Reginald Calvert
Encyclopedia
Reginald Calvert was the manager of The Fortunes
pop group and singer Screaming Lord Sutch
, and the owner of offshore pirate radio station Radio City
.
He was killed by Oliver Smedley
owner of rival offshore station Radio Caroline
, who was acquitted of murder on the grounds of self defence.
, which broadcasted from a Second World War marine fort off the Kent
coast, seven miles from Margate
, Radio Caroline
embarked in June 1966 on a joint venture with Radio City. One of the directors of Caroline, Major Oliver Smedley, agreed to pay for a new transmitter to relay Caroline's programmes from the fort, while Calvert, the owner of Radio City, would continue to run the operation but this time on behalf of Radio Caroline.
Radio Caroline then withdrew from the deal when it was heard that the government intended to prosecute those occupying the forts, which were still Crown
property. The transmitter turned out to work not properly and Calvert refused to pay Smedley for it.
Smedley as response hired a group of riggers to board Radio City on 20 June and the station's transmitter was put out of action. On 21 June, Calvert visited Smedley's home to demand the departure of the raiders and the return of vital transmitter crystals. A violent struggle developed during which Smedley shot Calvert dead with a shotgun. During the subsequent trial, Smedley claimed that he feared Calvert was there to kill him and was acquitted on grounds of self-defence.
After the sensational death of Reg Calvert and lurid tales of real swashbuckling piracy
, the British government brought in the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act
(Marine & Etc. Broadcasting Offences Act) of 15 August 1967 to make offshore broadcasting a part of British criminal law in the United Kingdom. Radio City stopped broadcasting after Mrs Calvert appeared in court charged under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1947, as the station was said to be broadcasting within the 3 mile (5 km) limit. Radio City closed down shortly after Mrs Calvert lost the case.
He was buried on 1 July 1966 at St. Peter's, Dunchurch. Among mourners at the funeral were Screaming Lord Sutch
and Pinkerton's Assorted Colours
group members. Born in Lincolnshire in 1928, married to Dorothy Rowe in Huddersfield in 1946. Dorothy died on 21 February 2010. Funeral and internment were at St. Peter's, Dunchurch on 5 March 2010.
The Fortunes
The Fortunes are an English harmony beat group. Formed in Birmingham, The Fortunes first came to prominence and international acclaim in 1965, when "You've Got Your Troubles" broke into the US and UK Top 10s...
pop group and singer Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
, and the owner of offshore pirate radio station Radio City
Radio City (pirate radio station)
Radio City was a British pirate radio station that broadcast from Shivering Sands Army Fort, one of the abandoned Second World War Maunsell Sea Forts in the Thames Estuary.- Origins :...
.
He was killed by Oliver Smedley
Oliver Smedley
Major Oliver Smedley MC was a British businessman involved in classical liberal politics and pirate radio. He was acquitted of the murder of a business rival on the grounds of self-defence.-Military:...
owner of rival offshore station Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
, who was acquitted of murder on the grounds of self defence.
The Radio City death
After Calvert founded the rival pirate station Radio CityRadio City (pirate radio station)
Radio City was a British pirate radio station that broadcast from Shivering Sands Army Fort, one of the abandoned Second World War Maunsell Sea Forts in the Thames Estuary.- Origins :...
, which broadcasted from a Second World War marine fort off the Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
coast, seven miles from Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
, Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
embarked in June 1966 on a joint venture with Radio City. One of the directors of Caroline, Major Oliver Smedley, agreed to pay for a new transmitter to relay Caroline's programmes from the fort, while Calvert, the owner of Radio City, would continue to run the operation but this time on behalf of Radio Caroline.
Radio Caroline then withdrew from the deal when it was heard that the government intended to prosecute those occupying the forts, which were still Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
property. The transmitter turned out to work not properly and Calvert refused to pay Smedley for it.
Smedley as response hired a group of riggers to board Radio City on 20 June and the station's transmitter was put out of action. On 21 June, Calvert visited Smedley's home to demand the departure of the raiders and the return of vital transmitter crystals. A violent struggle developed during which Smedley shot Calvert dead with a shotgun. During the subsequent trial, Smedley claimed that he feared Calvert was there to kill him and was acquitted on grounds of self-defence.
After the sensational death of Reg Calvert and lurid tales of real swashbuckling piracy
Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler or swasher is a term that emerged in the 16th century and has been used for rough, noisy and boastful swordsmen ever since. A possible explanation for this term is that it derives from a fighting style using a side-sword with a buckler in the off-hand, which was applied with much...
, the British government brought in the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act
Marine Broadcasting Offences Act
The Marine, &c., Broadcasting Act 1967 c.41, shortened to Marine Broadcasting Offences Act, became law in the United Kingdom at midnight on Monday, August 14, 1967 and was repealed by the...
(Marine & Etc. Broadcasting Offences Act) of 15 August 1967 to make offshore broadcasting a part of British criminal law in the United Kingdom. Radio City stopped broadcasting after Mrs Calvert appeared in court charged under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1947, as the station was said to be broadcasting within the 3 mile (5 km) limit. Radio City closed down shortly after Mrs Calvert lost the case.
He was buried on 1 July 1966 at St. Peter's, Dunchurch. Among mourners at the funeral were Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
and Pinkerton's Assorted Colours
Pinkerton's Assorted Colours
Pinkerton's Assorted Colours were a mid 1960s pop band from England.-Career:Formed in Rugby, Warwickshire as 'The Liberators', they became Pinkerton's Assorted Colours in 1965, and scored a Top 10 hit with their first single release, "Mirror, Mirror" written by Tony Newman. They were managed by...
group members. Born in Lincolnshire in 1928, married to Dorothy Rowe in Huddersfield in 1946. Dorothy died on 21 February 2010. Funeral and internment were at St. Peter's, Dunchurch on 5 March 2010.
Literature
- Johnny RoganJohnny RoganJohnny Rogan is an author of Irish descent best known for his books about music and popular culture. He has written influential biographies of The Byrds, The Smiths and Van Morrison. His writing is characterised by "an almost neurotic attention to detail", epic length and a sometimes hostile...
, Starmakers and Svengalis: The History of British Pop Management. Futura, 1989. ISBN 0708840043 (hardback edition. Queen Anne Press, 1988, ISBN 0356151387. Both contain a long chapter on Reg Calvert detailing his life) - Adrian Johns: Death of a Pirate: British Radio and the Making of the Information Age. W. W. Norton & Company, 2010 ISBN 0393068609