By Ben Shahrabi
Radio Caroline presenters Dave Foster, Ray Clark, and Andrew Austin were joined by fellow Radio Caroline DJ Joshua Holmes-Bright, who also presents shows on Caroline Coastal FM. (Credit: Caroline Coastal)
A community radio station has received a cash boost following a fundraising event at Mangapps Railway Museum in Burnham.
Families piled into the museum for an illustrated talk by Radio Caroline DJ Ray Clark, on the history of the station’s six decades.
The event was organised by the former pirate radio station in collaboration with Caroline Coastal FM. Burnham-based Caroline Coastal and Mangapps Railway Museum benefitted from a total of around £1,200 raised.
Ray said the railway museum is “a good match” for the local radio stations, owing to historic links between communication and transportation.
He added: “Mangapps celebrates the evolution of rail transport, while Radio Caroline is Britain’s second-longest established radio broadcaster, making them a good match.
“Communication and transportation - they go together well.”
Caroline Coastal volunteers helped marshal the event – including Laura Pursey, Howard
Jardine, Geoff Vote, Brian Jeapes, Joshua Holmes-Bright, James Watts, Ben Shahrabi
and Ellie Boyce.
Originally launched as Caroline Community Radio in 2020, with support from Radio Caroline experts, the station rebranded last month. It officially relaunched as Caroline Coastal FM, aboard the Ross Revenge radio ship on April 21.
Joshua Holmes-Bright, presenter and assistant station manager at Caroline Coastal, said: “The first event under our new name was a huge success.
“It was great to meet so many of our listeners, and to hopefully pick up some new ones too!
“We want to be much more present in the Maldon community than we were before our relaunch.
“We’ve got lots planned for the summer. Things are looking good for us!”
Mangapps, in Southminster Road, is home to a 126-ton Class 31 mainline locomotive, built in 1959. It is thought to have hauled trains carrying Caroline DJs Johnnie Walker and Tony Blackburn to Harwich in the 1960s.
Last year, the locomotive was officially unveiled as “Radio Caroline”, by progressive rock musician Rick Wakeman. It formed part of the former pirate station’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
WATCH a full interview with Rick Wakeman on YouTube:
Both Radio Caroline and Caroline Coastal FM rely on public donations and advertisers to remain on air.
For more information about Radio Caroline, visit: https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html
Visit the Caroline Coastal homepage, to listen LIVE to the station broadcasting to the Maldon district: https://www.carolinecoastal.co.uk/
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