The River

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Sabrina and the Fish of No Return

20160815

Writer, naturalist and broadcaster, Paul Evans watches a salmon struggle against the flowing waters to climb up a weir and return to the pool where she was born to lay her eggs. The struggle takes place on the River Severn, which was known to the Romans as Sabrina. Sabrina is also the name of the Severn Cruise boat in Shrewsbury, a woman from Greek mythology who was drowned in a river and a 1950s British glamour model and film star. In this essay, Paul weaves together the stories of these different Sabrinas as he watches the salmon driven by instinct to travel `against the flow, up the one way street`

Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River

20160816

`While we existed on dry land, and swam in the river, we lived for the sea`, says Alan Read, Professor of Theatre at Kings College London as he explores Estuary Soul and recalls the time he spent growing up by the riverine estuary of Essex. `Those of us without boats, and that was all of us, swam through the summers and other colder months too, and when after hours of up and down, in and out, going nowhere, we rested, it was in the water still.` The mouth of the estuary was their playground, and the history of this landscape fed into the estuary soul; the music, people, industry and culture `in the end, we knew we were all at the end, of the river, together, alone.`

Written and presented by Alan Read
Actor Susan Jameson
Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt

Alan Read explores Estuary Soul in Essex.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River

20160816

20210202 (R4)

Written and presented by Alan Read
Actor Susan Jameson
Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt

Alan Read explores Estuary Soul in Essex.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Rivers of Faith

20160817

In the third of five illustrated essays by different writers on the theme of The River, Martin Palmer, Secretary General of The Alliance of Religions and Conservation reflects on the significance of rivers in religious stories and traditions. Drawing on examples he considers how rivers are a metaphor for life. They are also about being a part of something greater. They flow into the sea and the sea flows into the ocean. `As such the river is a natural symbol of the soul returning to the Source - God, the Divine whatever name you give it.`

Written and narrated by Martin Palmer,
Actors: Adie Allen and Susan Jameson
Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt

Martin Palmer reflects on Rivers and their spiritual significance.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Rivers of Faith

20160817

20210203 (R4)

Written and narrated by Martin Palmer,
Actors: Adie Allen and Susan Jameson
Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt

Martin Palmer reflects on Rivers and their spiritual significance.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

The Tay

20160818

For many years writer and essayist Kathleen Jamie climbed the steep hill near her home and looked out across the view `You have a hawk's eye view of the Tay as it makes its entrance, curving round the hills upstream, to accept the waters of the river Earn and at once becomes estuarial` For many years this was her relationship with the River. This changes when when some Bronze Age swords and a wooden boat are dredged out of the River and she decides to venture out onto the river in a kayak `Suddenly, it wasn't enough to look from the sidelines. I wanted to participate, to get a sense for this majestic river as pre-historic people would.`

Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt

Writer and essayist Kathleen Jamie explores the River Tay in a kayak.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

The Tay

20160818

20210204 (R4)

Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt

Writer and essayist Kathleen Jamie explores the River Tay in a kayak.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Flow

20160819

20210205 (R4)

`I look down at my feet, not quite sure how I'm going to follow the course of the river North Tyne from its source to the sea when I'm having trouble putting one foot in front of the other` says wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson as he recalls a journey he made, capturing the sounds of the river and the landscape through which it flows from its source to the sea,. This is an immersive journey in sound through moorland, bogs, rushy flats and steep valleys, past scrapyards and rowing clubs, under bridges and past ferry landings and through the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, before heading out to the Black Middens and the sea at Tynemouth where eider ducks bow and coo in the swell.

Narrated and recorded by Chris Watson

Producer Sarah Blunt

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson follows the course of the North Tyne.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Narrated and recorded by Chris Watson

Producer Sarah Blunt

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson follows the course of the North Tyne.

