MARTIN KAYNE
In 1959 he joined the RAF and szerved in the UK & Cyprus. In 1965, in England, he heard transmissions from Radio Caroline and decided that he wanted to be part of the offshore scene. He purchased his discharge for £200.
The first part of Martin's bio, comprises an interview, he conducted with himself, in a 1973 edition of "Monitor".
When did you take up DeeJaying?
After leaving the R.A.F. at the beginning of 1966.
Did you start like most DJ's at a disco?
No, back in '66 there were not nearly as many discotheques as there are now. first professional position was with Radio Essex.
Had you been interested or involved with radio before?
Yes in a way, while serving with the Air Force in Cyprus, at a place called Episkopi I became involved with a shore-based set up using an AM transmitter on 88 MIcs VHF. This became so popular we had to close down for fear of being locked up in the Guardroom! It seems that senior officers were not amused.
You have worked for four marine stations, Essex, 355 (as Michael Cane), Caroline North, and Radio Northsea - which station did you like the best and why?
Gulp! That is difficult as each station had its better and not so good points. For me Caroline was certainly the most satisfying, the letters we received just after the MOA bill became law went to show that millions wanted Caroline, and that they missed Big L and the others.
Have you ever worked for the beeb?
No. A programme for Radio Medway & a possible series for BBC World Service were suddenly dropped because of my involvement with a rival station (RNI). I did utter some words on 247m once at a Radio One Club broadcast from Folkestone - I was having a parle with Tony Blackburn on the difference between introducing disco shows and radio programmes.
Would you be interested in working on a new pirate station, or perhaps a foreign station?
I don't think so, I have a wife and baby to consider, being away at sea for weeks on end is not my idea of married life. I left RNI basically for this reason. As for foreign stations, that depends when and when. Actually while I was in the RAF I applied to join the British Forces Broadcasting Service who happen to have their headquarters station at Dhekelia in Cyprus. I spoke to a Miss Livingstone (a matronly like woman in her 50's) who informed me that I had neither the voice or the personality to become a member of their broadcasting staff. I am sure it was because of this snub back in 1965 that I left the Air Force and became a DJ in the first place.
What do you think a DJ should try to achieve while doing a show?
Oh! Ronan answered this one years ago, and I agree with him entirely - he said "It is the DJ's job to make each listener as happy as he or she can be".
Joining Radio Essex (Knock John Fort) he was paid £12 per week. In addition to his radio work, he also ran the catering facilities. He left in 1967, joining 355. Five months later that cxlosed and he moved to Radio Caroline.
Martin was a member of Caroline North at the time the vessel was towed in March 1968, although he was actually on shore leave at the time. Getting on & off the vessel was very arduous, as he describes: "With gales, an overloaded vessel and sometimes fog, with no radar, it's a miracle no-one was killed. Each time I came off, I vowed never to go back, but it was an adventure, so I always did. Just after the MOA we were without any supply boat for six weeks. I was on Caroline for nine weeks before I came ashore. Don Allen broke a rib when the tender became caught in a whirlpool. The stern was partly submerged, the engine-room flooded & two crates of long life milk were lost over the side.
After briefly running a mobile discotheque, He went back to sea with Radio Northsea International and was part of the team which relaunched the station in February 1971, but he left on April 14th. He explains: I joined RNI at a similar time to getting married and I was certainly in a tug of war/love situation. Half of me wanted to be at home with wife Heather. The other half enjoyed doing the radio job. Life on the Mebo II was very comfortable indeed. Each cabin had a small speaker by the bed so you could listen to the stations output".
Marriage won and despite subsequently heard on air again on a couple of short-term stations in Kent: Silversound Radio and Hythe FM and moved into the catering business.
His final "Off the Record" feature was included in the August 2003 edition.
Currently Martin can be heard on the internet radio station "Offshore Music Radio".
