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Radio Northsea International
Updated: 9th August 2009 Issue: 1
More memories from Engineer/DJ Robin Banks onboard the Mebo 2
Mike Ross helps his wife Sheila climb aboard the Mebo 2
Gentle giant Mebo 2 ships engineer
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| Ships Engineer moment of glory extensively used on Don Allens Show | |
Bob Nokes works on the RCA BTA 10J 10.5kw ex Radio 390 standby transmitter
Robin Banks inside HV (high voltage) cage
Robin Banks topping up the aerial capacitors inside the HV cage with cooling oil
The intrepid Dutch news team
Brian MacKenzie
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| Brian MacKenzie sitting in for Robin Ross on the Hitback Show | |
Found the last jar of marmalade in Bob Nokes cabin
Captain & crew in the background, facing the camera Roger Kent, John de Mol, Brian MacKenzie, then back to the camera Bob Nokes & AJ Bierens
A solemn moment from Brian Mackenzie
Ronan O'Rahilly visits the Mebo 2 on Friday 30 August 1974 one day before the 'Mi Amigo' changes anchorage from Scheveningen in Holland to Essex in the UK
Bob Nokes looks surprised to see the Silver Fox arrive
Unperturbed Captain & crew round off dinner in the mess room
Leo van den Goot
Game of darts before you leave Ronan?
Ronan departing the Mebo 2
Bob Nokes loitering in the walkway
AJ Bierens takes over for RNI goes DX
At midnight on 31 August 1974 the Dutch MoA comes into force,. Closing down the Mebo is towed a few days later past the Radio Veronica ship the Nordernay on the way into port
The Mebo under tow approaches Slikkerveer harbour Rotterdam
Mebo now truely inside Dutch waters
Elija Cornelia van Den Berg with Brian Anderson on deck in harbour
The ship & equipment is overhauled in readiness for the Italian Radio Nova. Above Bob Nokes sets up the Brown Boveri 10.5kw short wave transmitter
Whilst Robin Banks modifies the RCA BTA 10J former Radio 390 10.5kw standby medium wave transmitter
At first things go well, Robin Banks pictured above in 1974 in the Mebo 2 galley courtesy of Theo Dencker
By late in late 1974 storm clouds gather as the Radio Nova project is halted
Slikkerveer harbour was quite a distance from Rotterdam Central & in those days transport was lousy
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| Cabin fever strikes in early 1975 languising in harbour Robin's Radio Shiissenhousen helped pass the time | |
Finally the Mebo 2 finds its way to Libya pictured here Robin Banks still with the ship in 1980
The Mebo 2 digging into a choppy sea
There's more of the RNI ships the Mebo's in Libya
See RNI 1999 & RNI 2001 or navigate from Scrapbook Index
Thumbnail Sketch of Robin Banks: Born Robin Adcroft he came to radio with land pirate RFL Radio Free London in 1968 along with lifetime friend Mike Bass. He then participated in the Channel Radio a land based pirate based in Dover Kent where he broadcast under the name Roger Lane
He joined the Radio Caroline Organisation as an engineer, responsible for transmitter & studio engineering on board the "Mi Amigo". Using his own name Robin Adcroft, he was heard at times on Radio Caroline where his infrequent programmes became popular
Joining RNI his first programme was at 03.00 - 05.00 CET on 25 August 1973
A magazine of the day commented: "since Robin's been part of the RNI team his DJ skill has improved considerably with his programmes are presented in a most professional manner"
Robin stayed with RNI, until the station closed down in August 1974
He subsequently presented "drive-ins" with Robbie Eden in Belgium & assisted Chris Carey in forming a Company to manufacture electronic ball games.
In 1977, Robin was one of the transmitter engineers, when the 2 Mebos, each with a crew of nine onboard, departed from Holland for Libya. The 2 vessels departed on January 14th and arrived in Tripoli on February 9th & stayed with the ship until 1980.
These days he works as a freelance studio/transmitter engineer in UK & overseas as contracts dictate & is a leading light in the Red Sands Project an ambitious drive that began in 1969 with a serious view to preserve the last remaining complete set of Maunsell Sea Forts in the Thames Estuary
The RNI Documentary CD Mebo Memories is available from the Offshore Shop along with other Offshore Radio related material
Thanks to John De Blok for additional information