Wednesday, 18 October 2006

of 38 messages

In order to transfer the Knowledge Base from the original Anorak Nation system, I'm copying it across as Discussion Messages, which I can then update/edit as I then Transfer them to Knowledge here, along with leaving a discussion place should comments be generated by the 'reappearence' of the Knowledge Entries.

It might seem mad, but sort of makes sense to me.

a) A warm waterproof hip-length jacket that usually has a hood.

b) The name given to a devotee or fanatic of a single, and some might argue, 'strange' nerdy 'collecting' pastime like train-spotting or stamp collecting.

Now. The latter has it's origins in radio, and is probably the only thing we can really thank offshore pirate radio for.

Before it opened out to apply to all nerdy fanatics, for a good few decades an 'anorak' was only a radio fanatic.

The word 'anorak' was coined to replace a previous word which was accidentally broadcast. You see, originally offshore radio fans were called 'w*nkers'.

They would pay money to climb on board what became known as 'w*nker-boats' chartered to come out into the North Sea and look at the offshore radio stations like Radio Caroline. During the 1970s there were hundreds of 'w*nkers', gluing themselves to their radios, listening to the offshore stations, writing down which deejay was on when. They would send off for fanzines and car stickers which they would put all over their bedroom walls in shrines to their religion.

'W*nker-boats' would deliver them to the offshore radio ships anchored many miles out in the North Sea, and they would spend a couple of hours touring the ship, taking hundreds of photos of the aerial rigging, the studios, and anything that they could focus on. They would also try to chip off bits of rust to take home and treasure.

Legend has it that one group of 'w*nkers' hired a huge paddle-steamer for one visit, and as it approached the Radio Caroline ship one of the English crew ran into the studio that was broadcasting a Dutch daytime programme and excitedly told the dutch presenter that there was 'the biggest f***ing w*nker-boat in the whole world coming towards them'. The Dutch deejay included some English in his next link to greet them. Unfortunately, the Dutch are less taboo about such words, so what was to him a perfectly reasonable link included the hrase, "..and hello to the biggest f***ing w*nker-boat in the whole world...".

Soon after this the term 'w*nker' was replaced by 'anorak'. Offshore radio fanatics were not normally sea-faring folk. Thus, the first thing you could notice would be their bright ill-fitting new anorak bought especially for the visit. 15 or so bright ill-fitting new anoraks would stand out on any boat coming towards the radio ship, probably being the first things that could be properly seen on the horizon, and would define whether the pending visitors were enthusiasts or something to be worried about. A boat carrying 15 or so people not wearing bright ill-fitting new anoraks but well-weathered anoraks could be a hostile boarding party determined to put the station off the air.

I seem to recall that the term 'w*nker-boat' remained for quite a while after the 'w*nkers' had become 'anoraks'.

So, now that the term 'anorak' has opened out to encompass any nerdy enthusiasm we have an accepted English definition of the word that owes itself to 1970s offshore radio.

Where NOT to place an FM antenna, and other equipment. (88–108mhz).

1 Near a busy road (where there are too many prying eyes).

2 Don't hang it from a tree (trees absorb RF and effect SWR).

3 Make it out of aluminium (not wire).

4 A plain old dipole is useless, use a folded di-pole.

5 Make sure your tape player doesn't stick, as it is most annoying to hear dead air every hour, till it starts working again.

6 Make sure your coax is well hidden, as little sods use it as a swing.

7 Look out for Park Rangers/Gamekeepers, they think you are poaching, well you are of course, listeners from other stations.

8 Try not to go onto private land, saying that there is VERY little land that is not owned by someone.

9 Check your car battery condition, as Bon Scott starts to sound like Lee Marvin (Wandrin Star) or that bloke in the Crash Test Dummies.

10 Check your antenna match,especially when one leg of the di-pole falls off.

All of the above may lead to the ultimate downfall of your transmitter, or at least it's PA transistors. [Radio Fab Engineer]
Suggested by <a href="/members/.html">Geoff Hutton</a> ...:

From an article published in the 1990s. The author now wishes to remain unnamed:

I remember where I was when the MV "Mi Amigo" sank in March 1980. I lived in Tottenham almost in the notorious Broadwater Farm Estate, and Radio Caroline had been playing non-stop music "storm" tapes most of the day. On the top of every hour they'd come on the microphone live to relay a collection of number codes for the office. The signal was getting quite weak. Eventually the guys on board explained properly that the ship was taking on water, closed down, and were rescued by lifeboat whilst the ship went down to its final resting-place.

In those days, before cellphones were invented, communication from ship to shore was a bit hit or miss. The main method was at 8pm each night when the disc jockey would read out a collection of numbers. This would be from a pre-discussed list of many different phrases. One list was held on board and one was in the office. Phrase 12 (for example) might be "Diesel is low, but okay for three weeks". To send this message to the office, the disc jockey would add the date. So, phrase 12 being read out on the 7th of the month would go out as "Tonight's number is 19". Obviously at the office they'd deduct the date, and read phrase 12 and act on it (or ignore it more often!). I never did understand why this date adding was needed, as even the authorities knew that the date was added even if they didn't know what the codes actually translated to.

The times a tired person in the office has miscalculated the simple arithmetic and (say) "Diesel is low, but okay for three weeks" turned into "We are about to die of starvation so are abandoning ship" or something else equally alarmist!

Anyway, Radio Caroline's first main ship sank and it was a good few years before a new ship (the M V Ross Revenge) was found for the 1980s.

However, a lot of very important items went down with the Mi Amigo apart from all the history. Obviously the most important item was the "D A box". This was the often rumoured but rarely admitted to filtering system that fitted in-between the studio and the transmitter. Its sole purpose was to properly propagate the Loving Awareness vibe that was Radio Caroline. Any old anorak will tell you how Caroline had a purpose beyond playing records, and that was to tell the world about Loving Awareness (L A). L A is what is needed to defeat the bad vibe of D A that is all around us. We all suffer from D A, but with Caroline being the voice of L A, there was hope. Loving Awareness goes beyond the conventional understanding of human kind, and in order to keep this pure it was important that at the heart of Caroline there was the D A box. I could tell a number of quite horrific stories about the times we tried to empty it and clean it out after it got clogged one time, but I am sworn to secrecy about the inner workings of the whole Loving Awareness part of the Caroline operation. It's one of those 1970s things, and shrouded in the same mystery that surrounds the origin of the D A box.

All that is publicly known is that the box was handed down to Ronan O'Rahilly (the original founding father) himself from forces I dare not mention here.

