Ronan O'Rahilly - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ITAM805 · 20th Apr 2020, 6:10 pm

Ronan O'Rahilly - 21 May 1940 - 20 April 2020

R.I.P Founder of Radio Caroline

GeoffK · 21st Apr 2020, 5:46 pm

Yes he had suffered dementia since 2013 R.I.P. Ronan.

My friend still broadcasts under the pseudonym Martin Fisher. He started off on the Mi Amigo back in the seventies as an engineer but also did broadcasting.

G6Tanuki · 21st Apr 2020, 5:50 pm

This is sad news.

From his pirate-ships he fired a radio-guided torpedo into the stiff-shirted BBC-types, and holed them below the waterline.

I'll raise a glass to him tonight as it gets dark.

trickie_dickie · 21st Apr 2020, 6:12 pm

Indeed sad news.

CambridgeWorks · 21st Apr 2020, 6:50 pm

A pioneer that changed radio forever.
Back around 1968 /69 one of his own record label offering on Major Minor was "Raymond Le Fevre and his Orchestra." Excerpts were frequently played as adverts and I bought it. I have several of Raymond's albums. This first album was MMLP4 I seem to recall. Soul coaxing (ame caline) is a track most over say 50 will remember.
Rip, Ronan, and thank you.
Rob

Sideband · 21st Apr 2020, 8:39 pm

Caroline have been broadcasting tribute shows about him all day. They've resurrected many of the old original Caroline jingles and some of the original DJ's that are still around have been talking about him. Lets face it, without Ronan, Caroline would never have started and the whole pirate thing would have been completely different, if indeed it had ever happened.

AJSmith625 · 21st Apr 2020, 9:15 pm

Sorry to hear this. I use to listen to Caroline quite a lot in the 70s as not many other music stations were devoted to album tracks. RIP Ronan.

Alan.

AJSmith625 · 22nd Apr 2020, 4:22 pm

Just found this short video on ITV news website. Don't know how long it will be available though. https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020...-dies-aged-79/

ITAM805 · 22nd Apr 2020, 6:18 pm

A warts and all audio biography of R'O'R and Caroline's beginnings here, it plays automatically

electronicskip · 23rd Apr 2020, 10:06 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

This is sad news.

From his pirate-ships he fired a radio-guided torpedo into the stiff-shirted BBC-types, and holed them below the waterline.

I'll raise a glass to him tonight as it gets dark.

Exactly!
Changed the face of popular radio , good work and a job well done.

Andrew2 · 23rd Apr 2020, 11:53 am

Just heard this. Wow, this is truly the passing of an era. It makes you wonder just what would be the state of radio in the UK if he hadn't been single-minded and determined enough to push through his dream? Sadly, most people have probably never heard of him, but without him our radio landscape would be very different. RIP Ronan and so many thanks from a 66 year old bloke who still remembers those days with tremendous fondness.

Station X · 1st May 2020, 10:06 am

He's to feature in "Last Word" BBC Radio 4's obituary programme this afternoon.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hq2b

20th Apr 2020, 6:10 pm	#1
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	Ronan O'Rahilly Ronan O'Rahilly - 21 May 1940 - 20 April 2020 R.I.P Founder of Radio Caroline

21st Apr 2020, 5:46 pm	#2
GeoffK Heptode Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 602	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly Yes he had suffered dementia since 2013 R.I.P. Ronan. My friend still broadcasts under the pseudonym Martin Fisher. He started off on the Mi Amigo back in the seventies as an engineer but also did broadcasting. __________________ *Geoff*

21st Apr 2020, 5:50 pm	#3
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,010	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly This is sad news. From his pirate-ships he fired a radio-guided torpedo into the stiff-shirted BBC-types, and holed them below the waterline. I'll raise a glass to him tonight as it gets dark.

21st Apr 2020, 6:12 pm	#4
trickie_dickie Hexode Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Aberdare, South Wales, UK Posts: 403	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly Indeed sad news. __________________ Richard

21st Apr 2020, 6:50 pm	#5
CambridgeWorks Nonode Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 2,859	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly A pioneer that changed radio forever. Back around 1968 /69 one of his own record label offering on Major Minor was "Raymond Le Fevre and his Orchestra." Excerpts were frequently played as adverts and I bought it. I have several of Raymond's albums. This first album was MMLP4 I seem to recall. Soul coaxing (ame caline) is a track most over say 50 will remember. Rip, Ronan, and thank you. Rob __________________ Apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine - Cymbaline. Film More soundtrack - Pink Floyd

21st Apr 2020, 8:39 pm	#6
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,580	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly Caroline have been broadcasting tribute shows about him all day. They've resurrected many of the old original Caroline jingles and some of the original DJ's that are still around have been talking about him. Lets face it, without Ronan, Caroline would never have started and the whole pirate thing would have been completely different, if indeed it had ever happened. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

21st Apr 2020, 9:15 pm	#7
AJSmith625 Pentode Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 171	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly Sorry to hear this. I use to listen to Caroline quite a lot in the 70s as not many other music stations were devoted to album tracks. RIP Ronan. Alan.

22nd Apr 2020, 4:22 pm	#8
AJSmith625 Pentode Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 171	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly Just found this short video on ITV news website. Don't know how long it will be available though. https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020...-dies-aged-79/

22nd Apr 2020, 6:18 pm	#9
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly A warts and all audio biography of R'O'R and Caroline's beginnings here, it plays automatically

23rd Apr 2020, 11:53 am	#11
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly Just heard this. Wow, this is truly the passing of an era. It makes you wonder just what would be the state of radio in the UK if he hadn't been single-minded and determined enough to push through his dream? Sadly, most people have probably never heard of him, but without him our radio landscape would be very different. RIP Ronan and so many thanks from a 66 year old bloke who still remembers those days with tremendous fondness. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

1st May 2020, 10:06 am	#12
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Ronan O'Rahilly He's to feature in "Last Word" BBC Radio 4's obituary programme this afternoon. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hq2b __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.