For 45 years Radio Caroline has survived with the most remarkable support of many fans and volunteers. Horizon Magazine has been part of that movement for 130 issues and now celebrates the events, groups and campaigns which have shaped the legend that is Radio Caroline.
The longest and most dramatic history in radio...
How the Mi Amigo lasted as long as she did no one really knows.
There are some photos of her with rust holes out there on the web that are seriously scary. None the less, for many who worked on Caroline the Mi Amigo was very special and she will always be remembered for being the home to Caroline in August 1967 when she sailed alone into the unknown world of taking on governments and continuing when most didn’t believe she could. Finally it wasn’t governments that claimed her but the sea herself. Thankfully no lives were lost!
There are some photos of her with rust holes out there on the web that are seriously scary. None the less, for many who worked on Caroline the Mi Amigo was very special and she will always be remembered for being the home to Caroline in August 1967 when she sailed alone into the unknown world of taking on governments and continuing when most didn’t believe she could. Finally it wasn’t governments that claimed her but the sea herself. Thankfully no lives were lost!
Left the Ross sadly silent in 1989 at Falls Head and above chained up in Dover after being rescued off Goodwin Sands, never been succesfully done before we are told!. The end of the Offshore era though it seems. Thanks to Johnny Lewis for permission to use these excellent shots.
Visit our Broadcast Gallery and Radio Ship pages for Caroline and Ross Revenge stories from more recent times including current efforts to extend broadcasting and preserve the last great offshore radio ship Ross Revenge.Buy from the Radio Caroline Society webshop and directly help.
CAROLINE TIMELINE
1964
28 March Caroline begins from Fredericia 12 May from Mi Amigo as Caroline South
1965
some competition arrives!
1966
Mi Amigo beaches goes to Holland for repairs. Cheetah II temporary home Mi Amigo return on 259
1967
14 August British Marine Offences and Broadcasting Act stops all but Caroline
1968
Sad days as tugs take ships to Holland
1969
Caroline silent but for a tribute from Radio Andorra
1970
13 to 20 June
Caroline International from the RNI ship
1971 sadly silent
1972
Against all the odds Caroline returns off dutch coast but mast collapses
1973
Mi Amigos 2nd Mast collapses
1974
Dutch act closes RNI, Atlantis & Veronica. Caroline returns on 259 off UK
1975
staff prosecutions and ship breaks anchor, police board
1976
anchor breaks crew abandon ship
1977
ship almost sinks back on 319 metres
1978
silent due to supply problems and loss of Radio Mi Amigo
1979
Mi Amigo nearly sinks again but saved by Peter Chicago
1980
2 0 March Mi Amigo sadly sinks
1981 silent
1982 silent
1983
20 August
Caroline returns from The Ross Revenge
1984 New competition from Laser & more incidents
1985
Government ship sent to spy on Caroline
1986
On 558 Caroline alone again
1987
Worst Hurricane in history followed by loss of 300ft mast
1988
Caroline continues on lower power...HORIZON MAGAZINE begins
1989
20 August Ross Revenge illegally raided by dutch with British agents looking on... October 30th Caroline returns...
1990
Silent for a while but with new masts Caroline continues...
1991
20 November the Ross Revenge anchor snaps in storms and she grounds on infamous Goodwin Sands.
New draconian UK laws make a return to sea improbable ALL Caroline’s future
survival is by now down to volunteers
1992
RSL broadcast to Dover & later Medway
1993
Equipment from 1989 raid returned! Ship leaves Dover
1994
RSL`s to Essex with Johnnie Walker
1995
Clacton & Isle of Dogs RSL`s
1996 dry dock for repairs - Medway RSL
1997 Queenborough RSL
1998 Internet broadcasts on 34th birthday
1999 Ross at Southend Astra satellite shows
2000 Harwich RSL & more satellite hours
2001 Caroline enters digital future
2002 Satellite
2003 Satellite
2004 Month long broadcast on MW from ship via a local RSL broadcast and round the world on the internet
2005 Satellite and internet broadcasts go from strength to strength.
2006 to date Ross Revenge future remains uncertain and dependant wholey on efforts of volunteers to fund ship Sky 0199 and the satellite feed
2009 Great publicity on 45th anniversary due to new comedy movie based on Caroline
1964
28 March Caroline begins from Fredericia 12 May from Mi Amigo as Caroline South
1965
some competition arrives!
