My involvement with Radio London began when I did a deal with Philip Birch, the managing director of Radlon Sales Ltd, the European company responsible for the station. At the time, I was employed by Charlie Watkin, the owner and MD of Watkins Electric Music Ltd, manufacturers of guitars, electric organs, and amplifiers, etc. (The company also made the famous tape-loop reverb unit, 'The Watkins Copycat' which just about every up-and-coming band had! – Chris)

As the Works Director of WEM, my job was to promote WEM and its products. The deal I did with Philip enabled me to mount new promotions on behalf of Big L. This meant I was able to use the contacts I established in the music business for the benefit of WEM. Two of WEM's biggest contracts secured in this way were the supply of all the amplification equipment for the Byrds tour of the UK, and for the Isle of Wight Concert.

I, and my lovely secretary Brenda Cogdell, were responsible for all the station's on-shore activity. When you entered the door at 17 Curzon Street, the Promotions Dept was just to your left. It housed two desks, my own and Brenda's. When we created far too much activity, we were moved to the basement!

About a month after I started working with Phil Birch, (above, right) I left WEM to join Big L full-time as its promotions manager and remained till the end, in '67.

In addition to other Radio London promotions, I ran the Marquee Big L Saturday Club. David Bowie's band was the resident live act playing there on Saturday afternoons. I can claim that I was one of the very first to recognise David's superb talent. He was a nice, bright young lad, a great singer and performer, and we liked him a lot. Big L didn't believe in paying its artists big performance fees; it promoted them on-air instead. David Bowie used to play for me for £15 a gig. I wonder if he remembers me now?

David opened the Big L show (live) and he closed the show with a full half-hour live performance each week. On one occasion, he quickly packed up, as we all did, to shoot off to Wimbledon Palais to perform there as well, in the Big L Saturday Night Out. Every artist appearing at the Big L Saturday Club at the Marquee, and the shows at Wimbledon Palais, Greenford Middlesex, Lowestoft and Ramsgate, mimed to their records and all signed autographs. I personally introduced every artist and ensured that they carried out this task. No one ever let me down.

Mark Roman poses in full Ruler regalia to publicise the programme launch. Ben Toney awarded Mark the programme after Tony Blackburn turned down his kind offer of the 'Empire package'. This came complete with a change of name and social status, plus a wardrobe full of togas and sandals and a copy of 'The Idiot's Guide To Ruling Empires'.

It seems Tony may have had a lucky escape! Gordon recalls:

"For Mark Roman's first week ashore after the launch of his Roman Empire show, we sent him out like this! I can't remember where the photo was taken, but it might be the stairs leading to the basement in 17 Curzon Street."

Thanks for your website. It's terrific and you have put a lot of work into it, I can see. I have asked my daughter to dig out all the pictures that she may have from Big L days and if there is anything good I will send them.

Meanwhile I am studying the superb records of Alan Field's Fab 40 Charts. I am having a ball!

Keith 'Cardboard Shoes' Skues sent me an email yesterday. And today, I had a long chat on the phone with Duncan Johnson.

I am living all those great days again!

Sincerely,

Gordon J Sheppard

Text and photographs © Gordon Sheppard