Pirates who keep one step ahead

November 17th. c.1988 Sandwell Evening News (Maureen Messent)

'They are communication in a way no other station can, filling a gap'

Pirates who keep one step ahead

  "Carlton C" is hunting through letters of support to find the telephone. He picks it up in the Dudley Road, Winson Green, office, listens a while, then speaks. 
  "Don't believe the rumours," he says. "We'll be back soon."
  The room above an empty shop is HQ for People's Community Radio Line, the pirate radio station silenced from its spot on 103.5 FM since last week when they removed their transmitter from the tower of Winson Green church. The Rev Richard Bashford, vicar of Winson Green, had been its willing host.
  The move was nothing new to these die hard pirates of the airwaves.
Their mastermind — known as Music Master over the air — points out that they have had to move their radio equipment about 200 times since 1981, been raided 67 times in the last 19 months by the Department of Trade and Industry's officials.

Valuable service
  He's black, gentle, helpful. And a bit hurt that what he and his 21 presenters see as a valuable service to the community is breaking the law.
  PCRL broadcasts — for as long as it can keep a leap ahead of the Department of Trade and Industry —  for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Its programmes are n combination of Afro-Caribbean music, community notices, advice, home and health hints, news from
  It claims a listenership of more than 250.000 in Birmingham and surrounding areas, and has a following in Leicestershire.
Its presenters are volunteers. Those that have regular employment say they pay a little in support of the station. "And look at those," says Music Master, pointing at some beautiful wooden clocks, in the shape of the Caribbean islands. "We're helping a small business to get known by broadcasting advertisements for them. When they'll start to pay us. "Blacks get only five hours on Radio WM per week, BRMB broadcasts two-and-a-half hours per week for blacks and Asians. And that's mainly music.  It's not sufficient for the people who like PCRL, nor is it so informative and varied. "Our people are often out of work, which means they don't have money to buy the records that would keep them abreast of our ethnic music, a great link with our roots.

Great support
"We are keeping them in touch this way and telling them of events within our own community.
"We have used an Asian presenter, receive great support from Asians. We get letters from hundreds of white people who enjoy our music.
"We also broadcast religious programmes. So what's so bad about us? why should be hounded like this? I see us more as radio social workers than law-breaker."
  This view is echoed by the Rev Richard Bashford, PCRL's transmitter host until the diocese pointed out could not condone law-breaking.
"This station is providing a voice for a section of the community who wouldn't otherwise be heard," says Mr Bashford.
  Some nights, requests are played for John the Godfather, alias the Rev John Geyer, a United Reform Church minister from Weoley Hill, whose church council supports PCRL.
"I think it is vital that the station be granted a licence," says Mr Geyer, "even though I know the legal difficulties.
"This is the voice of the inner-city now. It could be used for enormous good in times of trouble.
"They are communication in a way nor other station can, filling a large gap, I've found them sincere people of integrity, motivated by genuine desire to help their community and all those who listen to them.
"I know they have support from sections of the West Midlands Police.
"I can only hope that public opinion will encourage the government to issue a licence as a special case -- and this is what I'm campaigning for."
  Music Master points out that they have equipment confiscated time and time again by Department of Trade and Industry "boarders".
"But each time the community rally round, to help replace it" he says.

Plans Shelved
  PCRL claim that BRMB, dismayed by their success, is behind the raids.
"That's simply untrue," says a spokesman for the Trade and Industry Department in London.
"Local stations like BRMB in Birmingham, and Capitol in London, are either independents or part of the BBC. They are licenced by the department.
"Any station broadcasting without that licence is in breach of the Wireless and Telegraphy Acts, 1959 and 1967.
"There is nothing that can be done to help PCRL until community radio licences are issued. No matter how much support they have in Birmingham, they are just like any other pirate station - but more persistent.
"I'm afraid they must wait for community radio licences before they can operate legally.
"In the meantime, it must be remembered they are using airwaves which might be needed for important emergency services or military operations."
  Back in Dudley Road, Music Master and Carlton C are unbowed.
"The said the same about CB radios before they were legalised," they say. "But we have a service to perform and perform it we will."
  At BRMB, managing director Mr Ian Rufus said PCRL were a "minor irritation."
"But we'd like them off the air." he said. "We have to pay something in the region of £300,000 a year rental for our transmitters which is supposed to guarantee our right to be the city's only commercial station.

Last Word
"They interfere with places on the broadcasting system allocated to legal stations and they pay no royalties to companies for using their discs."
  Last word came from Dudley Road.
"We are just asking for the chance. Give us the licence and we will pay whatever's needed from us."
Meanwhile, a lot of fingers are swinging dials for the first sounds from the relocated pirates on 103.5 FM.

