About the book:
SHIPROCKED
life on the waves with Radio Caroline
AUTHOR: Steve Conway
CATAGORIES: non-fiction, biography, entertainment
ISBN 978-1-905483-62-4
Published: March 31st 2009 by Liberties Press, Dublin.
Available to buy at most good bookshops
Buy online: from Seven Towers (Ireland) or from Radio Caroline webshop (UK) or from Amazon
SHIPROCKED is the tale of how I joined Radio Caroline in the mid 1980s, and of the 5 amazing years that followed, as the station and its crew went through good times and bad, ending up with the 1991 shipwreck that brought Caroline’s days as an offshore pirate to an end.
Although set against the backdrop of the various crises, technical and political, that beset the station over a turbulent period at the end of the 1980s, this is primarily a story of people, as I join and learn to make my way in the strange and isolated society of broadcasters based on the ship Ross Revenge, permanently anchored in international waters, 18 miles off the British coast.
Dramatic winter storms and balmy summer days form the backdrop to the changing lives and relationships of those on board. Sometimes scary, often challenging and occasionally comical, the situations faced on board the Ross Revenge test the crew to the limit, and force me to grow and change in ways I never expected.
Illustrated with never before published photos from my own collection, and from the collection of offshore radio historian John Burch.
for information, interviews & trade enquiries please contact Sarah Lundberg at Seven Towers Agency
6 comments
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January 27, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Derick Davis
Steve,
I await for your publication. It was when i discovered Caroline for the 1st time. Thanks to Laser 558,i never knew you was bobbing up and down out there, all that time.
Those were great days, my youth in the 80’s.I know what the youth of the 60’s felt having that friend out at sea,
I remember hearing you on air many times. And that interview shown on BBC,where you pretended to be broadcasting whilst talking to the interviewer. I still have it somehwere
Great days, that i know will never return. I know she still exists, but in her format, she has lost that factor, that she had on the high seas.
May she 1 day. break the mould again.
March 1, 2009 at 12:36 pm
peter bartle
hi steve ,,,i used to listen to u all the time on caroline …i met u lots of times , visited the ross lots , came out to see u at sea ( it was too rough to get on board sadly ) visited the ross in dover and at canary wharf . i now run my own internet radio station in my spare time ….email me at blueskyfm1@aol.com i will send u the link also u can google it ..type BLUESKYFM ….( IT SAYS online internet radio station ) click the link . think u will love it ……………. do let me know ..oh and i do a full time job too ………
March 1, 2009 at 12:38 pm
peter bartle
i will be buying a copy of your book ….it will bring back so many memories
September 7, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Tony
Can’t wait to get this book. Peter I was on that trip with you- remember it was so rough and it took us six hours to get out there and the fliter blocked on the way back but as we had ernie on board by then,he fixed it.
great memories and I hope you still have your copies pf the pics I took.
last time we met was on the rally after the raid.
Take care
Tony
April 10, 2009 at 10:41 am
Stewart Edwards
Hi Steve,
Received a copy of your book via the Radio Caroline webshop this week and what a great read.
Thank you for all those memories of the Ross Revenge through some very hard times for you guys.
It was great to learn of all your efforts to keep the radio ship on the air. I followed Caroline’s transmissions all through the period you write about.
If you’re reading this and haven’t yet bought the book, I advise you to without delay. Available from http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk
Keep on Rocking,
November 25, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Mike
Back in 1988/89 Used to listen to Carolines overnight shortwave broadcasts in the West of Ireland. Sometimes I managed to get 819/963 as well although at the time I was more into the music played on the 558 service. Wish there was a station like that around today. Loved the book. lots of memories really looking foward to the audio stuff on the website. Just one thing though I got a sheet (can scan and email if you like) with a password for the “protected” area but it doesnt seem to work ? Has it been changed or am I doing something wrong ?