Now, as you can imagine the original D A box went down with the Mi Amigo, and spent a long period of time under the sea. Programmes from the new Radio Caroline on board the Ross Revenge could never come out properly because the D A box was not in place. Anything broadcasting without the D A box could not be the true Radio Caroline. When transmissions as Radio Caroline re-commenced from the new ship there was no D A box in line. Anoraks will tell you how things were never quite right, and it was not the same as the much warmer days of the Mi Amigo.

At various times through the 1980s a number of substitute D A boxes were fashioned and secretly put in line. For a while they'd work very crudely, but eventually they would always break down and let the D A through.

The Ross Revenge later met a similar fate – it foundered on the Goodwin Sands and then got abandoned by the Caroline organisation but taken over by a group of ship enthusiasts known as the Ross Revenge Support Group.

Some argue this living hell is far worse than having the watery grave the Mi Amigo has. The Ross Revenge is now tied to the UK legally, never able to leave to resume its offshore activities. Now and again to raise funds the RRSG occasionally broadcast under Radio Authority Restricted Service Licences imitation Radio Caroline programmes mimicking the 1970s when the D A box was in line. These programmes have been subjected to so much ridicule, that one leading light – Peter Moore – from the enthusiasts has spent a fortune trying to find the D A box.

In the early 90s he commissioned a number of dives into the wreck of the Mi Amigo, paid for by unsuspecting radio enthusiasts who thought they were helping fund the day to day running of the Ross Revenge. His reasoning being that possessing the D A box and connecting it would make everything all right. He was desperate for people to take his group seriously when they used the Caroline name.

It came as a shock to Moore and his cronies to discover that the D A box was not on board the wreck of Mi Amigo. Divers reported that it had clearly been removed some time before, but definitely whilst the ship had been on the seabed.

There are those behind the scenes who just get on with things without looking for self-publicity. Whilst the RRSG people look for any and all photo opportunity, the real workers and the real work is done by others in secret. Recently the RRSG mounted commando style raids on these people and places they thought might be protecting the D A box. I myself was subjected to the indignity of being held hostage by the RRSG bullies for three days whilst they tried to force me to tell them what I knew. They got nothing from me despite all the torture.

I can never reveal how the D A box actually was removed from its watery grave. However, I will say it is protectively held by a sort of secret Loving Awareness closed order dedicated to protecting it from misuse by the likes of Moore and others who wish they were the real Radio Caroline. One day very soon it will be re-connected into the feed from some exciting new transmissions. That's when I'll get my revenge.

Then, and only then, will the voice of Loving Awareness, Radio Caroline, really be back for Europe.

If have had a problem with this article, then that just shows you how much the D A can really get to you and stop you from understanding the truth. Comments please.

How to Play at Pirate Radio
Rule 1. Find a good high vantage point so you can see in all directions. Rule 2. Be sure there is cover like trees or bushes, DON'T wear ex army stuff. Rule 3. Dig a nice deep hole to put your gear in (TX,Tape Machine,Battery) Rule 4. See you have safe escape route (in case you have a visit)
Rule 5. Park you car/van at least a quarter of a mile away.
Rule 6. Watch out for that acid, when your carrying that heavy battery. Rule 7. Don't visit your tx site at regular times, have at least two other sites. Rule 8. Make a point of wearing trainers, they help you run a little quicker. Rule 9. Don't use someone elses electricity (remember WFRL).
Rule 10 You must be mad, an anorak, game for a laugh, probably all three.

Suggested by <a href="/members/16.html">Geoff Hutton</a> ...:

Eight Things You SHOULD Know About RF

RF does burn, put your finger on the end of the feeder cable to the antenna, DON'T do this if it is a high powered TX (over 10 watts). 2. RF is, contrary to some peoples beliefs, making most of us antenna erectors/makers go thinning or bald, everyone I know who has mucked about with antenaes have gone that way (including me). 3. RF travels the speed of light not sound.
RF is radiation, but the waves are thought to be harmless.
RF coming out of your mobile phones are microwaves.
RF escapes from your microwave cooker, they can cause catarachs.
RF is everywhere, just think of all the frequencies which radio uses, not to mention microwaves, mobile phones, TV, satellite. 8. RF stands for Radio Frequency.
RF was first used by our Mr radio himself, Marconi.
RF from Radio Caroline in Easter 1964 would have reached Aplha Centauri by Xmas 1972. A little tip, if you want to keep your hair, where a faraday cage around your head, or maybe a wire mesh hair-net may suffice. LA
Geoff Hutton
Suggested by <a href="/members/16.html">Geoff Hutton</a> ...:

Can you remember the TV shows that had story lines about pirate radio stations?

Please help compile this 'ultimate' list by hitting 'Comment' and giving as much detail as possible about the storyline, name of the TV series / show / film, and anything else you can remember. If you have additional info to 'flesh out' the details we already have, please include them too.

Contributors so far include:
Christopher England

And we have recalled:

Thunderbirds. An episode where a space satellite pirate TV/radio station was operating. The main DJ was identified as Ric (fx: rifle gunshot with loads of echo) O'Shea. As far as we recall, the DJ was 'in vision' inbetween the records. However, when a record played he was replaced by a test card with the stations call letters. (Anybody help with the episode title, or the call-sign of the station?)

The Goodies. (More details please?)

Danger Man (More Details please?)

Heartbeat. (More details please?)

I remember The Lenny Henry Show back in the 1980s where Lenny's character, Delbert Wilkins, broadcasted from behind a kebab shop in Brixton.

He aptly called the station/service the BBC (Brixton Broadcasting Corporation). Miranda Ashitey

The Goodies' request for a broadcast license is turned down by the Post Office so to get round this they open a pirate post office so they can issue thier own one. Thus Radio Goodie is born, broadcasting from a ship (or was that a submarine?) and with only one record: A Walk In The Black Forest, which bores the one listener, a granny in a rocking chair, literally to death. Graeme, the brainy member of the trio finally flips as meglamania takes over. Facts as accurate as 30+ years since viewing will allow! Last Episode from Series 1 – 1970.

More at: http://www.humorlinks.com/humornet/files/goodies2.html

Mmm, something in there about Bill achieving 'total awareness' with the use of 'mind-expanding lemonsherbert'. Steve Pragnell

The Engineer challenges the previously held belief that people will seek out radio with a good format regardless of the wave band it is broadcast on.

In response to the suggestions that when it comes to listening to the radio, "the wave band doesn't matter. If the format is what the listener wants they will tune in to anything."

I'm not so sure that that's the case any more, thanks to the laws of supply and demand.

Until comparatively recently information was relatively scarce. Because of that people were willing to accept a much higher cost to obtain the content they valued. That might be a visible cost, such as paying £15 for a CD of a band they liked, or a less obvious one, such as switching to a different waveband, hunting around for a station and then listening through crackles and interference, rather than pristine FM stereo.

