HOWARD MELVYN HICKS Mary Payne's photo tribute page to |
Mel Howard has died in his native Winnipeg, Manitoba, after a short illness.
I was privileged to be able to attend the First North American Offshore Radio Reunion and meet Mel in Vancouver in July 2004. (As it turned out, this was to be the only North American Offshore Reunion.) Broadcasters from Caroline North and South, Radio London and Radio Scotland had flown in from around the world to attend, but Mel had only a short journey as, at the time, he was living locally. However in 2007, Mel travelled to London to attend the Radio Academy Celebration of Sixties Offshore Radio.
Mel had joined Caroline South as a DJ in 1965 and went on to broadcast on Radio Scotland in 1966.
North American Offshore Reunion 2004 attendees, clockwise from back row, Ben Healy - Radio Scotland (242), Steve Young - Caroline South, Tony Prince - Caroline North, Lorne King - Radio London, John Kerr - 242, Bryan Vaughan - Radio Atlanta, Caroline South, 242, Mick Luvzit - Caroline South and North, Mel Howard - Caroline South, 242. Front row, non-pirates Mary Payne and Kenny Tosh. |
The boat people on a visit to a Vancouver local radio station |
The boat people back on the water |
From this Christmas greeting that Mel sent in 2021, it's clear that he cherished the memories and the comradeship of his time aboard the Mi Amigo and later, the Comet. MEL'S CHRISTMAS GREETING, 2021 To "All Ships at Sea"... At this Christmas season, I will reflect: We, many of us, had a great desire to try our luck AND "jovial" voices "on-air" off the coasts around the UK, now, so many long years ago... The stations that sprung forth in the '60s were incubators of our talents and dreams that, in great part, made us what we are today Those were the days my friends..... Take care of yourselves, Stay Tuned, Mel Howard –––– Rest in peace, Mel. Your friends from the radio ships won't forget you. |
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You can leave tributes to Mel and condolences for his family here
The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame has some audio clips of Mel and photos taken aboard the Mi Amigo in 1965.
Photos from The Radio Academy Celebration of Sixties Offshore Radio can be viewed here.
All photos © Radio London unless otherwise stated