26. The Last of the Pirates: Nick Richards

The day the RNLI rescued pirates – former Radio Caroline DJ Nick Richards reflects on the event that inspired a lifelong affinity with the charity

The Mi Amigo was a rusting hulk. She had a seized engine, no ship’s wheel, and somebody had even made off with the compass. Yet, in the 1960s, this was a boat with legions of fans, including the DJs who called the Mi Amigo home.

Nick Richards takes us back to the days of Radio Caroline, the pirate radio station that broadened musical horizons from a ship anchored off the Essex coast. Nick, one of four DJs rescued when the Mi Amigo began to sink, recalls the day Sheerness RNLI came to their aid. But there was a fifth crew member onboard that day – what happened to the ship’s canary, Wilson?

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI 

Interview by Adventurous Audio 

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls 

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200