Red Sands Radio

Young Musicians at Whitstable Harbour Garden Café Sat 21/07/12

Talents of Young Musicians at Whitstable Harbour Garden Café

The Dixielandrs from the Simon Langton Boys Grammar School performing on Saturday 21st July 2012 and on-air at Red Sands Radio

This is unique opportunity for under 18′s to show their talents on stage performing in front of a live audience

If you’ve got what it takes book a place and show your skills. All genres welcome. Pop into the Harbour Garden Café on the South Quay for more details 01227 271199

Melissa Sat 07/07/12

Before Saturday Brunch a stroll round the habour …

The Melissa E was built by the late Bob West who worked at Anderson’s boat yard and Colin Mantle, his son-in-law in Cromwell Road, next to Bob’s back garden in Reservoir Road

She left Whitstable for the waters of the Medway for 15 years but has now returned to her home port

Red Sands Radio 390 Two Sun 01/07/12

In 1967 it was planned to commence Radio 390 Two from the Bristol Channel, some tentative steps were made but the venture foundered

Radio 390 had by this time constructed two studios in Gun Tower 3 on the Red Sands Fort. Built within the Fort the wooden box modules contained similar equipment (Note Xylophone foreground see and end of page)

First ever spin of one of the turntables after 45 years in David Phillips video 

Some equipment was squirrelled  before being confiscated in lieu of fines. Auctioned by the GPO a pair of turntables appeared in a Folkestone nightclub but failed & like the Fort were abandoned

Given to Red Sands Radio some years ago they languised in a studio until our studio engineer David Phillips decided he’d rebuild one for the station

This project mushroomed bring in friends both Garrard 301′s were completely refurbished to the paint match the original colour

By now the project developed to a full scale construction, David scoured the World for sourcing parts to built the mixer

A corner monitor speaker was constructed & the wooden ‘Live Box’ a transformer with a VU meter & pilot light that showed the presenter the TX was radiating

A few other items have miraculously appeared, long term family friend & Senior Radio 390 Engineer Lawrence Bean had a Radio KING Vortexion, one of the Radio 390 Ferrographs and the magic Xylophone announcers used to identify the station. 

Since the 30th June we’ve been promised a third Radio 390 studio turntable and have been presented with the turntable from the library

Chris West juggling station output, live interviews & lots of people in the Red Sands Radio studio

Radio Invicta, Radio KING & Senior announcer on Radio 390 John Ross-Barnard prepares to officially open Red Sands Radio 390 Two!

Launching with a nautical track John introduced a typical Radio 390 family favourite Pet Clark’s Sailor

With grateful thanks to our studio engineer David Phillips we played an obscure record found by David in a used record store

‘Dave Phillips & The Hot Rod Gang with a cover of Tainted Love’

The tracks on Rockhouse Records number SP8303 in 1982

Video Clip above by Janice Phillips

And this Video Clip by Rockin’ Roger Dilley: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10151010172668164

Guests Geoff & Deborah Mylcrist of Mylcrist Builders & Hillcross Estates

Brian Tyrell the first mate of The Mallard supply vessel to Radio Invicta – Radio 390 from 1964 – 1967

Lawrence Bean with John Ross-Barnard overseeing proceedings

Skipper owner of Faversham registered F19 The Mallard berthed at Whitstable, became the tender to the Forts through the 1960′s serving all three stations on Red Sands Radio

Carolyn & Stephen Parry great supporters of Red Sands Radio & sponsors of the What’s Going on Guide

Howard Barker of ABC Aerials & Denise christened ‘Mike Raven’ by John Ross-Barnard with Dave Daly

The late Mike with wife Mandy were very much part of the Fort family working through its various radio phases

Tony Pine Senior Engineer on Radio City (299) on Shivering Sands Fort has a chuckle ‘that 1960′s gear will never work surely?’

David justly proud of his creation warming up the valves!

Pete the guy climbs like spider man was in Tony Pines team was employed to erect the Red Sands Radio antenna on the Fort

John Allan John Alan of Temple Foods with Tony Bose having a sip of orange juice – right!

Radio 390 studio goes to air for the first time in over 45 years John Ross-Barnard & Vic Davies impressed seeing & hearing the Radio 390 studio

Pictured above the original Radio 390 Xylophone which will be properly used in the station close down on 27th July 2012

Reflections Thu 28/06/12

Weekends are ideal for finding a great piece for the home, how about this ‘little mirror’

Origianally a fixture in a central London Hotel this enormous mirror is at Warehams Antiques in Oxford Street with an estimated value of £8,000

You’ll need something bigger than a family car to get it home

EPICentre Sun 24/07/11

Lovely light over the Habrour Basin welcomes in the first day of the EPICentre Festival of Food & Drink

Early bird Laura set-up & ready to go with Laura’s Emporium of fine cooking oils

Gray n Grim Sat 16/07/11

We’re having some interesting weather over the North Kent Coast & Thames Estuary Basin this summer; With temperatures souring to over 25 degrees one day & plummeting to below 12 degrees the next

Pictured ‘Our Sarah Jayne’ which in the late 80′s helped maintain the Radio ship ‘Ross Revenge’ moored & silent off the South Falls Head. Ahead of her the ‘SB Greta’ & in the background the Red Sands Radio Tender ‘X-Pilot’

This was Whitstable at just after 07.30 am on Saturday 16th July

The small Bridgetown registered coaster ‘Torrens’ on the repair berth of the Harbour outer West Quay

Paul’s here… Sat 09/07/11

Oly, Ray & Cardium II owned by John Gilson of Cardium Fisheries pictured on Saturday 9th July at 06.14

Tranquil Harbour basin on Saturday 9th July at 06.14

 SB Greta on Saturday 9th July at 06.16 after a week of high winds, rough seas & squally showers skipper Steve hopes to get under sail this weekend

The MCS Elly pictured on Saturday 9th July at 06.16 built in 1997 as a Dredgehelp vessel owned by Maritime Craft Services (Clyde) Ltd she’s worked in La Havre, Dunkerque & at the time of publication off the west coast of Ireland

Today’s Saturday Brunch Sat 02/07/11

Big launch party with guests: Lord Mayor – Ian Thomas, KKC’s Mark Dance joined the Red Sands Radio team of over 60 Sponsors, Advertisers, supporters at the Whitstable Harbour studios