The problem is, with the huge growth of digital media outlets and the net, we're now in a situation where there's an information surplus. The amount of money people are willing to pay for content has dropped hugely – in some cases to near zero.

This is what you see in the wars between the record companies and the file trading networks. When there's so much music available for free, customers no longer consider it worth so much to them. The record companies have now at least entered into customer negotiations with the launch of their new download services, but the price can only really drop. There's no going back to the fat cat days of old.

The only way you can really charge premium rates now is if you are in complete control of the means of distribution – for example the movie industry with cinemas – or if you have timely information that others do not – such as sports rights. Media owners are attempting to regain control through the use of digital rights management systems, limiting use of content through encryption technology, but at some point it has to go back to analogue and then all that protection is in vain.

The same laws of supply and demand of course also apply to radio. AM is not yet dead in some markets, but the extra cost involved for listeners (the switching waveband, ...) means it's on the way out. Sports may be viable longer because of its value and consequently the extra cost listeners are willing to put up with. However, where listeners have access to other media, music radio will find it increasingly hard to survive. That leaves it only for an older, rural audience – a group that is not a priority for most advertisers.

"We, the undersigned, being of sound anorak mind, but probably aged body, firmly believe that the new longwave service set to launch from the Isle of Man on 279 kHz should in some format use the 'Radio Caroline' name as part of its callsign. We hereby humbly petition IMIB to use the Caroline callsign as a fitting tribute to the history and heritage of Radio Caroline North, with its unforgettable ties with the Isle of Man, and as a mark of continuance for the way Radio Caroline changed the face of radio in the UK"

Please click the ‘Comment’ button at the bottom of the page which will add your name. Then, please write some best wishes, and / or any other comments or thoughts you wish to express in support of your views on this petition.

(Please do not comment on other people's comments here. Instead, go to <a href="http://www.anoraknation.com/messages">Discussion</a>. Thanks)

I think it would be a really great idea if Paul went ahead ancalled the project Caroline North!,I'm sure it would take off and also put paid to the windup's we've had of late!.Maybe if others on the A.N group agree it may just happen?, but who knows. I think Paul and the company have done wonders and finally won through so hopefully they have much success in years to come. All the best!.
Jan

Posted by World Radio Club on Tuesday 24 February 2004 at 11:44 PM.

Well done and all the best to Paul and his partners.
As the transmissions will be coming from "a point at sea" it would be apt to be the "new Caroline on 279"

Posted by Tony Wylie on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 12:40 AM.

Caroline 279 – works for me. Do it!! Ronan would love it. Finally, a national Radio Caroline. *Christopher England definitely said that! *

Posted by Christopher England on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 12:52 AM.

The following from Frank(ee):

I strongly support the petition worded elsewhere on this site. Another suggestion to further honour the memory of Radio Caroline North would be to secure the postal address P.O. Box 2, Ramsey.

Posted by Christopher England on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 8:03 AM.

All my friends who are not anoraks/radio enthusiasts only remember Caroline North. It was the place to be tuned in to,,for personality radio,,the sounds of the nation, the way of life up north and happiness. For them Caroline North was the only thing that mattered, they would talk about comments the jocks made about day to day life on board, the new releases and what was happening on the IOM. To name the 279 service as "Caroline 279" would not only bring back the great memories of the 60`s but also would provide the IOM with a more historic radio past, promote the IOM to no ends and provide jobs for the island. Not forgetting that the MV Fredricia was the real Caroline ship,,as the Atlanta ship,,"Mi Amigo stayed down South, as Caronline South. The real home of Caroline is surley off the Isle Of Mann.

Here`s to "Caroline 279"

Will.

Posted by Will on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 8:59 AM.

Many congratulations to Paul and his team. How fantastic it would be to hear the announcement, "This is Caroline on 279".

Not that a new station should dwell on the past, or languish in it, but it would be good to hear "Congrats" messages from the jocks of yore, rather like the farewell messages that went with BigL's closedown.

Here's hoping, too, that live presentation will be the name of the game. I'm sure one certain RTD is correct in this.

Good luck in the development of the site, the effectiveness of the transmitter/antenna, and recruitment – and everything else that goes with this important project.

Posted by Paul Kendall on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 10:02 AM.

Caroline 279 or Caroline North, with or without the word 'Radio'. Catchy, in yer lugs (or lug, if you only have one available at the time) and something that will make people tune in even if just to relive memories. It would certainly generate lots of media interest, especially as another writer states, 'from a point at sea'. A new international radio station on a virtually disregarded band needs a very effective gimmick. Who is really interested in long wave? Who out of those people would think, "Hang on a mo....I can remember......"?

Paul, you have done so much hard work. Please don't get it wrong now.

I add my name to the campaign to call the station Caroline. Even take some of the output from Maidstone if necessary. If Mr Moore objects, I can always tune my Sky box to 913. Vote with my feet. (Well, I can't say knob, can I?)

Posted by G4RNI (George) on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 3:59 PM.

Many congratulations to the 279 team.Caroline North 279 – works for me, especial as it will be coming from Ramsey Bay

Posted by Herbie on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 4:53 PM.

I agree with everything posted here, The folks from the IOM have fond memories of Caroline North.

I wish Paul and his team every success with the project
.
It would be great if they do use the name Caroline, In case of any legal problems how about caroline International or Caroline North.

Also it would be great if Ray Anderson gets things going so that the old rivals can be on the air together again.

Richard

Posted by Richard on Wednesday 25 February 2004 at 6:50 PM.

Great Idea. Being only a youngster (honest) I never heard Caroline North but I know they still remember it fondly in IOM. So I would say yes Paul go for it.

Posted by SteveSanford19 on Thursday 26 February 2004 at 3:27 PM.

A great idea. I think under Pauls care it would be a winner.

Posted by andrew pearce on Saturday 28 February 2004 at 10:22 PM.

What a lovely thought! The Isle of Mann would support the idea I'm sure. What are the odds?

Posted by smellofdiesel on Friday 19 March 2004 at 11:32 PM.

Ten Ways To Upset an Amateur Radio Operator
1) Your call sign is P1RAT.
2) Keep saying roger diddly splodger all the time.
3) Say 10–10 till we do it again at the end of your copy er QSO.
4) Calling your ariel system a TWIG.
5) Asking other operators how many pounds your hitting them with.
6) Telling them that you CAN have a copy further than 10 miles on 27 Mhz 7) Telling them that TVI isn't eye strain by watching too much of it.
8) You know that SWR means standing wave ratio.
9) Old Man, Fine Business, Fully Quietening, All Points Taken not allowed in QSO's. 10) You've worked the world on a half wave vertical using 5 watts (it's true, honestly)

Geoff Hutton (The Saint, 26 SR 131,G7OVB)

We recently had a discussion on Anorak nation as to how many of the 1980's Caroline DJs had made it 'big' in radio. Then I decided it would be very anorakky to have a list of 'where are they now from early 1980s Caroline.

