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A.J.BEIRENS
	In an interview in the early 1970s, Belgian A.J.Beirens states: I became interested in offshore radio in 1959 after seeing a short film on TV about Radio Mercury. This interested increased with the coming of Radio Veronica and Uilenspeigal and, of course, the English stations. I started listening to the English by radio broadcasts of the BBC, on short wave. In the interview AJ explained his involvement with RNI, thus: In the beginning things were not going as brilliantly for RNI and the short wave transmitter was off the air for quite some time and only the medium wave transmitter was on the air, with the result in Zurich Mr Meister & Mr Bollier couldn't hear their own station, so I was their only monitor. I listened to the station all day in my office and whenever something happened or went wrong, I telephoned or telexed Zurich.
For instance, the transmitter broke down at 12.05, so there would be a telex at 12.06 saying that the TX would be off the air and I would inform them when it returned. I did that day by day, weekday & Sunday and in the end Mr Bollier was very grateful and he invited me to the ship and we talked. One day, he said "Why don't you do a DX programme on your station?" (Mr Bollier being a DXer himself) and I said "I would be prepared to make one if you are interested". It took A.J. about 1.5 hours to make each 60 minute show. A.J.Beirens was first heard on RNI on December 23, 1971. Monitor Magazine, in 1972, described A.J.'s DX programme thus: Albert J. Beirens’ popular monthly programme continues to attract ever increasing audiences. We have even heard of a Short-Wave Party being held in Harlow, where enthusiasts who do not possess their own Short-Wave radios, gather on the first Sunday of every month to listen in the home of one who has! Offshore station histories recently featured on "Northsea Goes DX" have included Radio 270 on March 5th; Capital Radio on March 26th, a very nice plug for "Monitor" was also given on this programme....warmest thanks Albert for the kind mention. On May 7th Part I of the R.N.I. story was told; and on June 4th the second part of the story followed. For those who don’t already listen to these informative broadcasts we would remind you that they are transmitted on 6205 kHz in the 49 metre Short-Wave Band, and are heard at 09.00 GMT (10.00 BST) on the first Sunday of the month. He subsequently presented two shows - his DX show (initially monthly, with the frequency increasing to weekly) and a magazine programme called "Our World In Action", featuring stories and music from around the world. On August 18, 1974, a taped interview by A.J. with Mr Bollier was aired & A.J. was part of the final team when RNI closed. A.J. worked on ABC Europe, a well known short wave pirate, from 1975 into 1976. He then set up Radio Nova International on the Italian Riveria in 1979, which he ran into the early 80's. He sold the station and moved back to Belgium. In the late 1980's he set up a local FM station in his home town of Zeebrugge which I (Paul Graham) believe he still runs today. A.J. visiteded the first RNI RSL in 1999 and was on board for the first day when we were anchored off Harwich/Shotley.