Who's Who in Pop Radio - Radio Scotland

Wavelength: 242 metres.
Situation: Ship 5 miles off Troon.
Broadcasting Hours: 6 a.m. to Midnight (Monday to Thursday), 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
Reception area: Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England down to Cambridge.
Station Music Policy: Mostly pop music, some light, special and request programmes, also shows of Irish and Scottish music.

Radio Scotland is an ex-Irish lightship (no prejudice, here!), The Comet, weighing 500 tons and measuring 100 ft. in length. Big S, as the station is known, sends out a variety of programmes, though by far the most popular is "Ceilidh" an hour of Scottish dance music and ballads put on the air waves every evening at 6.15 p.m. The station runs its own fan club--Radio Scotland's Clan--which is organised by an ex-beauty queen, Cathy Spence. The Clan has a healthy list of members and a mascot, Jock, a six-month-old West Highland Terrier. Clan Dances organised by the station are held every fortnight at various towns and cities throughout the country. Apart from groups and Big S d.j.'s, there is also the Miss Radio Scotland Beauty Contest held at each show. Other activities of the station include a long distance walk to raise money for charity (and corns for competitors), an annual beat contest "The Top of the Scots Beat Competition" and "Radio Scotland Nights'' at dance halls with d.j.'s from the ship. A monthly magazine "242" is available to listeners and covers the beat scene and news of the station; also T-shirts bearing the Big S emblem of a seagull, and Biro pens. Boss of Radio Scotland is Tommy Shields, a former publicity executive, who goes on the air himself to compere "The Hooley" a weekly show specially for Irish listeners. Headquarters of the station are at Radio Scotland House, Cranworth Street, Glasgow, W.2.

	BOB SPENCER {Senior d.j.) Apart from being chief turntable man at Big S Bob is also the most experienced d.j. Before coming to the ship off Troon he was for several months with Radio City stationed on Shivering Sands near the Kent coast. A dark sun-tanned man who enjoys life at sea, Bob has a voice which matches his personality--big and fun-loving. He is twenty-six and hails from South of the Border. He likes modern music in general and good food in particular.
	AL BLACK Visitors--or anyone who meets him, come to that--are likely to find themselves sketched without knowing it by Al, or Alan, Black. Before he took to a pirate's life on the waves, he was a commercial artist in Scotland with a particular flair for cartooning. Born in Rosyth, Fife, twenty-three years ago, Alan is darkly handsome and has one of the most instantly recognisable voices on Radio Scotland.
	STUART HENRY Scotland's number one d.j., Stuart has an immense listening audience who turn out in droves whenever he makes personal appearances. "The Hairy Man"--as fans call him--is twenty-two years old and comes from Edinburgh. After leaving school he trained as an actor (a talent which has proved very useful in his new job), but abandoned this when pop radio came on the scene. His career with Radio Scotland did not, however, get off to a very good start for every time he went aboard The Comet he became violently sea-sick! Determined not to lose his services, the station told Stuart he should work on dry land and tape his programmes. Consequently he is the only pirate radio d.j. who never goes to sea! He likes most modern music and "gear" clothes.
	TONY MEEHAN Despite what this cheekie lad might try and tell you, he is not the Tony Meehan who used to play the drums for The Shadows. He does, however, come from London, but his nearest connection with show business before Radio Scotland was his ear stuck up against the radio. Tony is twenty-three years old and was a surveyor for an insurance company before joining the Radio Scotland organisation. He was initially a senior sales executive, but so impressed were the company with his voice that they asked him to become a d.j. Their hunch was right for he now has a sizeable fan mail and following. He likes fishing and reading when away from the microphone.
	JACK McLAUGHLIN One of the liveliest characters on Radio Scotland, Jack has found a special place in the hearts of the station's younger listeners. His life before coming to Big S was incredibly varied and among the many jobs he tackled (he says he's done everything!) were acting as a bingo-caller and being a schoolteacher. He knows and appreciates Scottish music and consequently is in charge of the daily programme devoted to the national music, "Ceilidh". Jack is known to his fans as "Yak MacFisheries"---and you've only got to listen to him to find out why!
	MEL HOWARD Like his senior man, Bob Spencer, Mel has previous experience of working for pirate radio--he was with Radio Caroline (South) for a period before coming to serve on Big S. A Canadian by birth, Mel worked on commercial radio before coming to Britain and has an all-round knowledge of broadcasting techniques. He is twenty-six years old, has dark brown hair and one of the most infectious smiles in Scotland. He likes only good pop music and is a keen reader.
	BEN HEALY DREW HAMLYN These two members of Radio Scotland's team of d.j.'s both come from London. Ben, who is tall, blond and twenty-one years old, was somewhat prepared for the tough life of a disc spinner when he joined the station--having previously worked as a d.j. in ballrooms around London. Drew, on the other hand, was a former actor, but now says he has settled down to a life on the waves (sea and sound). At twenty years old he is the youngest of the Big S d.j.'s.