Binge on the Shipping Forecast
NewsConcerning an esoteric piece of English music:
The Shipping Forecast is a live BBC Radio broadcast of spoken weather reports and forecasts for the seas around the coasts of the British Isles. It is produced by the Met Office and broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The forecasts sent over the Navtex system use a similar format and the same sea areas. The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas, also known as weather areas (see map at close).
There are four broadcasts per day at the following (UK local) times:
0048 – transmitted on FM and LW. Includes weather reports from an extended list of coastal stations at 0052 and an inshore waters forecast at 0055 and concludes with a brief UK weather outlook for the coming day. The broadcast finishes at approximately 0058.
0520 – transmitted on FM and LW. Includes weather reports from coastal stations at 0525, and an inshore waters forecast at 0527.
1201 – normally transmitted on LW only.
1754 – transmitted only on LW on weekdays, as an opt-out from the PM programme, but at weekends transmitted on both FM and LW.
The unique and distinctive sound of these broadcasts has led to their attracting an audience much wider than that directly interested in maritime weather conditions.
INTRODUCTORY MUSIC
The last broadcast of the Shipping Forecast at 0048 each day is traditionally preceded by the playing of “Sailing By”, a light orchestral piece by Ronald Binge. This is only very rarely omitted, generally when the schedule is running late. Though occasionally played in full, it is common for only a section of the piece to be broadcast; that section being the length required to fill the gap between the previous programme’s ending and the start of the forecast at precisely 0048.
THIS FILM
On 18 December 1993, as part of the Arena Radio Night, BBC Radio 4 and BBC 2 collaborated on a simultaneous broadcast so the shipping forecast – read that night by Laurie Macmillan – could be seen as well as heard. To date, it is the only time that it has been broadcast on television. (Courtesy of Wikipedia).
And for those who haven’t yet had the delight, time to remember that other musical Shipping Forecast, sung in the style of Anglican chant by The Mastersingers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z2jwDcb9wI
That’s a peach! Thank you.
And that reminds me of the Master Singers’ “The Highway Code” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qngi_jSaXlI
A rare example of charming music paired with vital information.
This is awesome, thank you for posting these details.
In the 80s/90s, hearing “Sailing By” and the Shipping Forecast at night snuggled up in one’s bunk, sometimes in a gale (whilst someone else actually took down the forecast in writing) was very calming and comforting. Memories too of RYA Theory Classes having to take down the forecast in a type of shorthand, to then reproduce it on a map of the various areas as your weather map. If memory serves me right, back in the 60s/70s/80s the late-night forecast always ended with “Goodnight Gentlemen, everywhere”… Didn’t know about the Arena film, but loved hearing Peter Jefferson read the forecast. Still love hearing “Sailing By” if I happen to be awake late, and to try to map out the forecast in my mind. Sailing days long gone but I can’t hear the forecast without thinking of the music (and vice versa).