SEALAND.......

A few years ago I spent time on Roughs Tower AKA: Sealand. It's about 7 miles due east from Harwich if I remember correctly. The reason I was there....well... I was under a music management contract with Jim (surname not important) who put together some recording time at Limelite studio in Battersea London and worked as part of a security detail on the fort.



Anyway...because he worked two weeks on and two weeks off on the platform I got to go with him along with some recording equipment and synth, dig piano and write new material in the most peaceful surroundings you can imagine. I remember someone at the time telling me that musicians and artists would spend good money to get that kind of peace and setting.
Memory.....ahh yes...sitting on the H.D with a portable keyboard trying to write an ode to Sealand waving like a snob to all the yaughts going past the once happy bouys. (don't ask)
It was a cool time in my life as I got to meet some moderately important people and got to have lunch dinner AND tea with some B list people who were behind the scenes at the time in the music industry....(and...yes this is true,)

For the record and for anyone reading this who might remember these artists, Jim was the one who found Paul Hardcastle and started him on the road to pre"19" n n n n nineteen (Vietnam anti USA war song) fame and also found Bronski Beat (Jimmy Summerville) playing to an audience in Covernt gardens in London. So I felt pretty sure I must have something special if he was helping me.

Anyway,I got to meet Sir Roy Bates, his charming wife Joan and son Micheal, who owned the platform. I found out at the time that Roy had been a guest on Terry Wogans show many years ago which was a suprise.

The point to this blog is basically that I was given a set of Sealand stamps which were produced along with curency and passports to allow for it to stand as a principality in the eyes of the law as well as it (controvercial fact alert) standing in international waters and hense was believed to be untouchable from the hands British Government.
I've heard many people say that if it was ever deemed a threat to the government then they would probably board it and take it.
Well, I say this "even back then...they would have hand a problem if they tried to and thats years ago...so I can only imagine the increase in security and logistics, especially with the new ventures"
Although even back then when I was putting whats known as a "silver rod" CB antena in the middle of the helicopter desk in the middle of one hell of an evil storm, I knew that it would never be a pushover if anyone wanted to try and come aboard.

Looking back,the only freaky time I still squirm at was the only way available to get on board. It's known as a bosans chair.I hated it at the time as Jim got smacked on the head by our boarding ships mast, whilst part way up.

......going back on topic...I have found out that a set of new stamps are now available to anyone who wants to buy them. I am hoping though that along with some extensive and VERY proovable memories, I still have something to pass on to my daughter when she is older when I can tell her about daddys exploits and mad life/past.

Here's hoping...

I digress. If this blog is a little in need of a spell check and is all over the place, it's because I am feeling god awful and have another damn cold. AND I WANT SYMPATHY..... :-(

The stamps I have are in a safe place literally. But I will take some snaps and upload the pics.