One of the earliest Scottish pirates to emerge following the first offshore radio era was Radio Scotland. Taking inspiration and the name from the offshore station, it was started by Danny Burke who later became one of the founders of Radio Tay.

The station was located in Fife and started transmissions in 1969, broadcasting at weekends on 1594kHz, 190 metres.

The station eventually obtained a new transmitter, constructed from parts of a rig from a trawler. This gave an output of 200 watts and with that and a frequency change to 1169kHz and later 1133kHz, the station began receiving reception reports from England and further afield.

In September 1969 Sweden calling DXers reported that Radio Scotland "was back on the air from the MV Liberation" in the North Sea. Good signals were reported in Edinburgh over the past three weeks.

In June 1970 again ScDXers again reported that Radio Scotland can be heard every Saturday and Sunday broadcasting from M/V Liberation anchored in the North Sea. Operating on approx. 1111kHz at 1200-1630. Mailing address: Radio Scotland, 239 Eastwood, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 7LG, Gr. Britain.

During the 1970 General Election the station changed name to Radio Caroline International in sympathy with RNI. Broadcasts continued through the early 70’s using this name or WRCI for short.

SIRA magazine noted in 1973 that WRCI had played a rather unkind dedication for Radio Veronica’s ship that had ended up on Scheveningen beach, Cliff Richard with “On the beach””!

In 1973 the station was noted as being on 269 metres every Sunday from 1400-1900 using an address in Buckhaven, Fife.

It’s not certain when the station finally left the air, but we have no note of it after 1973.

Above are photographs of the WRCI studio with Gerry Hogan.
The studio seemed very advanced and neat for a 'pirate' of the day, and they certainly had a nice record collection.

We also wonder what was on the other side of the studio 'glass'.  There looked to be plenty of offshore radio posters and memorabilia.

The article below was written by Danny Burke and appeared in the October 1999 issue of Short Wave Magazine.

(Click individual page for a larger and more readable view)