On 24 December 1966,[3] at the age of 14, Michael joined his father Roy in occupying HM Fort Roughs, where they established a pirate radio station.

[4] Michael left his boarding school to visit the platform and ended up never going back, stating, "I thought it was a six-week adventure, not 34 years.

"[5] On 2 September 1967, Roy declared sovereignty over the platform, and moved his family permanently to Sealand, including wife Joan, son Michael, and daughter Penelope.

[4] Michael was a key participant in the battle to retake Sealand from the perpetrators of an attempted coup.

[8] Bates presented a discussion of his book at Estuary 2016, an art, literature, music and film festival.