1966
Mi Amigo beaches goes to Holland for repairs. Cheetah II temporary home Mi Amigo return on 259
1967
14 August British Marine Offences and Broadcasting Act stops all but Caroline
1968
Sad days as tugs take ships to Holland
1969
Caroline silent but for a tribute from Radio Andorra
1970
13 to 20 June
Caroline International from the RNI ship
1971 sadly silent
1972
Against all the odds Caroline returns off dutch coast but mast collapses
1973
Mi Amigos 2nd Mast collapses
1974
Dutch act closes RNI, Atlantis & Veronica. Caroline returns on 259 off UK
1975
staff prosecutions and ship breaks anchor, police board
1976
anchor breaks crew abandon ship
1977
ship almost sinks back on 319 metres
1978
silent due to supply problems and loss of Radio Mi Amigo
1979
Mi Amigo nearly sinks again but saved by Peter Chicago
1980
2 0 March Mi Amigo sadly sinks
1981 silent
1982 silent
1983
20 August
Caroline returns from The Ross Revenge
1984 New competition from Laser & more incidents
1985
Government ship sent to spy on Caroline
1986
On 558 Caroline alone again
1987
Worst Hurricane in history followed by loss of 300ft mast
1988
Caroline continues on lower power...HORIZON MAGAZINE begins
1989
20 August Ross Revenge illegally raided by dutch with British agents looking on... October 30th Caroline returns...
1990
Silent for a while but with new masts Caroline continues...
1991
20 November the Ross Revenge anchor snaps in storms and she grounds on infamous Goodwin Sands.
New draconian UK laws make a return to sea improbable ALL Caroline’s future
survival is by now down to volunteers
1992
RSL broadcast to Dover & later Medway
1993
Equipment from 1989 raid returned! Ship leaves Dover
1994
RSL`s to Essex with Johnnie Walker
1995
Clacton & Isle of Dogs RSL`s
1996 dry dock for repairs -
1997 Queenborough RSL
1998 Internet broadcasts on 34th birthday
1999 Ross at Southend Astra satellite shows
2000 Harwich RSL & more satellite hours
2001 Caroline enters digital future
2002 Satellite
2003 Satellite
2004 Month long broadcast on MW from ship via a local RSL broadcast and round the world on the internet
2005 Satellite and internet broadcasts go from strength to strength.
2006 to date Ross Revenge future remains uncertain and dependant wholey on efforts of volunteers to fund ship Sky 0199 and the satellite feed
2009 Great publicity on 45th anniversary due to new comedy movie based on Caroline
THE SUN SAYS
‘Why break a butterfly upon the wheel?’ Lord Annan, speaking in the House of Lords at Report Stage on the Broadcasting Bill, 5th June 1990. Government in Britain wields absolute power in a way unknown in other western democracies. Because we are subjects, not citizens, freedom does not belong to us. The freedoms that we have are given us by government - and what government gives, it can take away. So the law is defined by what we are permitted to do, rather than what it is our right to do. The difference is a crucial one. Because we have no power - no rights, no redress - as long as a government commands a Parliamentary majority, it has the right to do more or less as it pleases. It is licensed dictatorship.
60’s photos from Carl Thomson and Sheridon Street, both Caroline engineers of that era and from the Caroline organisation promotional material of the time. Memories always welcome for Horizon. We are volunteers and all profits from the magazine go solely to preserving the last Caroline Radio ship. MV Ross Revenge.
History...
(some of...) Caroline’s most dramatic and finest moments
Thanks to Jim Burke for compiling this list of Caroline moments from readers of the Radio Caroline Mailing List on Yahoo. If you have a moment you think worthy of listing then please let us know
Top 1000 to celebrate 25 Years of broadcasting
The Raid – 19 August 1989
Johnny Walker, keeping Caroline on air after the MOA
The return to air after the raid
The sinking of the Mi Amigo
Caroline Overdrive
Caroline 819, The Overnight Alternative
Caroline International, Easter 2005 RSL
The return of Caroline from the Ross Revenge 1983
Eurosiege
The original opening, Easter 1964
Sailing to the IoM, broadcasting as she went
Frinton Flashing Kiss in the Car
The 1970 election results on Caroline from the Mebo II
Tony Allan at midnight on 31 August 1974 as Caroline became illegal in Holland
Caroline South returning to the air (with new transmitter and new
jingles) in 1966 after the grounding.
Mick Luvzit's wedding live on Caroline North
Johnnie Walker re-broadcasting "Mrs.Dale's Diary"
The return of Caroline (or Radio 199 as it was called for a while)
in late '72.
Tony Allan re-opening Caroline after months of silence at Easter
1979.
Thanks to Jim Burke for compiling this list of Caroline moments from readers of the Radio Caroline Mailing List on Yahoo. If you have a moment you think worthy of listing then please let us know
Top 1000 to celebrate 25 Years of broadcasting
The Raid – 19 August 1989
Johnny Walker, keeping Caroline on air after the MOA
The return to air after the raid
The sinking of the Mi Amigo
Caroline Overdrive
Caroline 819, The Overnight Alternative
Caroline International, Easter 2005 RSL
The return of Caroline from the Ross Revenge 1983
Eurosiege
The original opening, Easter 1964
Sailing to the IoM, broadcasting as she went
Frinton Flashing Kiss in the Car
The 1970 election results on Caroline from the Mebo II
Tony Allan at midnight on 31 August 1974 as Caroline became illegal in Holland
Caroline South returning to the air (with new transmitter and new
jingles) in 1966 after the grounding.
Mick Luvzit's wedding live on Caroline North
Johnnie Walker re-
The return of Caroline (or Radio 199 as it was called for a while)
in late '72.
Tony Allan re-
1979.
