Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A decorator known for his work in design and his service as a wireless operator in the RAF during World War II.
On the island
Eight records
The first one I've chosen is Aquarius, which is the favorite record of my sister.
To remind me of the days that I worked as a stage hand at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Thinking of my parents and their wonderful support and help they gave me all through my difficult years and up till a few weeks ago when my mother sadly died.
Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse
I think this sums up my life.
Royal Choral Society with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
To remind me of my housekeeper, who's been with me for twenty years, and is a very, very great friend, and to remind me of all the staff at my workshops, who I still hope will be busily beavering away whilst I'm stranded.
Hancock's Half Hour: The Aircraft Mechanic
Tony Hancock and Kenneth Williams
Going back many, many years now reminds me of Kenneth Williams. In the fifties, Kenneth and I met when I was doing my stage design. And I stayed with him and his parents one Christmas. And I suppose he is responsible for teaching me all I know about perspective, because he is in his own right a brilliant draftsman.
Land of Hope and GloryFavourite
BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
I'm so tired of people knocking this country. I'm filled with hope for it. It's a very glorious country.
In conversation
Presenter asks
2:39As a boy, what was your ambition?
I suppose it was to be in the design field.
Presenter asks
3:09What did you do when you left school?
Well, when I left school I went into the RAF. The war was on. The war was on then, yes. And uh I went into signals and I became a wireless operator. And after a year or so I transferred to the SE rescue.
Presenter asks
3:22Did you have an eventful war service?
Yes, I suppose it was eventful. My first operational service in the Air C rescue when we had an operational call. I went out to the ship at the double. Um and it was the duty of the wireless operator also to help with the navigation. And of course I had all the charts spread out at my side. I nearly had a nervous breakdown when I was plotting one of the plays when I found we were in the middle of a minefield. So I immediately asked why we were in the middle of a minefield, thinking I had made a mistake. And they said, Oh, there's no problem at all. The mines are always much deeper than the draft of this boat. I wasn't at all confident that they had all been laid at the same depth, but I was safe. But I nearly got court-martialed because I became so violently sick in the small little ship I spent the entire time but on the outside I missed the recall signal. And they had to send L C Rescue out to find us.
The keepsakes
The luxury
I love growing orchids. And given the tropical island, I might be able to breed orchids and create a new strain altogether.
Presenter asks
5:28What happened to you when you were demobilized?
Well, I was interested in theatricals when I was in the RAF and did stage design for the local RAF Dramatic Society. And it was a natural thing when I came out that I wished to be a stage designer. But really to be a designer of any kind one has actually to work with the materials and learn how things are made. moved, etc., and the practicability of things. And so therefore I went to the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden as a stage hand and I learnt a tremendous amount there. Shifting scenery? Actually shifting scenery, yes. Did you work anywhere else apart from the Royal Opera House? The Arts Theatre Club in London and Repertory Company in Scotland. Did you do any designing? A great deal in Scotland at the Reperture Company, but there there I did most things. I was stage director, stage manager. Scene shifter as well as scene designer.
Presenter asks
13:41Why should one hire a decorator rather than do it themselves?
It's a very good question in actual fact. I think if you're going to employ a decorator, don't employ a decorator to decorate for you. Employ a decorator as a coordinator. This is truly what a decorator's job is. You don't ask for a free hand. No, I hate being given carte lanches. Otherwise I'm creating something for myself, and not for the person that has employed me.
Presenter asks
20:34With what degree of foreboding do you look on your sojourn on this desert island?
I don't think the loneliness would worry me,'cause I'm very much of a a loner. I don't mind my own company at all.
“I nearly had a nervous breakdown when I was plotting one of the plays when I found we were in the middle of a minefield.”
“I think if you're going to employ a decorator, don't employ a decorator to decorate for you. Employ a decorator as a coordinator.”
“I don't think the loneliness would worry me,'cause I'm very much of a a loner. I don't mind my own company at all.”
“I think I could make a very nice Palladian villa out of cocoa nut shells.”
“I'm so tired of people knocking this country. I'm filled with hope for it. It's a very glorious country.”