Please Note: Comment Approval is normally undertaken twice a day as time & circumstances permit.
Please check out yesternoir.org: HERE.
Please check out yesternoir.org: HERE.
 Ninety five years ago the Union Internationale de Radiophonie (UIR) held their first meeting in Geneva. The newly constituted British Broadcasting Corporation answerable only to the British Parliament were sat at the table, all present and correct and ready for International cooperation. Making sacrifices with 16 other European nations also involved, the BBC accepted just ten medium wave frequencies for exclusive use, along with five to be shared with other countries and one exclusive long wave frequency. Despite radio still being in it's infancy, the BBC needed all of those frequencies for supposedly only domestic broadcasting. But not all countries were treated equally at these international conferences in particular Luxembourg. The BBC who had built station 5XX in Daventry a station that put out 30KW on 1500 metres and covered much of Europe with great clarity (operating with dominance for seven or eight years until closing in 1935) clearly did not want any other broadcasts interrupting their monopoly. The BBC may have been considered as a fledgling at that time however it's ambition to be the only radio service for Britain (and of course by accident also to Europe). Luxembourg had always been up front regarding their international broadcasting intentions and unlike the BBC they were quite open about it. The BBC spent at least three years lobbying against allowing Luxembourg the transmitter power they had requested. Much of Radio Luxembourg's initial investment came from France the majority share holder being Banque de Paris et Pays-Bas. The BBC therefore regarded the French as part of the problem and as the adventurer Captain Plugge had set up in Fecamp, Normandy with the intention to beam English programmes into Southern England, they were hardly going to be concerned over Luxembourg. Captain Plugge's IBC radio stations grew at a pace beaming popular dance music into England late night on Radio Normandy along with Lyons, Tolouse, and Paris. The BBC's worst fears happened when IBC became involved with Radio Luxembourg to sell advertising for them in the UK. The BBC, Post Office and even diplomats were used to campaign against Radio Luxembourg starting. Luxembourg were allocated 223 MW at the UIR conference in Prague in 1932, however the country was not in attendance and ignored the allocation. Radio Luxembourg chose to use 1200 metres long wave causing the BBC to describe them as pirates however the Luxembourg government when challenged stated that the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (Radio Luxembourg) was a private concern entirely beyond their control. In 1934 the station moved to 1304 metres Long Wave a frequency just vacated by Radio Poland. If any of this reminds us of events in the 1960's with offshore radio then that's hardly surprising, the parallels are there to be noted. Captain Plugge and his IBC broadcasts, were quite legal in France at that time, however the BBC considered anything outside of their own remit to be an attack on them and their monopoly. Radio Luxembourg had upped the game and although initially only broadcasting in English on Sunday's, were both a pirate and worthy of jamming according to the BBC (see the image below). The fact that the Grand Duchy refused to be bound by what they viewed as arbitrary decisions by the UIR and their various conferences, was the right of any nation state. If cooperation was to be only one way (do as the BBC tells you) then the result is hardly surprising. That Radio Luxembourg had reached out to the BBC and Post Office before coming on air offering cooperation is conveniently discarded on the basis that they were foreign pirates, yet attempts to talk were made by Luxembourg. So the real free radio pioneers were in action and continued until the advent of the second world war. After the war Radio Luxembourg returned, however the French Government took control of all radio in France akin to the BBC in Britain. However the BBC's position remained hostile to Radio Luxembourg and it and much of the press ignored them. However the public did not and for a good few years in the late forties into the fifties the station of the stars built up an audience of nine million daily listeners. 
