More Radio, I've been around a bit!

Since starting in radio back in 1977, as well as working at sea, I've also worked on stations on land. In the late 70's and early 80's working in Dublin

Waterford and Cork in Ireland, and at times while on shore leave from Radio Caroline I would go back and do stints on the Irish stations, you know just to keep my hand in and to sample the fine Irish Guinness. Then in early 1987 thought it was about time to work on ILR (Independent Local Radio) in the UK.

top is Wyvern 1987 .bottom Sunshine dublin 1981

Some more photos of Dublin, thanks to Warren in Hythe, Kent. Below left Sunshine Radios portacabin at the side of the Sands Hotel, Dublin below that is me on air on Sunshine. In the centre top is the front of the Sands Hotel. Sunshine's AM & FM transmitters as well as the studios were all here. Below centre is the stations AM Optimod processor, Sunshine was the first station in Europe to use this type of unit. Top right - on air, the Sunshine studio in 1982 and below right is Radio Nova's production studio in 1982.

Sunshine Radio studios were in this portacabin from late 1981. It was at the back o f the Sands Hotel about 12 miles north of Dublin.

Sunshine AM Optimod. Sunshine was the first station in Europe to use this kind of AM unit.

Radio Nova, Dublin - production studio 1982.

On Air - Sunshine Radio 1982 (with what looks like a black eye!!!!)

When I first came to the UK to work, I started on a station that broadcast to Hereford and Worcester that was Radio Wyvern; I then spent 10 years working for Invicta Radio in Kent. My work now is with kmfm in East Kent.

Great thing about radio is I get to meet some great people, and broadcast from all over the world, places like Dallas, Norway & France to name just a few.

Invicta Supergold Kent. Sorry larger image not available.

TLR Thanet 1998. Sorry larger image not available

up to our neck in comp entries at TLR christmas 2001

KMfm OB in Folkestone, Loads of Girls yes yes yes!!

I will over the next few weeks be adding more photos and information to the radio section of roundsandsound.

In the weeks to come I'll also be adding a news section.

In May of 2006 I took a trip back to Dublin for the first time since 1984, and how the city has changed, and the Radio as well. It's all legal now and still loads of great stations.

For old time's sake I took a trip to Portmarnock in North Dublin and to the Sands Hotel. Sunshine Radio Broadcast from here from 1981 till it's close down. Not much had changed, The tall 200 foot mast had gone.

Got some more photos from Ireland thanks to my good friend Gary Hogg, Gary will be sending more in so keep coming back .

This time round I've photos from South Coast Radio Cork, Sunshine Radio Dublin and 1 from Southside Radio in Dun Laoghaire

I know what the Tee shirt say's, but it's the studio of South Coast Radio Cork 1983

Picture on the right was taken at a radio day in 1983. from L to R , Johnny Lewis, James Kay, Nigel Harris and John Birch with the mic. Think it came from Offshore echo's originally

Another Radio station I worked for was The Voice of Peace which broadcast to the Middle East for 20 years from 1973.

The station broadcast from the Peace ship anchored while I was there some 6 miles off Tel Aviv. I was on the ship from April till December 1980. At that time the station was broadcasting on 1540 kHz with a power of around 30kw and on FM 100 with a power of 100kw erp and boy did that fm get out as well. The station played mainly music from the Charts and classic hit's. We did also have in the evenings Rock, Country and MOR shows.

Looking back to the bridge of the VOP 1980

Brian the enginere, Stevie Gorden and Johnny Lewis on the VOP summer 1980

Sign at the base of the Broadcast mast on the ship.

Hope you enjoyed those pictures all taken in 1980. If you want to find out more about the history of The Voice of Peace Hans Knot has put together a really good book of memories from all sorts of people who've been involved over the years with the radio station. Log onto OffshoreRadio.de for more info

Now for some more pictures and station information from Ireland.Thanks to my good friend Clive Derek for the pictures and scans. ABC was on of Irelands so called Super Pirate to Broadcast in the 80's. ABC Radio Broadcast to the Wexford Area of the country from studios in the lovely coastal town of Tramore and the city of Waterford. It was one of the country's most popular stations playing a mix of classic and chart songs mixed with local News and information, style of presentation was personality lead, and I can say having worked on the station it was a great place to be..

On the Left ABC Radio's first studio in Tramore, and above the studio in Waterford

ABC Radio's Clive Derek

The ABC crew in 1984 having fun in Tramore

OB on the Tramore Roller Coaster, we spent 8 hours going round to raise money for the Tramore lifeboat

The ABC Radio crew having Fun. Picture above taken at a station OB in Tramore

They'll be more from ABC Radio coming soon, and more pictures and information about Irish Radio from the 80's.