Radio London - History (4)

Radio London was the first station to close on 14th August 1967, the day before the Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act came into effect. Throughout the day farewell messages were broadcast from many pop stars who, in part, owed their success to Radio London.

The final hour of Radio London had been pre-recorded a few days earlier with the station's last news bulletin at 2.30pm being the only live input. The programme was hosted by senior DJ Paul Kaye and consisted of a brief history of the station, farewell messages from pop stars and DJs as well as some nostalgic music. Advertisers paid heavy premiums for their announcements to be included in this programme - in fact advertising time had been sold at premium rates throughout the station's last few days on the air - and the final commercial broadcast on Radio London was for Consulate cigarettes.

Paul Kaye was the last remaining DJ from the station's original line-up and his was the first and last voice heard on Radio London. After the final record, "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles, had been played Paul Kaye said simply "Big L  time is 3 o'clock and Radio London is now closing down". The station left the air after playing its theme music (Big Lil) and one final jingle. Engineers then shut off the transmitter, removed the crystal, switched off the control panel and locked the studio. Just after 3.00pm Robbie Dale on Radio Caroline South paid a tribute to the rival station which had just closed and observed a minutes silence.

The Big L DJs and radio engineers left the Galaxy later that afternoon and were taken to Felixstowe where they were greeted by fans who had gathered on the quayside. This welcome, however, was nothing compared to that which awaited them when their train arrived at Liverpool Street Station in London. Here over 1,000 supporters had gathered during the afternoon and when the train carrying the Radio London DJs arrived from Ipswich the crowd surged through barriers and police lines. Hundreds of fans besieged the DJs on the train and many young people as well as the police who were trying to restrain them were knocked down and injured in the crush. When the Radio London staff eventually managed to make their escape to a waiting car this too was surrounded by fans, many of whom climbed on the roof and bonnet.

Meanwhile the Galaxy remained silently at anchor off the Essex coast for a few days with only her Dutch Captain and crew on board. On 19th August 1967 she raised her anchor and sailed to Hamburg in West Germany, where she arrived two days later. There were many rumours and plans for the ship to be used as an offshore radio station once again, but that story unfolded very slowly over the following few years, culminating in its proposed use as a base for Radio Gloria (and later Radio North Sea).

Staff in the Radio London office listen to the station’s final hour, 14th August 1967

Radio London fans at Liverpool Street Station, August 1967

Galaxy docked in Hamburg, awaiting an uncertain future

Robbie Dale’s tribute to Radio London on Radio Caroline South, 14th August 1967

Radio London closing down, 3pm 14th August 1967

Daily Sketch, 15th August 1967

Daily Mail, 15th August 1967

History

Key Dates

Ship and Location

Technical

Staff

Programmes

Consulate Cigarettes (Final commercial broadcast on the station)