42 Comments
Mervyn Hagger
15/2/2020 04:44:52 pm
Very interesting Mike, and it shows that in 1933 this had nothing to do with 'pop' music. It had to do with censorship. The BBC of course was a Crown chartered operation from 1927 onwards, and before that it had been a cartel pushed together by the GPO after 1922.But how could the GPO do that? Where did its power come from? To understand that you have to go back before the UK; before the Kingdom of Great Britain; before in invasion by King Billy from Holland and back before the overthrow of James II to the new monarchy of England headed by King Charles II (never crowned in Scotland), and installed by a coup d'etat led by General George Monck from Coldstream. He then had his puppet king pass a law of Oblivion (censorship) that forbade mention of the united republic of England plus Scotland which had been installed after the execution of Charles I in 1649. British history as taught in the schools is rubbish, and I don't mean just broadcasting history. I would like to propose the formation of a symposium which could be a webinar due to distances. I keep getting asked for information which some then take and run off and create more rubbish of their own like the so-called 'Caroline Bible'. I have nothing against Paul Rusling, but I just wish he and others would stop doing this. Mike Barraclough is another person I would like to work with, but some maintain on the one hand that they are only interested in radio history (including Bletchley and WWII), while claiming to be avoiding politics. But this is a story wrapped in political censorship. Ironically Captain Plugge and others tried to avoid religion and politics prior to WWII but the Crown feared what they could do, not what they did do after WWII on '208' and the offshore stations. Even today the kind of broadcasting that is permitted in the USA by Rush Limbaugh is not permitted in the UK. So a symposium might be one way to move ahead because having a lot of individuals and groups all working separately is really not a satisfactory way to get this story out into the mainstream. Right now I am working on a book aimed at the general market (we already have a lot of stuff in the academic world), but it would be more productive if everyone with similar interests could work together. I am obviously NOT talking about fans of "tin pot stations and rusting hulks" - a phrase which seems to send them into the outer orbit of anger. These are NOT the people I am interested in working with. But there are fans of Caroline who are quite sensible and who do have a panoramic interest in the past and how we all got to this moment in time. Your thoughts on a symposium or webinar?
Mervyn Hagger
16/2/2020 07:45:51 am
Addendum: I omitted to join one of the dots in my previous post. I mentioned the 'Act of Oblivion' of 1660, but what I forgot to add was that this is when the Crown created the General Post Office and it was given powers of censorship. The GPO was created as the censor of person-to-person communications. When the telegraph and then the telephone and wireless telephony came along, they were all placed under the umbrella of the GPO - after each one was deemed to be a form of 'electrical post office'. That is how the fraud was accomplished! But the even bigger fraud is the covering-up of the fact that for a brief time England and Scotland were united as one country under a republican form of government. That is what the 'Act of Oblivion' forbade anyone to mention and so the silly term 'Interregnum' was invented to show that in 1649 when Charles I had had his head chopped off, his son instantly became Charles II. But in reality, one monarchy ended; a republic in England was born, and then Scotland was added to that same republic. Then came the coup d'etat and General George Monck invaded London from Coldstream in Scotland. He is still remembered today for his 'Coldstream Guards'. All of it is one big con-job which has been promoted by the GPO-BBC to this very day - even after the GPO sort of vanished under a pile of different names. Even the SNP in Scotland which seeks 'independence' LIES about the true history of Scotland under a republican form of government! However, the BBC is still under same that renewed and rotten Crown Charter. Not only does the SNP need to tell the truth, but so does Boris Johnson and the Labour Party and all the rest by destroying the BBC without further delay. This is the history of the past that even the tin-pot Caroline fanatics don't know but their tin-pot license stems from this same warped, twisted and censored history which is why the original Radio Caroline (1964-1967) has nothing - absolutely nothing in common with the rusting hulk brigade. They are the boot-lickers who actually HATE free radio because they kiss-up to the same Masters who forced the BBC on everyone under a licence tax! if you believe in freedom of the airwaves - which I do - then let's all work together to create a symposium where all of this stuff can be revealed in such a way no one can ignore it ever again!
Researcher
15/2/2020 08:27:41 pm
Presumably you have obtained the express permission of Mr Limbaugh to use his logo on the incomplete web site you have created so as not to be in violation of his site's T's & C's No.23. Use of Intellectual Property. As regards a symposium or webinar, this seems to be an opportunity for you to obtain information from others to be used in your book, thereby doing exactly what you accuse others of doing. While you continue to use derogatory terms to describe Caroline instead of discussing it objectively, then there are many who will not answer your desperate plea for help and will not share their knowledge with you. I doubt very much whether sweet talking the likes of Paul Rusling will cut any ice after your well documented previous outbursts. I for one would not wish to participate, but will continue to exchange information with others.
Symposium or Webinar
16/2/2020 10:48:46 am
Who will take the flack-mainly the radio station-if you are chairing
Mervyn Hagger
16/2/2020 04:14:24 pm
I won't dignify the stuff posted under "Researcher" with an answer because it is obviously James McGregor or his clone. I will only deal with the topic posted by Mike or the issues raised by me. This tin-pot rusting-hulk Caroline brigade are as BAD as the BBC because the tin-pot rusting-hulk brigade pretend to be promoting free radio. They are not. They are part of the system that needs to be destroyed.
