Many will have memories of the Ross Revenge - both as a trawler and as home to a pirate radio station

A ship with a long history in Grimsby and elsewhere (photo via Wikimedia Commons)

TODAY is the 60th anniversary since pirate radio station Radio Caroline resumed broadcasting on a converted trawler that was once owned by Grimsby's Ross Group. 

The vessel, formerly known as Freyr, was built  in Grimsby's German twin town Bremerhaven, for the Icelandic government.

It was sold in August, 1963, to Ross Trawlers which re-named it, for some reason, the Ross Revenge.

As well as being involved in the Cod Wars of the 1970s, she holds the world record for the biggest catch, achieved in 1976 with a trawl of 3,000 kits - approximately 218 tonnes.

Three years later, she became a diving support for a period of  three years before, in 1984, opening a fresh chapter as new home to pop music broadcaster Radio Caroline that had begun life in the 1960s on another vessel, the Mi Amigo.

Among those who spent time as the station's presenters pre- Ross Revenge were Tony  Blackburn, Simon Dee, Keith Skues, Johnnie Walker, Robbie Dale, Dave Lee Travis, Tommy Vance and Emperor Rosko.

Radio Caroline still broadcasts, but there is a shadow over the future of the former Ross Group trawler which needs major repairs.

The website is: https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk