A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 (edited) Oooooh dang BBC! They've gone and dismissed the voice of the Shipping Forecast. Here's the gen: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/pip-pip-pip-bleep-radio-4-stalwart-to-leave-after-fourletter-outburst-1787955.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6189784/Voice-of-Radio-4-Peter-Jefferson-is-frozen-out-by-BBC-at-64.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/15/radio-4-continuity-announcer 45 years, he had been there. I imagine this is part of the cost-cutting axe and ageism as much as the swearing, but even so. In my book, that's like banning butter from crumpets, rhyme from Betjeman or Stephen Fry from Norfolk. I have written to beg them to keep him. If you wish to do likewise, here's the place to go: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/contact/ Edit: Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=radio+4&init=quick#/group.php?gid=255110710260&ref=nf Edited September 16, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Noo! I love the Shipping Forecast - so soothing. Thanks for raising this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Noo! I love the Shipping Forecast - so soothing. Thanks for raising this. Couldn't agree more Olly, it is soothing, it's a bit like listening to cricket on the radio, I haven't got a clue what's going on, but it is very cosy. I will certainly complain! Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Nooooo! My new babies are named after shipping areas! He has such a comforting voice!! I've sent my email. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Nooooooooooooo not the shipping forecast how dare they meddle. The shipping forecast is part of my life (sadly I can recite most of the shipping areas in order and even worse actually understand it), I've listened to it since childhood ,my Dad worked on the cross channel ferries - the shipping forecast meant I could work out if he would be home on time or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I've emailed too. I remember the hoo hah when one of the areas was amalgamated, renamed? Can't remember which. This is a great read. Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast by Charlie Connelly From Amazon "This solemn, rhythmic intonation of the shipping forecast on BBC radio is as familiar as the sound of Big Ben chiming the hour. Since its first broadcast in the 1920s it has inspired poems, songs and novels in addition to its intended objective of warning generations of seafarers of impending storms and gales. Sitting at home listening to the shipping forecast can be a cosily reassuring experience. There's no danger of a westerly gale eight, veering southwesterly increasing nine later (visibility poor) gusting through your average suburban living room, blowing the Sunday papers all over the place and startling the cat. Yet familiar though the sea areas are by name, few people give much thought to where they are or what they contain. In ATTENTION ALL SHIPPING Charlie Connelly wittily explores the places behind the voice, those mysterious regions whose names seem often to bear no relation to conventional geography. Armchair travel will never be the same again." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 I remember the hoo hah when one of the areas was amalgamated, renamed? Can't remember which. They renamed Finisterre. It became Fitzroy. Apparently there was a Spanish bit of coast called Finisterre too, so they renamed it after the dude who founded the Met Office. It's just poetry, isn't it? See? http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/sep/16/shipping-forecast-sacking-radio4 And this poem by Carol Ann Duffy sums it up beautifully too: Prayer Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer utters itself. So, a woman will lift her head from the sieve of her hands and stare at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift. Some nights, although we are faithless, the truth enters our hearts, that small familiar pain; then a man will stand stock-still, hearing his youth in the distant Latin chanting of a train. Pray for us now. Grade 1 piano scales console the lodger looking out across a Midlands town. Then dusk, and someone calls a child's name as though they named their loss. Darkness outside. Inside, the radio's prayer - Rockall. Malin. Dogger. Finisterre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I've emailed too.I remember the hoo hah when one of the areas was amalgamated, renamed? Can't remember which. This is a great read. Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast by Charlie Connelly I've read it. It is well worth getting hold of a copy. Was most upset when Finisterre became Fitzroy. The word Finisterre has such a lovely sound to it. We had a goldfish called Finisterre once, My dear old Dad was convinced that it was called Fred Astaire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 We had a goldfish called Finisterre once, My dear old Dad was convinced that it was called Fred Astaire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 Eight responses? I thought there would be more Omleteers who would be Shipping Forecast fans. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Sorry never heard it so don't think i'd miss it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Ah! But 133 views A chickychickychick-ENN!! So if everyone complains! Edited to add - Someone will have to replace him eventually though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 But not this week! (They are going to though. They wrote to me. Shame we have to use such careful language on the forum. BAAAAAD BBC!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Noo! I love the Shipping Forecast - so soothing. Thanks for raising this. Couldn't agree more Olly, it is soothing, it's a bit like listening to cricket on the radio, I haven't got a clue what's going on, but it is very cosy. I will certainly complain! Tessa Me too, all I can remember is that one place they mention sounds like a washing powder I must listen to it later than you though as I'm sure it's a woman reading it out Now if they stop playing sailing by then I will be very upset!!!!! Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Washing powder? Which one's that?! Fairisle jumpers covered in Fisher and Dogger dirt? Smelling like a Viking? Set your machine to the Forties, use some Biscay-bonate of Sole-da, or some mild green Faeroes Liquid and get your clothes Wight-er than white! Or was it one of the other places?! * Viking * North Utsire * South Utsire * Forties * Cromarty * Forth * Tyne * Dogger * Fisher * German Bight * Humber * Thames * Dover * Wight * Portland * Plymouth * Biscay * Trafalgar * FitzRoy (formerly Finisterre) * Sole * Lundy * Fastnet * Irish Sea * Shannon * Rockall * Malin * Hebrides * Bailey * Fair Isle * Faeroes * Southeast Iceland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Errrm I think it's something like Scilly automatic then again peraps me ears is needin lookin at, Sorry, just practising for tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 That is a coastal weather station, not a shipping area. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 My friend once went to a 'Shipping Forecast' party. Everyone had to dress as one of the areas ... Viking was naturally very popular but apparently there were some imaginative interpretations of some of the others! Thanks for posting that poem, ACC - it's one of my favourites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Scilly Automatic is one of the inshore/coastal water areas.After the main shipping forecast there is an inshore /coastal forecast............oh dear I sound a real shipping forecast nerdy type........A lot of the inshore /coastal waters are named after lightships. By the way Scilly Automatic is Mr Webmuppets favorite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 That is a coastal weather station, not a shipping area. :lol: Like I said, I like the shipping forecast but don't have a clue what it means Best I keep my trap shut about "Bells on Sunday" then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