So here it is:

<table border=0 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=3>
<tr><td>Name</td><td>Where they are now</td></tr> <tr><td>Bob Mower</td><td>PC at KMFM, Canterbury</td></tr> <tr><td>Dave Owen</td><td>PC on Radio Jackie</td></tr> <tr><td>Jerry James (Jones on Caroline)</td><td>BBC Yorkshire</td></tr> <tr><td>Richard Jackson</td><td>PC on station in Bangkok, Thailand</td></tr> <tr><td>Dave Andrews</td><td>Capital Gold</td></tr> <tr><td>Peter Phillips</td><td>BBC Kent</td></tr> <tr><td>Nick Richards</td><td>Q96 in Paisley till 1996 then City Beat in Belfast and about a year ago he joined Cork96 </td></tr> <tr><td>Dixie Peach</td><td>Radio 1 then obscurity, now a singer</td></tr> <tr><td>Alton Andrews</td><td>Liberty London, now unknown</td></tr> <tr><td>Tony McKenzie</td><td>EMAP ILR </td></tr> <tr><td>Mark Matthews</td><td>not sure where but fairly sure he's on somewhere.</td></tr> <tr><td>Dave Asher</td><td>Red Rose or whatever it's called now</td></tr> <tr><td>Caroline Martin</td><td>BRMB, then Rock FM, now back with BRMB</td></tr> <tr><td>Johnny Lewis</td><td>KMFM for Dover/Folkestone</td></tr> <tr><td>Tom Anderson</td><td>BBC Radio London (mid 90s?)</td></tr> <tr><td>Nigel Harris</td><td>Freelancing at KMFM group</td></tr> <tr><td>Dave Windsor</td><td>BFBS</td></tr> <tr><td>Andy Archer</td><td>New FM station in Norfolk (was at BBC Norfolk)</td></tr> <tr><td>Dave Richards</td><td>Medway FM before the KMFM takeover, now out of radio</td></tr> <tr><td>Stewart Vint (Vincent) engineer and sometime presenter</td><td>Engineer at Invicta</td></tr> <tr><td>Tony Gareth (Gareth O'Callaghan)</td><td>RTE Radio 2</td></tr> <tr><td>Christopher England</td><td>Euronet, Laser Radio.net, Susy, and a crowning glory on the Easy Radio London Breakfast Show</td></tr> <tr><td>Robb Eden</td><td>Radio City (Liverpool)</td></tr> <tr><td>Carl Kingston</td><td>Radio Air (Leeds)</td></tr> <tr><td>Neil Francis</td><td>Currently Virgin Radio</td></tr> <tr><td>Nick Jackson</td><td>BRMB, then Virgin, now back at BRMB</td></tr> </table>

So, it's time to use your imagination. What, in this modern day and age, would be an ideal name for a brand new offshore radio station to call itself?

Just hit 'Comment' (bottom left of this page) and tell us your suggestions and why.

Posted by Christopher on Thursday 25 March 2004 at 2:31 PM.

Radio England?

Posted by Christopher England on Thursday 25 March 2004 at 2:51 PM.

Any new offshore station would have to appeal to the youth of the day, As did Caroline,London Ect in the 60s, RNI in the 70s and Laser in the 80s.

So the name would have to be a draw, I know it has been used by a friend of ours on Streamer but THE BOLLUX would be perfect ( meaning the best ) with the slogun Have you the balls to listen.

Posted by Richard on Saturday 27 March 2004 at 4:28 AM.

A name for a new offshore station, depends on the format, so for station playing modern music I would call it THE ROCKET. If it had a mellow music format then DESTINY would be my choice. If the format was oldies then MADE FOREVER RADIO.

Posted by Simon Willmott on Saturday 27 March 2004 at 11:23 PM.

Radio Freedom International, a station dedicated to playing great music from the past 50 years. From Rock and roll to hip hop, from r and b to rap, from hard rock to garage. Free from all those so called "adverts" on ILR/OFCOM cack stations, they used to be called public service announcements in the days they were aired on BBC TV/Radio, now they are paid for by different government departments to be "repetitively repeated" on local and national Ofcom outlets. The Ministry of Thought keeps Ofcom outlets in a profitable state. Geoff Hutton

Posted by Geoff Hutton on Wednesday 31 March 2004 at 7:41 PM.

I agree that it must be a station that is targetting the youth

A good name should be:K3 or melC

Mr lion

Posted by Mr Lion on Saturday 17 April 2004 at 5:18 PM.

How about RADIO RIGHT HAND, it could play soft sexy music after midnight and read out erotic lierature in the way Radio Sutch once did.

Good potebtial ingle too "Radio Right Hand – your station for masturbation"

I think this could be a winner!

Posted by Anorak Steve on Sunday 9 May 2004 at 1:33 AM.

‘The Borg’ is a name given to the large corporate groups who operate the networked non-adventurous radio services. Why are they called ‘The Borg’?

‘The Borg’ are a species from the Star Trek universe. They travel around the universe finding worlds, such as Earth, and attacking and ‘assimilating’ the species inhabiting the worlds, such as ‘humans’. They take with them some of the technology or resources, and disregard the rest. Each of the species becomes absorbed into the ‘collective’, and individuals are plugged into a ‘commonality’ that forces them to become a ‘drone’ with no personality or character, just carrying out the bidding of the ‘common good’. There is no room for individuality. “Resistance is futile” when the Borg have decided to ‘assimilate’ a species, and they become even stronger once they have ‘assimilated’ them and any new technology or resources they didn’t already have.

With the Borg there is no ‘creativity’, and no room for experimentation or individuality.

I hope this adequately explains why the radio groups that come along vacuuming-up small individual radio stations, stripping them of any individuality, taking away any technology that may prove useful and ‘plugging them in’ to a common networked format, are referred to as ‘the Borg’. The parallels are frightening, very very sad, and resistance is futile.

From time to time, as a bit of fun, imaginary 'housepoints' are issued to Anorak Nation contributors. They can be given for a number of reasons, including as part of a fun quiz, or because of recommendation from others owing to a really interesting posting or conversation. A lot are allocated by the weekly Housepoint Monitor. (More about Housepoint Monitors below)

Anorak Nation housepoints can also be taken away for being naughty, but only an 'in fun' being naughty, of course.

Here we keep a tally of who has what, and there may (or may not) be a prize for the contributor with the most housepoints at the end of a period of time.

