Earth News from TerraDaily.com
BBC celebrates 100 years of 'poetic' shipping forecast
London, Dec 31 (AFP) Dec 31, 2024
The BBC on Wednesday celebrates 100 years of a weather forecast for sailors in British waters that has inspired musicians and poets and become an immovable fixture on UK radio.

The Shipping Forecast, providing predictions by the Met Office on expected wind speeds, sea state, weather and visibility, began as a vital service to sailors and sea captains who may be in peril at sea.

Modern seafarers can now rely on sophisticated forecasting technology but the calm, rhythmic delivery of the forecast by one of BBC Radio 4's silky-voiced continuity announcers has turned the forecast into something of a beloved British institution.

Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya described the Shipping Forecast as a "cherished ritual" and "one of our national treasures".

He said the centenary would be marked with a day-long series of programmes on Wednesday.

Historian Jerry Brotton will explore how Britain has been shaped by its maritime past while famous names including Ellen MacArthur, the record-breaking solo round-the-world yachtswoman, will re-read bulletins from dates linked to their achievements.

The service was set up in 1867 in response to a storm off north Wales eight years earlier that led to the death of 800 people and the loss of 133 ships, according to the Met Office.

It was initially transmitted by telegraph before being first broadcast on radio on January 1, 1924 and taken over by the BBC in October 1925.

Sea areas around the British Isles with mysterious names such as "Viking", "Dogger", "Sole", "Lundy" and "Fastnet" are covered in the forecast which is peppered with phrases such as "rain at times, moderate or good", "becoming cyclonic" and "falling slowly".

The poetic sounding names of coastal weather stations such as "Tiree", "Ronaldsway and "Sandettie Light Vessel Automatic" also feature, adding to its appeal.


- 'Sailing by' -


Poets who have drawn creative inspiration from it include Carol Ann Duffy and Seamus Heaney who called it "verbal music".

Bands like Radiohead, Blur and The Prodigy have also been stirred by the shipping forecast in their songs and a 2016 book of the same name celebrated the programme for "inspiring imaginations" worldwide.

The first of the two daily forecasts -- three at weekends -- hits the airwaves at 5:21 am (0521 GMT).

The last at 12:48 am (0048 GMT) is credited as an aid to lull insomniacs to sleep or just provide a reassuring end to the day for others.

The late night bulletin is always preceded by the equally soothing piece of music "Sailing By".

The music by Ronald Binge was originally chosen to be a signal to sailors that they had tuned into the correct station for the forecast.

Continuity announcer Viji Alles, who hails from Sri Lanka, has said he was "immediately and utterly captivated" after first hearing the forecast in 2005.

"I thought this is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard on radio," he said in a radio programme last year.

"Its utility, I know, has declined over the years, but its value as a late night piece of poetry is just unparalleled," he added.





Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Space Launch Delta 45 breaks records, remains busiest spaceport in the world in 2024
January's Night Sky Notes: The Red Planet
Quadrantid Meteor Shower offers 'perfect New Year treat'

24/7 Energy News Coverage
Unlocking the hidden power of boiling - for energy, space, and beyond
Unveiling the impact of climate-driven low solar and wind energy events in China
University of Maryland to develop renewable energy systems for ocean monitoring systems

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
Beijing slams US over potential Chinese drone ban
Israel army says intercepted missile, drone launched from Yemen
RTX and Ursa Major advance long-range rocket technology for US Army

24/7 News Coverage
Number of cyclones not increasing, but intensity is, data shows
Guadeloupe to fell iconic coconut palms
Vietnam's capital blanketed by toxic smog


ADVERTISEMENT



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.