Send us a text

Episode 165: 
Reg Calvert was a family man who got involved in the pop music scene in the early 1960s and through chance became involved with Pirate radio. He was a person that made things happen and was on the look out for new projects. He was well liked although he was said to have a temper when he was let down.

 I think there was a miscarriage of justice regarding this case. An unarmed Reg Calvert was shot with a shotgun by Oliver Smedley who had tried to steal his radio Station from him. The police proved useless, it was their advice that sent Calvert to discuss matters with Smedley as they could not be bothered to get involved themselves. This advice caused Reg’s death when he shot Calvert with no good reason.

It seems clear that Smedley who was a decorated war hero and was probably a psychopath was protected by establishment figures. Although I am guessing here, I would imagine he was a freemason. Smedley was given virtually a free pass for murder.

Pirate radio was something of a ‘free for all’ Radio London broadcast from a ship about 6 kms off Frinton on Sea managed to steer clear of dubious activities. However most of the others did things that would be questioned if not illegal. The Government at the time were reluctant to act.

I was going to include some audio clips of Pirate radio and this speaking about what happened regarding Reg's death. I decided against this as it would be better to visit the Offshore Radio museum website and the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame websites that are great sites with so much information. There are other sites as Pirate radio was very popular for the early Boomer generation. There is so much information about Pirate radio online.
Just a word of warning, this podcast is made in one take by someone who does not enjoy being a narrator and makes little sense at times,  for example I find it difficult to say 'Fort', There is no editing. There may be some chicken interference.