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Radio Caroline at 50 Trivia Quiz

'Radio Caroline' was the first British ship-based 'Pirate' radio station. 2014 sees its fiftieth birthday, so to celebrate, here is a quiz about 'The Lady'.

A multiple-choice quiz by DaveH1960. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
DaveH1960

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
366,521

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
182

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'Radio Caroline' first broadcast from the 'MV Caroline' in 1964.
What was the name of the ship before it was renamed 'Caroline'? Hint

Mi Amigo

Veronica

Mebo II

Frederica

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Who, according to Ronan O'Rahilly (the founder of 'Radio Caroline'), was the station named after? Hint

His daughter, Caroline

A childhood sweetheart, Caroline Johnson

His wife, Caroline

The daughter of president Kennedy, Caroline

3. 'Radio Caroline's' ship was fitted out in Greenore, a port in Ireland. A second pirate radio station was also being fitted out in the same port at the same time. What was the name of this pirate? Hint

Radio England

RNI

Radio Atlanta

Radio London

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. After the merging of two radio stations and the acquisition of a second ship, 'Radio Caroline' began broadcasting as 'Radio Caroline North' and 'Radio Caroline South', with a ship anchored off of both the Essex coast and off of the Isle of Man.
Which one was the 'MV Caroline' ship used for? (North or South)

Answer: ('North' or 'South'?)

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What was the ORIGINAL 'Radio Caroline' theme tune? Hint

"Louie Louie" - The Kingsmen

"Caroline" - Fortunes

"Around Midnight" - Jimmy McGriff

"Sailing" - Rod Stewart

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. On what date did 'Radio Caroline' begin her full time broadcasts (and not test transmissions)? Hint

27 March 1964

28 March 1964

29 March 1964

30 March 1964

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The beginning of the end for most of the pirates came in July 1967 when the British Government introduced which law that made it illegal to advertise on, supply or work on a 'pirate radio ship' (the CORRECT name please)? Hint

Marine Offences Act

The Marine Broadcasting Act (1966)

The Pirate Radio Offences Act (1967)

Marine &c. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The 'MV Mi Amigo' eventually was finally forced to stop broadcasting in March 1980, but can you tell me why? Hint

Ran aground on Frinton beach

Towed into port due to unpaid bills

Sank in a storm

Boarded by the Dutch and British government officials

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In 1983 'Radio Caroline' bought a new ship, 'The Ross Revenge' from which they broadcast until the station was forced to close after being shipwrecked on the Goodwin Sands and towed into port.
What was the 'Ross Revenge' before being bought by 'Radio Caroline'? Hint

Yacht

Trawler

Liner

Ferry

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. One notable feature of the 'Ross Revenge' was the aerial which is thought to be the tallest mast ever erected on a ship at sea.
How tall was the aerial mast? Hint

200 Feet

250 Feet

320 Feet

300 feet

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Radio Caroline' first broadcast from the 'MV Caroline' in 1964. What was the name of the ship before it was renamed 'Caroline'?

Answer: Frederica

The 'Frederica' was originally a 702 ton Danish ferry.
'Mi Amigo' was another ship owned and used by 'Radio Caroline'.
The 'Mebo II' was a radio ship used by 'Radio Nordsee International' (RNI.)
'Veronica' was another of the Pirate stations which proliferated in the North Sea in the 1960s.

2. Who, according to Ronan O'Rahilly (the founder of 'Radio Caroline'), was the station named after?

Answer: The daughter of president Kennedy, Caroline

After seeing a picture of Caroline Kennedy playing in the Oval Office with her brother, JFK Junior, Ronan O'Rahilly decided that Caroline was a "playful disruption of government" which is what he wanted 'Radio Caroline' to be.

Answer: Radio Atlanta

'Radio Atlanta' was operated from the 'MV Mi Amigo' and was actually the first of the ships to leave Greenore. Unfortunately, due to problems with the rigging holding the aerial, the 'Mi Amigo' had to put into Falmouth for repairs, allowing 'Radio Caroline' to begin broadcasts first.

4. After the merging of two radio stations and the acquisition of a second ship, 'Radio Caroline' began broadcasting as 'Radio Caroline North' and 'Radio Caroline South', with a ship anchored off of both the Essex coast and off of the Isle of Man. Which one was the 'MV Caroline' ship used for? (North or South)

Answer: north

The 'MV Caroline' upped anchor and sailed round to her new anchorage off of the Isle of Man in July 1964 broadcasting as she sailed up the English Channel.

5. What was the ORIGINAL 'Radio Caroline' theme tune?

Answer: "Around Midnight" - Jimmy McGriff

For those of you who thought it was 'Caroline' by The Fortunes, my apologies. Originally Jimmy McGriff's 'Around Midnight' was used, 'Caroline' began to be used later in the year leaving 'Round Midnight' to be confined to 'Caroline North's' closedown theme.

6. On what date did 'Radio Caroline' begin her full time broadcasts (and not test transmissions)?

Answer: 28 March 1964

Easter Saturday 1964 and 'Radio Caroline' hit the airwaves. The first official voice heard was Simon Dee's followed at midday by a recorded program introduced by Chris Moore.

Answer: Marine &c. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967

With the introduction of the 'Marine &c. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967', all of the pirate radio stations closed with the exception of the two 'Caroline' ships.

8. The 'MV Mi Amigo' eventually was finally forced to stop broadcasting in March 1980, but can you tell me why?

Answer: Sank in a storm

During their fifty years of Broadcasting 'Radio Caroline' has suffered from all of the above at one time or another. The end for the 'Mi Amigo' came during a storm in March 1980 when the anchor chain broke for the last time, the ship drifted onto a sandbank and sank. The DJs on board at the time continued broadcasting until they were rescued by the coastguard.

Useless information: when the ship sank the 200 foot (61 metre) mast remained visible for another five years until it finally collapsed

9. In 1983 'Radio Caroline' bought a new ship, 'The Ross Revenge' from which they broadcast until the station was forced to close after being shipwrecked on the Goodwin Sands and towed into port. What was the 'Ross Revenge' before being bought by 'Radio Caroline'?

Answer: Trawler

The 'Ross Revenge' was built in Bremerhaven in 1960 and was named 'Freyr'. In 1963 she was sold to 'Ross Fisheries', became one of the most successful trawlers to operate in the UK and still holds the record for the largest haul of cod caught by a British trawler.

'Radio Caroline' broadcast from the 'Ross Revenge' from 1983 until November 1990 when the ship lost her anchor in a storm and had to be abandoned on the Goodwin Sands.

10. One notable feature of the 'Ross Revenge' was the aerial which is thought to be the tallest mast ever erected on a ship at sea. How tall was the aerial mast?

Answer: 300 feet

After a massive hurricane force storm weakened the mast in October 1987 it finally collapsed during a second storm two weeks later.

Source: Author DaveH1960

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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