Housepoints can be ramdomly awarded by Moderators, or by the Housepoint Monitor of the week, for any an apparently valid reason.

(All decisions about housepoints are up to the moderators or Housepoint Monitor who are allowed to have favourites, cheat, and generally accept bribes, but will try to appear fair.)

Anorak Nation Housepoints Chart:

Frank(ee) = 1160
09/05/04 +5 for admitting he hates pro-sport. But only 5 because I disagree with him. 09/05/04 +25 for respectfully smarming up to me as HP monitor at the start of the week 05/05/04 +50 for disagreeing with CE about politics yet remaining friendly and not resorting to insults. 04/05/04 +50 for "=?utf-8?q?Fw=3A_=5BDRM-L=5D_DRM_radio_for_?==?utf-8?b?4oKsMTE5?=" (the most interesting thread title of the week). 03/05/04 +201 for being an all round good guy and defending members of this group elsewhere. 03/04/04 +10 for doing a good job (as HM) last week.
17/02/04 +30 at Dermott's request for being an overall good bloke, who is never unpleasant on list, who always tries to help out where he can, who sends entertaining and informative postings. 14/02/04 +666 for owning the Aphroditie's Child 666 album.
02/02/04 +2 for saying complex stuff about measuring wavelength in feet and inches, that nobody understood. 28/01/04 +100 for shutting up and not ranting, yet not getting housepoints whilst others do. 24/01/04 +1 for solidarity with CE about a new radio ship not having a point. 23/01/04 +10 for ranting, cloaking, and then asking for housepoints. 20/01/04 +10 for not being smug about impressively listening to Radio Scotland millions of miles away.

Eric Wiltsher = 1092
09/05/04 +20 for being realistic about 3g phones
04/05/04 +50 for common sense:"Haven't bothered to do a reverse or even standard look-up. Sites with no address, phone, dar-di-dah – I just leave them to do what they think they're doing. Eric" 05/03/04 +25 for being completely unselfish when it comes to housepoints 05/03/04 -50 kindly donated to Geoff Rogers for taking flack
05/03/04 -50 kindly donated to John for taking more flack
28/03/04 +25 for his career, offering us all kinds of media information, and particularly his knowledgeable postings on this list.
19/03/04 +30 for semi-naked photos of some bird who can sing.
27/02/04 +1000 as a bribe, erm, not a bribe, erm, as an appreciation of the fact that he might be planning to provide toys and freebies for AN subscribers. 07/02/04 +10 for not being a smart arse and saying Ner-ne-ne-ner-ner after 'winning' a point of discussion. 05/02/04 +2 for continuing to suffer his name being spelt wrongly. (The latest variation seems to be Wilsher). 05/02/04 +10 for liking Geoff and Nicholas' shag jokes.
30/01/04 +10 for eating worms due to a lack of housepoints.
30/01/04 +10 for being close to throwing his teddies out of the pram.

Chris Bent = 876
09/05/04 +25 for telling us about the Tony Blackburn Binky Baker song 14/02/04 +666 for proving he has the Aphroditie's Child 666 album. 09/02/04 +10 because he is blackmailing CE about the secret he knows about what CE did. 09/02/04 +25 for kindly providing a copy of the song Radio Seagull (1970s) used to close down on. 06/02/04 +150 as a bribe so he doesn't reveal to the whole Anorak Nation how CE was to blame for something that happened.

Mike Brand = 675
09/05/04 +25 to help soothe any paranoia
17/02/04 +100 after a conspiracy between him and Frank(ee) to gain housepoints for having an Alguin album. Sigh. 27/01/04 +50 for pointing out he was a BRAND leader.
20/01/04 +500 for having recordings of nearly everything that's happened offshore in Israel.

Paul Rusling = 509
09/05/04 +25 for wanting to give away all his points
17/02/04 -25 for knowing something we don't know.
17/02/04 -1 for not offering Christopher England a job (yet).
17/02/04 +500 for finally having good news.
30/01/04 +5 for remembering RTD's birthday.
30/01/04 +5 for having thus far been deprived of points despite having made lots of them.

Geoff Rogers = 427
09/05/04 +50 for also being a rebel and showing his allegance to a certain pro football team and playing their anthem on his show when it wasn't on the playlist. 03/05/04 +50 from that kind man Eric for flack suffering.
03/05/04 +300 for all the c**p he had to suffer elsewhere defending myself, Chris and this group here and elsewhere. 28/03/04 +25 for his efforts elsewhere defending the dignity of this reflector. 05/02/04 +30 for a very funny play on words involving 'shag', 'carpet' and the 'boss'. (More than Nicholas' for a similar type of joke because (a) it involved 'the boss' and (b) because I can.) 30/01/04 +10 for learning how to manage this site under the expert tuition of Mr England.
27/01/04 +2 for having to suffer the indignity of having his name misspelt. 23/01/04 +10 for telling Stewart he doesn't need to worry about the load on his pipe.

Nicholas Mead = 293
09/05/04 +50 to help get over the trauma of losing 3000 points the other week 03/05/04 -300 for obtaining 2831 points by nefarious means such as bribery 03/05/04 -2831 forfeited housepoints
03/04/04 +10 for being the unofficial political reporter/commentator of the week on Anorak Nation. 19/03/04 +2831 for a number of different things, mainly more bribery, and raids on the stock of housepoints. 14/03/04 +373 for giving CE his pearls of wisdom.
25/02/04 +50 as a bribe to keep certain things locked in his secret 'W file', whilst slowly releasing others. 19/02/04 +10 for spotting real 'preaching' in a CE post.
13/02/04 +50 for telling a good clean joke somehow linked to radio (Mike Read). 05/02/04 +23 for a funny play on words involving 'shag' and 'carpet'. 30/01/04 +2 for having one-and-a-half ears, to CE's three-quarters of just one. 30/01/04 +5 for slipping in a plug for <a href="http://www.lumpit.com">http://www.lumpit.com</a> 20/01/04 +10 for suggesting CE once used the name of his arch enemy Peter Moore as his DJ name when he was 11. 20/01/04 +10 for being a rebel and smoking in the bike sheds, as we like rebels.