Researcher
17/2/2020 05:59:01 pm
Well, you have taken notice because the last time I checked you have taken down your fan site, http://rushlimbaughuk.com. Your further comments confirm that you make unsubstantiated assumptions as to who is posting here and will be incapable of reasoned debate as regards Caroline, since you immediately place any dissenters in your imaginary 'tin pot rusting hulk brigade' box. There will therefore be no point in joining any symposium or webinar if you dismiss potential participants who may disagree with your creed, whatever their evidence.
Legal Eagle
17/2/2020 06:34:16 pm
What happened to http://rushlimbaughuk.com then?
Bored Board Goings On
17/2/2020 10:52:42 am
So Dave Martin is responsible for the Joke Board, no wonder the acrimony from his once best sidekick Garry Steevans. Since Stuart Admin seems to be in charge of censorship on the Prattle/Unfree Radio Board and Garry has fallen in love with Malcolm Smiths licensed tribute station, it's no wonder that board is now less active than Dave Martins. I wish this site was still comment and publish straight away, but sadly James Ms Gregor really did spoil things with all of that drunken rubbish, any chance Mike of a change and just blocking him?
James MZ Scrudder
17/2/2020 11:06:57 am
No Chance, Merve, Mr M is very much in flavour with the board
Mike - Admin
17/2/2020 11:08:55 am
Well while I am here approving comments I might as well add one. First of all, I am trying to figure out if I can block IP addresses using Weebly as a platform, the trouble is a certain persons IP changes frequently, that might be via VPN or because his provider does not use static IP's, either way it's a problem and no amount of asking people to grow up works, it's a case of trolls will be trolls I guess. Secondly my thoughts on a Webinar or symposium for open minded researchers and the like. I am more than happy to pool my knowledge with others, the truth is always worth understanding and I struggle with the logic of anoraks who are frightened their dream might be clarified with emerging facts. So yes if a time and method can be arrived at that suits everyone, then why not. Finally I can only check in here a couple of times a day to check for comments hence the time lag.
Mervyn Hagger
17/2/2020 11:51:00 am
First of all Mike, well done in creating this site. Second, well done in creating the topics you are selecting for discussion. Now as for James McGregor and his clones, any post that is not on topic (started by you) or related to it, should not be posted now that you are moderating all posts. Also, all posts should have real email addresses attached to them - seen by you. All user names should be linked to a single email address - seen by you. In other words : no multiple user names by the same person all using the same email address. Unless the website link is directly related to the topic, it should not appear and that will end James McGregor's habit of loading up a lot of YouTube material to run what calls (on Garry Stevens Board) his own "cinema". In between boasting that he acts mainly when he is drunk, I see no value at all in anything he has posted to date, just a lot of clutter.
Mervyn Hagger
17/2/2020 12:12:19 pm
On the subject of the seminar or webinar. I am one of three people who have worked together since at least 1985 (we met around 1980 through our relationships to Don Pierson who started WRL/SRE/BR. Our efforts have I admit, been unfocused and all over the place until about 2000 when Dr Gilder began incorporating our material into new academic articles. Some of it also appeared in book form, in newspapers and in radio and TV programs. We began building a library and that became the subject of series of events I still don't understand which resulted in us losing most of it and having to start again. So we incorporated as a company and we have a legitimate base for a new library which is overseen by a professional accountant. A new book containing academic articles has been published and we are working on a commercial version. However, the scope of our research (as noted above), goes back to at least 1660 and the formation of the GPO! We have come into contact with many people who have partial interests in various aspects of this entire story. Some of the people I would like to bring in include Mike Barraclough who contributes to the Dave Martin Board and who has been helpful to our research in the past. "Scottg" - who I don't know but who is obviously very interested in learning about the true origins of Radio Caroline in 1964, is another person I would like to join us. The same is true of "Atlantisgb!", and both he and "Scottg" seem to know each other and contribute to the Garry Stevens' Board. Another person is Geoff Hutton who is an Admin on Garry Stevens' Board. I don't know Geoff personally, but I have had personal communication with him in the past. Not everyone has the same background or is even of the same age group, or for that matter of the same political persuasion. But this is really about individual freedom and the right of individual freedom of expression which has been called "free radio" - although that term is totally misused. This is not about a "pirate" station that just plays commercial records, but about the use of broadcasting as a means of uncensored mass communications. That is why I am proposing a seminar or webinar if people cannot geographically assemble in one place at one time. But I am not talking about preserving an old ship like enthusiasts preserve old cars. No harm in that, and fun for some, but that has nothing whatsoever to do with this topic that needs to be researched because so many books have been published about it when they have no real knowledge at all and they are merely repeating myths, lies or propaganda. Research is both time consuming and expensive, and clearly there are people out there like James McGregor who will try to do everything they can to stop this investigation in order to preserve the lies and myths and propaganda from exposure as the work of fraudsters. 17/2/2020 12:25:38 pm
Seminar or Webinar, it must have a purpose or a goal. I see none defined nor even disclosed.
