Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Owner of the world's best-known steam locomotive, the Flying Scotsman.
On the island
Eight records
Because I like it anyway, and I think that in this situation of being cast away, one's got to perhaps look on the funny side, and it seems to be awfully appropriate as a title.
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
I've decided, after going through this in some detail, that Handel appears to be almost my favourite composer. And I've chosen from Solomon, the arrival of the Queen of Sheba, which has always been a tremendous favourite of mine.
I have always loved the voice of Kathleen Ferrier, and I have always loved the song What Is Life?
The Flying Scotsman (4472) pulling away from Durham
I think it's an appropriate moment to have a little bit of the voice of 4472 herself.
Symphony No. 88 in G major - IV. Finale
New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Otto Klemperer
It's a magnificent bit of music and I think very, very appropriate. It always reminds me somehow of a steam engine tearing along.
Air from Water MusicFavourite
Bach Scholar Cantorum conducted by Auguste Benzinger
I've chosen simply because it's one of my favourite pieces of music, Handel's water music.
To my mind is very much a sort of waking up number. I can imagine myself leaping along the shore listening to this.
When Britain Really Ruled the Waves
Arthur Sullivan (music), W.S. Gilbert (lyrics)
I like the sentiments expressed in it and it also rather amuses me that in this day and age they're still having their problems with the House of Lords.
In conversation
Presenter asks
8:58Now in 1963 you bought the only remaining A3 Pacific locomotive, the Flying Scotsman. Was it advertised for sale or was it your idea to buy it?
Now it is my idea to buy it. The fact that I was at that time serving on this particular board of British Railways, I could see the way things were going and what was going to happen really at the time that we've arrived at now. The time was going to come, in other words, when steam locomotives were going to vanish altogether. And this particular class of locomotive appeared to begin to have become extinct. There was no particular preservation plan for one of these engines. So I set about trying to preserve one of them and this seemed to me, out of the 80-odd in the class, the one to try and preserve.
Presenter asks
14:17What kind of future do you see for British Rail? Is it ever going to be economically self-sufficient?
I think as far as main lines are concerned, there's a tremendous potential because there's been all this legislation that took place in 1968 and I think that there's no doubt at all that There are terrific possibilities for British Railways from 1969 onwards. And of course on the passenger side, this plan that's been announced for things like turbo trains running at speeds initially up to 125 miles an hour, later up to 150. I have no doubt at all that these things will be enormously successful.
The keepsakes
The luxury
A huge barrel of aerosol fly spray
I've got a great respect, having been a fisherman at one stage of my life in Scotland, I've got a great respect for the Scottish mid. And I can think of nothing worse than being on this lovely island and being devoured all the time by winged insects. So I would like to take a huge barrel of some sort of aerosol fly spray, as it were.
Presenter asks
Do you think Lord Beeching was justified in cutting out the branch lines?
I think he was justified in terms of the general concept. I'm sure the general concept was right. But I think, as so often happens, I think perhaps he went at it a little bit too vigorously and perhaps cut down more than was strictly necessary. I mean, let's face it, if you've got a tree and you decide there's one or two withered branches on it, you can chop off those branches and that's fair enough. But if you go and chop the lot off, you've got rather a ridiculous looking tree trunk left at the end of it.
Presenter asks
18:57Would you try to escape?
No. I've always found in life that life takes all sorts of very strange twists and turns, but it's usually much better to accept what comes along and make the best of it. I think I try and make the best of this.
Presenter asks
22:23If you could take just one of the eight records you've chosen, which would it be?
I think the water music has always been a great favourite, and I am surrounded by water anyway.
Presenter asks
22:35And one luxury to take with you.
Well, I've got a great respect, having been a fisherman at one stage of my life in Scotland, I've got a great respect for the Scottish mid. And I can think of nothing worse than being on this lovely island and being devoured all the time by winged insects. So I would like to take a huge barrel of some sort of aerosol fly spray, as it were.
“I am quite unashamedly a terrific sentimentalist and I know there are going to be times on this island of mine when I'm going to feel a little bit sad and a little bit lonely and I'm going to think of all the things that I might have done had I only got around to doing them.”
“I think he was justified in terms of the general concept. I'm sure the general concept was right. But I think, as so often happens, I think perhaps he went at it a little bit too vigorously and perhaps cut down more than was strictly necessary. I mean, let's face it, if you've got a tree and you decide there's one or two withered branches on it, you can chop off those branches and that's fair enough. But if you go and chop the lot off, you've got rather a ridiculous looking tree trunk left at the end of it.”
“No. I've always found in life that life takes all sorts of very strange twists and turns, but it's usually much better to accept what comes along and make the best of it. I think I try and make the best of this.”
“I love England. I'm proud that I'm English. I know all these things are supposed to be very unfashionable these days.”
“I think the water music has always been a great favourite, and I am surrounded by water anyway.”
“I can think of nothing worse than being on this lovely island and being devoured all the time by winged insects. So I would like to take a huge barrel of some sort of aerosol fly spray, as it were.”