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RSN GOLD HISTORY ON VIDEO - SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE

RADIO SCOTLAND - the station that started it all off

What better time could there be for Scotland's only offshore commercial radio station to make its debut than on Hogmanay? It almost didn't make it due to bad weather as it was towed up the east coast to drop anchor off Dunbar, East Lothian on New Year's Eve, 1965. Transmissions soon began from the Comet, an ex-Irish lightship built on the Clyde, and Radio Scotland brought in the New Year of 1966 in style, quickly establishing it as a firm favourite with the listeners. The station had a "homely" sound and had an uncanny knack of providing exactly what people wanted to hear, perhaps due to the fact that it was run by local people for local people. The frequency was 242 metres, 1241 kHz, but was later moved to 1259 kHz, still keeping the "242" tag.

When it was realised that reception was poor in the highly industrialised and populated west of Scotland, the ship was towed for 1000 miles round the north of Scotland to a new anchorage off Troon in Ayrshire. The journey was fraught with difficulties and hampered by severe weather, and, as well as the signal in the east now suffering, it became apparent that the station was in fact broadcasting from within territorial waters, resulting in a court case and a fine of £80. It then moved to a point off Ballywalter, County Down in Northern Ireland and was renamed "Radio Scotland and Ireland", and shortly after was towed all the way back round to drop anchor off Crail in the East Neuk of Fife, making it probably the most travelled offshore station ever!

Radio Scotland had its own monthly magazine called "242" and also had a fan club called the "242 Clan". The station held "Clan Balls" at venues all over the east and west featuring DJs from the ship and top groups and artists.

The station closed down at midnight on 14/8/67 - immediately before the British Marine Etc. Broadcasting Offences Act came into force.

Where it all began - 22 Chapel Street Peterhead,
and a 28 year-old Nicky Knight

Rick Jay on-air at the first Banff studio - 84 Castle Street, Banff,
in the early 70s

The studio at 84 Castle Street, Banff

Nicky Knight outside the Banff studio with a model of the radio ship 'Comet', home of Radio Scotland

RSN Gold's Studio 10 in Banff, 2001 - July 2005

The revamped Studio 10 in Banff as from July 2005

The RSN Road Show at the Banff Springs Hotel in the early 80s

RECENT PICTURES OF THE RSN GOLD STUDIO IN BANFF

2 VIDEOS PRODUCED BY JOHN MILNE SHOWCASING THE STATION THROUGH THE YEARS

RSN Gold Part 2 Banffshire Scotland, available on YouTube. To identify people & places in the second video, pause at each photo and use the following key.

1. Nicky Knight with the Roadshow at Banff Springs Hotel, early 80s

2. Second Studio 10 layout at Fountain Park Banff.

3. N.K in present studio 10 layout.

4. Rick Jay in 84 Castle Street studio 4, early 70s.

5. N.K. in first studio, 22 Chapel Street Peterhead 1967.

6. Layout of Studio 2, Thistle Street Peterhead 1968/9.

7. N.K. at Chapel Street, again.

8. Kenny King Chapel Street,

9. N.K. in Castle Street Studio 4 Banff early 70s.

10. Dave Keen in office at Castle Street.

11. Bill Friars & Dave Keen in the listening room Castle Street.

12. Banffshire MP Mr W H K Baker on his 1970 visit talks to Davie Lennox.

13. “ “ “ “ “ with N.K. Carl Kingston and Ken Gibson.

14. Mr & Mrs Baker and N.K. outside Castle Street Studio.

15. Lenny Taylor, Station Joiner, on studio roof 70s

16. Dorothy Watt and Hilda Scott in old office.

17. MP and Rick Jay 1970 visit.

18. N.K. in Castle Street studio (in colour).

19. Clem Anderson in studio.

20. “ “ and Mr Baker.

21. N.K. in Castle Street studio.

22. Rick Jay “ “ “

23. Dave Lennox in above.

24. N.K. and Mr Baker.

25. Ex Radio Scotland, Radio Ship Comet after August 14th 1967.

25. N.K. above wheel house of the Comet.

26. Winnie and N.K. and some bairns beside the Comet.

27. A DJ in studio 6, Lauderdale House Dunbar.

28. 2nd studio 9a 14 Scotstown Banff 90s

29 The Roadshow at Duffhouse Grounds Banff late 90s.

30. Last but by no means least, the goodly John Milne, proprietor of the famous “Starlite Discos”, who kindly put our photos on YouTube.