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Since 1964 Radio Caroline has survived with the most remarkable support of many fans and volunteers. Horizon Magazine has been part of that movement since 1988 as a branch of The Caroline Movement and  now  as Radio Caroline’s fan magazine celebrating the events, groups and campaigns which have shaped the legend  that is Radio Caroline.  

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.

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!

Caroline always had a turbulent history both on the high seas and politically on land fighting governments, financial problems and of course in the end her biggest enemy the elements.. Caroline’s last ship The Ross Revenge faced piracy, storms and isolation but was never without friends and survives today to retell her tale to the world. At her peak with her 310 foot mast she was the most powerful offshore broadcaster to grace our airwaves and brought us much pleasure, thanks to her brave staff and the many volunteers who risked their lives and liberty to keep her on air and at sea. We salute them all!

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 tsatellite feed

 

2009 Great publicity on 45th anniversary due to new comedy movie based on Caroline

 

2010 onwards Regular Bank Holiday Broadcasts from The Ross Revenge on 531Khz AM and of course round the world on the web and across Europe on satellite (SKY 0199 listing now closed)

 

2011 Campaign to get Radio Caroline  back on Medium Wave started with Early Day Motion to Parliament by MP Tracy Crouch

 

11 Day Medium Wave broadcast from Ross Revenge to celebrate 47th Birthday Bash

 

Radio Caroline joins RadioPlayer Network in with ALL main UK stations

‘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.

The longest and most dramatic history in radio...

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.

( 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 in late '72.)

Tony Allan re-opening Caroline after months of silence at Easter 1979.