One of the most popular radio programmes in the history of The BBC is Desert Island Discs which was first broadcast in 1942 and is still going today. Guests are invited to imagine themselves cast away on a desert island, and choose a number of recordings, originally gramophone records, to take with them; discussion of their choices permits a review of their life. Excerpts from their choices are played or, in the case of short pieces, the whole work. Guests are also automatically given the Complete Works of Shakespeare and either the Bible or another appropriate religious or philosophical work. They are then prompted to select a third book to accompany them. Popular choices include Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Actress Judi Dench, who has macular degeneration, was permitted to take an audiobook in place of a printed manuscript.

Guests also choose one luxury, which must be inanimate and of no use in escaping the island or allowing communication from outside. Roy Plomley enforced these rules strictly. He did, however, grant a special dispensation to Princess Michael of Kent, who chose her pet cat. The rules are, however, less strictly enforced today; for instance, Sue Lawley allowed John Cleese to take Michael Palin with him, on the condition that he was dead and stuffed. Examples of luxuries have included champagne and a piano, the latter of which is one of the most requested luxuries.

If I were to be asked on as a guest this is what (at this particular moment in time) I would take. 

Music:-

1. The Moody Blues – Nights in White Satin

I chose this because it is the song that Pam and I have always thought of as “Our Tune”. It was the first song played at our wedding reception and a song that we danced to many times at the monthly school dances I used to DJ at. 

2. Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 5: 2nd Movement

On Sunday afternoons, immediately after lunch, my dad and I would go and listen to music. We would take a cup of tea along with us that inevitably got cold as we would normally nod off. To this day I like drinking tea that has gone cold and I put that fact down to those Sunday music interludes with dad. We did listen to music though and I always remember that this was a favourite of the old man. It is a very beautiful piece. 

3. Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick 

Jethro Tull is a band I first got into when I had just started secondary school. The school owned a house in Buxted, Sussex called Harrock House. Classes often went there for a week to get away from London, visit the countryside, and do field trips to Ashdown Forest and visits to places like Lewes. Many friendships were forged there and I still see my schoolmates on a regular basis after more than 50 years…..COVID 19 permitting of course. We used to take LPs down with us to play on the ancient record player but it was where I first got to really know bands like Tull, Genesis, Black Sabbath and King Crimson. I developed, and retain, a huge love of the music of Jethro Tull. My favourite Tull album is Thick As A Brick (1972) and this is a performance of a part of it….the whole piece is nearly 45 minutes long.

4. Rachmaninov – Symphony No. 2: 3rd Movement

As most people know, Pam and I go to The Proms at The Royal Albert Hall every year and have been doing so for many years. I have been to over 1,000 Proms and it is true what they say……..you always remember your first. Ours was In 1983 when we went to see Simon Rattle conducting Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony and we were both stunned by how beautiful the third movement was. When it came to getting a recording a friend, who played in The LSO recommended their release with André Previn. I bought it and it has remained my favourite reading. 

5. Pink Floyd- Careful With That Axe Eugene

Remembering secondary school again and the 6th form common room. It was a strange place. As 6th formers we didn’t have to wear uniform and the fashions of the day were a bit “out there”. Afghan coats, wide flared loon pants, tie-dye tee shirts and long hair. From certain angles you couldn’t tell the boys from the girls. There was also the wonderful sweet smell of patchouli wafting around. For some reason most of us were hungry most of the time. Pink Floyd was a favourite band and this particular track was often played. It’s a bit odd……..but then so were we.

6. Mahler – Symphony No. 5: 4th Movement “Adagietto”

We have already mentioned  my first Prom but what has been my favourite? There is no question that it is Mahler 5 with Leonard Bernstein conducting The Vienna Phil. What a night that was! I have chosen the 4th Movement that will be familiar to some of you because it was used in the famous film “Death in Venice” starring Dirk Bogarde that was based on the book by Thomas Mann. It is truly beautiful music and one of the most poignant things is that a copy of the score of Mahler 5 accompanied Maestro Bernstein to his grave. Here we have The Vienna Phil with Lenny…….enjoy!

7. Barclay James Harvest – Jonathan

BJH is another band that means a lot to Pam and I. We first got into them soon after I came out of hospital in October 1974. We listened to a lot of their albums and went to a lot of their gigs. This song remains a favourite and leads very nicely on to the next part of the programme because the song was inspired by my castaway book.

Book:-

Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach (expanded edition)

My favourite book ever. It is about self realisation and is told through the eyes of a seagull who is trying to learn about life and flight. This quest takes him away from his family and friends to learn about life under the wing of a wiser gull. These are the last words of Jonathan’s teacher: “Keep working on love.” Through these lessons, and after becoming a teacher himself, Jonathan understands that the spirit cannot be really free without the ability to forgive, and that the way to progress leads—for him, at least—through becoming a teacher and passing his wisdom on to others, not just through working hard as a student. Jonathan returns to his Flock to share his newly discovered ideals and his recent experiences. He is ready for the difficult fight against the current rules of that society. The ability to forgive seems to be a mandatory “passing condition.” 

In October 2014, Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition, was published, and includes a new part of the story. It is this edition that I would take with me to the island. 

Luxury Item:-

A solar powered music storage device with enough space for my entire record collection……and some speakers/headphones.

I need a regular supply of music or I will be throwing myself off the top of a palm tree before you can say “Fondle my coconuts!”

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There you go………my Castaway package.