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BBC's Shipping Forecast
In <b>Janisj's</b> current entertaining TR, there is discussion of The Shipping Forecast:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...se-a-lady-.cfm " - Maybe we should organize a Fodors shipping forecast secrecy society-" she said. I was intrigued, as all I knew I learned from Mrs. Bale as well. Here's a Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_forecast Found it fascinating, especially how many listeners seem to use it as a sleep-enhancer. I'm mentioning this as some may have missed the TR comments. Thanks to all who educated me. |
It isn't as poetic as it used to be imho. Now some weather person reads it instead of a trained, beautifully voiced BBC radio presenter it has lost its rhythm. Still sends me to sleep most nights, and wakes me up most mornings though.
Sailing by, North Utsire, South Utsire, Dogger, German Bight, zzzzz. |
I especially liked this listener's thought:
<i>""To the non-nautical, it is a nightly litany of the sea. It reinforces a sense of being islanders with a proud seafaring past. Whilst the listener is safely tucked-up in their bed, they can imagine small fishing-boats bobbing about at Plymouth or 170ft waves crashing against Rockall."</i> |
29FEB, thanks for the link. I was wondering what the "shipping forecast" was,coming as I do from the other side of the pond. :)
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>>instead of a trained, beautifully voiced BBC radio presenter<<
The classic voices were Brian Perkins, who always sounded calm and unflappable with a reassuring "dark brown" voice, which gave him a second career in using it for various sorts of deadpan radio comedy, and Charlotte Green (who I <i>think</i> may have recorded the latest set of station and train announcements for the Piccadilly Line out of Heathrow). Apparently, once when she was a regular reader of the midnight Shipping Forecast, she got a letter from a (male) fan who asked her to slow down towards the end, because he didn't want her to end it too soon.... |
NPR did a piece on it too. I'll try to find a link.
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I think this is it. "From Britain's seas into its soul" http://www.npr.org/2013/12/16/249722...-into-its-soul
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The Shipping Forecast really does inspire most of the most colossal codswallop.
It's a useful public service for some mariners: most, most of the time, now rely on information online, but like many public service obligations - such as my local bus services - the Shipping Forecast acts as a backstop for those unable to access the systems most people use. It's also part of the morning or nightime ritual for some landlubbers. We've got little idea how many: broadcast radio audience research is a lot iffier than most people realise. But the BBC sort of lets it be known they think around 100,000 - or one Briton in 600 listen to it in an average day. The overwhelming majority of Britons have simply never heard of it. Over three quarters of the population never even listen to the radio station (Radio 4) which broadcasts it. Interviewing me for a programme on the station this week, even one of its presenters admitted she thought only old farts like me, in my kind of cosy rural microtown, listened to the station for more than half an hour a week. The deranged nonsense the Forecast inspires in its fans ("The Shipping Forecast is immensely popular with the British public" Wikipedia burbles in its drug-induced delirium) merely shows how out of touch with Britain those fans are. Like some of those fans, I'd be saddened if the Forecast stopped being broadcast, though I only ever hear it if we're late driving home from that London. But, like much of Radio 4 (from the 8.05 am politician mugging by a 'Today' presenter to the bloody Archers), it's held in great affection by the most articulate and influential of Britain's middle and upper classes. The political pressure on the government to keep those totems of Establishment life is unbearable, and the BBC knows that continuing to provide them is essential to keeping its licence fee income. There are worse national sillinesses. But that doesn't make the mindless drooling any less silly. NEXT: Who's ever really read 'Adlestrop'? |
Mrs Bales, loved her.
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I've read it. You're asking for a German Bight, young Flanner. Our radios are permanently tuned to Radios 3 and 4. Which programme are you appearing on?
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Living in the Netherlands it will be a sad day when Radio 4LW stops. We used to be able to listen to most MW radio from the Beeb, including World Service. Then it was just World Service and Radio 4LW, now just Radio 4LW.
I wonder which will go first, my ancient LW radio or Radio 4. |
I love Radio 4 - but do switch off when the Archers start.
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>>NEXT: Who's ever really read 'Adlestrop'?<<
Me, actually. And quite a lot of other poems by Edward Thomas. And other people. (Jeremy Clarkson's job isn't quite vacant yet, you know; no need to audition for it quite so publicly). |
Well, now I've read 'Adlestrop' too. Thank you for it.
<i>The Shipping Forecast by Seamus Heaney Dogger, Rockall, Malin, Irish Sea: Green, swift upsurges, North Atlantic flux Conjured by that strong gale-warning voice, Collapse into a sibilant penumbra. Midnight and closedown. Sirens of the tundra, Of eel-road, seal-road, keel-road, whale-road, raise Their wind-compounded keen behind the baize And drive the trawlers to the lee of Wicklow. L’Etoile, Le Guillemot, La Belle Hélène Nursed their bright names this morning in the bay That toiled like mortar. It was marvellous And actual, I said out loud, ‘A haven,’ The word deepening, clearing, like the sky Elsewhere on Minches, Cromarty, The Faroes.</i> |
nyse, some more links between Heaney and Thomas:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/201...homas-war-poem http://www.theguardian.com/books/200...y.seamusheaney |
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I can see I'm going to have to tune in next time I am in London! I do miss Mrs. Bale.
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The political pressure on the government to keep those totems of Establishment life is unbearable, and the BBC knows that continuing to provide them is essential to keeping its licence fee income.>>
unbearable, Flanner? seems to me that they tolerate it quite well, and it does fulfil a useful function for many people, some of whom earn their livings from the sea. if we're going to get rid of any of the sacred cows, please god let it be "Thought for the Day" - there are one or two there who make me want to throw my radio out of the window. as for how many listen to Radio 4, they've never asked me, but in our house it's 6, if you count the dogs. |
I second scrapping Thought for the Day, especially now Lionel Blue isn't on.
I used to be an Archers fan, but haven't listened to it for years. Ruth nearly running off with the hired help is probably the last storyline I followed. I really miss LW in the car. I love talk radio when I drive, but Dutch radio is rubbish. I listen to podcasts now instead. |
Ah, when Platitude for the Day comes on, I'm still in bed, so I hit the snooze button.
I must say that I like hearing about gales around the Channel Light Vessel when I'm snuggled under my duvet |
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