Pop Pirates Chart A Hit

(Birmingham Evening Mail Friday November, 26th 1982)

Pop pirates chart a hit

Birmingham pirate reggae music station Radio Star is aiming to get into the hit parade in its efforts to become legalised.    Radio Star disc jockey Papa Stone (pictured) has just released his own single - and say's he will donate all royalties to the campaign to get Edgbaston and Handsworth-based radio station back on the air.    The single "Sweet Reggae Music" has been issued on a new independent record label, "Roots Music," which is owned by Rising Star. Licence The song is a rapping version of a track by Junior Brown called "Reggae Melody" which also on  the 10-inch  version. So far 1,500 copies of the single have been pressed and it is doing "very well" according to promoter Cecil Morris, who was recently fined £100 by Birmingham magistrates for illegal broadcasting. Mr Morris said Radio Star will be back on the air as soon as possible home: pcrlfm.co.uk

Pirates Whip Up Storm Of Sounds

(Evening Mail August 9, 1988)        Pirates whip up storm of sounds
Cruise the radio airways and new sounds leap out, How come? Because listeners fed up with Kylie Minogue are tuning into an alternative - Birmingham's pirate stations.        Zak Mughal started Midland Asian Radio (106.5 FM) because, he believes, Asians had nothing else to listen to. More seriously, he claims, vital information on such issues as AIDS was not getting through.           The station broadcasts music and chat shows, mainly in Hindustani, and now claims 10,000 listeners.         Yes, pirate stations are illegal - broadcasting without a licence carries a maximum penalty of £2,000 and/or three months in jail  -- but	they justify their existence by claiming they often provide a service which doesn't exist else where.        Raids by inspectors from the Department of Trade and Industry, which monitors the stations, are the price pirates have to pay.   DJ Chicken George said that since PCRL (103.5 FM) started three years ago, it has been raided 111 times and had £200,000 of equipment confiscated.            These days the pirates image is changing. Gone are the days when fumbling presenters broadcast from bedrooms when they felt like it.	They take their work seriously and want to be legit. Many have already applied for community licences, ready for the Home Secretary's shake-up of the radio network.        PCRL prides itself on being a community station and it ran a campaign to encourage listeners to beat the deadline and register ass British citizens.       Weekend station Fresh (95 FM)  plays a whole range of soul music - from hip-hop to soca. Enterprise (91.9 FM) is a predominantly black music station. It's DJs are aged 11-60 and programmes include oldies show and a gospel set. Pirates have been criticised for broadcasting over legal	stations and hampering the emergency services but Hakeem of Fresh is quick to respond. Fresh's wavelength is officially given to BBC local radio, but the nearest station is WM on 96.6 FM. Hakeem say's that nobody broadcasts on 95 FM - so they use it and believe that it's far enough from WM not to cause any interference.        The pirates know which frequencies are the emergency services use and stay well clear, he says.        Their image is sure to improve if many are granted licences. Then the market will be ripe for a surge of small stations playing jazz, lps of heavy rock.
(DJ Chicken George, Pumping up the volume despite the raids and confiscation of equipment) home: pcrlfm.co.uk

Pirates Seek Legit Airwave Slot

(The Voice November 15, 1988)  PIRATES SEEK LEGIT AIR-WAVE SLOT Home Secretary warns: ''Stay off the air" But Disc jockeys on a pioneering black radio station are confident of getting the Home Office thumbs-up for their currently illegal broadcasts.

 PCRL Radio in Birmingham has been raided by Government officials scores of times since it began in 1983. But a planned overall of the broadcasting laws, being discussed in Parliament could change all that.

 PCRL is among many stations set up by minority groups: "We intend to write to the Home Office asking them when can we apply. I Don't think they will go against us, given the work we have all been doing. "We are instrumental in bringing community radio about and getting the Government to consider community radio. The Community Radio Association we are a principle example of what community radio is all about. And I don't think the black Community will will stand for us not getting a licence."
  PCRL plays a variety of black music, broadcasts public information and raises money for charities. It is one of two Afro-Caribbean stations in the city. "The Government doesn't seem sure how community radio will be run, but I don't think we will change it much." The Birmingham radio station is just one of hundreds up and down the country gearing up to apply for a licence after Mr Hurd announced two weeks ago that contracts for 20 community radio stations were up for grabs.

 Fast 

  Under the proposed legislation, there will be "fair competition" with exiting Independent local radio (ILR) services, and the whole plan is intended to "both broaden choice to the listener and provide useful experience for the future "Nevertheless the Home Secretary has repeated his warnings to 'pirate' that they will be barred from holding a licence. From January 1, 1989, anyone convicted of illegal broadcasting will be disqualified for 5 years from the proposed Radio Authority he said in Parliament.

Pirate Flagship Plays On In Face Ofcom Salvo

National News (Saturday January 31, 2004 The Guardian) 

Pirate flagship plays on in face of Ofcom salvo 'Music Master' says black station gives voice to community local stations," said the Music Master, aka 57-year-old drummer, music promoter and entrepreneur Cecil Morris. "We give people who have no voice a means of expressing what they are feeling. For us it's all about freedom of speech. It is our human right to be heard." Morris began broadcasting in 1985 during the Handsworth riots in an attempt to calm tension. After the disturbances he kept the believing the black population in Birmingham was ill-served by local BBC and commercial stations. 

He says PCRL attempted to present news about world issues without a white, western bias. He says phone-ins gave local people the chance to talk openly about the issues closest to e station going, hem. And, of course, it played music not to be found at the top of its mainstream rivals' playlists. PCRL became the station of choice for many black people, especially in areas such as Handsworth and Winson Green. Morris claims an audience of 250,000, and says that, depending on the weather, the station can be heard up to 50 miles away. PCRL organised trips for the elderly and youngsters, and music events at local clubs. It worked alongside training agencies to try to help young Cecil Morris and phone-in presenter Anthony Jeffers finance and operate the station.          

