Free Radio Forum: Re: Nick Catford: Radio Jackie The Early Years

Some old Radio Jackie photos on my site also

https://www.skyportradio.com/photo-archives

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Hi there, Some Links to Jackie history...
https://radiojackie.com/history/ ... https://old.radiojackie.com/pics/view_album.php?set_albumName=Pirate-Radio-History-Jackie-Archive
and animated slideshow https://old.radiojackie.com/pics/slideshow.php?set_albumName=Pirate-Radio-History-Jackie-Archive

When I used to live in Northampton, We had Radio ABC, they used edited WABC jingles, and Radio Star, both on AM, I helped ABC do the TX,
and when talking on Amateur radio, to someone in Milton Keynes, Chap said to me, "I've been ill in bed for a few days,
listening to AM in bedroom, and I heard a Pirate, called Radio ABC"...Oh S**t I thought, could not say, I did the TX, and thanks for the reception report !

R F Burns (yes it does)

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Hi Tom - I used the 6146 valve as the PA in my SW TXs - it would create a bit more power than the 807, & seemed more stable. These TXs, were much converted PYE Vanguards that were very easy to obtain in my SW TXing days. I think I still have one, unconverted - buried in my junk room
I think 807s were used in great quantitys, in the Colossus computer, at Bletchley park.

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Happy memories of meeting Nick Catford at Brightlingsea coming off Mr.Oor's boat after visiting the Mi-Amigo on a hot July day in 1976. Nick subsequently got me on a trip to the boat later that year. We visited his Burleigh Road house back in 74 when there was a free radio rally on at Hyde Park. Jackie were broadcasting from Epsom Downs that day.

In the 80s Nick was a familiar figure dfing Radio Floss on Sunday afternoons climbing over fences with radio in his hand leading the way. It was also a popular Sunday afternoon activity for myself dfing Radio Jackie to the sewage farm or later to their Abbots Road QTH or SE Sound to the woods at Colston. Nick could often be seen getting around on his Honda 50 on his dfing expeditions.

Looking forward to viewing the YouTube vid in a bit. Happy days - golden 807 - love it, though my rigs usually had smaller pentodes like 5763 or 6BW6 in the PA.

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Good to see Nick - he has still not been on a diet though!

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Uploaded to YouTube by RiveriaLiveTV (Mark Dezzani) today:

Nick Catford, co-founder of the South West London landbased pirate radio station Radio Jackie, gave the keynote speech at the Signals From The Edge conference at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton on Saturday 1st March 2025.

Nick's speech covered the early years of this pioneering radio station which still operates to this day, now legally with an OFCOM license.

Nick also received the first Golden 807 Award for Lifetime Service for Pirate Radio. Nick's speech is introduced by the conference co-organiser Mark Dezzani who was also a landbased pirate radio operator.