Christopher England = 290
09/05/05 +20 for mentioning "that strange alcoholic guy who kept sending me weird threatening email" 05/05/04 +50 for disagreeing with Frank(ee) about politics yet remaining friendly and not resorting to insults. 05/05/04 +50 for being able to navigate the OFCOM site.
05/05/04 -50 for providing an unworkable link.
05/05/04 +100 for providing us with "Anorak Nation".
04/05/04 + 10 for knowing how to make a washed-up old has-been feel good. 03/04/04 +10, which was +1,000 for getting it right about Mr Moyles. However he instantly lost 990 for: “As predicted by me, I think.” And “Also predicted by me.” 28/03/04 +50 for supplying us with the reflector which at the same time reflects intelligence, humour, stupidity, outright lies and a place where we can feel at home. 28/03/04 +50 for entrusting me (Frankee) with the difficult task of the Housepoint Monitorship. 28/03/04 +1 for denegativising him.
22/02/04 +50 for saying he'd go out and work on a new offshore radio station. 06/02/04 -150 for being to blame for something that happened (Chris Bent knows all about it and stole these housepoints). 23/01/04 -1 for making an un-pc remark.
20/01/04 +200 for revealing he was once "Collapsible" Thruster Jetpack "the man of many parts". 19/01/04 -100 for talking about how he used to play at being a radio pirate when he was 11.

John Barry = 235
09/05/05 +50 for being so generous as to wanting to be excluded from the housepoints league 09/05/04 +25 for agreeing with me about Digital One's plans to hijack some of the nationa DAB bandwidth 09/05/04 +25 for seemingly being the only person here who's also interested in professional football. 09/05/04 +5 for 'keeping the faith' as regards the Communicator
03/04/04 +10 for sticking to his guns about Radio 1.
27/02/04 +10 for always being willing to admit when he's wrong. 09/02/04 +10 for saying something positive about DAB.
19/01/04 +100 for slogging on in what appears to be a lone, yet well fought, crusade against the misguided postings of Christopher and / or Eric, and constantly coming back for more.

Alex Jenkins = 201
09/05/04 +25 for suggesting the Mic Coren was re-writing history. 28/03/04 +25 for being a nice guy and suggesting Gary Foster should deserve Housepoints for correcting a mistake by Christopher England. 30/01/04 +50 for working under a particular Programme Controller and living to tell the tale. 20/01/04 +1 for owning a recording of Radio Scotland.
05/02/04 +100 for expressing outrage at Eric having suggestive thoughts about someone called Alex.

Roger Day = 170
09/05/04 +25 for strengthening his rebel status by refusing to play a Eurovision winner in the 70s cos it was crap. 05/05/04 +100 for being brilliant.
03/04/04 +25 for plugging his book: "Here I am again answering two questions. Hope this won't affect the sales of my book." 30/01/04 +10 for continuing to agree, at least in part, with CE about Radio 1. 28/01/04 +10 in celebration of finally agreeing with CE about something.

Gary Fosster = 150
28/03/04 +50 for detecting a mistake in a posting from Christopher England attributing a Don Spencer song to Don Alen) and being brave enough to mention it. 20/01/04 +100 for making a moderator laugh with a swipe at a list he's banned from.

George G4RNI = 130
03/04/04 +10 to keep him ahead of CE.
03/04/04 +10 for struggling on despite his broken mit.
21/03/04 +100 for the nice poem about Radio Caroline.
01/02/04 +5 for having a sexy callsign.
01/02/04 +5 for knowing bigotted women.

John England = 100
05/05/04 +100 for 20 years worth of bullshit.

Books = 100
05/05/04 +100 for being able to navigate the OFCOM and providing a workable link to the RSL info.

It's Pete Really = 100
04/05/04 +100 for taking the time to write an informative, well-thought-through, answer to a question on Caroline TV.

Ted Finch = 91
06/02/04 +81, which is one for every email he had to delete.
20/01/04 +10 for sussing a Gerry Anderson connection to CE's DJ name when aged 11, and for suggesting it was 'Jerry "Twiggy" Jupiter'.

Dermott Young = 80
14/02/04 +50 for an anoraky joke about turning a radio on that Frank(ee) liked. 29/01/04 +30 for talking about a ship broadcasting anti-Government propaganda as Radio 'You have nothing to Lose but your Chains'.

John Knight = 60
03/05/05 +50 from that kind man Eric for taking flack.
03/04/04 +10 just because he should.

Jan = 50
04/05/04 +50 for the interesting post on Magic/Scary Guy.

Linda = 50
04/05/04 +50 for answering the question about the "'Anti-Ad', the remote controlled radio ad zapper in 1930, why did it never catch on?" with "..because nobody knew about it...was it advertised? ;-) "

Richard Sharpe = 50
27/02/04 +50 because he had an apology from CE about something.

Nick Artis = 50
28/03/04 +50 for keeping his cool and never taking things personally.

Steve Conway = 50
09/05/04 +25 for having been one of the last men on the Ross when it was still at sea. 03/04/04 +12.5 for "I learned a long time ago that sticking my sensitive bits into a food blender which has everyone's fingers on the 'ON' button ends in a bloody mess". 03/04/04 +12.5 for having a brain and being the first person to introduce a 'house' record into the 'A-list' on Caroline.

MicCoren = 50
09/05/04 +25 for doing an impression of another correspondent on this list asking about strange signals on certain frequencies and spreading rumours – although he denies it 28/03/04 +25 for making me (Frankee) smile with his Beatloid bible quotation ("Oh yeah of little faith").

Alby Ridge = 41
09/05/05 +20 for considering himself to be best git
09/05/04 +10 for talking about Dave Miller's dangling carrots
03/04/04 +10 for showing us a website tracking vessels – only as it might stop some claiming there’s a vessel where it isn’t. (Sorry I think marine industry stuff is about as anoraky as some think my modern anorak stuff is – Eric.) 20/01/04 +1 for making a joke about 'glowing' reports about RF 'radiation'.

Graham Jones = 40
09/05/04 -20 for dissing the great Tony
04/05/04 + 10 for knowing how to make a washed-up old has-been feel good. 22/02/04 + 50 for saying he'd go out and work on a new offshore radio station.

Alfie Noakes = 36
27/02/04 +25 for daring to say something that might have rendered him to abuse. 24/01/04 +1 for pointing out that the point of a boat is the bit at the opposite end to the stern. 23/01/04 +10 for daring to argue with Sir, using a very long sentence.

Roy Litchfield = 30
03/04/04 +30 for trying to introduce group hugs in cyberspace.

Classic Rock = 25
11/02/04 +25 for saying Anorak Nation is actually very addictive and suspecting that underneath it all there is a bit of tongue in cheek and a fair bit of humour.

Stewart Ross = 20
09/05/04 +10 for being true to his pirate roots and saying he'd never report any pirate station 03/04/04 +10 for office humour.

Warren Sda698 = 20
09/05/04 +20 for mentioning Tony's 12 incher

Oscar Radio Skeleton = 20
09/05/04 +10 for suggesting a novel way to reduce house prices (ie ban credit) 20/01/04 +10 for suggesting that CE's DJ name aged 11 was Parker Hood.