 Photograph: Anita Maric/News Team . 

 The prosecution claimed the broadcasts interfered with the emergency services. On one occasion, the court was told, the broadcast "swamped" the fire service's communications system. William Rickarby, prosecuting, also claimed illegal broadcasters deprived performers of royalties, and the Treasury of taxes. Addressing Morris after he was convicted, Judge Orme accepted he had done much to help disadvantaged black youngsters. But he gave him a nine-month jail sentence suspended for two years and warned him that he would be "amazed" if he was not imprisoned if he were caught working on the station again. 

Morris was also told to pay a fine and costs of £8,000. Jeffers, 43, and Norton, 52, who were also convicted on conspiracy charges, were ordered to do a total of 320 hours community service and pay costs of £5,000. Ofcom was pleased. Clive Corrie, special investigations manager, said they had focused in the past on getting stations off air by tracking and confiscating transmitters or raiding studios. Now more effort was being put into hitting the brains behind the operations. He rejected the argument that stations such as PCRL served their communities well: "The damage they do outweighs the good." Because they were illegitimate, the pirates were able to broadcast unchecked radical political views and bad language. 

 There is sympathy for the Music Master and PCRL in Birmingham. Mr Bashford said: "They give a voice to people who do not have a voice." Beenie Brown, of the African Caribbean Self Help Organisation in Handsworth, said: "These stations aren't going to go away. They do a good job and have support." This week the Music Master and Pilot were still to be found in PCRL's old office. They say they will stay away from the station but cannot hide their pleasure that their stereo is blasting out PCRL. When asked who was keeping the station going, Morris shrugged. "The station is not just me or Pilot. We have been forced to stop but the community will keep it going."

PCRL In The West Midlands

PCRL in the West Midlands (1986)
Cecil Morris -- the man behind the Peoples Community Radio Line (PCRL) in Birmingham known as Music Master  -- realised a few years ago there was a lack of media facilities for the black population. As a musician himself (he was a drummer for Decca and Major Minor as well as others) he realised that records being made were not getting the air play that they deserved. From this he set up business for a management agency for artists and the music industry. Here his doubts were confirmed by the lack of publicity and air play for his products.  He then felt the black community must control its own destiny and input into the community as a whole.  A campaign was started with BBC and Independent Radio to get more air time for not just black music but for other programs of interest such as 'awareness of our own culture'. During this campaign many obstacles were encountered.	Due to a lack of belief in black people as a whole no credit was given to anything that we did. BRMB and Radio Birmingham were contacted but they were not forthcoming with any additional air play, so instead of hanging around and pleading we decided to get on our bikes and do it for ourselves. This is when Music Master created Radio Star. This was in 1979 and Radio Star continued under great pressure until 1983. At this time the only finance available was from Music Masters' Recordshop and his management agency. This business then went bust due to the great financial drain as a result of the huge finances required to run the station.  After one year the situation was greatly frustrated as the communities were missing their own form of media.  There were a lack of business opportunities for small businessmen and lack of publicity for up-and-coming artistes.   .				Training facilities for people interested in broadcasting. Religious services. Music Programmes. Disscussions on ways of improving employment. Health discussions Self help on various matters  Local news Arts and crafts. Cultural interests. Review of films. Books / Theatre / Poetry. What's on in entertainment. Fashion / Beauty / Care. Information on welfare and social attention on services for young and old. Further education and special attention to local talent in the arts; e.g. music, singing, drama and manufacturing. Asian programmes. PCRL is now just waiting to be legalised as it has nearly 4 million listeners of all nationalities. In weeks to come we will be featuring the other 38 PCRL presenters.
		This frustration within the community was present and we were well aware of this and warned the authorities of possible consequences. This was before the riots. Caters for All Then Music Master formed PCRL and has never looked back. PCRL is rated the No. 1 station of the West Midlands, the first true black radio station which caters for all members of the community be they black, white or Asian, and our presenters reflect this. A recent survey by an independent body shows we were the most listened-to station in the West Midlands.   Because of the embarassment to the legal stations, this report was not publicised. PCRL broadcasts on 103.5 FM 24 hours a day, 7 days a week It is professional and has 38 presenters. None of the presenters get wages; they may in cases get expenses. Biby James, Studio 2 Band, Popman, plus many many more.	Some things PCRL have achieved in the past 18 months are:  The children's party for over 1200 children, free Xmas dinner and dance for senior citizens, days out for underpriviliged children; donations to various charity funds; youth club - under 18's disco with over 1,000 membership, and publicising charity events other stations have turned down. There are over 30 new singles in Birmingham, we give  these artists valuable airplay while they are ignored by other radio stations.Artists we have publicised are: Annette B, Bonito Star, Michael Ellis, Pato Banton, Projection, Salem Foundation, Macka B, Jacko Rankin, Peter Culture, Aiysha, Bashara, After 114 raids and over £100,000 worth of equipment being confiscated by theDepartment of Trade and Industry. We have made repeated applications to the Home Office for a community radio licence and havce been refused.	PCRL is so successful we have the full backing of black and white churches who sees us as a good injfluence on all members of the community.. Cecil Morris says PCRL must take this opportunity to thank our sponsers who have allowed the continuation of PCRL with their finaces for adverts. If there is anyone who is interested in advertising or sending us records for  promotion purposes, our headquarters is based at: 151 Dudly Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B18 7QY. Tel. 454 9152. PCRL has now expanded into providing:-