Mervyn Hagger
19/2/2020 10:16:50 am
Paul, you are playing fast and loose with words! You have tried to change the meaning of the statement about me writing "a novel" to the idea that I am writing a "novel" book. Two different meanings of the same word. The first implies "fiction" and the second implies "new". But that is not all that you have done, is it? You ARE printing on demand, but you are trying suggest that POD means 1 book at a time. It does not. You wrote: "The second run is coming to an end and we are about to order a third print. You can ignore the MH speculative nonsense about 'print-on-demand' - each consignment has been of several hundreds and delivered on several pallets. Such quality, unique content and volume doesn't come cheap, and nor do I. We've now discontinued the softback edition, as they were less than 20% of sales, and now sell only the hardback edition." So, Paul, if an unrelated (to you) publisher was handling your book - you could not do this. You are simply printing on demand in the most economical quantities that you can, in order to get a print run price you can afford! You can huff and puff all you like, but you went behind my back and you continue to tell porkies by bending the truth. A court would call that not telling the whole truth. Your comment about not printing any more paperback versions is also duly noted and I may come back to that issue in the very near future. Stop trying to smoke me Paul. You won't succeed. You can fool a whole lot of anoraks (maybe, because many of them feel they have been conned over poor quality and repetition of non-documented sources, or even unreliable sources), but Paul, I have been writing and having published works about Radio Caroline since 1966, and that is before you even dreamed of getting involved with another venture of the same name in the 1970s. I am not at war with you Paul, but as Judge Judy wrote in the title of her book: "Don't Pee On My Leg And Tell Me Its Raining." (Publisher: HarperCollins; 1998; ISBN 0060927941)
Mike - Admin
17/2/2020 08:31:40 pm
Message to James McGregor
Screen Robber Roy McGregor
17/2/2020 09:15:00 pm
His lineage can be traced back to 1660 and the birth of the GPO U TUBE
Mervyn Hagger
17/2/2020 09:27:18 pm
Mike, I like your reply to James, and I also like your comments about others who had something to say - who I am sure will return - 'Atlantisgb!' is one just contributor. Now in response to Paul Rusling. I believe that I have outlined why I think that a symposium-webinar is necessary because it is necessary to go back in time to at least 1660 and the reason for the foundation of the GPO which controlled everything - unlike the American system. That is a huge undertaking. I even suggested some of the people that I would like to participate. Paul is pushing the old Ronan O'Rahilly rubbish and figures that my calling it rubbish is in someway a legal matter. It is not.It is freedom of speech. But Paul resorts to quoting from the Bible (JC no less) while he then trots out this silly slab: "The RCB is not similar in any way to MH's long-promised crime thriller novel." But you are just doing what you claim not to be doing Paul, you are telling porkies, aren't you? I am not writing a crime thriller novel and I have never promised to do so. That was the line spun by a troll over and over again and who appeared here like James McGregor, so perhaps THAT is why I suggested that those comments came from Paul Rusling. I am interested in a very scholastic undertaking which can take on the works of Asa Briggs - not the anorak press built around the mythology of Ronan O'Rahilly. The topics put up by Mike reflect a lot of thought and it is unfortunate that people like James McGregor sought to prevent discussion. But true research is a very time consuming endeavor. It has been expensive for my team to date. We have already published a lot of material in academia but I want to create a new work aimed at the general public. Paul Rusling's 'Bible' is a joke. Sorry Paul, and if you want me to take it apart and show you why, I will. This seminar - webinar proposal is certainly open to you and I will welcome your input, but I don't want to get into a barrage of nonsense about Ronan O'Rahilly and the pile of rubbish that he inspired. I also want to focus on those book ends from 1660 (GPO) to 1967 (MOA). One other problem. I have been urged on by a friend with MI6 connections who then got frightened when I started to examine in detail the truth behind the creation of Radio Nord. Then a funny thing happened. A family connected to its connection got back in touch with me, and almost at the same time a new truth about what really happened in the shooting of Reg Calvert then emerged. These are aspects of the story my team is working on, but there is so much material here that a larger team would certainly be of value. Hence the seminar - webinar idea.