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Sabrina and the Fish of No Return	20160815		Writer, naturalist and broadcaster, Paul Evans watches a salmon struggle against the flowing waters to climb up a weir and return to the pool where she was born to lay her eggs. The struggle takes place on the River Severn, which was known to the Romans as Sabrina. Sabrina is also the name of the Severn Cruise boat in Shrewsbury, a woman from Greek mythology who was drowned in a river and a 1950s British glamour model and film star. In this essay, Paul weaves together the stories of these different Sabrinas as he watches the salmon driven by instinct to travel `against the flow, up the one way street`
02	Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River	20160816		`While we existed on dry land, and swam in the river, we lived for the sea`, says Alan Read, Professor of Theatre at Kings College London as he explores Estuary Soul and recalls the time he spent growing up by the riverine estuary of Essex. `Those of us without boats, and that was all of us, swam through the summers and other colder months too, and when after hours of up and down, in and out, going nowhere, we rested, it was in the water still.` The mouth of the estuary was their playground, and the history of this landscape fed into the estuary soul; the music, people, industry and culture `in the end, we knew we were all at the end, of the river, together, alone.` Written and presented by Alan Read Actor Susan Jameson Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Alan Read explores Estuary Soul in Essex. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.
02	Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River	20160816	20210202 (R4)	`While we existed on dry land, and swam in the river, we lived for the sea`, says Alan Read, Professor of Theatre at Kings College London as he explores Estuary Soul and recalls the time he spent growing up by the riverine estuary of Essex. `Those of us without boats, and that was all of us, swam through the summers and other colder months too, and when after hours of up and down, in and out, going nowhere, we rested, it was in the water still.` The mouth of the estuary was their playground, and the history of this landscape fed into the estuary soul; the music, people, industry and culture `in the end, we knew we were all at the end, of the river, together, alone.` Written and presented by Alan Read Actor Susan Jameson Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Alan Read explores Estuary Soul in Essex. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.
03	Rivers of Faith	20160817		In the third of five illustrated essays by different writers on the theme of The River, Martin Palmer, Secretary General of The Alliance of Religions and Conservation reflects on the significance of rivers in religious stories and traditions. Drawing on examples he considers how rivers are a metaphor for life. They are also about being a part of something greater. They flow into the sea and the sea flows into the ocean. `As such the river is a natural symbol of the soul returning to the Source - God, the Divine whatever name you give it.` Written and narrated by Martin Palmer, Actors: Adie Allen and Susan Jameson Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Martin Palmer reflects on Rivers and their spiritual significance. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.
03	Rivers of Faith	20160817	20210203 (R4)	In the third of five illustrated essays by different writers on the theme of The River, Martin Palmer, Secretary General of The Alliance of Religions and Conservation reflects on the significance of rivers in religious stories and traditions. Drawing on examples he considers how rivers are a metaphor for life. They are also about being a part of something greater. They flow into the sea and the sea flows into the ocean. `As such the river is a natural symbol of the soul returning to the Source - God, the Divine whatever name you give it.` Written and narrated by Martin Palmer, Actors: Adie Allen and Susan Jameson Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Martin Palmer reflects on Rivers and their spiritual significance. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.
04	The Tay	20160818		For many years writer and essayist Kathleen Jamie climbed the steep hill near her home and looked out across the view `You have a hawk's eye view of the Tay as it makes its entrance, curving round the hills upstream, to accept the waters of the river Earn and at once becomes estuarial` For many years this was her relationship with the River. This changes when when some Bronze Age swords and a wooden boat are dredged out of the River and she decides to venture out onto the river in a kayak `Suddenly, it wasn't enough to look from the sidelines. I wanted to participate, to get a sense for this majestic river as pre-historic people would.` Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Writer and essayist Kathleen Jamie explores the River Tay in a kayak. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.
04	The Tay	20160818	20210204 (R4)	For many years writer and essayist Kathleen Jamie climbed the steep hill near her home and looked out across the view `You have a hawk's eye view of the Tay as it makes its entrance, curving round the hills upstream, to accept the waters of the river Earn and at once becomes estuarial` For many years this was her relationship with the River. This changes when when some Bronze Age swords and a wooden boat are dredged out of the River and she decides to venture out onto the river in a kayak `Suddenly, it wasn't enough to look from the sidelines. I wanted to participate, to get a sense for this majestic river as pre-historic people would.` Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Writer and essayist Kathleen Jamie explores the River Tay in a kayak. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.
05	Flow	20160819	20210205 (R4)	`I look down at my feet, not quite sure how I'm going to follow the course of the river North Tyne from its source to the sea when I'm having trouble putting one foot in front of the other` says wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson as he recalls a journey he made, capturing the sounds of the river and the landscape through which it flows from its source to the sea,. This is an immersive journey in sound through moorland, bogs, rushy flats and steep valleys, past scrapyards and rowing clubs, under bridges and past ferry landings and through the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, before heading out to the Black Middens and the sea at Tynemouth where eider ducks bow and coo in the swell. Narrated and recorded by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson follows the course of the North Tyne. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river. `I look down at my feet, not quite sure how I'm going to follow the course of the river North Tyne from its source to the sea when I'm having trouble putting one foot in front of the other` says wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson as he recalls a journey he made, capturing the sounds of the river and the landscape through which it flows from its source to the sea,. This is an immersive journey in sound through moorland, bogs, rushy flats and steep valleys, past scrapyards and rowing clubs, under bridges and past ferry landings and through the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, before heading out to the Black Middens and the sea at Tynemouth where eider ducks bow and coo in the swell. Narrated and recorded by Chris Watson Producer Sarah Blunt Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson follows the course of the North Tyne. Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.