Home: www.pcrlfm.co.uk

Seminar In The Air

(You - The Mail On Sunday Magazine Circa 1982) SEMINAR IN THE AIR Pirate radio did not sink with the ships of Radio Caroline  and Victory back in the '60s. Twiddle the  dial on your set and you'll hear the babble of a whole new  generation of outlaw broadcasters . . . who are in a daily  battle with the harassed, 300-strong force of the Radio  Interference Service. Peter Martin reports

Above: Radio Star's Cecil Morris says the licensed stations ignore community needs.

The singular distinction of being the pirate not to run away falls to Jamaican-born Cecil Morris. With a touching idealism and a thousand signature petition, Morris tried throughout 1981 to persuade the licensed stations that they were ignoring the 'community needs' of Birmingham's large West Indian and Asian populations. But all we got in response to our demonstration was two, on-off programmes - one with music and a little discussion , the other with imported music.'   Turning pirate in January of last year, Morris and friends took to the airwaves as Radio Star - with gospel services and talks on the various minority religions; senior black citizens' requests; reports on local community projects; arts, health and beauty slots; discussions of the education problems and employment prospects of the ethnic minorities; all intersected with Soul, Reggae, Soca, and Calypso music and the emphasis on local talent.  'Singers and bands, sure, 'says Morris. 'But we also get kids coming here saying, "man, it's great to have a radio station that we can identify with ," and  "I always wanted to get into radio but I never studied because there was no chance of getting involved with these things before."   I'm talking black schoolkids and older ones with no job into seeing the opportunities that are around - radio, radio, electronics, music, journalism. Radio Star was first raided in March, then again in August. The second time, Morris had been listening at home when the radio went dead. Rushing to the transmitter at a nearby tower block, and in a lather of frustration and protest, he gave himself up to the Home Office team. Fighting his case on the point of community need, Morris lost and was fined £180 plus costs. He also had £2,000 worth of equipment confiscated.   Between times Morris has applied to the IBA for a license and was turned down. 'Birmingham already has it's own local station serving the needs of the community, they say. With two hours of reggae a week?   'It has been a lot of tribulation and disappointment. Perhaps the IBA is scared we'd use a black radio station for political troublesomeness. But we're not against society. We're here; we want to contribute, and the station could help us help ourselves.     (home page: pcrlfm.co.uk)

Pirate Radio - The Accused Have Their Say

PIRATE RADIO - THE ACCUSED HAVE THEIR SAY Black News On Line - By Mike Best (Feb 2004)
Throughout the court case involving three men convicted of operating a pirate radio station, claims were repeatedly made that local and national radio stations did not adequately reflect the views of minority ethnic groups. That is why the demand is so high for alternative radio listening, they claim. After the hearing, the three men spoke to blackukonline.com about their feelings and the emotions that drove them to set up a pirate station.  Cecil Morris "The judge won the case for the Department of Trade and Industry (under which the Radio Communications Agency worked), under the circumstances and how he behaved. It was a fair outcome, but very disappointing that I will never be able to hold a broadcasting licence. The black community urgently needs a broadcasting licence and to date, I see no genuine stations that really care about us.  There was Choice Radio in London and others, but they sold out, as soon as they were getting some handouts from the mainstream.  I commend my two colleagues for the service they have given to the community over the years. The only reason PCRL was set up was to give the community something that they could identify with.	We cannot rely on other people to do things for us. I will continue to encourage young people to further their education, get into the media and to be of service to their community." Michael Norton "I was relieved that my fine wasn't too great and I'm relieved that Cecil will not be going to jail. As far as the fines go, Cecil's is quite high.  I think Cecil's contribution is going to be greatly affected with a five year ban. He will be unable to apply for a license, it's sad because it's something he has been fighting for most of his life.  If the black community has any interest in themselves, they need to get up and do something about it, I feel embarrassed being a white person and having to say that. All the years I've worked in this media, black people appeared to be so slow in coming forward to help themselves. Over the years I have tried to include a bit of education into my programmes, hopefully it's help a lot of people.  It's all right just to play music on the radio, but I think it is equally important to include a bit of history or something they could take forward from the programme.  Young black people are more likely to listen to an illegal stations than legitimate ones and for that reason alone it's one's duty to get important messages over by whatever means."	Anthony Jeffers "I'm relieved that the judge refrained from sending us to prison, but even though I've been convicted of this particular offence, by breaking the Wireless and telegraphy Act, I don't feel as though I've done anything criminally wrong.  I did what I did out of frustration to serve my community, whom I feel are disenfranchised from having their voices heard in the visual, audio and written media.  If anybody want's to look on me as a criminal because a court has found me guilty of this particular offence then that is entirely up to them.  I will serve my community work and pay the fine, but in terms of feeling a criminal, I think there are others who have done much, much worse than me.  My conscience is clear and I could sleep at night. If everyone left a particular issue unchanged, there would be no movement or no opportunities for individuals to move on. Someone had to stick his or her head above the parapet. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who have done so and I have to pay the penalty. The amount of people who gained inspiration for causes that I have been involved with are immeasurable and that is more important to me."
	home:pcrlfm.co.uk

