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Interview with Colin Brown about his memories of Radio Caroline anchored north of the Isle of Man

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Date(s): 7 May 2008

Creator(s): Manx National Heritage

Scope & Content: Colin Brown talks to Matthew Richardson about his memories of Radio Caroline and his time as a junior reporter on the 'Ramsey Courier' newspaper in the early 1960s. Colin talks about how he was born in Ramsey and went to Ramsey Grammar School; early employment with the 'Ramsey Courier' from 1963; types of events attended as a reporter; the 'Ramsey Courier' and colleagues editor Sydney Bolton and Alan Bell.

He recalls Radio Caroline ship arriving north of the Isle of Man in 1964 and contact from the advertising manager George Hare (or O’Hare) as early interviewee; amusing anecdote about interviewing him in a taxi; gatecrashing a meeting with Rowan O’Reiley, Radio Caroline boss in The Mitre Hotel, Ramsey; going out to the Radio Caroline ship with Malcolm Hignett taking tender from Ramsey Steamship Company; meeting Tom Lodge, director; amusing anecdote about colleagues convincing him the name was pronounced ‘Large’; playing the Animals’ single on the radio whilst onboard; the boat as cramped; meeting Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits in The Plough Hotel, Ramsey; how The Commercial Hotel in Ramsey was shore base; anecdote about crew of Caroline recruiting staff, including Rod Turner now involved with Energy FM, in the Commercial; how Caroline was popular among Ramsey people; how most of the north of the island could not receive Manx Radio in those days; and he recollects debates in Manx Parliament about UK’s enforced regulation of Caroline.

Language: English

Extent: 11 min. 58 sec.

Item name: compact disc

Collection: Sound Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: SA 2009-0004

Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.

Subject tags : #UOSH, #UOSHArts

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'Came across this interview with Colin Brown on Google. I remember it well. I might even have some of the original photos in my archive taken on this visit to Radio Caroline. - Malcolm Hignett Report this

'Came across this interview with Colin Brown on Google. I remember it well. I might even have some of the original photos in my archive taken on this visit to Radio Caroline. - Malcolm Hignett Report this

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