Paul Rusling
18/2/2020 02:39:12 pm
Mervyn alleges Im "telling Porklies" when I said the Caroline Bible is nothing like MH's long-promised crime thriller novel." I am pretty sure thats what you said you were writing, a crime thriller, I even wrote those two words down. I wasn't inferring its a fictional work, but that it was novel or unique, . Maybe academic work is a better description, but its not a term most people use in everyday life. Only academics. And Im not one of those.
James Mcgregor
18/2/2020 03:36:58 pm
It is now nearly a year since you resurfaced to a fan base of about a 3 figure sum of pirate radio fans. You did no better with answers then so a webinar now will be of even less use. Agb has point blank said he is a kindly radio fan in his sixties and has no particular knowledge or interest in Scottgs level of research, which mostly consists of repeating what you have already said, finding birth, marriage and death certificates and adding bizarre and abrasive slabs of Caroline criticism. Still if that's what turns you on - there is still just over 9 months left
Researcher
18/2/2020 05:47:17 pm
The objective for the proposed seminar/webinar/symposium is still not clear. Mervyn has not clarified what outcome is desired, having instead channelled his efforts into insults such as "Paul Rusling's 'Bible' is a joke", thereby dismissing the whole work in one short sentence. Then he invites Paul and would "welcome his input"! I think it might be an idea for Mervyn to brush up on his interpersonal skills and I can see which way this potential event is headed. You're on your own, Mervyn.
Mervyn Hagger
18/2/2020 06:31:43 pm
Paul, that took you awhile to figure out, didn't it? I was talking about the troll who used your terminology over and over and over again to bet everyone that I will never publish a novel. Of course not, because I have never claimed to be writing a novel. So, here comes Paul with his dictionary in hand and figures that all he has to do is remove the prefix "a" before the word novel, and that will then render the word novel into an alternate meaning which of course I cannot disagree with. But then, you ignore the fact that I have already been co-author in a lot of academic material that has been previously published, and now I need to create a commercial work that is not fiction. That is what I am working on. Now as for me issuing a torrent of abuse, I have = at liars! So have I accused the liars of lying? You bet I have! But, have I been telling lies? NO! A thousand times no. But has Ronan O'Rahilly lied? You bet he has, over and over again. No I never met the man - but he KNOWS (OR DID KNOW) who I am because my name came up in a discussion relating to John Burch and Chris England and their request for me to investigate the criminal trial held in Philadelphia regarding Ronan O'Rahilly and the Ross Revenge! Ronan was hoping mad when I unmasked the bogus registration in Richards Butler's safe! However, I have met Charles (Bill) Weaver and Glen Callison who dealt with Ronan O'Rahilly in Houston, Texas during June 1963. I also met and even went into business with Allan Crawford. I interviewed Ted Allbuery and wrote a feature about him published in a newspaper back in 1967, and of course I met and worked with Don Pierson and whole lot of other people. So where we you? Nowhere. You came along after 1967. but the period I am interested in ends in 1967. I asked you if you want me to critique your "Bible" and you did not answer. You can fume all you like Paul but you know when you are telling porkies and you know how you went behind my back. But I don't hold grudges over something like this. (I even investigated and corresponded with the guy who murdered my daughter who is still in prison, and I did so to try to learn the truth about what really happened. If I could talk to him, I can sure talk to you. So calm down and address the issue: would you like to be a part of a symposium and/or webinar? Think about it carefully, but I can guarantee that Ronan O'Rahilly is rubbish and so he is not someone who we can learn anything from. He had years to tell the truth but faded away with his lies. So be it. But your issue is the here and now in an honest environment. To Paul Rusling, I wish to thank you for the speedy delivery of your book to a friend of mine in the Hastings area. There was many interesting things that was explainded regarding the 70's - 80's era, that had not been properly explained. However you could have expanded further. eg. you PLUG ex /current DJ's books for reference, and how you can reference 'WHEN PIRATES RULED THE WAVES-PAUL HARRIS ' - is unexplainable, considering 'Monitor - 20 years old - Happy Birthday - Bibliography, noted - ' too inaccurate to use as reference. Where is Geoffrey Hirst and the Close Brothers Bank connection and two employees 'loaned to Radio Caroline, was that to Planet or Atlanta?' If you are quoting something, if is helpful to reveal the source for cross reference like Ray Clarks' book or Robert Chapman. Mike Leonard expanded Gerry Bishop. I truly expected. Scottg.
