A number of former offshore DJs have kindly shared their photos with The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame. The first to do so was Radio Scotland's Jimmy Mack. His pictures are below. Sadly Jimmy died in July 2004 but, much to our surprise, more of his photos arrived in late 2017. Scroll down the page to see these late additions. |
Jimmy Mack on board Radio Scotland's ship, the Comet, in 1967. |
The unique Radio Scotland studio control desk, built by the station engineers. Jimmy remembers: “The two turntables were mounted on either side of the console*. They were set in gimbals
so that they could be used in up to about force 5 or 6 winds.” * See note below.
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The Comet was a 60 year old former Irish light-ship built at the John Brown ship yard on the Clyde and adapted for her new role in the Channel Islands. She was the only British offshore radio ship to have no engines. |
The crew gather on deck for a tender visit. Following her career as a radio ship, the Comet was taken to Holland where she was used as a houseboat. She was scrapped in 1969. |
* Correspondent Raoul Verolleman visited the Comet towards the end of its broadcasting life and remembers the studio set-up differently to the way Jimmy describes it above. He writes: “I went there in July 1967 and, to my knowledge, both turntables were mounted on the right side of the mixing deck (right hand when the DJ was sitting at the table) not either side of the console.” Judging by the photo on the Tony Allan tribute page, Raoul is absolutely correct. Thanks to him for getting in touch. |
In late 2017 The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame received an email from a friend of Jimmy's: “I used to know Jimmy Mack before and during the time he was involved with Radio Scotland. Once, after he came off the ship, he asked me to process a black and white film he had brought back. I developed the film and made prints, which I then gave to him. I made a few prints for myself. Some of those images are clearly the ones Jimmy supplied to your website. However I have a few others which are not shown. You are welcome to add them to the website if you so wish.” Thank you very much, anonymous correspondent, we have! |
Jimmy Mack in the Radio Scotland studio. |
Jimmy Mack (right), Tony Allan (centre) and listener Raoul Verolleman who stayed on the ship for a time in July 1967. |
Another view of the Comet. |
Jimmy outside Radio Scotland House in Glasgow. As with all the other photos, this was taken in 1967. Thanks to Martyn Webster for identifying the location.
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