For almost 90 years, BBC Radio's shipping forecast has been a treasured part of British culture, helping to send night owls to sleep and relaying weather conditions to mariners at sea.
'And now, the shipping forecast...' —
For almost 90 years, BBC Radio's shipping forecast has been a treasured part of British culture, helping to send night owls to sleep and relaying weather conditions to mariners at sea.
Courtesy Peter Collyer
The three-minute bulletin, aired four times a day, is a hypnotic litany of seafaring phrases -- both essential to sailors and nonsensical to the rest of us. Avid listener Peter Collyer traveled to all 31 shipping regions to paint them. Here, he captures: "FitzRoy. Variable 3 or 4. Fair. Moderate or good with fog patches."
FitzRoy —
The three-minute bulletin, aired four times a day, is a hypnotic litany of seafaring phrases -- both essential to sailors and nonsensical to the rest of us. Avid listener Peter Collyer traveled to all 31 shipping regions to paint them. Here, he captures: "FitzRoy. Variable 3 or 4. Fair. Moderate or good with fog patches."
Courtesy Peter Collyer
The bulletin has inspired artists across Britain, including poet Seamus Heaney and TV presenter Stephen Fry. Radiohead song "In Limbo" also includes the lyrics: "Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea. I've got a message I can't read."
Butt of Lewis Lighthouse —
The bulletin has inspired artists across Britain, including poet Seamus Heaney and TV presenter Stephen Fry. Radiohead song "In Limbo" also includes the lyrics: "Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea. I've got a message I can't read."
Courtesy Peter Collyer
Peter Jefferson presented the shipping forecast for 40 years, with strangers stopping him in the street to say the late bulletin at 12.48am "sent them to sleep for years."
Rockall —
Peter Jefferson presented the shipping forecast for 40 years, with strangers stopping him in the street to say the late bulletin at 12.48am "sent them to sleep for years."
Courtesy Peter Collyer
"It's been likened to poetry, to a prayer, it contains a lot of familiar phrases, words and names and places -- it's very comforting," said Jefferson.
Dover —
"It's been likened to poetry, to a prayer, it contains a lot of familiar phrases, words and names and places -- it's very comforting," said Jefferson.
Courtesy Peter Collyer
Jefferson's voice became so synonymous with the forecast that when he remarried his wife almost 10 years ago, the vicar had his own rendition for them: "Knuckles WIGHT, palms sweaty, hands joining to form new partnership, moderate, becoming good, FORTIES — you wish . . ."
Rain later, good —
Jefferson's voice became so synonymous with the forecast that when he remarried his wife almost 10 years ago, the vicar had his own rendition for them: "Knuckles WIGHT, palms sweaty, hands joining to form new partnership, moderate, becoming good, FORTIES — you wish . . ."
Courtesy Peter Collyer
But the forecast also has a very important function -- helping sailors at sea. "It all came about because a while back there was such a horrendous loss of life at sea," said Jefferson. "People had no idea what the weather was going to be like when they went out on the water."
Cromarty —
But the forecast also has a very important function -- helping sailors at sea. "It all came about because a while back there was such a horrendous loss of life at sea," said Jefferson. "People had no idea what the weather was going to be like when they went out on the water."
Courtesy Peter Collyer
After more than four decades at the helm, Jefferson lost his job shortly after swearing on air. The 68-year-old was heard cursing before the announcement. However, he insists the incident was completely unrelated to him leaving the BBC.
Wight —
After more than four decades at the helm, Jefferson lost his job shortly after swearing on air. The 68-year-old was heard cursing before the announcement. However, he insists the incident was completely unrelated to him leaving the BBC.
Courtesy Peter Collyer