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In 2001, a now-defunct website described the newly-refurbished property thus :
Six Chesterfield Gardens, The Modern Face of MayfairSix Chesterfield Gardens has been extensively refurbished and now provides a new, prime Mayfair office providing contemporary modern open plan office space.Behind the elegant facade it provides 4,743 sq m (51,053 sq ft) of new office space. Fully accessible raised floors (except in original parts). Specialist finishes to some period rooms. Substantial private garden. (left: Before: ex-Caroline jocks were obliged to take turns at holding up the crumbling building) For 'After' photographs of the outside of 6, Chesterfield Gardens, see the 35th Anniversary Offshore Reunion. |
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To borrow an Everettism, looking at the site "Brought back the sludge" for a few people:Mick
Luvzit (North ship) writing in March 2002 ************** ************** Bud Ballou
(South ship): Dave
Williams
(North ship): I actually visited the place when Caroline was there, can't remember how I got invited! Interesting to look around and they got us to listen to and comment on a commercial which was read with a north of England accent which we couldn't understand that well so they didn't use it! It was when Caroline Cash Casino was on air, as there were sacks of mail in the hallway. |
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Imagine if you
will, being thirteen in 1967. You live in the North of England in Cadishead,
a small village just outside Manchester. Your father works for Gardner Diesels
(favourite of fort-based stations for generators). In 1967, the North of England
was a grey, wet and damp place. If you have seen the film Saturday Night,
Sunday Morning, you will understand.
When you were thirteen in the Sixties, you were lucky if you had a paper round.
The papers had to be delivered before 6.00am so the steelworkers at the local
steelworks had their paper to read at work.
Up at 5.00am, on your bike at 5.45, with your trannie set to Radio Caroline
North. They started transmissions at 6.00am, but put on a tape of Hawaiian music
at 5.30, with a smooth female voice saying, "Welcome to Radio Caroline North.
We will start at 6.00 with the Late and Early Show." So when it was raining
and cold, your friend went on your paper round with you. They stayed with you
all day; Don Allen, Bob Stewart, Tony Prince, Mick Luvzit, in the morning, Jerry
Leighton, and all the rest. So thanks, if any of the above read this, from that
thirteen-year-old lad in the rain and cold on his paper round.
I know that Caroline North is the forgotten offshore station, but in the grey
North of England, they were beloved. Even now in the morning, I still hear
that music, the voice and the sound of the best radio station in the world.
The webmasters would like to thank John very much for this evocative memory. Caroline North is certainly not forgotten on this website, as everyone can see.
We forwarded John's comments to Bob Stewart, who said: " Hi Mary and Chris, Thanks for forwarding the paper boy's memories. It's really nice to know. All the best to you both, Bob."
Steve Young has found
us a couple of great pictures. He says:
I came across this photo of me, sandwiched between Peter and Gordon and hanging on to 'Lady Godiva'! It was taken at Wimbledon Palais circa Sept/Oct 1966, when the song was moving up the Caroline Countdown of Sound. 'Lady Godiva' rode around the Wimbledon Palais dance floor on a white horse... Now that was a sight to behold! I thought the photo might add an "interesting dimension" to the Big L website. I also read your review of the book by Mike Read regarding the south coast music scene in the Sixties. There was a reference to the Wednesday night 'Caroline Nite' at the Shoreline Club in Bognor Regis. Here's a photo of a handbill that I saved from a visit there some time in '67 when I emceed an appearance by The Turtles. I don't remember an awful lot about the club although it was packed to the rafters so it must have been a popular venue. Many thanks to Steve for rescanning the Shoreline poster in 2012 to reproduce the nice, clear copy on the right. Note that the 1967 poster promotes a regular 'Errol Bruce Show'. Errol, of course, broadcast from both the North and South ships, and Swinging Radio England. (Click on the poster to enlarge.) The question is, does anyone own up to having been the lady who took the role of Lady Godiva? We reckon if that Peter and Gordon promo happened now, 'Lady Godiva' would probably be completely naked - and so would the horse! – Mary |
We named our daughter CarolineFrom Ann and Martin Davies:
Photo: Mum and Dad at Abbey Road, Easter 2002. Says Ann: "Caroline's mummy is me the lady with the megaphone. Her daddy, Martin, is the one with ash blonde hair (or is it grey? Love is blind!) behind me." |