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Radio Caroline 1980s - Key Dates (3)

20th January 1984

The Ross Revenge lost her anchor, drifted onto a sandbank and Radio Caroline's transmissions were stopped because the ship had started to list dangerously.

21st January 1984

The Ross Revenge was able to free herself from the sandbank and sail to a position in international waters near the Sunk Head Lightship. Broadcasts recommenced after a temporary anchor had been dropped and within a few days a replacement anchor was delivered to the Ross Revenge, enabling her to return to the normal position.

19th April 1984

The first paid commercials were broadcast.

May 1984

The arrival and initial huge success of another offshore station - Laser 558 caused a loss of audience for Radio Caroline

12th July 1984

Radio Caroline started test transmissions on and additional frequency of 594kHz (505m) to try and improve the station's signal into central London, but it was not a success at night time.

27th July 1984

Programmes were broadcast for a few days simultaneously on both frequencies.

5th August 1984  

The station moved to 576kHz (521m), which successfully provided an improvement in night time reception and throughout the autumn of 1984 Radio Caroline broadcast the same programmes 24 hours a day on both frequencies.

11th December 1984

A split service was started between 2.00am and 6.00am each morning under the individual call signs Caroline 576kHz and Caroline International on 963kHz).

1984

1st January 1985  

Radio Caroline hired its second transmitter to a Dutch language station, Radio Monique, which started regular broadcasts from the Ross Revenge using the 963kHz frequency.

6th January 1985

In Force 10 gales, the Ross Revenge dragged her anchor for about two miles and transmissions had to be terminated while emergency services were alerted.

11th January 1985

Regular programmes on both stations (Radio Caroline and Radio Monique) resumed.

March 1985  

Radio Caroline appointed American radio format specialist Lee Abrams as a consultant to advise on future programming style - Radio Caroline's format changed gradually, becoming more inclined towards the Top 40 chart to meet the intense challenge from the other English language offshore station, Laser 558.

1st May 1985

Radio Caroline introduced non-stop music and sponsored American religious programmes on 963kHz after Radio Monique had closed for the day at 6.00pm.

15th June 1985

This segment of output on 963kHz became officially known as 'Jamming 963'. The musical content of these sessions (which could last for up to three hours on days when there were no sponsored religious programmes) gradually became more formalised with an  emphasis on jazz and Afro music.

8th August 1985

The ocean going launch Dioptric Surveyor, which had been chartered by the British Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), anchored near the Ross Revenge (and the Laser 558 ship, Communicator) to keep watch on comings and goings in the vicinity - the start of what became known as "Eurosiege 85", a surveillance operation mounted by the DTI.

1st November 1985  

The Dioptric Surveyor was replaced by a larger surveillance vessel, the Gardline Tracker.

6th November 1985  

After escorting the Laser 558 Communicator ship into Harwich the Gardline Tracker returned to sea and once again took up position near the Ross Revenge. The DTI mounted a number of surveillance and chase operations on pleasure boats carrying Radio Caroline fans out to see the Ross Revenge.   

7th November 1985

After Laser 558 had closed Radio Caroline re-tuned its 10Kw transmitter from  576kHz to 558kHz - Laser's former frequency.

16th November 1985

The Jamming 963 service was discontinued altogether and continuous Country and Western music was played between the religious tapes during the evening until the link up of both the 588kHz and 963kHz transmitters at 9.00pm.

19th November 1985

Shortwave test transmissions took place from the Ross Revenge in preparation for a ‘world service’.

13th December 1985

The DTI suddenly announced that "surveillance of the pirate radio stations in the North Sea is to end."

1985








14th January 1984 Ray Kroc founder of MacDonalds  died age 82.

25th January 1984 President Ronald Reagan endorsed the development of the first US permanently manned space station.


9th July 1984

A fire destroyed the roof in the south transept of the 12th century York Minster.

5th August 1984 Stage and film actor Richard Burton (58) died in Geneva, Switzerland.

3rd December 1984 More than 4,000 people died and 200,000 were injured after a gas escaped from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India.





2nd January 1985 China's Communist Party leader, Deng Xiaoping, announces a new ''open door'' policy to the West.



11th March 1985 The Soviet Union announced the death of its leader, Konstantin U. Chernenko.  Mikhail S. Gorbachev was chosen to succeed him.

14th June 1985

The 17-day hijack of TWA Flight 847 began as two Lebanese Shiite Muslim extremists seized the plane shortly after takeoff from Athens, Greece.

2nd August 1985  

In Texas 137 people were killed when a Delta Air Lines jumbo jet crashed while attempting to land at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.

9th November 1985 Gary Kasparov became the world chess champion.


19th November 1985

US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev hold a "fireside" summit in Geneva.

20th November 1985  

Microsoft Corporation released Windows version 1.0.


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