It was a pleasure to welcome some new members & visitors this month, along with our long established members.
The general business of the meeting commenced with details of correspondence received; documentation from NFWI detailing proposed changes to governing documents, nominees for the NFWI Board, details of the annual WI meeting which in 2025 will be held via zoom (Hartford are allocated one delegate, a volunteer to attend is sought ). CFWI is holding a virtual workshop on Thursday 7 November, 7,30 p.m. “Exploring Nutrition”. This workshop has been tailored specifically for WI members. Whitefriars House will be open on Saturday 30th November & Tuesday 3rd December, 10.30 a.m. -3.00 p.m. to view the art exhibition, archives & enjoy a glass of mulled wine (visits need to be booked & a nominal charge will apply).
The CFWI archive team are seeking entries for their “Not Just Jam” exhibit. A template is available to complete which will be joined with others to display as bunting at Whitefriars.
Details of the “Festively Floral” exhibition at Arley Hall were distributed. It is planned to visit on Friday, 29th November 2024. The Xmas shopping trip to the Trafford Centre will take place on Monday 4th November. Getting into the spirit of Halloween, ladies were given details of a reading of a spellbinding ghost story which will include props, candles & sound effects, read in the style of M R James by the Librarian of the Weeping Bank Library (not for the faint hearted). The reading will take place at the Northwich Library, Thursday 10th October 2024, 6.30 p.m.
Taking us on a trip down memory lane, we were delighted this month to welcome our speaker, Brian Cullen from Radio Caroline.
Brian commenced his talk detailing the history of Radio Caroline which first took to the air in March 1964 and is still broadcasting today, some 60 years later, albeit in a very different format. Ladies were informed of the precursor to the radio station being formed which was due to the owner, Ronan O’Rahilly, being declined several times by Radio Luxemburg & national radio the opportunity of playing a record he was promoting by Georgie Fame. After several attempts he then decided the best option was to start his own radio station.
Spurred on by the idea of having his own pop radio station, Ronan purchased MV Fredericia, a former passenger ferry and took it to the port of Greenore, Southern Ireland, a port owned by his father to be refitted. Coincidentally, also in the port being refitted was MV Mi Amigo, a ship belonging to Alan Crawford who also wanted to set up an off-shore radio station.
Both ships now refitted, it was time to rename the ships & establish the radio stations – Ronan chose Radio Caroline which is thought to be named after Caroline Kennedy (being a huge fan of the Kennedy family), and Alan chose Radio Atlanta. On 23 March 1964, the MV Caroline slipped anchor & proceeded along the English Channel, most thought heading to Spain as there was a 3 mile limit around the UK from where broadcasts were prohibited from taking place. But to confound everyone the Caroline anchored 4 miles off Harwich and began its broadcasts on Good Friday, 1964. The first record played was by the Rolling Stones & soon Radio Caroline was attracting 7 million regular listeners. Although on different broadcasting channels it became apparent it would be beneficial if Radio Caroline & Atlanta joined forces under one call sign. This merger took place in July 1964 with the Caroline being based off the Isle of Man & broadcasting as Radio Caroline North & the Mi Amigo based off Frinton on Sea broadcasting as Radio Caroline South. Radio Caroline DJ’s became very popular and were soon referred to as “pirates” due to the nature of where they were broadcasting from.
Following 4 years of broadcasting Radio Caroline became the no. 1 off-shore pop radio station, but all was not to last. The introduction of The Marine & Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 sought to close all off shore broadcasters stating pirates use of radio wavelengths broke international agreements. Undeterred DJ’s kept broadcasting until 1968 when the Caroline was towed away by salvage tugs & closed down. The fate of MV Caroline was then secured & it was broken up for salvage in 1972. The MV Mi Amigo lasted a while longer but unfortunately suffered a similar fate & sank in the North Sea in March 1980.
Following the passing of The Marine & Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967, circa 6 weeks later the BBC formed a new pop station, Radio 1 and a lot of the DJ pirates from Radio Caroline were employed.
But all is not lost ! Ronan O’Rahilly had purchased another vessel in 1965, the aptly named The Ross Revenge which is now based on the River Blackwater and continues to broadcast. Radio Caroline is still going strong & can be streamed on line.
Hartford W.I. Cheshire 