The rubbish tip photos.

Part 1: Radio Essex / BBMS photos, possibly taken by Guy Hamilton.

In the mid-seventies an offshore radio enthusiast called Keith Webster found a treasure trove of pirate memorabilia at a Benfleet rubbish tip. Probably from a house clearance, there were old magazines, promotional items, photos and photographic negatives. Some of the photos are identical to the ones of Radio Essex that Guy Hamilton has donated to The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame (see here and following page), but some are previously unpublished.
 
Some years later, in 2018, Keith decided it was time for a clear-out. He posted on the Radio Caroline Facebook page, asking if anyone wanted his collection. Brian Nichols of the Felixstowe & Offshore Radio Facebook page said “yes please”.
 
So Keith passed his finds on to Brian and he, in turn, got in touch with us. We alerted Guy Hamilton to ask about the photos. He and his former colleague Mike Brereton studied them and tried to identify everyone. There is some uncertainty - for instance, Guy did not work with Van Stirling for very long and isn't totally sure that the man in the yellow pullover is him. Can anyone confirm it?
 
Guy may have taken these Radio Essex photos but is not 100% sure. If he didn't, we don't know who did. The pictures below are the ones which have not been previously published on this site. We are extremely grateful to Keith, Brian, Guy and Mike.

aerial
 
Radio Essex's new aerial.
aerial
 
Another shot of the aerial.
Van Stirling, Richard Palmer and Tony Mandell
 
Left to right: Van Stirling (possibly), Richard Palmer (possibly) and Tony Mandell.
Mark West, Tony Mandell, Van Stirling
 
From the left: Mark West, Tony Mandell and Van Stirling (?).
Tony Mandell, Richard Palmer, Van Stirling
 
Left top right: Tony Mandell, Richard Palmer and Van Stirling (?).
winch
 
A winch. Guy says he doesn't remember it ever working. Writing on Facebook, Michael Bates said:  It's the old lift shaft ammunition hoist to feed the 3.7" Vickers Armstrong anti-aircraft guns from the magazine, one floor from the bottom of the tower. They did get it working, then we took it to Sealand and used it to unload stores.”
Dave Belasco
 
The fort's handyman Dave Belasco. Guy tells us he also presented shows as “Dave Baron”.
Tony Mandell
 
Tony Mandell. This mixer did not work. The guys are simply posing with it for the photos.
Mark West
 
Mark West.
Richard Palmer and Dave Belasco
 
The back of someone's head - Richard Palmer, possibly, or Mark West or Mike Brereton - with Dave Belasco.
aerial
 
The aerial.
aerial
 
The aerial.
aerial
 
The aerial.
aerial
 
The aerial.

Continued over the page.
 
Return to the disc-jockeys' photo index.


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