Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A sailor who sailed alone around the world in his 36-foot cutter Lively Lady.
On the island
Eight records
Well, it's the song O Peaceful England from Merry England.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
I like this, it's soul-stirring.
Elizabeth Webb and Georges Guétary
Well, it's a song from Bless the Bride, This Is My Lovely Day.
Bob Thiele and George David Weiss
I used to listen to this. I rather took a liking to it, because it's my sentiments, really.
Royal Choral Society and New Philharmonia Orchestra
This is a stirring piece of music which gives a country, English country scene which to me is very lovely.
The Lord's PrayerFavourite
Eric Rogers Chorale and Orchestra
I've not been a very good church goer, but being at sea brings one near to God, I think, and on a desert island I should feel that I wanted to pray.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:14From practical experience, what sort of music meant most in isolation?
Well the good music, the the semi-classical, the stuff with a little bit of life in it.
Presenter asks
3:54When did you get this fascination for the sea?
Well, I've had it from a very small boy. I've always read all the old sea stories of the old square riggers with their runs round Cape Horn. And that inspired me and taunted me and forced me in the end to sail to...
Presenter asks
4:20What was your first job when you left school?
Oh, I was in an insurance broker's office in Canterbury.
Presenter asks
8:09You had a false start, first of all, didn't you?
Yes, in 1966 I started with the... It was the idea of sailing along with Sir Francis Chichester when he started. But although I knew I couldn't match him for speed, I thought it'd just be nice to go along. But I had a mishap in the channel while I was becalmed a big ship hit me and damaged me so much that I was forced into Plymouth. Where the repairs took so long. It was too late for me to leave England to get round Cape Horn.
The keepsakes
The luxury
transistor radio with a good supply of batteries
How about uh Transistor radios that with the good supply of batteries that I could uh listen to the news
Presenter asks
10:15Was it worse than you'd expected?
It wasn't worse because I'd always visualised the worst that could happen with the yacht being rolled over and whatnot.
Presenter asks
14:31Do you enjoy this public life?
Yes oh yes, I quite enjoy it. I like meeting people. People think because you sail alone that you're an odd character. But you're not at all. I love parties. I love meeting people.
“I've had it from a very small boy. I've always read all the old sea stories of the old square riggers with their runs round Cape Horn. And that inspired me and taunted me and forced me in the end to sail to...”
“Not without shedding a few tears, I might say, because a lot of my blood and sweat had gone into converting a...”
“It wasn't worse because I'd always visualised the worst that could happen with the yacht being rolled over and whatnot.”
“There's still this whine through the rigging and it's soul-destroying, this whine, constant whine, it gets on one's nerves.”
“People think because you sail alone that you're an odd character. But you're not at all. I love parties. I love meeting people.”
“I've not been a very good church goer, but being at sea brings one near to God, I think, and on a desert island I should feel that I wanted to pray.”