For completion, it should be remembered that Lindau (who didnt put up a penny but trousered about 350k and never signed up a single commercial) had squeezed out every single English member of the team, including myself, John Kenning, and Paul Hodge.

Yes, there was a plan to 'close' Laser, but that plan was to rebirth it the next day with a different management. Included in the plot were other Laser staff members; I simply fronted the approach to Eddie Blackwell who was believed to control a slush fund to shut Laser down completely - something that none of us were seeking. I believe that slush fund paid for the QC who put pressure to bear on the DTI to mount Euroseige.

I wasn't owed £100k, but about £7,200 which had bee paid out on the stations behalf by me. It was a lot of cash in 1984 which wascompoing from my pub business - and effectively my wife and baby daughter. I NEEDED it back. Many others in Laser were owed similar amounts, including ALL the DJs, only one of whom ever got paid his full dues. That was not the basis we set Laser up on. As New York was soaking up the lion's share of cash, and not performing (their role was to get advertising) we thought some action should be taken to redress things. The pilot was a shift in management back to the original initiators. Some of us tried to do something about it and get them out of the equation.

The tape was made by Blackwell being wired; his own staff sent the tape to Lindau in New York, who edited it and sent to the press, including Thames TV. Ronan had warned us about New York when we first got embroiled, 18 months before and almost everything he predicted came true.

I'm very pleased I am out of all that malarkey. As Mike described, there were lots of exciting bits bubbling away in the background and none paint Laser in a great light, although they do sell a lot of books. They also show what nasty, mean thieves do infest offshore radio "at the top" and how those who do the work (DJs mainly) often get ripped off.

Sometimes, people say "Enough!" and try and do something about it. It took another 18 months to get paid back, by having the Admiralty Marshall sell the ship following which even more excitement resulted. Laser Hot Hits was even zingier than 558, but sadly it was way under-funded and the inadequate aerial was the station's downfall. But top marks to the team for a valiant effort, especially Rob Day, Mike Barrington, Andrew Turner, the wonderful Johnny 'Rock & Roll' Anthony and many more.

Yes, "very, very interesting," but stranger things happen at sea!