Click on the photos to enlarge them.
Gordon Sheppard was Radio London's promotions manager. Together with his secretary, Brenda Cogdell, he set up and organised all the onshore promotional activities for the station. These included the Big L shows at
the Marquee Club in Wardour Street on Saturday afternoons and the Wimbledon Palais on Saturday evenings. There were other regular shows at Greenford, Lowestoft and Ramsgate. They also ran motor race meetings and stands at events like
the Camping and Outdoor Life Exhibition and the Schoolboys and Schoolgirls' Exhibition - both held at Olympia. In 2003 he very kindly sent us these photographs from his collection.
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Gordon is on the right. Managing Director Philip Birch is in the centre. Pictured on the tender, they are taking a guest out to the Radio London ship.
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In the centre of the photo, left to right, Paul Kaye, Philip Birch and Earl Richmond on board the mv.Galaxy.
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Mark Roman in full regalia, as befits the leader of The Roman Empire! Gordon says: “Here's one for the archive, Mark Roman at the launch of his
programme. I can't remember where it was taken. It might be on the stairs leading to the basement of 17 Curzon Street (Radio London's offices). As soon as you entered the door at Curzon Street, the promotions department was just to
your left. When we created too much activity we were moved down to the basement.”
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Promotional photograph for Managing Director Philip Birch. Gordon says of his old boss: “The Americans came up with the idea and the investment but, make no mistake about it, Philip Birch
was Big L. He was the real financial brain, the controlling wizard, that made it all work. He put together that terrific team: Alan Keen (Sales Director and Programme Controller after Ben
Toney left), Eddie Blackwell and Dennis Maitland (they were the ones who pulled in all the advertising and the cash to keep the jocks out at sea), Mike Stone handled the press and publicity, Brenda Cogdell and I created the
promotions. We were all part of that great story but, in my own estimation of pirate offshore radio, Philip Birch stands taller than most. He put together that amazing team and has to have pride of place.”
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