ScrapBook
Item scrapbook
indexTribute to David 'Sinkers' Sinclair aka David Vincent
who died on 13th March 2018 in St Albert, Alberta, Canada
The 4,500 ton Naval Fort Knock John (1966)
Having had jobs in Printing, Accounts, Shipping, a Building Society, a Security Firm and an Entertainment Agency ...
| David on a 3.7" Gun on the Knock John Fort | David's berth down below level 2 on Knock John |
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... David Vincent was attracted to the Offshore Radio scene and joined Radio Essex in 1966
Radio Essex 222 Car Stickers
Always a fan of Big Bands he slotted into presenting that genre of music under that name David Sinclair given by Roy Bates, David remembered that Roy always wanted his DJ's to be synonymous with former stars of the Big Screen (Cinema)
David Sinclair on Radio Essex 222
Life wasn't easy on the Knock John supplies were always short and the quality of supplies often suspect
David Sinclair holding the 'slip mat' and cueing up the Harry James Orchestra on the Big Band Show, Radio Essex 222
'Fag Break' for David Sinclair on the Main Deck of Knock John
Audio |
Listen to clips of David Sinclair on Radio Essex, Radio 270 and Radio 390 |
Hardly surprising when word reached the ears of the DJ's on Radio Essex, that an onboard mutiny on the Radio Ship 'Oceaan 7' off Scarborough had left them short of DJ's
Radio 270 Car Sticker
Broadcasting from the 'Oceaan 7' moored of Scarborough, Radio 270 had a semi-mutiny which saw many of their DJ's leave
Engineer Keith Robinson had already left Radio Essex for 270, with spasmodic supplies and at times without pay the Radio Essex (BBMS) DJ's weren't a happy lot
Keith Robinson suggested they join him on Radio 270 which saw an exodus of Radio Essex with David Sinclair, Roger Scott and Guy Hamilton depating in September 1966
'Oceaan 7' moored of the Yorkshire Coast
Life onboard the 'Oceaan 7' proved considerably more comfortable, but David thought it odd that the ship would up anchor and sail into port under her own steam for fuel and provisions
David Sinclair on the deck of 'Oceaan 7'
When Radio Essex broadcasting under the illustrious name of BBMS (Britain's Better Music Station) was forced to close at Christmas 1966 Mark West joined his former Fort friends at Radio 270
David Sinclair at Whitstable Harbour* waits on the Tender 'Mullard' F19
* Today the area is gated by the Lifeboat Station at the top of the Harbour Ramp, in the 60's it wasn't a problem parking David left his Ford Anglia whilst on the Fort
The old Redsand Towers North Buoy
David's final Offshore Radio Station saw him to return to the Sea Forts on the sweet music station Radio 390
Radio 390 Stciker
Radio 390's 150' Antenna from Gun Tower 3 Catwalk (Martin Stevens)
Slotting into the schedule at home once again presenting the Big Band Show
The later days of Radio 390 saw programmes recorded on shore, thus cutting down the running costs of the Fort, essentially it was a return to the early days of skeleton crews with just three aboard
David Sinclair on Radio 390 (Coloured by Harm Koenders)
When legislation finally closed the Offshore Radio Stations David emigrated to Canada, once settled David worked at a number of Canadian stations and ended his career making commercial voice-overs
David had made notes for a book he intended to write, chatting together we compiled the first edition of 'Making Waves' in 2005 marking the 40th anniversary of the launch of Radio Essex, Britain's smallest Offshore Pirate Radio Station in October 1965
Lavishly illustrated with many never before published photographs from our archives, the initial price was reduced and a few copies are still available
'Making Waves' Published by Bob Le-Roi ISBN 0-9551290-0-1
Photographs from David Vincent, the Martin Steven Collection our archives, colouration by Harm Koenders and thanks to Bob Glen for sourcing the Radio 270 clip
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