Thanks for the video...fascinating. It brings back memories of the exciting time listening to the pirates...it was magic. Alas that died when pirate radio became institutionalised as BBC Radio 1.
I am an amateur military historian with an interest in WW II anti aircraft radar, particularly ones developed in Canada. At about 58 seconds into this video one can see a two dish antenna of a radar set on one of the towers. I believe that this might be the tracking unit of the GL III (c) AA gunlaying radar, which has been referred to in one of the books by Frank Turner about the Thames Forts. Photos of this radar set deployed for action are very rare, if indeed any exist.Would welcome any comments about my observation.
We visited Red Sands and Shivering Sands in the Seventies, with the late Chris Carey (Spangles Muldoon). The gantries on Red Sands were in a bad way and those on Shivering Sands GONE. The ladders up to the towers were in a poor state too. We were not eager to try our luck - then Chris said he'd been up a few years ago and all we'd find was lots of dead gulls and an overpowering stench of their poop. We decided to carry on out to Radio Caroline, where we met the DJs and EVENTUALLY made it back!
Very interesting video. It must have been a great buzz to have been part of the pirate broadcasting fraternity. My particular favorite was the ex minesweeper based Radio London, but they were all great.
Amazing how so many people didn't know these existed. I read about them back in the 60's reading a book on WWII. It was actually a brilliant idea, a bit late, but brilliant. Just think of what would have happened if they were in position before the air war over England. BTW, one tower managed to shoot down a V1 rocket later in the war.
There have been very rare visits over the years, and if you search the internet you can find accounts. Access was extremely hazardous as the original ladders had gone. I understand that RedSand Fort is being considered for preservation, and people do now regularly visit as part of that project. Google it: 'project redsand'.
I was on the Towers in 1964 Radio Sutch as a DJ along with Reg Calvert - David Sutch - Brian Paull - and Geoff Mew.. Having been out there for just over a month, I was airlifted of the towers by helicopter and taken to Margate hospital with food poisoning - spent 5 days in an Isolation ward because the Establishment did not want the newspapers talking to me, That failed completely ! because the TV stations got hold of this news and broadcast the story for 24 hours, and the story was also in the Daily Mail, and the Evening News, plus other newspapers - Went back a week later and started doing 5 shows a day, used to end each day at midnight with my Rhythm and Blues show, every night.. Happy Days.. www.colindaleradiosutch.com
50 YEARS AGO... It will be 50 years since we started Radio Sutch - MAY 1964 - On the Gun-Towers, Shivering Sands, Thames Estuary, England. I hope to go back in May 2014, and celebrate 50 years of being an Anti-Establishment kind of guy. JUST FOR THE RECORD - Radio Sutch was started by 5 people - David Sutch - Reg Calvert - Brian Paull - Geoff Mew - and myself Colin Dale. THAT'S A FACT.. colindaleradiosutch.com
Translation of luizsscaixeta: "Compared with the works of the Third Reich these are amateur .. They are very vulnerable to ships . seem easy to be torn down." My opinion is: a threat from German battleships would have been managed by the British Navy, which was present in the region in force.Many British warships were at Felixstowe, only 20km north. The practical threat to the towers was from German aircraft, but their skeletal design and mutual defence from multiple towers gave good protection
Its not the Thames Estuary - but some of the offshore forts have been converted & are now actively in use as exclusive hotels and hospitality facilities - 3 in the Solent were bought and converted the first of which you can now visit - Google spitbankfortDOTcom.
They make me think of 'war of the worlds' alien craft, naval version. I see that the gangways between them have long since collapsed. If you have a boat and proper resources, it's quite an outpost for squatting, if that's your idea of getting away from it all :P
>ouch1978 The UK government tightly controlled the amount of recorded music that the state broadcaster (BBC) was allowed to transmit. This made the official radio at the time very dull, with no more than an hour or two of pop music PER WEEK, incredibly. The pirate stations by comparison were exciting and played music all day long, and they quickly acquired a huge audience.