People Award A Mail Scoop

People award a Mail scoop  Feb 27 2004 By Poppy Brady, Evening Mail (Red=votes) Cecil Morris far left The Evening Mail has scooped a top award (8.8%) in Birmingham for its positive and sensitive coverage of gun crime and community issues. It was among ten winners at the first awards ceremony held by the Collective of Black Professionals who organised the event. The newly-launched group is highlighting the success stories in the inner city which have been too often overshadowed by gun and drug-related crime. Awards presenter Bernell Burroughs told Mail editor Roger Borrell: "You are pulled from pillar to post by the public to give a balanced view of news, but your recent columns on gun crime really struck a chord with your readers. "This is backed up by the vital local information you give which is something your readers rely on. Well done - continue to be the best." Mr Borrell said: "Over the past two years we have worked hard to be more inclusive. "We rely on you to come to us with the good stories to balance out the negative ones." Marcia Shakespeare , mother of 17-year-old Letisha who was shot dead at a New Year party in Aston just over a year ago, was also among the award winners. She praised her partner, the police and also the Evening Mail for supporting her through the most traumatic period of her life. Beverley Thomas (11.3%), mother of Charlene Ellis, who was also shot dead and Sandra Thomas, whose daughter Cheryl was wounded, were also given awards, but were not present to accept them. Other awards went to the Annie Wood Care Home (11.3%), in Alma Way, which was collected by Ruth Lawrence; Galaxy Radio (12.6%); Central News (9.0%); the Royal Oak pub(14.1%), in Lozells Road which hosted the ceremony; Russells Foods (15.1%), of Lozells Road; and Cecil Morris, of the People's Community Radio Link (24%). One of the organisers, Michael Ekwulugo, said: "There are so many successes in our community that are often overshadowed and eclipsed by the negative. It is time for the pendulum to swing the other way. "We want to tackle this atmosphere of doom and gloom particularly after recent events such as the shootings. "This has to come from within our own community if we are to celebrate our own successes." The Collective of Black Professionals plans to make the awards an annual event and wants people to nominate unsung heroes who have worked often behind the scenes to improve people's quality of life.

King Of The Clubs Talk Their Way To Big Time

(Birmingham Evening Mail 21 Sep, 1983) King of clubs talk their way to the big time    There are not many dance floor audiences that will put up with DJs who cannot stop talking while the music is playing. Not until now, that is. For, all the signs are that "rapping" - the lyrical talking over records wildly popular in Jamaica for years, but now hitting this country - is going to be the next big disco craze.      According to Cecil Morris, the Birmingham promoter who has brought three of the islands finest masters to rap over here for a UK tour, rapping, along with the exciting dances it inspires, is the biggest thing on the black music scene since Bob Marley.    "The response we have had has been amazing. A thousand people were turned away from the first show at the Brixton Ace in London last week, "he said.     "And the word has got around so fast that as well as selling out everywhere we go, we are getting lots of demands for more shows. We started out with a nine-date tour. We now have 21 shows booked." Best disco     The object of this adulation is the Gemini Sound System --- probably the best disco outfit in Jamaica.     Another DJ, the Albino Yellowman, has become such  a huge sensation that he is regarded as the biggest act after Bob Marley. But while he is a sole performer, the Gemini is an intricate team.    The conventional British DJ is a solo operator who selects his own music, puts it on the turntable while delivering some banal spiel to his audience, and then twiddles the knobs to determine how loud he wants it.   If he is technically-minded or really up with the times, he might try a little mixing of tracks. But that is about it.     A set-up like the Gemini, on the other hand, is quite different. It's a sound system with special tasks for each of the crew members.      The Gemini is a five-piece. There is Papa Gemini   -- The Boss  --- who controls the sound and Archie, the sound selector  -- who chooses the records. Finally, there are Johnny Ringo, Welton Irie and Squidley Ranking   --- the three "toasters" - who are the stars of the show.     All the "toasters" do is rap. The others are vital to the running of the show, but the people pay £5 a head to see.      home: pcrlfm.co.uk

