Event Booking Required

Nick Bailey, Bingham u3a member, will be giving an illustrated talk about his time on board the original pirate ship Radio Caroline.

Pirate Radio in the 60s changed the face of radio forever by breaking the BBC's monopoly and led to the launching of Radio 1 in 1967. But who started the pirates? And why were they stopped by the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act?

All will be revealed when former pirate, and Bingham u3a member, Nick Bailey will be giving an illustrated talk about his time on board the original pirate ship Radio Caroline, including many photographs he took at the time.

He'll also explain how other companies got into the act, either by broadcasting offshore or using old forts in the Thames Estuary. Nick went on to become the voice that launched Classic Fm in 1992, where he remained for 25 years and he now presents the Sunday morning programme on Boom Light, the sister station to Boom Radio.

About the speaker

Born in London, Nick’s radio career began aged 19 as a newsreader on Radio Caroline in 1966.

Since then, he’s combined his passion for radio and travel, working for five years in Australia where he emigrated aged 20 as a “ten pound pom”.

Nick subsequently worked with the British Forces Broadcasting Service, posted first to Gibraltar during the period that Franco closed the border. Cologne was next, during the era of Family Favourites, followed by three years in Berlin at the height of the Cold War.

He also had a close connection with Hong Kong where his three children were born. Nick spent ten years working for both Forces’ radio and Radio Television Hong Kong where he presented the morning current affairs programme as the territory was handed-over to China. He was also the original BBC Radio 5 Live Hong Kong correspondent.

Nick's voice launched Classic FM in 1992 where he spent 25 years. He won a Sony Gold award for the best Breakfast Show; and his Classic Romance show was voted Programme of the Year. All rich material for his biography Across the Waves - from Radio Caroline to Classic FM.

For charity, Nick has trekked the Inca trail twice; walked the Great Wall of China; and broadcast his breakfast show from Calais prior to walking through the Channel Tunnel - before the trains started running!

This event is for u3a members only.