It will be 50 years in May 2014 since we 5 pirates stepped onto the Gun Towers at Shivering Sands. Reg, David, and Brian are all dead ! but Geoff Mew and myself survive, so I am going back out there to take some photos, and to see how the old gun towers ( that were built to keep the Nazi at bay ) are standing up. Looking forward to this, hope the weather is kind. www.colindaleradiosutch.com
GOOD NARRATIVE ! Bit more about Pirate Radio would have been nice, but then your too young to know the full monty ? Maybe I could fill you in on all the gory details one day. Hopefully I will be going back in 2014, when It will be 50 years since I left Radio Sutch, get a few photos etc, and remember the way we where. David, Reg and Brian are all gone, that only leaves Pussy Mew and Me. The first people to step onto GT shivering sands and set up RADIO SUTCH. colindaleradiosutch
Thanks for the video...fascinating. It brings back memories of the exciting time listening to the pirates...it was magic. Alas that died when pirate radio became institutionalised as BBC Radio 1.
The Maunsell forts and towers are an incredible piece of history which few people knew about until offshore radio used them.
Great video. Spooky & enchanting piece of history. Thanks for posting/creating.
great video
IKS Exploration
Pretty coincidence that I find you comment on this video
I am an amateur military historian with an interest in WW II anti aircraft radar, particularly ones developed in Canada. At about 58 seconds into this video one can see a two dish antenna of a radar set on one of the towers. I believe that this might be the tracking unit of the GL III (c) AA gunlaying radar, which has been referred to in one of the books by Frank Turner about the Thames Forts. Photos of this radar set deployed for action are very rare, if indeed any exist.Would welcome any comments about my observation.
I would think many countries would find interest, this is fascinating.
Nathan, US
i used to live in southend ,, i never knew these were out in the estuary ,, i must come back one day to go see these,,
Thanks love hearing and watching new things..i just wish i could see the inside
We visited Red Sands and Shivering Sands in the Seventies, with the late Chris Carey (Spangles Muldoon). The gantries on Red Sands were in a bad way and those on Shivering Sands GONE. The ladders up to the towers were in a poor state too.
We were not eager to try our luck - then Chris said he'd been up a few years ago and all we'd find was lots of dead gulls and an overpowering stench of their poop.
We decided to carry on out to Radio Caroline, where we met the DJs and EVENTUALLY made it back!
Thank you so much for sharing your video, I would love to see inside of them.
Very interesting video. It must have been a great buzz to have been part of the pirate broadcasting fraternity. My particular favorite was the ex minesweeper based Radio London, but they were all great.
Caroline was probably 'less commercial'. Sad they were halted by the evil BBC!
I remember that being on them was the best laxative known to man as a non swimmer.
You would have had a good opportunity to also view U4 HMF Knock John, 4 miles from shivering sands
Amazing how so many people didn't know these existed. I read about them back in the 60's reading a book on WWII. It was actually a brilliant idea, a bit late, but brilliant. Just think of what would have happened if they were in position before the air war over England.
BTW, one tower managed to shoot down a V1 rocket later in the war.
Thanx for that i enjoyed it.
Interesting. Had no idea any such thing even existed.
There have been very rare visits over the years, and if you search the internet you can find accounts. Access was extremely hazardous as the original ladders had gone. I understand that RedSand Fort is being considered for preservation, and people do now regularly visit as part of that project. Google it: 'project redsand'.
WWII was a horrible event, but it sure did spawn so many interesting things in its wake.
great story !!
que pedazo de historia gracias.
Rdioi 390 wasn't exactly a local radio station! They had a range including parts of the continent as well as the south East of England.
Awesome vid
I was on the Towers in 1964 Radio Sutch as a DJ along with Reg Calvert - David Sutch - Brian Paull - and Geoff Mew.. Having been out there for just over a month, I was airlifted of the towers by helicopter and taken to Margate hospital with food poisoning - spent 5 days in an Isolation ward because the Establishment did not want the newspapers talking to me, That failed completely ! because the TV stations got hold of this news and broadcast the story for 24 hours, and the story was also in the Daily Mail, and the Evening News, plus other newspapers - Went back a week later and started doing 5 shows a day, used to end each day at midnight with my Rhythm and Blues show, every night.. Happy Days.. www.colindaleradiosutch.com
Colin Dale bullshit
Maunsell Forts Visit - Red Sands Fort
My trip, last weekend.
.....are you allowed to 'drink & drive' a boat at the same time?
Interesting video - many thanks!
50 YEARS AGO...
It will be 50 years since we started Radio Sutch - MAY 1964 - On the Gun-Towers, Shivering Sands, Thames Estuary, England.
