Britain's Better Music Station

Updated - 8th November 2007

Part two of our feature on radio from Knock John

Having secured the fort Radio Essex operated until summoned for broadcasting within Territorial waters

A sham the UK Government employed dubious hydrographic to define fresh land datum's from seldom drying sand banks to bring the forts within territorial the limit

Whilst the legal situation intensified Radio Essex the first 24 hour radio station in Europe was to change it's name to BBMS Britain's Better Music Station

"Flashback" to Knock John pictured here in 1965

With each fort open to the elements sea birds had made themselves comfortable

Cleaning up the forts was an especially long & unpleasant task on the Navy towers

Deck view of the dilapidated & partially collapsed dolphin & its ramshackle deck

Almost ready final adjustments being made to the mast

Various methods of keeping the aerial aloft were tried utilizing a flag pole, the old jib arm, at one stage even the muzzle of tone of the 3.7" A-A Guns

Finally with BBMS the fort top-house had been removed & a T aerial slung between a pair scaffold poles

To help you around here's a plan

A = West Dolphin end below this at level 1 the engineering work bench & stores, along with the third Gardner LW generator stripped for spares. Level 2 below & later 3 were for sleeping, below that was unused

B = The former Galley where the small Radio City Lister was stowed

C = Lounge & Galley

D = Studio

E = Transmitter room held an old United States Air Force 1kW beacon RCA Victor modified to run on medium wave. At one stage the former Radio City Cossor transmitter was used but was stripped to provide parts in favour of a home built unit of questionable quality

F = East behind open ended wing access below to level 1 the Gardner LW generator room

Levels below that again were unused

There were reports of haunting's on Knock John, with so much of the fort unused & in total darkness, it's easy to understand why people should feel so uneasy especially when alone

The first studio playing non-stop test music from long players

Transmissions were always around 222 metres initially on 1351 then 1353 & later as BBMS on 1349 kHz

Providing a welcome glow a Brian Roberts self proclaimed engineer & fire eater warms things up

When a nicely made transmitter by Peter Clark came out. It was decided that a 2 kW transmitter in a veneered wooden case might represent a bit of a fire hazard!

After he broke up the transmitter with a hatchet Brian was christened the mad axe man

The parts were passed to John Thompson of Radio Invicta/K I N G fame who built another transmitter that was used until the stations demise

The galley corner, basic but functional with its Baby Belling & virtually identical to galleys on the Invicta & City forts

Mark West, Graham Johns the get up & go man, & Mike Curtis relaxing in the lounge

Note the sealed port hole most Navy forts had been pillaged of their brass fittings

Unknown Engineer? Mark West, Graham Johns & Mike Curtis posin'

Personnel, materials & supplies being hauled up onto deck

Bates on board - Michael, Roy, Penny, & Joan by the West facing 3.7" Gun

Former Army Major Roy became an Essex fisherman & had soon spotted the potential of Knock John

One wonders if he'd have preferred an Army fort had one been available?

Unfortunately Reg Calvert had already put a team onboard eventually they were persuaded to leave

In all its glory the Radio Essex rate card cover

David Sinclair touches up the paint work on West facing 3.7" Guns as things begin to hot up for Radio Essex

David's introduction to Radio Essex came via Dick Palmer who was living at Petts Wood. David from nearby St Mary Cray - Orpington presented Dick an audition tape, this was accepted & the next time the two met was on the fort

Sure to raise smiles across the miles David Vincent aka David Sinclair long time resident of Canada

Radio Essex try another aerial configuration

Radio Essex spots & programme rates

Roger Scott wearing the surplus military headphones enjoys album tracking on Radio Essex

The studio had been sound proofed by Chris Stewart using old red blankets that had come aboard at least it gave the DJ a warm feeling

In view a pair of Garrard 401 turntables with domestic tone arms & head shells fitted like most of the fort stations with Decca Deram cartridges

There was also a Collaro turntable just out of picture to play a record of SESAC jingles see below

Penny adds a touch of glamour to the studio

Whilst we listen to Guy Hamilton on Musical Magazine

Radio Essex terms & conditions

Big Band Man David "Sinkers" Sinclair at the BBMS turntables cues up a jingle on the Collaro

At one stage there was a serious proposal for two more radio stations on Knock John

Radio Essex would be joined by Radio Kent & Radio Eros a light back ground elevator style music station

A dream, with few advertisers, fines & further legislation pending. Money & food was low, the situation was to deteriorate further for those that hadn't gone to Radio 270

Sharing the last rations which soon ran out, the remaining crew survived on salad cream & coffee powder for two weeks until rescued

Chris Stewart closest to the camera then engineer Mike Brerton assisting TV crew depart

This picture above from Central TV's Reporting '66

A thirty minute documentary showing the contrasts between the swish American SRE Swinging Radio England & Radio Essex

An early picture of Roy on the tender pulling away from Knock John heading home to the Essex coast

13 months after Radio Essex had begun it closed down on Christmas day 1966

Michael sorts the equipment taken off Knock John & transported to Roughs where it was to remain unused until thrown overboard in 2002

Due to it's operating frequency & poor aerial Radio Essex/BBMS were often heard more clearly in Scandinavia than its own county

Radio Essex broke the mould ignoring conventional technical & programming practices. Despite enormous difficulties & the lack of proper finance Radio Essex was an exciting station, the sort of radio that we'll sadly never hear again

We are in the stages of producing a documentary on Radio Essex/BBMS which is sure to revive a few of the great memories from the station

Availability details will be published on this site

Knock John by January 1967 had been abandoned pictured above in 1979

Knock John pictured after it's 3.7" Guns had been removed in the summer of 1992

My own archive material supported by contributions to this double feature from the late Eric K Martin, Dick Palmer, Chris Stewart, Martin Kayne, Martin Stevens & Pete Collison

For Part one see Radio Essex 222

Also see Roger Scott's Radio Essex pictures in The Pirate Hall of Fame

There's more on Radio Essex after the move to Roughs Fort navigate from Sealand One

For details on all the Thames Estuary Forts see Fort Fax

For an audio visual tour of a Navy fort get a copy of Sealand the Grand Tour on VCD details in Offshore Shop