Vicar Defends Radio Rebels

Storm over pirates' use of church Vicar defends radio rebels    By PHIL PARKIN (Dec86) A BIRMINGHAM vicar yesterday defended his decision to give santury to pirate pop broadcasters in his church tower.    Rev. Richard Bashford was at the centre of a storm earlier in the week when it was discovered the rebel radio station PCRL was using his Winson Green church.   "I gave them that place to give them a little breathing space," he said, The bottom line isn't weathers this is legal or illigal.   "Here's a group of people stuggling without hardly any remuneration for themselves to give a voice to the people in the inner city area that have not got one.
"They are being chassed and harrased by the Department of trade and Inductry. PCRL - The Peoples' Community Radio Line - has been raided more than 120 times by the Department Of Trade and Industry officials attempting to drive them from the airways.     The pirates, safe from raids for three weeks their transmitter kept being removed, so now it's safe	from the church on Monday after discussions with Rev. Bashford.  "I came under formal pressure from Archdeacon John Duncan who said he couldn't condone illigality but understoot the motives," he said. He accused Birmingham's independent radio station, BRMB of staging a dirty tricks campaign to oust PCRL from the airways.	But BRMB managing director Ian Rufus described the allegations as "rubbish"  He said "BRMB supported the efforts of DTI officials to stop the pirate broadcasters.    The station's popularity showed they were meeting the needs of the people," he said.  PCRL is now off the air but a spokesperson for the station vowed last night they would return

Motorist (PCRL DJ) Takes Police To Court

SUNDAY MERCURY, FEBRUARY 11, 2001
MOTORIST TAKES				COURT AGAIN ... Driver Carl Josephs
POLICE TO COURT
Carl's been stopped 10 times since last legal row A BLACK motorist who sued West Midlands Police after officers stopped him 34 times in two years is set to launch a fresh civil action against the force.    Caterer Carl Josephs, 28, will use the new European Human Rights Act as a springboard for a landmark test case backed  by civil rights group Liberty.    Race equality campaigners were furious after a Birmingham County Court jury cleared West Midlands  Police of racially harassing  Mr Josephs, of Bromford Bridge, Birmingham, in 1999.    But they awarded him £1,000  for false imprisonment. Now the part-time disc jockey, who became so sick of being stopped that he publicly handed over his driving documents to the force  for "safekeeping", claims he is still being victimised."The police do not seem  to have learned anything since the last court case," he said. "They still owe me £1,000 plus interest since 1999. I have been stopped another BY AMARDEEP BASSEY     but I have never been charged with any offence. "The latest incident  came a day before I was giving I was giving evidence  to an inquiry into the death of the 'Most Wanted' suspect Damean Vernon.    "I was very disappointed with the outcome of the last court action, but I am confident that I  can get justice using the new Human Rights Act."      Chitra Karve, ethnic  human rights lawyer  for Liberty, said she had complied a  file of motorists in Birmingham who had been  "excessively" stopped 10 times since I brought my last action, by the West Midlands Police.  She said: It's likely that will be taking a group action against the West Midlands Police using the new European Human Rights Act which  came into force last October.    "The Act enshrines an individual's right that his privacy is respected and that he is not dis-criminated against.   We belive the police have vio-lated  this right over a sustained period of time and, although strictly speaking the Act only cov-ers any violations after October, we can still put forward the previous stops to demonstrate a pattern." Powers    Miss Karve said the court action would be a test case to challenge the  discriminatory stop and search powers of the police.   Mr Josephs, who ironically was stopped by the police the  night before he launched his last action, added: "I hold a clean driving licence and have no criminal record yet I seem to be a target for officers who I belive are picking on me because of my colour and persistent campaigning against racial harassment."    West Midlands Police declined to comment.

Motoring charges dismissed in a flash Apr 12 2004

By James Cartledge, Evening Mail  A black driver at the centre of an 11 year "police victimisation" row has seen four more motoring charges thrown out of court. Magistrates took less than a minute to dismiss the latest allegations against 33-year-old actor and DJ Carl Josephs. He claims to have been stopped by police 56 times since 1993 because of his colour and has even handed his driving documents to the West Midlands force in protest at his alleged treatment. Charges of having no insurance and MoT, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and failing to stop for police were dismissed when no evidence was offered against him. Speaking after yesterday's case at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, Mr Josephs, of Sundew Croft, Bromford Bridge, said his time and taxpayers' money had been wasted on a "futile" prosecution. He said: "I didn't even have time to take my coat off because the charges were dismissed so quickly. "In a way I'm disappointed because I was looking forward to defending myself and testing the evidence against me." No evidence was offered against Mr Josephs because two police officers failed to attend court to testify against him after he was pulled over on the Bristol Road in March. West Midlands Police has always denied officers have harassed Mr Josephs. A force spokesman said: "If Mr Josephs has any concerns about West Midlands Police he is more than welcome to discuss them with an officer."

home page: pcrlfm.co.uk

Angry Man Make Waves

Angry radio man makes waves (Metro-News October 1, 1992)
RADIO wars have erupted in Birmingham with a former pirate radio boss calling for the immediate withdrawal of Buzz FM's broadcasting licence.    The independent station launched more than two years ago, aiming to serve the black community, but was taken over in May by Glasgow-based Radio Clyde. Local news staff were immediately sacked and bulletins are currently provided from London by Independent Radio News.    New Cecil Morris  - who founded the city's popular 'underground station' PCRL -- has opened an offensive.	EXCLUSIVE by ADRIAN GOLDBURG "He says that Buzz's franchise should be re-advertised straight away. It's run by people who have no interest in the community. "They are not fulfilling the promises made when they were granted the licence, and they're not doing anything for disenfranchised groups in the city."   Mr Morris works for BCR, a consortium hoping to win one of the two new local franchise being awarded next year. He admits the group would want the Buzz licence, due for renewal in two years time.	His comments brought a stinging rebuke from Buzz station manager Tony Ingham: "Were the most local station in the city. The only thing we talk about is Birmingham. We are very much a city station ."    Buzz broadcasted a least 70 per cent black music, and had an hour's Asian programming each day.    "Nowhere does it say in our promise of performance that we're a community station. We're an incremental station, with concern to be of interest to ethnic groups.    We're ultimately answerable to the Radio Authority and they are satisfied with our performance"

