Radio 227 History

Radio 227 - History

Shortly before the owners of Britain Radio and Radio Dolfijn, Pier Vick Ltd., went into voluntary liquidation in March 1967, Britain Radio’s Managing Director, Ted Allbeury and associate John Withers had formed Carstead Advertising Ltd. They successfully negotiated with the Receiver to take over operation of the two radio stations on the Laissez Faire, which by then was in Holland undergoing repairs to her aerial mast after sustaining damage during a storm off the Essex coast. Carstead Advertising was to pay all profits from the two stations to a new company, Laissez Faire Ltd., which had been formed by new American backers.

After repairs had been completed to the Laissez Faire the ship sailed back to the British coast and Carstead Advertising announced plans to re-launch Britain Radio as Radio 355, with a format based on the successful Radio 390 style, aiming at a largely housewife audience. Radio Dolfijn (also based on the Laissez Faire) was to be renamed Radio 227 and continue broadcasting to a Dutch audience

Radio 227 officially took to the air in March 1967 and within two weeks was claiming to have attracted audiences far in excess of the level which its predecessor, Radio Dolfijn, had been able to achieve. Despite this claim the station still did not come anywhere near attracting the level of commercial success in Holland which the well established Radio Veronica experienced and advertising revenue remained low.

With the passage of the British Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Bill through Parliament some tentative arrangements were made by Carstead Advertising on behalf of Radio 227 and Radio 355 to enable both stations to continue broadcasting by moving all operations to Holland and hopefully attract sufficient foreign advertising. However, these plans proved unfruitful and it was decided that continued operation after the introduction of the new British legislation was not a viable proposition - the required volume of international advertising was simply not available.

When the insurance arrangements for the Laissez Faire expired early in July 1967 Radio 227 (and the English language Radio 355) were closed only a matter of weeks before the introduction of the British Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act.

The station's DJs were told at short notice that their services would no longer be required after 1.00pm on 23rd July 1967 as the final five hours of programmes were already available on tape. Without any ceremony Radio 227 then closed after the end of normal programming at 6.00pm that day.