My aunt Helen and the pirate radio in the bathroom

When we were teenagers, my aunt Helen built a pirate radio station in the big bathroom of the London house. The aerial ran out through the courtyard window. It broadcast two hours a day — music, made-up news, fake recipes — under the name "Radio Spud."

It actually had listeners. Neighbours. The lady in flat 4B left a note one day: "Excellent programme. But please, less punk."

It lasted seven months. My grandfather found out when the water was cut off across the whole building and an engineer came up to investigate.