I hope to go back in May 2014, and celebrate 50 years of being an Anti-Establishment kind of guy.
JUST FOR THE RECORD - Radio Sutch was started by 5 people - David Sutch - Reg Calvert - Brian Paull - Geoff Mew - and myself Colin Dale. THAT'S A FACT..
colindaleradiosutch.com
Great to hear from you Colin, thanks for the post. Do hope you make it out there for the 50 year anniversary.
wow, thank you for sharing Colin
Jumping Jack Flash the old story's are the best Jack, I have lead a very interesting life.. Thanks for your comment.. www.colindaleradiosutch.com
+Colin Dale I wonder if Ritchie Blackmore ever visited while he was a member of SLS.
@@colindale3027 what a long strange trip its been...bravo sir!
Translation of luizsscaixeta: "Compared with the works of the Third Reich these are amateur .. They are very vulnerable to ships . seem easy to be torn down."
My opinion is: a threat from German battleships would have been managed by the British Navy, which was present in the region in force.Many British warships were at Felixstowe, only 20km north. The practical threat to the towers was from German aircraft, but their skeletal design and mutual defence from multiple towers gave good protection
Its not the Thames Estuary - but some of the offshore forts have been converted & are now actively in use as exclusive hotels and hospitality facilities - 3 in the Solent were bought and converted the first of which you can now visit - Google spitbankfortDOTcom.
Hi why is 7 of them I went to the other video I see only 6 of them
Interesting idea, Juan. Do you mean in Spanish, or German, or English?
They make me think of 'war of the worlds' alien craft, naval version. I see that the gangways between them have long since collapsed. If you have a boat and proper resources, it's quite an outpost for squatting, if that's your idea of getting away from it all :P
Why was the reason for pirate radio stations ,back in the sixties
>ouch1978
The UK government tightly controlled the amount of recorded music that the state broadcaster (BBC) was allowed to transmit. This made the official radio at the time very dull, with no more than an hour or two of pop music PER WEEK, incredibly. The pirate stations by comparison were exciting and played music all day long, and they quickly acquired a huge audience.
Thank you for the reply
OPMG, I MUST BUY ONE OF THOSE,,wonder if that possible, THANKS FOR POSTING,ABSOLUTLEY AMAZING
I watched the video more than once and found no suitable comment except that it is human will and the madness of war
Tilbury Ferry ???
how come never seen them in war movies?
Credit to designer and builders still standing in hostile north sea
I wonder if the bridges work and if anyone lives in them... Just a thought
Noone lives there. What would they do? The bridges have gone. ;-]
has anyone ever gone inside. I know some of the Amateur radio boys go there every year.....
subtitulado por favor ? :(
"... and beer!" :D
Come out by Hovercraft
I live in Rochester :)
When i fail school and leave canada im moving in these towers
Rad B Meet you there ;)
GOOOD
make a fantastic pigeon loft.
why not turn them in to hotels ?
It will be 50 years in May 2014 since we 5 pirates stepped onto the Gun Towers at Shivering Sands.
Reg, David, and Brian are all dead ! but Geoff Mew and myself survive, so I am going back out there to take some photos, and to see how the old gun towers ( that were built to keep the Nazi at bay ) are standing up. Looking forward to this, hope the weather is kind. www.colindaleradiosutch.com
I must visit myself. Built to keep the Nazis in check, then used to keep the Nazis at the BBC in check
I've just clicked the link...its a Chinese get fit site.Typical of the good Lord, he liked to be different.
GOOD NARRATIVE ! Bit more about Pirate Radio would have been nice, but then your too young to know the full monty ?
Maybe I could fill you in on all the gory details one day.
Hopefully I will be going back in 2014, when It will be 50 years since I left Radio Sutch, get a few photos etc, and remember the way we where. David, Reg and Brian are all gone, that only leaves Pussy Mew and Me. The first people to step onto GT shivering sands and set up RADIO SUTCH.
colindaleradiosutch
Nice video ... but not 'secret' at all!
Like how on earth they did escape being destroyed by German bombers for 3 years. They must have been sitting ducks.
Very heavily armed ducks!
MERRY XMAS PAUL - nice to hear from you. have a good new year..
ua-cam.com/users/colindaleradiosutch
Best Wishes..