Pirates are landing in Harwich this weekend, but with a twist.
Rather than the sea, these former radio pirates will be riding the airwaves as they broadcast live from the Ha’ Penny Pier with the BBC.
Veteran broadcasters Johnny Walker, Roger Day, and Keith Skues, will make an appearance, as well as Ray Clark, Tom Edwards and Norman St John.
The event aims to celebrate the broadcasters who revolutionised pop music in the 1960s, and to mark the 50th anniversary of the Marine Offences Act which shut down all but one of the pirate radio stations in 1967.
The session will run from Saturday (August 12) through to Monday (August 14), and is the fourth time Pirate BBC Essex has taken place.
The BBC has said, however, that this will be the last time it hosts the event.
The show starts, on BBC Essex, with Ray Clark, before a 9am show with Liana Bridges and Barry Lewis on Sunday.
Keith Skues will be in the pirate studio that night for his three-hour regional show and will speak to guest Roger Day.
The studio goes live again on Monday from 9am to 3pm, marking the Marine Offences Act anniversary.
As well as listening to the radio, the event will also see an exhibition of pirate radio memorabilia from Saturday to Monday on the pier.
Sure to delight fans, the exhibition features recently discovered photographs from 50 years ago, with shots of pirate radio ships including Galaxy – Radio London – and Mi Amigo, or Radio Caroline.
Much has been planned for the evenings too, with many of the radio pirates appearing at the Electric Palace cinema, in Harwich, on the Saturday and Sunday for a Meet the Pirates event.
Sunday’s meet also includes showing of hit film, The Boat that Rocked.
The event is also being held to honour radio pirates who have died, and the ashes of Dave Cash – a 1960s radio pirate and then BBC presenter – will be scattered on Monday morning.
Those wishing to pay their respects are asked to arrive at Ha’ Penny Pier from 10.30am.
The station can be received on 95.3FM, 103.5FM and via DAB across the county.
For more information, visit lv18radio.uk.
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