During
the London RSL between December 17th 1997 and January 13th 1998, I made as many
visits as possible to my favourite radio station, aboard the mv Ocean Defender.
Immediately upon arrival on December 23rd I was greeted by Ray Anderson with the
words, "I'm glad you're here - it saves us making a phone call." He proceeded
to inform me that a Radio London crisis loomed. Only two professional DJs were
going to be available to present shows on Christmas Day, namely Dennis Jason and
the station's Programme Director, Chris Elliot. Ray and Chris knew Fluff and I
had already planned to spend the big day on the ship, so in our absence, they
had nominated us to present the Christmas afternoon show! Fluff and I had met
through working in hospital radio, and had been associated with stations at West
Middlesex, High Wycombe, Stoke Mandeville and Milton Keynes hospitals. We'd both
had a fair amount of broadcasting experience, but it was many years since either
of us had been required to present a show, let alone produce six hours of programming
with two days' notice! In spite of this small inconvenience, it was a great thrill
to be asked to participate.
I'd
never been in London on Christmas Day before. The only people on the streets were
tourists, most of them looking as if they were puzzled as to where the usual capital
city throngs had vanished. By the time we reached St Katharine's Dock it was pouring
with rain. There being nowhere within easy parking distance of the Ocean Defender,
I had to make a dash for the ship, arriving as the soggiest fairy ever! After
the long drive, poor Fluff was feeling even worse, and he slumped in the galley,
damp, dejected and definitely not up to co-presenting a show. So I was on my own.
Chris Elliot, who would now be required to operate the studio desk for me, decided
my 'Knees Club Special' should run from 4.00pm till 7.00pm, when we would take
the station off the air so we could enjoy our Christmas dinner. This was being
prepared for us by two terrific Big L fans, Mandie King and Geoff Cook, known
because of their enthusiastic signalling of the Yeoman Rose on the night
of August 13th 1997, as the Frinton Flashers. They had been aboard the
Ocean Defender since the crack of dawn, when they'd arrived with a mountain
of food.
(Picture - Cook by name, Cook by nature - stalwarts Geoff and Mandie)