Alert Over Raids On Air Pirates

Birmingham Evening Mail

Concert Boost For Pirate Radio Station

(Evening Mail circa.1982) Concerts boost for pirate radio station The best of Handsworth's young talent is to high-lighted in three concerts in Birmingham next week.      Birmingham's outlawed reggae music station Radio Star is holding a one-off concert at Romeo and Juliets nightclub in Hurst Street on Monday.      The concert, held to raise funds for the station's campaign to become legalised, will feature to Handsworth bands B.B. Assignment and Amlak, whose debut single "Christmas Is Here," is tipped for the charts. Gospel The evening will also include a showing of the new Jimmy Cliff film "Bongo Man" and a disco by Rising Star disc jockey Papa Stone.     A "Handsworth Spectacular" multi-cultural evening is also to be held on Wednesday and Thursday at the Old Rep Theatre in Station Street.     Taking pride of place at the show will be Handsworth based fashion group QT, young Radiolarian mothers who produce their own designs for sale in the city center boutiques.      Black gospel music will be provided by Handsworth Community Choir, and Asian harmony group Swur Sumgum will be playing music with the sitar.      A choir from King Edward VI School in Rose Hill Road will also be making an appearance, as will a local African-style drumming and dancing group called Gathering.      The Handsworth Spectacular has been organised by the group that are appearing, helped by the community development officer Miss Sheila Hendley. home: pcrlfm.co.uk  (photo: PCRL archive)

Community Radio Gives £1,500 To Children's Hospital

"COMMUNITY RADIO GIVES £1,500 TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL"
P.C.R.L. radio has been going for 3 years now surviving only on what the P.C.R.L. staff themselves make at their shows (which sometimes is not very much). The aim of P.C.R.L. is to provide a free community station for the "forgotten" or "neglected" minorities, but never the less time . and time again members of the community come to P.C.R.L. for help and guidance with a variety of ventures and we at P.C. R.L. do as much as we possibly can to help. Following the "children in need" appeal last year, Crazy G from P.C.R.L.	radio hit upon an idea to start an appeal with. other P.C.R.L. staff, following further discussions Crazy G' started a "toy" appeal, where members of the public sent in unwanted toys, which was a great success but last Christmas we decided to re-create the idea but this time donate money, the appeal was quite successful. Pledges from member of the public raised £400.00, we ourselves donated £600.00 from shows promoted throughout the year, and £500.00 was donated by the joint sponsor of the appeal	International singing star Freddie McGregor. . Dr Prendergast a consultant psychiatrist at the Birmingham Children Hospital said the money would be used to buy equipment to assist in he treatment of the children and to train doctors in the treatment of children with psychiatric problems. There is a definite assurance the appeal would operate again this Christmas because we know the children hospital is in need of as much support as it can be given. Once again a big thanks to the public for	making it work. Also P.C.R.L. in association. with Marcus Garvey Foundation have launched an appeal for "Jamaican Hurricane Flood Disaster" . Send donation to, MARCUS GARVEY 104 Heathfield Road Handsworth Birmingham or P.C.R.L. 151 Dudley Road Edgbaston Birmingham 18 7QY Music Master Head of Station Written by Baby Cat

Britain's First Pirate TV Station

(West Indian World No.650 Feb. 15, 1984)

Tenby Towers (bbc2 transmitter site)

BRITAIN'S FIRST 

PIRATE TV STATION

(by Veronica Minto)

TELSTAR Television is Britain's first pirate TV station. The Birmingham-based trio behind Telstar consists of a local government officer, an unemployed self-trained electronics expert and a black business man (Cecil Morris) & broadcaster,who was previously ran radio Star.

Telstar TV was run from 151 Dudley Road, Rising Star Records, the station utilised the BBC2 TV transmittors after it went of the air at midnight. This was done by using switch-on signal to re-broadcast the pirate pictures. Mr Morris suggests he has over 5,000 viewers in the Rubery and Northfield areas have so far been treated to hired videos such as pop group Duran Duran, horror movies and films such as Kramer vs. Kramer. Though their broadcasting time is between 1-5 am., they say they have no intention of screening "Video Nasties" or blue movies.

    "We are all responsible family people. There is no question of broadcasting anything distasteful which would insult our viewers", said Music Master. Before signing off one of the presenters will read out a letter of support , advise for better service and requests for films.

  Since it's exposure Telstar have been the recipients of dozens of letters a week as far a field as Scotland, Ireland and Sussex, anxious to find when they will be able to receive Telstar. But it's not only the young who are enthusiastic. On 68-year-old is reported to have said waiting up for Telstar is the highlight of the week, to which Music Master who wishes to remain anonymous says:

    "Telstar is the peoples station. British TV is boring, it needs competition to make it healthier. We would not have so much support if they were satisfied. The audience is there and we are catering for them.

