Paul Rusling writing:
So sad to report the passing of the First Lady of Radio Caroline, Oonagh (* 6 December 1936), who has finally succumbed after a long battle to Amyloidosis. Oonagh was Ronan’s ‘right hand man’ from 1962 and oversaw the admin of his music business enterprises as well as the launch of Caroline, including transport of thousands in cash across borders to get suppliers paid. She was persecuted by the authorities, and finally faced the French courts for operating tenders in 1977. Oonagh leaves her loving husband Sonny (the architect of Caroline Homes) and her family in Ireland, but the eternal thanks and love of Caroline supporters everywhere. Rest well Oonagh, you’ve earned it. God Bless you my darling.
Oonagh’s story could fill a book; she had many stories to tell, many of them rip-roaring tales of life on the high seas. When she met Ronan she was managing a band that were at number one in the charts, the Temperance 7 no less!
Oonagh didn’t melt away on 14th August 67 but ran the covert office in Soho, where DJs such as Andy Archer, Steve Merike, Bud Ballou, etc were hired. She was certainly running the show when I first met her in 1970 at Hayes Mews and continued to do so until late in the 70s. Following the court case in France [Jon Myer wrote on the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame: On 1st June 1977, Oonagh Karanjia appeared in court in Boulogne with a number of boatmen, charged with tendering the radio ship. The captain gave evidence that Mrs Kariangia had chartered his vessel and he was fined, as was his mate, although the charges against a third crewman were dropped. Mrs Karanjia refused to give any information about the Caroline organisation and was fined, 4,000 francs (nearly £500), which she did not have. The court was adjourned until 23rd June and, when it resumed, she was freed. The fine had been paid by an anonymous well-wisher.] she joined Richard Laren (Lightning Records) to run Old Gold. Her periods of apparent absence were when she was deep under-cover. She was a very private lady who didn’t shout about her work, but she was undoubtedly the First Lady of Caroline.
I thought I’d better clear up confusion around Oonagh’s name: She was born Oonagh Huggard, bet later married a chap in London, whose family name she took (Leigh) with whom she had a son. It was a short and not very happy marriage.
Oonagh then dated and married Sonny Kariangia, who she met when he played cricket for Radio London. He’s still a keen cricket fan and terribly sad, and disconsolate, to lose his lifelong partner.
Oonagh was incredibly loyal to Ronan and to the station; I believe she really was the First Lady of Caroline. She did so much, it would take aa full book. Some rip-roaring tales she could tell as well. Well, she DID. I promised her to keep many of them back – but she had been collaborating with me on the next edition of the Caroline Bible which we hope to get out later this year. A true lady and one we should all be grateful for.
She hated publicity and did well to keep her head below the parapet, but all the Caroline family know what a corner-stone of the operation she was, especially in the dark days after the MoA. I was honoured that she gave me the pic to use, and all her stories too. In fact, she was one of the leading proponents of my putting the Caroline Bible out.
So many wonderful women played a role in Caroline – Frances, Pinky, Kate, Lyn, Annie and Oonagh. Think of her doting husband Sonny who faces his twilight years without the love of his life.