Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A clergyman and children's author, best known for his railway-themed books.
On the island
Eight records
Rhythms of Steam
Sound effects record of a two-cylinder steam engine pulling a passenger train up a gradient.
Elijah – Baal, We Cry to TheeFavourite
Huddersfield Choral Society, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent
Chorus 'Baal, we cry to thee' from Elijah. 'It takes me back to my school days.'
The Bugginses Prepare for a Party
Mabel Constanduros and Michael Hogan
Comedy sketch 'The Bugginses Prepare for a Party'. 'It takes me back to my family.'
Arranged by Harvey Grace. 'It reminds me of my time in Jerusalem.'
Arthur Sullivan / W.S. Gilbert
From HMS Pinafore – 'When I Was a Lad' (Song of the First Lord of the Admiralty). 'Reminds me vividly of my Odium days.'
Engines on the Licky Incline
Field recording: 'Engines on the Licky Incline' from the disc 'Trains in the Hills'. The guest describes a goods engine labouring up the incline.
Story 'Edward and Gordon' from The Three Railway Engines. 'As a memory of the start.'
The Old Lady Drives to Dolgellau
Recorded on the Talyllyn Railway. 'To remind me of all the friends I've made in the Talyllyn Preservation Society.'
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:08On a desert island, what would you be happiest to have got away from?
the continual spite of seculars in forms which I'm expected to fill in [which come every day by post].
Presenter asks
1:39How did you set about making this list of eight records – are you choosing for nostalgia, inspiration, or what?
My family had great fun in helping me choose. But you mustn't allow your family to influence you. This is very personal thing. I didn't in the end. I got my own way.
Presenter asks
5:46How good would you be as a castaway – could you look after yourself on the island?
I think given tools I could manage to make myself reasonably comfortable, erect a shelter and make furniture and so on.
Presenter asks
9:18At what age did you feel that the church was your vocation?
The keepsakes
No book or luxury recorded for this episode.
It wasn't really till I got to Oxford. I was reading History. For the Church? Not really, except the usual boy's ambition to be an engineer.
Presenter asks
16:18Can you explain this railway fascination? Where does the romance of railways come in?
The real fascination for me is that a [steam engine is] a mechanical contrivance made by man. The steam engine is the most human... an underground train, for instance, you could cut it in half and it wouldn't mind. A steam engine, on the other hand, is an extrovert. Unless he's at rest with his fire drawn, he's always got something to say.
Presenter asks
19:59When did you start translating your railway knowledge and fantasies into children's stories?
When I had a son of my own. He was three, he had measles, and he needed amusing. So I started telling him stories about engines, and he liked them, and I told them so often that the wording became fixed, so I wrote them down.
“the continual spite of seculars in forms which I'm expected to fill in.”
“He had such great faith in God that he was never less alone than when he was alone.”
“The steam engine is the most human. ... an underground train, for instance, you could cut it in half and it wouldn't mind.”
“I don't believe in talking down to children. Children like high sounding words.”