1967 - Southend-on-Sea's first pirate radio station!
Radio Kaleidoscope was a pirate radio station that operated out of various locations in Essex, UK, during the 1960s and 70s, and which in many ways set the lead in clandestine radio that land-based pirates followed for many years afterwards.
It produced high-quality, inoffensive and fun radio shows, broadcast simultaneously on medium wave, short wave and VHF, and interspersed with unique and professionally-produced jingle sets, provided by a contact in the BBC. It was the first land-based pirate station to offer telephone request shows in 1968, whereby listeners could phone in and request their favourite records. The station could also receive fan mail, and distribute prizes, by means of an anonymous dead-letterbox in London.
As with any pirate radio station, there was always the risk of being tracked down by the authorities, and Radio Kaleidoscope often alternated between multiple transmitters during certain radio broadcasts to avoid detection. It also had established procedures in place to aid its helpers to evade capture should the authorities arrive. Perhaps most at risk were the DJs themselves, and, in an effort to combat this, Radio Kaleidoscope allowed its DJs to send in pre-recorded shows for broadcast, and thus remain totally anonymous. Despite its clandestine activities, Radio Kaleidoscope always maintained an unofficial understanding with the radio tracking services, and was regularly supported in the local press.
Radio Kaleidoscope was very much part of the local community, and alongside receiving regular telephone feedback from remote engineers about transmission quality and signal strength, the team also gave talks and lectures to youth clubs and colleges about just what was involved in running a pirate radio station.
Read more about the history of Radio Kaleidoscope here .
See the new film "The Boat That Rocked", which pays homage to Radio Caroline!