Part Five: Yankee 3 is zero. Uniform, repeat uniform....

Technical problems still dogged Laser and the station was off the air for a few days in September 1985, again at the beginning of October and again a few days later. To add to the misery, in September three of the station's presenters, Jonell, Tommy Rivers and Charlie Wolf, all quit after weeks of poor conditions and no pay. Another, Liz West, didn't return from shore leave and Erin Kelly was away on holiday. That left just Craig Novak and Chris Carson to keep the station going. They managed it with the help of some recorded shows from their departed colleagues. New broadcasters arrived to replace the ones who'd gone. The first was Jay Mack who made his debut on 18th September. He was followed by Chuck Cannon ten days later, John Leeds on 9th October and Jeff Davis on the 14th. He was the last DJ to join Laser-558.

Jay Mack on Laser-558, 28th September 1985 (duration 3 minutes 2 seconds)
John Leeds from his first show on Laser-558, 9th October 1985. Both this and the clip above are taken from recordings shared on the Internet Radiocafé, now known as the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum, by Vincent. Our thanks to him (duration 2 minutes 19 seconds)

The new guys brought some much needed enthusiasm to perk up the programmes but a generator failure closed them down for a week on 19th October. At the end of the month the ship monitoring the offshore stations for the authorities was replaced. The Gardline Tracker took over from the Dioptric Surveyor.

Craig Novak's “porthole report” on the replacement of the Dioptric Surveyor with the Gardline Tracker. Recording from SMC Audio Tape No. 4, issued by De Stichting Media Communicatie (duration 1 minute 11 seconds)

There were some new commercials around this time: for the Pleasurebox fashion fair, Sweeney Todd restaurants and various specials offers, including one for a Jethro Tull album.

Chuck Cannon on Laser-558, the evening of 1st November 1985. This is an edited version of a recording shared on the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by Drumbeat. Our thanks to him (duration 2 minutes 12 seconds)
Jeff Davis on a ‘Sixties Sunday’ on Laser-558, 4th November 1985. This is an edited version of a recording shared on the Radiotrefpunt (radio meeting point) forum by MartinJA. Our thanks to him (duration 2 minutes 26 seconds)

On 3rd November The Mail on Sunday published an article about Laser (see here). The station had previously enjoyed a good deal of uncritical publicity from the press but this was far less enthusiastic. It was a large centre page spread with the headline “Laser Waives the Rules. Mutinous crew set to desert a sinking ship”. Based on revelations provided by Liz West, in return for a four figure fee, it provided a depressing insight into the station's operation. Full details of the Spotlight Sounds paid-plays scheme were revealed, as was the closure of the New York office and the address of the London base. Liz even divulged the name of the tender captain. She alleged that conditions on the ship were so appalling that she had caught dysentery and scurvy during her last stint on board. As she explained in an interview to television company TVS, she was broke and alone, staying in a B&B in Kent, having left the station. Owed money by her former employer, selling her story was the only way she could survive.

On 5th November high winds and rough seas battered the radio ship. The DJs, mostly new to life on the ocean waves, had not experienced anything like this before and were concerned. To make matters worse, there were problems with the power supply. They could only stay on the air as long as someone hand-pumped fuel through the one working generator. Jeff Davis told The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame: “Over a short period of time we lost five of our six generators. One morning one of our engines threw a rod. It was one of the loudest noises of crashing metal I have ever heard. We had to hand pump oil into the engine for hours. Each of us took turns pumping the lever up and down over and over again.” During the Breakfast Show Craig Novak repeatedly read out a coded message for the office on land.

Craig Novak on Laser-558 with some emergency messages for the management on land on the morning of 5th November 1985. This is an edited version of a recording available from www.azanorak.com. Our thanks to Ray Robinson (duration 1 minute 8 seconds)

At 9am John Leeds took over. He repeated the emergency message but when the DJs got no response from the office, they decided to close the station down. John introduced the record Oh Sheila by Ready For The World but, when it ended, nothing followed. At 12.21pm on 5th November 1985, without any formal farewell, Laser-558 simply stopped.