Mervyn Hagger
19/2/2020 08:40:18 am
Glad you joined the conversation Scottg and I am also pleased that Paul Rusling is here. 'Atlantisgb!' has posted on another Board that he is unable to post here, but I cannot understand why, he wrote that it has to do with the verification of posts. However, conversation has resumed and that is good. Unfortunately, there are already several anonymous posts cropping up again which could be the work of the same person - such as James, or even Paul. I noticed that in one of them an accusation is inferred that I am the poster of another anonymous post, but since Mike began moderation of his Board I am only posting as me.
Researcher
20/2/2020 07:16:43 am
" since Mike began moderation of his Board I am only posting as me." And there we have it. The self-righteous, sanctimonious Mr H admits to posting using an alias, having repeatedly attacked and derided others for doing exactly that. Keep digging, Mervyn.
Mervyn Hagger
19/2/2020 08:50:34 am
Scottg - I have asked Paul Rusling if he wants me to critique his book, but he has not responded to my question. However, there are several NEW issues that have just begun to emerge about Radio Atlanta; Radio Caroline South and Radio City. I have asked one authority (who is an authority) on such matters about an aspect of that new research, and this morning I got a reply that he has no explanation. Over the Christmas period one of my colleagues was here and he did crack the riddle of the KCUL transmitter delivered to Radio City. The new research is as a result of finding that answer. However, it all comes together to further undermine the total lack of credibility of Ronan O'Rahilly. He was not in the loop. He was a paid stooge and that was it. After 1967 he thought he could restart Radio Caroline, but all he did was to take credit for the work of others, and this is an area that Paul Rusling begins to have some knowledge about because he later joined a totally new venture (unrelated to 1964-1967) that was built on the impounded mv Mi Amigo.
Researcher
20/2/2020 07:19:08 am
"I have asked Paul Rusling if he wants me to critique his book". You have already done so, by dismissing his whole work as rubbish in one sentence. Keep digging, Mervyn. 24/2/2020 12:24:48 pm
Scottg, I tried unsuccessfully to contact you direct. I could have expanded the radio Caroline Bible MUCH further, and have the material - for reasons of commerciality (cost, postage, etc) the content is heavily curtailed. All the 'anorak-interest-only' details were omitted. Paul Harris's first book was listed as some details came from there. Although Buster's Monitor said it was inaccurate (and it had to be as Paul was under threats of being sued and legal action when he issued it - one of the reasons he rested to simply quoting newspaper articles, not neatly gets the publisher off the hook, but as we know, newspapers rarely tell the whole story). Many of the details in "When Pirates Ruled the Waves' are however true and factual. Much of the content of the Radio Caroline Bible is new material, given to me by the people concerned, therefore its impossible to start referencing the material. Geoffrey Hirst doesn't figure in the Radio Caroline story, only on the sidelines, and the book is NOT supposed to be an exhaustive list of everyone who was ever in Caroline. Looking back, there are TWO Close Brothers Bank people named, the widow of one of them gave me valuable info, enabling me to better describe one of the key players than has previously been possible. The book was not aimed at archaeological researchers scratching around for the minutae. You may be better waiting for MH's book which deals with that kind of information. Academic works are usually pretty dull and so are unread by most. That wasn't the kind of book I wanted to be involved in, as I explained to MH many times. I told him exactly what I wanted to do, but he wasn't interested and perhaps he thought I would be as quick at publishing as he is. The longer a project takes to come to fruition, the less likely it is to happen at all, (believe me, I stayed in a long running venture which morphed beyond all recognition before I and most others bailed out). Looking at the material I still have on Caroline, I reckon the resulting book, full of all the people, who begat who, and so on, would be around 1400 pages - IF we cut out the pictures! The cost would be around £24 a copy, plus distributors commission, postage & etc, so a selling price of over £50, by when the potential readership would be tiny. It wouldn't sell as there would be nothing to colour in!
Paul Rusling
19/2/2020 03:03:38 pm
Before bidding a fond adieu here (due to the relentless attacks) I state once again that I do NOT post under pseudonyms. The information used to build the story for the Radio Caroline Bible was supplied by people who were there in the thick of things - people like Colin Nicol (one of Crawford's first signings to Atlanta), Ian Damon, Oonagh, Jimmy, Roger, Terry, Dick, and others too. None of my material was conjecture or guesswork, nor based on legal filings. Remember - official records are only what people deigned necessary to file and are often inaccurate.
