Surrey Anorak's Society - the Radio Group.         Who are we?

We are a group of people interested in radio and other forms of broadcast media and come from ‘the other side of the fence’.

 That is we are listeners who originally gained an interest in the radio listening hobby by tuning into pirate radio particularly Radio Caroline. Our members remember the different waves of offshore radio stations in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Many had some form of an involvement in land-based pirate radio in the late 60s, 70s and 80s like Radio Helen, Radio Jackie, Sun Radio (Worthing) and Southern Radio / South East Sound plus  London Stereo. A number of our group helped ‘The Lady’ and some served on the Laser ship MV Communicator. Also later on Radio Argus and some RFL staff  would appear. 

Originally formed in January 1985 as the East Surrey Branch of the Caroline Movement . This initial meeting was at the  Chequers  Pub in Horley and was attended by amongst pthers Johnny Lewis, Ken James (who  bcame our initial co-ordinator) Ian Thorndale,  Graham P, and  myself.  We decided that we would do a monthy meet  at the Home Cottage Pub in Redhill. Today SAS Radio Group meet informally every month on the first Tuesday For Calendar:  Meetings

From September 2011 meetings were moved to The Toby Inn & Carvery, Redstone Hill, Redhill, Surrey RH1 4BL (opposite the Home Cottage Pub) from around 20.30 hours and lasts up until 23.30 hours. 

Meetings after the COVID shutdown  are back at the Home Cottage  The pub is conveniently situated just of the A23 and A25 and a few minutes walk away from Redhill Railway and Bus Station. Home Cottage 

Over an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink or two we discuss not only free radio but, the whole broadcast spectrum and subjects of interest.  Over the years many well known former pirates would come some of whom trace back their involvement to the original Radio Helen and Helen Broadcast Network in 1968. Here you will also see members of the new community station for Reigate & Redhill SUSY RADIO. This is a friendly informal meeting with no subscriptions or minutes of meetings.

fter the raid we also raised some monies for the Caroline Legal Fund and I think some memebers donated records and possibly equipment.  Also back in the mid 80swe made donations  to help pay the fine for one of our members for illegal broadcasting (tut, tut) He was fined a total of £2,000 reduced to £1,500 on appeal.  The prosecution raised the usual argument that pirate stations cause interference. His defence asked the question to the  authorities  had he caused any interence? The answer was no and that the equpment seized was quite competent.   Our guy was an engineer and knew what he was doing in building AM trannsmitters!

At our meetings there is normally the latest issue of Offshore Echos Magazine (Offshore Radio News and Nostalgia) Offshore Echos, Tune Into Yesterday plus issues of our own publication SAS Interference (formerly the SAS Home Pages). 

We’re always pleased to see new or old faces. So come around and see people with a genuine interest in communications and the broadcast media.  Unfortunately due to ongoing health issues I can no longer attend but aim to keep the website going as long as I can.