Radio Caroline:
Caroline-19900227-0756-0800-NeilGates-(558kHz)
Caroline-19900227-0800-0900-NeilGates-(0800-NewsByNigelHarris)-(558kHz)
Caroline-19900227-0900-0920-NigelHarris-(0900-NewsByNigelHarris)-(558kHz)
Caroline-19900227-1500-1600-AndyBradgate-(558kHz)
https://www.mediafire.com/file/k3geb098mtli77f/
 

groet, Hans

On 2/27/2025 at 8:34 AM, Hans Hendriks said:

Caroline-19900227-1500-1600-AndyBradgate-(558kHz)
https://www.mediafire.com/file/k3geb098mtli77f/

 

Interesting programme.

 

Gale-force winds, the turntable cuts out 11 times during the hour.

 

Actually, I already have this programme in a slightly different format:

 

Caroline 558 - 27021990 - 1500-1700 - Live Andy Bradgate [Bad Weather, A Turntable Switches Off].mp3

(if you have this file, the name is wrong; only the first 58m30s is the same programme that Hans uploaded. The remaining 50 minutes is a Rico breakfast show from late-April 1990).

On 2/27/2025 at 8:34 AM, Hans Hendriks said:

Caroline-19900227-0900-0920-NigelHarris-(0900-NewsByNigelHarris)-(558kHz)

Nigel does a fantastic job of trying to keep things together, despite the circumstances. It's fascinating listening.

The first track is by Depeche Mode... Enjoy the Silence... very prescient!

At 8m45s, he says "the studio took a nice big wave which has actually come in through the window. Have to do a little bit of mopping up, I think..."

Then, over the next 2 records, the decks progressively decrease in speed. After 5 minutes of this, the decks stop completely.

CM Bulletin no. 42 gives more information. Since the previous day (Monday 26th February 1990) there were:

"regular breakdowns from the generator caused by the movement of the ship interrupting the fuel supply".

So, it seems that the generator was being starved of diesel... a different problem from the mercury-switch issues that affected Andy Bradgate's show later that day, although both issues were caused by the terrible weather, of course.

After half a minute's silence, he explains that they are still on the air and that the "technological whizz-machine" (the CD player) is still working, so he promises "some nice Paula Abdul music".

Probably intended to be the very upbeat "The Way That You Love Me" (the first track from the album "Forever Your Girl")... but it turned out to be "El Dorado" by the jazz band Working Week (the first track from their "Fire In The Mountain" album).

The volume increases and decreases, presumably as the transmitter power varies.

Then a minute after the next record starts, the transmitter has cut out completely.

Things must have been really bad by the evening. CM Bulletin says that a pre-recorded show (storm tape) was played at 10pm. The following day, Nigel apparently said that it was the worst night he had ever experienced. (Bearing in mind that he joined Caroline in 1976 and was on the Ross the night the mast collapsed in 1987).

I can't imagine trying to operate a radio station whilst the ship is violently rocking, the equipment isn't working and the studio is full of water!

I honestly commend their bravery, resilience and unwavering determination.

.

6 mei6 mei bewerkt door Lightkeeper
clarity