Backtrack

Radio anniversaries in the coming weeks

19 March 1969

Radio Jackie, Britain's best-known land based pirate, is launched.

20 March 1980

After being holed on a sandbank in rough seas, Caroline's boat the Mi-Amigo sinks.

22 March 1972

The House of Commons is told that 116 people were successfully prosecuted for illegal broadcasting the previous year (nothing changes).

22 March 1986

After being off the air for several months after a series of heavy raids, Kiss FM returns as a weekend station.

29 March 1964

The official start o Radio Caroline, with Simon Dee uttering those immortal words "Hello everybody. This is Radio Caroline on 199, your all day music station".

29 March 1984

Radio Shoestring makes its first broadcast. DJs on the station include Mitchell Johnson (now with Virgin FM at the London Megastore), Paul McKenna (now with Chiltern) and TX's Chris England and Chris Miles.

1 April 1967

Radio East Anglia is heard testing on the same frequency as Radio London, increasingly interrupting Radio London until finally it takes over completely. However, at midday the station vanishes. It turns out the station was an April Fool's Day joke concocted by Radio London DJs.

1 April 1976

A pirate station takes over the Isle of Wight Radio One relay, playing several records banned by the BBC.

15 April 1970

The British Government begins jamming Radio North Sea International from a Naval radio station in Rochester, Kent.

7 May 1978

Radio Amy, Britain's first ever community access station, is launched.

12 May 1964

Radio Atlanta, the first rival or Caroline, begins transmissions.