Mervyn Hagger
19/2/2020 08:14:43 pm
Okay, so which one of the people you named financed Radio Caroline in 1964? None of them! I have been working with Colin Nichol and he has been pinning down very exact dates for me after I did follow-ups with him about the interviews he produced for Jon Myers's site. True scholars don't huff and puff they work together. You have not named anyone involved with the start of Radio Atlanta from which Radio Caroline was developed. Instead, you put out this rubbish book which glorifies Ronan O'Rahilly when he was nothing but a paid stooge. I am sorry if you are getting bent out of shape, but honest speaking is not venom, and it is only hate for lies and liars and those who puff up their own importance by self vanity. I keep offering to work with you but you go behind my back to the Garry Stevens' Board which is one sacred site for the promotion of your 'Caroline Bible'. Somewhere along the line you and everyone else who is pumping our bilge for profit is going to come a cropper. You would do better to stop and cooperate. Why don't you want me to critique your book?
Mervyn Hagger
19/2/2020 05:39:00 pm
You are getting yourself into a mess Paul: "Posted by Paul Rusling on February 19, 2020, 3:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Oonagh (who?)" ... Why do I get the impression that it seems to be on behalf of a rabid, self-styled 'academic researcher' whose basic remit seems to be to accuse people?" The ONLY people who seem to be rabid accusatory types on the Garry Board are people in love with your book. Not me. Not anyone I am working with. Why not find out why I say that your book is a million miles off the mark concerning events between 1964-1967? Try it, you might like it.
Mervyn Hagger
19/2/2020 07:00:05 pm
Now here comes another post as a follow-up to Paul's outburst of venom and hate which is supposed to be love ('cos he quotes Jesus, don't you know?) No Paul, put a lid on all this and stay with the topic about a seminar or webinar. This is what has followed your comment on the GS Board: "Posted by Fred Bramley on February 19, 2020, 4:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Oonagh (who?)"
Researcher
20/2/2020 07:51:15 am
Perhaps it's time to take a step back, Mervyn, and consider your actions over the last months both on the Pirate Radio Board, your own board and here. At every turn you seem to have attacked anyone with a different view to your own and every attempt at discussion ends with abuse. Don't you see that you are only attacked in response to yours? How is that in any way productive or aiding your project? Can you really not understand that your bombastic approach and accusations only get people's backs up and alienates them? I understand that you are deliberately provocative to create a stir and get attention. You are not Trump. You are not Limbaugh. You are a commercially unpublished author, struggling to complete a book but with no idea how to achieve that goal, instead getting bogged down in petty squabbles and sinking under the weight of your research. Draw a line, stop continually expanding your area of research and concentrate on one aspect. Take a leaf out of Paul Rusling's book. Do the best job you can with the research, facts and evidence you have and publish. Job done! Then move on to the next. Finally, please consider getting some help with your anger management and take some advice as to how to bring your project to fruition, since you are clearly floundering and lashing out in frustration.
Mervyn Hagger
20/2/2020 01:22:48 pm
Whoever you are doesn't matter because like all attacking trolls you are ashamed to reveal yourself for who and what you are. Contrary to your statements I have a large team of helpers, and also contrary to your statement this topic is about a lot more than a mere pop pirate ship called Caroline. The BBC always knew the true story, we have proof, but they dared not to reveal it to the hoi polloi like you. When I shared information with Paul Rusling on a closed email list of helpers, he ran off and produced his own vanity publication full of rubbish - because he would not take the time to study. How do I know? Because before he ran off we went to a pub and over a beer or two he told me! That's how I know. Chris Elliot with the help of Ray Anderson did the same thing with our Radio London research. You can read all about that at http://www.wonderfulradiolondon.info/ = Stop being a troll and become an honest contributor.
Mike - Admin
19/2/2020 08:16:26 pm
I was rather hoping to lift the comment checking/approval once things calmed down here to allow a conversation to take place in real time if so wanted. Sadly James McGregor continues to make stupid, childish comments pretty much daily despite the fact they are not going to be approved. For example today we have "Round and round the Mulberry bush. Where the maypole falls nobody knows. On the head son Buzby Babes. We all stand united". I am now convinced he has no intention of allowing this site to function in real time and as a result I would like to notify James M that no comments he makes will be approved here, whether they are factual, intelligent, worth hearing etc. Put simply James you have censored yourself to a total ban. I do not know if you have a drink problem or if that is just another facade you use to try and get attention, either way maybe you need a little help, if so please seek it.