      Telstar is now off the air to avoid detection, as the Department of Trade have called in  British Telecom's Radio Interference office saying "What they are doing is illegal," \but come summer Telecom's engineers will once again be huddled around their sophisticated tracking equipment in the hope of hunting down the country's smallest TV station, because Telstar have promised------ better organisation ------- hours of video ----

(SOME OF THE TEXT ABOVE HAS BEEN DAMAGED ON THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT)

FROM AN ON-LINE CHAT ROOM AT THE PIRATE ARCHIVE

Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:37 pm

Yeah I remember transmissions came from Bartley Green/ Northfield in a flat and were switched on as soon as BBC2 went off the air. In those days BBC2 closed early on a Friday Night sometimes 11pm to 11.30pm. On a Saturday night they showed the Midnight Movie so they didn't close till 2am. On Fridays they actually switched off the transmitter. Some said it was for maintenance. Telstar switched on and ran a movie with the occasional pop video too, "Girls On Film" by Duran Duran was the best. for many weeks, about 8, this went on and the authorties were not aware. I was asked to produce some Intro and outtro continuity announcements and for the "heck of it" I agreed and recorded some general announcements "its our movie now" etc etc... These were general so they could be shown anytime. We did "on air" responses to letters that were sent in by viewers mainly from the Northfield Area and a few from Rubery. These were used for only three weeks although I think I did record about 6 intro/outtros. They were recorded on VHS at my work which was an Audio Visual rental company so we had the cameras and lighting on the shelf. The intro was shown then a black gap of about 60 seconds while the operator changed the VHS cassette for the movie. Then at the end the same process happened leaving 60 or so seconds while the outro was slotted back in the VHS machine. The outtro would say goodnight and ask people to watch next week after BBC2 closed. My father who lived in Northfield switched over one Friday night to see a Horror movie which he enjoyed thinking it was BBC2. The quality was very good considering it was VHS.
Then the person who ran the station decided to close down with a Blast of publicity. So he decided to do a last transmission. then the following week went into Central News/BBC Midlands Today and took the continuity tape. This is when the sh*t hit the fan...He never did appear the following Friday. Thousands of people must have been waiting after it got National News coverage. News At ten. BBC 9 o clock. etc etc. But the station never came On. The news coverage was based on a pre-recorded VHS tapes of the announcements a few which were never actually ever shown on air. I went into hiding, shaved off my moustouche and faced my boss who was on the verge of sacking me had it not been for the performance of the Rental Company. It was a very difficult period. The Rental company had signed a big contract with ITN for camera hire and was bidding for the HBO Wimbledon contract. Luckily it all died down and Telstar was not heard of again. ITV went 24 hours BBC2 transmitter stayed on, and Pirate TV was tried in London but never really took off. I think Telstar had a few viewers who had tuned in by mistake and watched for about 8 weeks as the films got better. they had a whole Video store to choose from...but the station was exposed to the media by its operators....the authorities were embarresed as it had been running for about 8 weeks.

As for the continuity announcements they were dreadful Yes dreadful, and I suppose I was naive to think that the only people who would see them would be the 30 or so viewers ... NOT THE WHOLE COUNTRY............... JON TAYLER (Forum User)

Posts: 26Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:10 amLocation: Rubery, Birmingham, Worcestershire border.

10,000 Sign Pirate Station Petition

10,000 SIGN PIRATE STATION PETITION Pirate Radio  Star legal' call
by ROBIN JONES    Birmingham's pirate reggae radio station -- Radio Star   -- which was twice raided by Home Office officials earlier this year, is aiming to be legalized.   More than 10,000 people people have have signed the petition demanding the Edgbaston-based station is given a broadcasting licence,   say Radio Star organizers.    Culture   The station which last broadcast on 94.2 VHF, specialises in reggae music and aspects of West Indian culture such as Rastafarian.  The programmes are	Cecil Morris 'wealth of talent.' aimed mainly at the people in the inner city areas of Birmingham but staff say they have received reports of the station's frequencies being picked up in Derby and Coventry. Radio Star has been off the air since last May when Home Office investigators raided the roof of a tower block in Edgbaston from where programmes were being transmitted.	But another pirate reggae radio station, the Handsworth-based rebel radio, broadcast on the same frequency from a secret location for nine hours on August Bank Holiday Monday without being detected.    The man behind Radio Star, 36-year-old reggae band promoter Cecil Morris, who lives in a flat above his record shop and offices in Dudley Road, says the station will not go back on the air unless they attain a license.  Bands He said: "We were doing the job of a community radio station when when we had our Sunday evening broadcasts, and we	could have been attracting up to 50,000 listeners. "A black music station is a must for Birmingham. We can give air time to the many top class local reggae bands who would otherwise be ignored by other local and national stations. We started running Radio Star out of interest and love of reggae music and culture, and not because we wanted to make money or ern a wage. Even out adverts were free.   Father-of-four Mr Morris says: "There is wealth of musical talent in eras like Handsworth and we are giving them the chance to have their music played to the public" he said.