Tony Wylie = 10
03/04/04 +10 for a good anorak site.

Terry Hurst = 10
03/04/04 +10 because he should.

Steve Sanford = 10
03/04/04 +10 for being understanding.

David Robinson = 10
23/02/04 +10 for mentioning that an offshore radio station could broadcast a documentary about offshore radio without using the word 'scuppered'.

Tim Scrimshaw = 10
17/02/04 +10 for remembering having eaten 'apfelmousse'.

Jonathan Hall of Fame = 10
20/01/04 +10 for his interesting memories of Radio City.

Steve Pragnell = 10
20/01/04 +10 for his interesting memories of Falkland's Radio.

What a Guy = 10
20/01/04 +10 for asking a good question about Tom Browne (Radio 1 Top 40).

Geoff Toon = 10
05/02/04 +10 for making a joke about who was in the car park thrashing the moderators.

Patrick5 = 2
09/02/04 +2 for saying the time pips gave him the pip.

Williammwrmnn = 2 
02/02/04 +2 for driving to the studio in the middle of the night to reset Myriad 'cos the PC hadn't set it right.

Housepoint Monitors
A Housepoint Monitor can only be a Housepoint Monitor once every 6 weeks. They get put on the list on a first come first on basis by declaring their interest in being a Housepoint Monitor.

The Housepoint Monitor has a target of around 500 housepoints to allocate to other contributors as they see fit at random times during that week. They can give them all to one person, or spread them amongst many people, including themselves. It's up to them, and their decision is final.

They send them to ..., and then a kind Moderator will transpose the housepoint allocations onto the main list.

HM Duties, changing at 23:59 on Sunday evenings:
17/05/04 to 23/05/04 Nick Artis
10/05/04 to 16/05/04 Alby Ridge
03/05/04 to 09/05/04 Geoff Rogers
26/04/04 to 02/05/05 Steve Conway
19/04/04 to 25/04/04 Nicholas Mead
12/04/04 to 18/04/04 Roy Litchfield
05/04/04 to 11/04/04 Roy Litchfield
29/04/04 to 04/04/04 Eric Wiltsher
22/04/04 to 28/03/04 Frank(ee)

Planned broadcast from Ross Revenge:

The RSL will run from 7th August to 3rd September 2004 from the Ross Revenge stationed at the Tilbury Ocean Liner terminal in Essex.

How to find the Ross Revenge:

From the West:

Leave the M25 at junction 30 and follow the A13 eastbound (Tilbury & Southend)Take the A1089 (third exit off A13) which is dual carriageway, to the 'ASDA' roundabout.

The second exit off the roundabout takes you over the railway – The entrance to the Port of Tilbury can be seen on the right hand side. Continue past the port entrance, over the first mini roundabout and turn left at the second mini roundabout (at this point the London Cruise Terminal can be seen immediately in front of you).

After 100 yards turn right into the Tilbury/Gravesend ferry approach opposite Westerlund warehouse and continue over the bridge on to Tilbury Landing Stage.

Car parking is available on the pontoon or at the top of the bridge.

From the East:

Follow the A13 towards the M25 and leave at the A1089 exit. Continue as above.

Latest info: <a href="http://www.horizonmagazine.co.uk/rsl.html">http://www.horizonmagazine.co.uk/rsl.html</a>

Tony Allan died Friday 9th July 2004, aged 54.

Full details of the Funeral Arrangements are here: http://www.anoraknation.com/knowledge/radio_personalities/000068.html

He lost his battle with cancer and passed away in the hospice he was being cared for in Hampstead, North London.

He was an iconic personality and figure known mainly to those who love and appreciate radio the way it was meant to be.

His voice stood out, as did his production and presentation ability.

He meant so much to those who remembered the offshore radio years of the 70s and the Irish pirate hay-days during the 80s.

Even if generations to come don't realise it, Tony will always live on as part of the fabric of real radio, radio with a heart, warmth and individuality. He is in the foundations and the soul of radio in Europe. And always will be.

Tony Allan, R.I.P.
22nd September 1949 – 9th July 2004

Please feel free to add your own living memories of Tony Allan. Just select the 'Comment' button at the very bottom of this page.

If you can't fathom the system, or it won't let you in, just send an email of whatever you'd like contributed to Admin. We will then paste it in for you. If you have already made a comment, but would like to amend it, please also e-mail us.

Posted by Christopher on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:24 PM.

Tony Allan, R.I.P – from Peter Moore
Tony 1950 – 2004.

In the early seventies, listening to Caroline in my bedsit, I began to wonder who was this remarkably voiced and brilliant man who captivated me with his vast and varied musical appreciation.

A few months later I drew up alongside the Mi Amigo off the Dutch coast to be welcomed by Bob Noakes, Andy Archer and Tony Allan.

After a while of being shown around, the crew suggested that I ought to get ashore in advance of a coming storm, but in truth I think I had outstayed my welcome with too many foolish questions.

Years later I met Tony on an evil night in Ramsgate, on a fishing boat that could not leave for the Mi Amigo because of engine trouble. Tony was drunk and terrifying. He wondered if by our all holding hands, L.A. may not fix the engine. I felt that it would take only one wrong word for him to attack me and so I slunk away.

Then I met him again towards the end of the life of the old ship. I had arrived on a motor barge delivering diesel oil and we were in some trouble ourselves. Tony was again the gentleman I had met in the first instance and could not have been more concerned and caring.

I cannot comment on his distinguished career in Ireland, I am sure that a better person such as Chris Cary can do that and indeed I had all but forgotten about him until Ross Revenge came to London in 1995. The crew noticed a forlorn figure sitting on a bench near the ship and it was Tony. He was immediately invited on board and put on air.

Again he disappeared and I heard no more until 2001, when out of the blue he called. Surprisingly, since he was such a private man, he wanted all his old friends to have his number.

Being an opportunist I asked him at once if he would create some new voice overs for us. He said that it may be as well to do this soon since he had in his words ' a bit of cancer '.

I could not think of a more cruel thing for a man blessed with such a voice to contract throat cancer. However he never complained even though the medical profession built him up and knocked him down many times. He always said that there were many people in worse situations than his own.

At one stage he was buoyed up by the promise of an operation, albeit a major one, that would restore him to health. When this possibility was taken from him at the last moment he went out and got spectacularly drunk.

When he finally regained lucidity the next day, he told my good friend Bob ( Buzby )Lawrence ' bloody hell Buzz, not only am I going to die, I've got a bloody hangover as well '.

However, the tough old bird did not die. Each time when we went to his ' last ' birthday party, a year passed and we went to his next last birthday party.

