Being 17 when Radio London had to go, the day was the most tragic I ever had to go through. Every year since then on the 14th, I remembered it all and after getting more and more tapes from Big L broadcasts they were always played. When the final hour became available on CD, it was played every year from two to three and the sad memories always remembered so vividly. Now that since a year ago the complete final day has come out on CD's I will play it today at exactly the same time as I did last year. I am always looking for other tapes or CD's of any shows I might not have and maybe now I can get in touch with others that feel like I do and write and trade things.
Well I hope that you don't mind me writing to you and maybe I will get a reply which would be so very exciting. All those charts put on the site were so thrilling and I have printed them all out to bind together in a book.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, A BIG L Fan forever, Jules Young in Belgium.
WEBMASTERS' NOTE: Jules now has an entry in the Swop ShopFROM PAUL SMITH
Oh WOW!!!!
I only just found the Big L site, and now I feel guilty I have never conducted a search for it before.
I am of course of "that certain age" when we used to listen to Big L all the time. Trannies at school at every break time (even in the class with earphones of course).
I have listened to the Last Hour at Live 365, and recently listened to a programme featuring the Juicy Fruits show!
Memories that come to mind are...
...playing the Number One record on the hour every hour. WILD THING was a storm at school!
...The Beatles being Number One for two weeks before it was even released, then slipping down the Fab 40 by the time the rest of the world caught up.
...Kenny and Cash.
...Tony Windsor's "HULLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
...then the miserable summer holidays in '67 without Big L. I must admit I thought they closed down earlier than August, as it seemed an age before we got Radio 1 (September 30th of course).
Rest assured, I shall be paying regular visits in future and examining the website in detail. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
God Bless Johnnie Walker.
Paul Smith also a webmaster, but Football-based.
WEBMASTERS' NOTE: So we weren't the only ones guilty of listening to Radio London in class!FROM MIKE CORKE
It was today when the famous words were spoken "Big
L time is three o'clock and Radio London is closing down." I miss those
days.
AN IDEA FROM ALAN
LONG
I'm very impressed with the history site of Big
L. I was 13 when the station closed down, yet to my mind nothing has ever
come near it in terms of quality broadcast. Even early Radio One came
nowhere near it! I've been wandering around the site today and have one
heck of a suggestion to make which I think will appeal to everyone of
all ages (and sizes) who loved the pirates.
I would like to start a one-off campaign to get one of the terrestrial
TV stations BBC1, 2, ITV 1, C4 or C5 interested in making a series of
documentary programmes on the UK offshore pirate radio years. I often
feel that this neglected subject is worthy of a series of programmes that
many of us old goats (speak for myself) would love to see.
The basic idea would be to show that what modern kids have today was not
around when we were young. The documentary could progress through to the
inception of Caroline and Atlanta and everything in between right up to
the Parliamentary debates of the Marine Offences etc. etc. This would
be a warts-and-all documentary showing the good, bad and ugly side of
pirate radio and the music they played.
I suspect the first programme would show pirate radio from the 1920s up
to 1963 all around the world (especially in Europe). It would have to
include 208 for sure. The next few could be dedicated to the ships and
forts and the offices and owners and the staff and crews. The last one
could show from 1967 to 2003. Don't forget the jingles! (I have a 10CD
of PAMS finest and an autographed book to boot!) I feel that the history
of radio - especially pirate radio - is not known amongst the 13-year-olds
today, what with Internet, mediocre drum and bass and cult music being
the norm! Yuk! I also feel it's too important historically to remain just
on the Internet. What do you think?
I need a project to work on and don't mind forwarding emails in support
of this to whatever TV station you think most likely to produce a programme
or six on pirate radio. If anyone emailed me I would respond. I've a keen
mind for pirate radio and the old ships and forts and those who ran it.
Any support that anyone in cyberspace would like to send to me I will
keep and forward en-mass to a TV station. It really would be a corking
great idea for a serious music subject.
My name is Alan Long and I was born in 1954 hence my email address. I
am coming to my conclusion of this email and, in the (modified) words
of Paul Kaye, 'Big L time is 10.53 and I am now closing down'. (I'm playing
the Sonowaltz in my mind as I write!)