Look Mom - Pirates

[OpenMike]

DJs on water for pirate reunion

Former pirate radio DJs from illegal 1960s stations are reuniting to broadcast legally off the Essex coast.

More than a dozen DJs are due to board the LV18, a former lightship moored half-a-mile off Harwich, between Thursday 9 and Tuesday 14 August.

Pirate BBC Essex, involving BBC Radio 2's Johnnie Walker, marks 40 years since many pirate stations went off air, under the Marine Offences Act.

BBC Essex presenters will join the station for its six-day run.

The station's listeners are reported to have organised holidays so they can spot the boat from the shore.

'Flashing session'

Tim Gillett, of BBC Essex, said: "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.

"Johnny 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."

"He is also looking forward to a flashing session when people in their cars on shore communicate with him by flashing their car headlights."

An exhibition including Radio Caroline memorabilia will be held at the Ha'penny Pier, Harwich, while the station is broadcasting.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/u ... 935580.stm

Published: 2007/08/07 16:29:24 GMT

© BBC MMVII

[jon]

More details, a picture and history of the ship and a Listen Live link (it started yesterday morning) can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/arti ... ture.shtml