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Paddy Roy Bates

Paddy Roy Bates, also known as Roy of Sealand, is a former British pirate radio broadcaster now best known for founding the self-proclaimed micronation of Sealand, of which he claims to be the sovereign prince and Head of State.

Bates served in the British Army, rising to the rank of Major. He then became a successful fisherman before moving into pirate radio.

In 1965 he evicted Radio City staff who had occupied Knock John Tower in the Thames estuary. From there he ran Radio Essex from 1965 to 1966. The station changed its name in October, 1966 to Britain's Better Music Station (BBMS), shortly before going off the air on Christmas Day of 1966.

After being convicted of violating British broadcasting law, Bates moved his operation to nearby Roughs Tower. This tower had earlier been claimed by Jack Moore and his daughter for Ronan O'Rahilly of Radio Caroline. On learning that Bates had set up there, O'Rahilly sent men to land on the tower, but their boat was driven off with petrol bombs and (according to O'Rahilly's men) gunfire.

The radio station never began broadcasting from the new location, but Bates nonetheless decided to stay, and proclaimed Roughs Tower to be the Principality of Sealand in 1967.

In 1968, Bates's son Michael fired on a British navy ship. In a subsequent case brought before a local court in Chelmsford, Essex, it was ruled that the offense had occurred outside of the jurisdiction of that court. This small court no longer exists. Other courts in Essex do claim jurisdiction but no other case was brought on this matter, Bates cites this case as evidence of de facto sovereignty.

In recent years, Bates has come to an agreement with the company HavenCo, which is using Sealand as an offshore data haven.

Bates and his wife Joan no longer live on Sealand, having left the day-to-day operation to their son Michael.

Sources

  • Samuel Pyeatt Menefee "Republics of the Reefs:" Nation-Building on the Continental Shelf and in the World's Oceans; [1], [2].
  • http://www.cwgsy.net/private/offshorepirateradio/essex.html
  • http://www.marine-broadcasters.com/seafort%20based%20radiostations.htm
  • Transcript of the 1968 court decision
  • http://freespace.virgin.net/line.design/forts/radio_essex.htm
  • http://www.sixtiescity.com/Radio/PirateRadio.htm
Last updated: 11-10-2004 20:01:08