Tuesday, April 03, 2007
On this day on this moment 1973 : Veronica
In the evening on monday 2 april 1973 there was a big storm on the Northsea together with high tide.
Everyone who was listening to off shore radio station Radio Veronica suddenly heard an announcement by Ruud Doets : "The anchor line is broken and we're drifting towards the coast". Panic, on the vessel, the listeners, but also on a 'board meeting' in Hilversum where a meeting with the Dutch government was prepared which was scheduled on april 18.
The broadcasting went on as long as possible but when the vessel the Norderney passed the Dutch coastline they had to remove the send crystal, otherwise they had been breaking the law. Although so often called a pirate station they weren't pirates at all but only used a leak in the law....
"Uncle Bull" Verwey already ordered 'man before the ship' so everyone left the ship immediately.
Everyone who was listening to off shore radio station Radio Veronica suddenly heard an announcement by Ruud Doets : "The anchor line is broken and we're drifting towards the coast". Panic, on the vessel, the listeners, but also on a 'board meeting' in Hilversum where a meeting with the Dutch government was prepared which was scheduled on april 18.
The broadcasting went on as long as possible but when the vessel the Norderney passed the Dutch coastline they had to remove the send crystal, otherwise they had been breaking the law. Although so often called a pirate station they weren't pirates at all but only used a leak in the law....
"Uncle Bull" Verwey already ordered 'man before the ship' so everyone left the ship immediately.
Without the crew Veronica stranded in the night (so it was tuesday) on the beach quite high against the dunes.It was an emotional moment to walk alongside the ship, I can assure you. It shouldn't be there, it should be on the sea !!
They tried several times to get the vessel into the sea again, but they all failed. Everyone was afraid the ship should break into two because it had to be put into a better place with a lot of force. April 18, when it was high tide again, the Norderney finally could leave the beach. Within hours Rob Out and Tineke de Nooij were the first who could broadcast again. Back in bussiness !!!!!! Hoorray !!!!