Many of us began to think that he was indestructible and each time the illness pushed him to the brink he bounced back again. I last saw him at Easter, looking dapper in a fabulous suit and a Ben Sherman shirt. We planned his return on air.

The last of our family to see Tony were Dave Foster and Rob Ashard who visited him on Thursday. Tony was chuckling about the huge credit card bills that he never would have to pay but he was concerned to see his beloved cat once again and to allocate all his possessions to the right people and to ensure that we would mark his passing in the way he specified. He also planned his last, last programme but sadly time defeated him.

Tony slipped in to a coma this morning and died around 11am with his brother by his side and his lovely companion Eliyah who has been looking after him for three years.

The best final comment comes from Tony himself.

' What the hell, I've had a wonderful life '

Peter Moore,
Radio Caroline.
July 9th.

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Peter Moore on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:37 PM.

Goodbye and God Bless Tony Allan

A copy of a posting from Chris Cary:

Shortly after 11.15am today, Tony Allan passed away peacefully, with a Marie Curie nurse at his side in the Hospice in Hampstead. He was in a deep sleep .
A truly talented and versatile broadcaster and dear,dear friend. I miss him deeply.

Friends and family have been with him all week, and I understand that Elija was with him for most of yesterday.

Be at peace Tony.

With Love.

Chris and Sybil, Nick and Will

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Chris Cary on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:41 PM.

From Frankee:

Too bad for Tony, I hope he will not be forgotten, as has happened to so many great people. Tony was one of those people who simply did what they had to do... and he did it well, with all his energy and his heart...

Frank

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Frankee on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:50 PM.

From Richard:

Sadly Tony passed away today, A gentleman who will be missed by many.

I never met him, But who can forget him on offshore Caroline.

God bless.

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Richard on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:51 PM.

From Mike Thomas:

What a truly grim week it has been.

What a terrible coincidence that two great broadcasters Tony Allan and Jimmy Mack both served on the same station and succomed to the same terrible disease.

Rest in peace.

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Mike Thomas on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:53 PM.

From Lloyd Atkins:

In my humble opinion Tony was the finest broadcaster I have ever heard. His programmes from the Mi Amigo in the 70's were communication at its finest.

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Lloyd Atkins on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:55 PM.

From Paul Kendall:

I would just like to record my sadness on hearing about Tony.

He was one of the professional radio presenters of my younger days – even though he was only a little older than me. I should add that I am not, nor ever have been, a part of the radio industry, and I write merely as a listener.

I find it particularly distressing that I hadn't heard Tony broadcast for years, and would have loved to listen to that voice again before he passed away.

If and when any of Tony's family and friends read these messages, I hope they are comforted to know that he was held in such high regard by both his fellow broadcasters and his listeners alike.

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Paul Kendall on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:57 PM.

From John Barry:

Tony Allan played such an important part in shaping UK & Irish Radio, He was an influence to many, He gave everything to Radio and what a True Gift he had to share and He enjoyed himself.

Tony (Doris) will be sadly missed – but never forgottten!

Rest In Peace Tony.

John B

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) John Barry on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:58 PM.

From MicCoren:

We will all miss that great DJ/Personality and warm human being Tony Allan. I always enyoyed his shows on the offshore Caroline and his shows from Maidstone. He always made you feel welcome on his programmes and put a lot of LA and warmth into his shows. Starting in radio at the age of 16 when his first offshore venture was Radio Scotland.He built a great radio career and will greatly missed. Also Jimmy Mack also of Radio Scotland and B.B.C. fame has just died. I'm sure our thoughts go out to them both and their families.

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) MicCoren on Friday 9 July 2004 at 7:59 PM.

From Andrew Pearce:

I cannot add any more than has already been said. A truly sad day.

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Andrew Pearce on Friday 9 July 2004 at 8:01 PM.

From John E:

A great loss of a very gifted person. As a listener, Tony always made me feel as if he were speaking to me personally and his programmes many times cheered me up when I was down!

John

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) John E on Friday 9 July 2004 at 8:02 PM.

From Eric Wiltsher, Tesug:

I've just remembered what RTD said along the lines of not being sad and Tony himself wanting to be remembered. So let's all remember him in the way he would want memories to be written. Happy, fun and most definitely not towing the company line.

And I can't help thinking is there is a 'hell' then it's actually in heaven. Can you imagine being given the task of the Radio Regulator in heaven – now that would be hell with people like Tony and Howard Rose to contend with. I bet they're enjoying it right now.

Eric

Posted by Admin (on behalf of) Eric Wiltsher, TESUG on Friday 9 July 2004 at 8:03 PM.

6th May 1979, Dutch programmes by day, a solitary hour of Caroline from 5.00pm. How else would you open up a transmission...

http://www.radiogeronimo.org/hello_girls_its_us.mp3 (26 seconds)

Priceless, inimitable.

The end of the same programme is also magical...

http://www.radiogeronimo.org/we_love_you.mp3 (21 seconds)

We love you.

Posted by Chris Bent on Friday 9 July 2004 at 9:05 PM.

From Sybil, posted originally on the Chris Cary Message Board:

I first met Tony more than 20 years ago. Making and the song 'Ooh..It's Good to be a Queen' (anyone got a copy I need to hear it now..) he was different from anyone else.. Sent to fetch him from the bar in Leeson Street he could spot me coming in one door and down a chaser and a pint before I caught up with him. He had a production skill that was uncanny (faster with a blade through tape than a knife through butter)..Sometimes he'd spends hours/all night making a commerciall (the Nova T-Shirts to name but one..). I learnt from him that innate talent was a special gift. The sharpest/pithiest/wittiest messages on this NoticeBoard have always been Tony's.

Almost four years ago I went to his 'last' Birthday Party – he was the life and soul of the party – I remember him wandering round with a paper napkin writing down everyones last orders.. He had changed, matured – he was at peace with himself.

Less than two years ago I remember a fantastic weekend we all had when he came to stay with us in Surrey and we 'did' Windsor – in a horse drawn carriage because the walk would have been too much for him.

Then there was the Sunday with Ryan at the studios in Maidstone when he and I recorded the 'What Next' links – less than a year ago. At least he was heard all over

Wednesday, 18 October 2006

Transferring the Knowledge Base

What is an Anorak?

Where NOT to place a transmitter

Where is the DA box?

How to play at Pirate radio

Ten things you should know about RF

TV fiction that included pirate radio

The law of supply and demand

The Radio Caroline 279 Petition

Ten Ways to upset an Amateur Radio Operator

Where are they now?

A new offshore radio station should be called...

Who are 'the Borg'?

Anorak Nation Housepoints

The Ross Revenge 2004 RSL broadcast

Tony Allan - In Loving Memory