At midnight on August 14th 1967 the British Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act became law. This forced the closure of Britain's offshore radio stations. With the exception of Radio Caroline they all closed, the most memorable being Radio London 266 known as Big L, they closed at 3pm on this day. Radio Caroline continued with a stirring speech at midnight but in 1968 starved of funds from advertising their ships were towed away to the Netherlands, not to return until the 1970's.