The trustees of the Pharos Trust along with the management of Radio Mi Amigo are saddened to hear of the passing of Johnnie Walker who has been the Patron of The Trust for two decades.
Johnnie’s illustrious career intersected with the LV18 during his many Pirate BBC Essex broadcasts. Those broadcasts were a part of our own foundation and paved the way for the success of our own projects.
It was our privilege to receive a phone call for Johnnie on the 11th of August 2024 where he spoke live on Radio Mi Amigo with his former Radio Caroline and BBC colleague Keith ‘Cardboard Shoes’ Skues.
Our thoughts are with his wife, Tiggy and his family at this sad time. He will be missed by all aboard the LV18.
We broadcast the following obituary at 2200 & 2300 on New Years Eve.
The studio sleeps – all quiet the night before the long weekend
Friday 20th December 2024
Almost a full page in the weekly local newspaper
Duke Anthony (left) interviews Tony O’NeilA BBC record case, what could that possibly mean?Dave Kent takes the late shift on Friday night
Saturday 21st December 2024
Keith Skues checks his scriptOlly KInvig (left) at the desk, Heather O’Neil producing and Keith SkuesOlly KInvig (left) at the desk, Heather O’Neil producing and Keith SkuesChris Cooper after darkShiraz Turvey (studio engineer) in the ship’s mess.Rick Marks at the desk
Sunday 22nd December 2023
The production team for Keith Skues’ Sunday show – Shiraz Turvey (left, engineer), Olly Kinvig (obscured, at the desk), Heather O’Neil (producer) and the legendary Keith Skues.Shiraz Turvey at her laptop monitoring incoming emailsOlly Kinvig (left) Heather O’Neil & Keith SkuesDuke Anthony sports a genuine Marquee t-shirt for his Sunday teatime show.Duke Anthony (left) interviewing Keith Skues. The Duke had just played a message to Keith from former Radio London colleague Norman St John.,At our Xmas dinner Keith was asked to send a visual message back to Norman St John, but was a little surprised. Heather O’Neil assists.Dave Kent takes the late shift again
Monday 23rd December 2024
The final live show of the extended long weekend was managed by Duke Anthony (left) with a few studio guests: Chris Cooper (centre, bottom), Tony’s O’Neil, Heather O’Neil & Keith Skues.Duke’s final t-shirt of the anniversary weekend includes the words “back to the boozer”. This t-shirt was owned by the late Dave Cash, and gifted to Duke by Dave’s widow Sarah Cash on 14 August 2017 in Harwich (the day when Dave Cash’ ashes were spread in the River Stour next to the LV18 & Ha’Penny Pier by Sarah and Johnny Walker).
Many thanks to all the presenters and the support team who made this event a success.
The Pharos Trust also wishes to thank Ray Anderson (radiofab.com) and Chris & Mary Payne (radiolondon.co.uk) for their kind assistance and support – without whom this radio event wouldn’t have been possible.
And, many many thanks to everyone who contacted the station during the weekend – we have never had so many emails or messages!
1200 Duke Anthony
1400 Olly Kinvig
1600 Chris Cooper
1800 Steve Jenner’s Big L Fab Forty Top 3 Hits
2000 Rick Marks
2200 Diamond Dave Kent
Midnight – Radio Mi Amigo overnight
Saturday 21st December
0700 Olly Kinvig
1000 Steve Jenner’s Big L Fab Forty Top 3 Hits
1200 Tim Wardley Sound of the 60s
1400 ** Keith Skues **
1600 Chris Cooper
1800 Robin Dee’s Perfumed Garden
2000 Rick Marks
2200 Duke Anthony
Midnight Keith Skues 23 July 1967 “The Radio London Story”
0200 Keith Skues last Radio London Show (25th July 1967)
0400 Chris Cooper
0500 Paul Windsor
0600 Chris Morgan
Sunday 22nd December
0700 Olly Kinvig
1000 Rick Marks
1200 Chris Cooper
1400 ** Keith Skues **
1600 Duke Anthony
1900 Paul Windsor – Radio London at Christmas
2200 Diamond Dave Kent
Midnight – Radio Mi Amigo overnight
Monday 23rd December
0600 Olly Kinvig
0900 Big L with Mandy Marton & Big Al
1000 Duke Anthony
1200 Ian Chambers December ’64
1300 Ray Anderson
1400 Big L with Mandy Marton & Big Al (rpt)
1500 Radio London Story with Keith Skues
1900 Ian Chambers December ’64 (rpt)
2100 Ray Anderson (rpt)
2200 Radio Mi Amigo
This is a live radio event. The above schedule may need to change at short notice. Last updated 1330 23rd December 2024.
2024 has been a multi-anniversary. 60 years since the start of British offshore radio, 50 years since the loss of the Benelux offshore stations. It also happens to be 50 years since the Caroline Stonehenge festival, and the year I said finally farewell to the dear old Mi Amigo for the last time, after an eventful two years. Thus it is a significant anniversary for me too.
I am producing a special three hour program to mark the occasion. Likely the last program I shall ever make. It traces the early years, the influence of American radio on European radio especially through the ‘pirates’, with particular focus on 1964-1974, and of course my time which I know about the best.
I have called it “Radio Radio – A Personal Retrospective” it features the sounds and music of a golden age. Including the voices of Tony Allen, Chris Cary, Andy Archer, Robin Adcroft, Mike Hagler & Brian Anderson. Jingles galore of course.
It will be broadcast by Radio Mi Amigo on Boxing Day 26th December 0900-1200 repeated 2100-2400 GMT/UTC. This is a shared broadcast with Radio Seagull.
