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Birmingham Press Office
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