Paddy Roy Bates (29 August 1921 - 9 October 2012) was a former British pirate radio broadcaster and founder of the Principality of Sealand, styling himself H.R.H. Prince Roy, The Prince of Sealand. Bates served in the British Army, rising to the rank of Major. He then became a fisherman before moving into pirate radio. In 1965 he ousted Radio City staff who had occupied Knock John Tower, a Maunsell Sea Fort (a World War II British anti-aircraft defence platform) 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.