I will play a guitar montage during the show, at 1030 & 2230. You can replay this montage below.
I shall provide the answers here on December 31st.
Radio Mi Amigo is proud to announce that we will be marking the 60th anniversary of Radio London’s first transmissions with four days of special live shows from our studio on board the LV18 in Harwich Harbour.
Our very special guest will be Keith Skues, a veteran of BFBS, Radio London, Radio Caroline, Radio One, Radio Hallam, Radio Norfolk ….and Radio Mi Amigo!
Joining us are: Duke Anthony, Olly Kinvig, Chris Cooper, Steve Jenner, Rick Marks, Dave Kent, Tim Wardley, Robin Dee, Paul Windsor, Mandy Marton, Big Al & Ian Chambers!
In the last week of August 2024 Radio Seagull in Harlingen, NL, marked the decision of 31 August 1974 by the Netherlands government to shut down the remaining Dutch ship-based radio stations. That day Radio North Sea Intl, Radio Veronika and Radio Atlanta fell silent.
Many of the regular LV18 DJs were on board the LV8 Jenni Baynton in Harlingen Harbour, NL, marking the 50 year anniversary of an important but sad event in Dutch radio history. This special broadcast on Radio Seagull concluded 6am (BST) Saturday 31 August.
Radio Mi Amigo relayed the overnight Radio Seagull shows via this site.
Mandy Marton, on LV8, said: “Two super Radio lightships, LV8 Radio Seagull & LV18 Mi Amigo are united together commemorating 50 years since the the day the music died, we’re continuing the good old days by Rocking the boat and the airwaves! “
At 2100 tonight – 14 August 2024 – we are playing a special two hour show produced by Duke Anthony in 2022. Duke covers the start of the pirates in 1964 and the events leading to 14 August 1967, featuring Radio Caroline and Radio London.
Listen here at 2100 and at 0300 15/8/2024 to hear this show. All times are BST (GMT+1)
On 11 August 2024 we received a call from Johnnie Walker during a live show with Keith Skues. That call is available here!
Duke Anthony on board the LV18 11 August 2024
Six months ago the LV18 was subject to an arson attack, causing £250,000 of damage. Donations are being sought to support the full restoration of this historic vessel. Johnnie Walker is the patron of the charity that owns the LV18.
From 1958, when the LV18 was first deployed by Trinity House until 1994 when the LV18 was retired, the vessel’s primary role was as a lightvessel – a floating lighthouse – to help protect ships from undersea hazards. A secondary role was weather reporting. The LV18 was equipped with radios but these were only for ship to ship and ship to shore communication.
The LV18 was first used for radio broadcasting in 1999, at the time the ship was owned by Sea Containers Ltd, who owned and operated Parkeston Quay (Harwich International). Tony O’Neil hired the LV18 and used it for a number of radio broadcasts under temporary UK government broadcasting licences.
First used in 1999 as a mother ship for revival broadcasts of offshore radio, including Radio North Sea International off Clacton.
2000 Radio Caroline, for one month off Harwich.
2001 Radio Mi Amigo off Harwich.
2002 Radio Mi Amigo and Harwich Community Radio.
In 2002 the Pharos Trust was established as a charity to own, preserve and exhibit LV18. Work started to restore the LV18 after 8 years of neglect. The LV18 was kept on a mooring in the River Stour when not needed elsewhere.
In 2004 BBC Essex wanted to mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of Radio Atlanta, Radio Caroline, Radio London etc and they used the LV18 as a base, anchored off Harwich. This was repeated in 2007 for the 40th anniversary of the Marine Offences (etc) Act of 14 August 1967. Many of the former pirate DJs took part, most of whom had also been BBC employees at this point. The broadcast was called “Pirate BBC Essex“. By this time, Johnnie Walker had agreed to be patron of the Pharos Trust.
In 2008 the LV18 was chartered by the producers of the “Boat That Rocked” movie (“Pirate Radio” movie in the US). This took the LV18 to Portland Bay and the ship gained a new paint scheme on one side. It was billed as “Radio Sunshine, the Home of Happy Hits”.
Pirate BBC Essex came back to the LV18 in 2009 and the ship was moored alongside Ha’Penny Pier for the first time during this broadcast before returning to its river mooring.
Dave CashJohnnie Walker
In 2011 the Pharos Trust received a grant from the local authourities, Tendring District & Essex County Councils, that enabled a permanent berth to be constructed between Harwich Quay and Ha’Penny Pier. This allowed easy daily public access for the first time in the ship’s history.
Between 2012 and 2017 the LV18 was used annually for pirate radio revivals under the Radio Mi Amigo brand – but with an Ofcom licence!
In 2017 the BBC returned and hosted an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Marine Offences (etc) Act. Many former pirates gathered on the LV18 including Johnnie Walker, Roger Day, Keith Skues, Norman St John and Tom Edwards.
Johnnie WalkerRoger ‘Twiggy’ DayKeith Skues & Norman St JohnTom Edwards
From 2018 to 2023 the LV18 hosted licensed Radio Mi Amigo broadcasts from our permanent berth and during this time rebuilt the studio.
At Christmas 2023 we launched Radio Mi Amigo as a full time online station.
An arson attack took our station off-air on 2nd Feb 2024 but this was restored from a temporary studio the same month and returned to the ship’s studio at the end of March 2024 with a live event that included Roger Day and Keith Skues.
Roger Day and Keith Skues
Further live studio events took place during August and December 2024. On 11 August, during Keith Skues’ show, Johnnie Walker phoned in and asked to speak to Keith live on the air. That conversation is available on this site.
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