Another very sad passing from the radio world - dear old Ben Bode (younger than me!). For those who are not familiar, Ben and Fred Bolland are the dynamic duo who got Caroline back on the air after the Belgian PIRATES abandoned the dear old Lady back in October 78. (and then the English crew did the same in January79). Ben ran a very successful jingles and production company in The Hague, and thats where Caroline was run from once resurrected at Easter 1979 - just in time for the 15th Birthday celebrations.

Ben and his team snaffled up lots of adverts from under the Radio Mi AMigo boys noses, and persuaded a bank to make a big loan, saying it was for premises. (Well, there were some premises in Marbella, but thats another story!). The New Caroline House in The Hague throughout 79 - 80 was just a few hundred metres from the Dutch authorities HQ where they were plotting to kill off Caroline. After the British press and many others said "it must be All Over Now as they've been off air for months".

Had Ben Bode and Fred Bolland not resuscitated Caroline, it MAY not have revived for 79 and 80. After the Mi Amigo sank in March 1980, it took Ronan a while to get going again and he needed Vincent Monsey to properly get it together. Ben Bode meanwhile found another ship, fitter her out in Dublin and that became Radio Paradijs - Im sure you all know the story of that. After the arrest by the Dutch Authorities off Scheveningen, Ben fought them in court for about five years, eventually winning the case and getting damages and costs.

So, he was certainly one of caroline's most resourceful and organised generals.And a damn fine guy woo, who Im proud to call my good friend. Only recently we were joking about us both making it to be 100 years old. And now Ben's gone, not quite ⅔ of the way there.
I shall miss Ben's joking and frivolity over all things radio (you should hear what he called us anoraks!). Ben really did make a big difference to offshore radio, Caroline, Paradijs and heaps more on land operations too with his ear-catching production and jingles.