Radio London

RADIO LONDON
 
 
Radio London,  also known as Big L and Wonderful Radio London, was a top 40 (in London’s case, the “Fab 40”) offshore commercial station that operated from 23 December 1964 to 14 August 1967, from a ship anchored in the North Sea, three and a half miles off Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England.  The station, like other offshore radio operators, was dubbed a pirate radio station.  Its offices were in the West End of London at 17 Curzon Street, just off Park Lane.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

There is some misinformation out there about the Sons of Fred – such as the caption on the above photograph – and I found a letter from Pete Sears that was reprinted on the Radio London website at:

www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/65fabs/jun65/fab130665/fab130665.html .  Much of what I am presenting in this post is based on this letter.  Contrary to what Allmusic saysthe Sons of Fred are not from the coastal town of Great Yarmouth.  The band was actually based in Dulwich and Beckenham, where Ray Redway and Alan Bohling were from.  Mick Hutchinson and Tim Boyle were from Chislehurst, while Pete Sears grew up in Hayes, near Bromley.  However, Sears does not know where the band name the Sons of Fred came from.  Also, the Sons of Fred are not at all related to another band called Odyssey, despite what is shown on Allmusicalong with plenty of other Internet sites. 

 

(March 2014/2)

 

Last edited: March 22, 2021