Mervyn Hagger
19/2/2020 09:19:17 pm
Mike I agree that James is not contributing anything to the conversation, but Paul Rusling most certainly is, and I would be very sorry if he decided to disappear. Yes, this is a red hot conversation, but so what? Paul, you mentioned Colin Nichol. He has been very, very helpful to me by going out of his way to answer very specific questions. Some of his information from Allan Crawford was flawed, perhaps due to age. But when he investigated further the question of when and how Crawford brought together his Australian team was solved. Colin was able to flush out misinformation and provide correct information. One such item concerned establishing a date which coincided with a cricket match at Lords and the first night of Tommy Steele in a new stage musical in London. But Colin went out of his way to locate the original founding member of the Atlanta team, and this is important because Simon Dee and company were all trained by the Atlanta Australians at 47 Dean Street - because Radio Caroline emerged out of Radio Atlanta. That kills the Caroline myths completely. So Paul, please don't waft off because other aspects of the story in the 80s do collide with my own investigation. It's just that in the 1960s you were not there and I was. I knew many of the key people involved. You did not. Nevertheless, let's debate your book and now that the Troll in Chief (JM) is no longer here, let's have a full-blooded and no holds-barred true search for the true story.
Mervyn Hagger
20/2/2020 09:43:09 am
Mike, I have just posted the following on the Facebook page of Iain Baird (and yes, he is related.):
Mike - Admin
20/2/2020 01:20:06 pm
I have just gone through the comments spam folder and approved some comments going back that should never have been in the folder. Apologies if that affected you. The majority were from, well try and guess, yep he filled that up to the brim as well. ----- I am out and about until late today so no more comment moderation for a few hours. ---- In the next few day's I hope to bring another Radio Luxembourg feature with a focus on the latter part of the 1950's. I am most interested to read your Ted Aldbury interview, published in a paper in 1967. Rather than always talk about what you did, provide on a site the article, or at least the newspaper publication date. Now surely this is not to much to request. Sincerely,Scottg.
Mervyn Hagger
21/2/2020 07:36:17 am
From Facebook today: Iain Baird Mervyn Hagger I appreciate the offer but I have had no relationship with the Museum since leaving and am heavily tied up with my own writing and other projects. The Pye material was stored in appropriate conditions so far as I witnessed from 2007-2016. There are things they can do about mould if you and/or your colleague point that out to them. They did well to find the file(s) that you were looking for, and given this, it sounds like they have sorted the entire archive, so I would say, persist with them. I doubt there is an agenda to block the story of the origins of Radio Caroline, at least as far as the Museum goes. Blogs are aimed at the mainstream most of the time, particularly in a marketing-led museum. Pretty much any of the more specialised topics are discouraged at performance review time. Maybe this has changed now? I have not met C.O. Stanley's grandson, but did meet a couple of Pye history enthusiasts six or seven years ago who I have since lost touch with, unfortunately. The BBC is a huge organisation, and I would certainly not paint them all with the same brush.
Mervyn Hagger
21/2/2020 07:37:29 am
From Facebook today: Iain Baird Mervyn Hagger I appreciate the offer but I have had no relationship with the Museum since leaving and am heavily tied up with my own writing and other projects. The Pye material was stored in appropriate conditions so far as I witnessed from 2007-2016. There are things they can do about mould if you and/or your colleague point that out to them. They did well to find the file(s) that you were looking for, and given this, it sounds like they have sorted the entire archive, so I would say, persist with them. I doubt there is an agenda to block the story of the origins of Radio Caroline, at least as far as the Museum goes. Blogs are aimed at the mainstream most of the time, particularly in a marketing-led museum. Pretty much any of the more specialised topics are discouraged at performance review time. Maybe this has changed now? I have not met C.O. Stanley's grandson, but did meet a couple of Pye history enthusiasts six or seven years ago who I have since lost touch with, unfortunately. The BBC is a huge organisation, and I would certainly not paint them all with the same brush.
Mervyn Hagger
21/2/2020 07:38:46 am
From Facebook today: Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Radio Now & Then
Each article can receive your replies (comments). We will not tolerate bad language, trolls, or unprovoked personal attacks. Unlike other places however you are allowed to express your personal opinions however much they may differ with the original article, as long as they are constructive. Categories |
RSS Feed