John Leeds from the last few minutes of Laser-558 on 5th November 1985. When Oh Sheila by Ready For The World ends, it is all over. This is an edited version of a recording shared by John Spargo on www.azanorak.com. Our thanks to John and Ray Robinson (duration 1 minute 20 seconds)

Using the battery-powered CB radio, the Laser guys called across to Caroline but, despite their advice, still could not restart the generators. The Laser DJs and crew sat out the night as the powerless ship dragged its anchor and began to take in water.
 
In the morning Captain Paternoster decided that the worried disc-jockeys were right. It was time to give up. Using the CB, he called the Gardline Tracker. With their assistance, the anchor was raised and the engines started. The two vessels then set sail for shore. Under her previous owners, the Communicator had been called the Gardline Seeker. Now she was being escorted back to land by a former sister ship.

David Andrews reading the news on Radio Caroline of Laser's closure, with a (belated) report from Andy Johnson, 6th November 1985. This recording was provided by Bill Rollins via www.azanorak.com. Our thanks to Bill and Ray Robinson (duration 1 minute 8 seconds)

Susan Charles reports on the Communicator arriving in Harwich on Radio Monique's international news service. Recording from SMC Audio Tape No. 5, issued by De Stichting Media Communicatie (duration 1 minute 14 seconds)

Travelling under her own steam, the Communicator reached Harwich at 4.40pm and, escorted by the police, moored in the River Stour. Fresh water and other supplies were bought aboard and the General Manager John Catlett arrived with a lawyer. Two writs were served against the vessel: one from Paul Rusling claiming unpaid expenses of £7,012 and one from Gardline Shipping who claimed they were still owed £5,000 from the original sale of the ship. ITT of America also issued a demand for £6,000 in unpaid telex, telephone and satellite bills.
 
As hundreds of fans made the pilgrimage to the ship, Department of Transport investigators examined her equipment, some of which they found to be faulty. However they found the ship's papers and Panamanian registration to be in perfect order. The Admiralty Marshal placed a representative aboard to prevent the Communicator leaving and the Gardline Tracker returned to sea to take up her vigil against Radio Caroline. Not for long, though. The following month she gave up. The DTI claimed that it had all the evidence it needed and it was unnecessary for the spy ship to stay at sea any longer. It was obvious that having got rid of Laser, the more popular of the two pirates, the Government was satisfied.
 
Laser-558 had shaken up the UK broadcasting industry, entertained millions and would never be forgotten, but its end was a sad anti-climax. However its demise did benefit its North Sea neighbour. Caroline immediately grabbed the vacated 558 kHz frequency for its all-day service, no doubt picking up a load of deprived Laser listeners in the process.

In February 1986 the Communicator was put up for auction by order of the Admiralty Marshal. The advertisement said it included full studio equipment, transmitters and “two broadcasting antennaes” (sic). She was bought by East Anglian Productions for £35,000 - something of a bargain.
 
In September Captain Paternoster was fined £150 under the Marine Offences Act. That same month Ray Anderson of EAP announced that the Communicator was to be sold again, to an unnamed European purchaser.
 
Meanwhile work began on servicing and repairing the ship. On 26th September the Department of Trade and Industry ordered her disabled to ensure she did not return to sea. Two engine drive shaft bearings were removed. However on 20th October the now powerless ship drifted onto a Sealink ferry during a force 11 storm. For safety reasons the authorities were forced to return the bearings they had removed.
 
In November 1988 eight people appeared in Canterbury Crown Court under Marine Offences Act charges: Nick and Linda Murray of Thames Tugs, John Cole and Phillip Payne, former RNI DJ Robb Eden, Roger Carr and Robbie Day of The Laser Roadshow, and Tony Elliott owner of London's listings magazine Time Out. Robb Eden was found guilty of attempting to provide advertising and fined £250. Nick Murray was fined £1000 with £150 costs for servicing the ship and supplying records. Linda Murray was fined £500. Robbie Day was fined £1000 plus £500 for supplying the ship. The cases against Phillip Payne and Roger Carr were dropped and the one against Tony Elliot thrown out.

Many thanks to Radio Adventures of the mv Communicator by Paul Rusling, Laser 558: All Europe Radio by Hans Knot, Monitor magazine and Offshore Echos.
 
Press cuttings here and following pages.
 
Back to part four.
 
The Laser story is not over. To be continued.