Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Stick by the Sea: A Childhood Tale | 20150810 | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him.
In this first episode, he returns to the small Welsh village he was evacuated to during the Second World War, to find the family that took him, his mother, and sister, into their house.
With four of the Thomas siblings, now all in the 80s, he explores their different, sometimes conflicting, memories of the years 1943 to 1945 and remembers and recreates the sounds that surrounded them.
Produced by Alan Hall
Piers Plowright returns to the small Welsh village he was evacuated to during World War II Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still | |
| 01 | Stick by the Sea: A Childhood Tale | 20150810 | 20151221 (R4) | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him.
In this first episode, he returns to the small Welsh village he was evacuated to during the Second World War, to find the family that took him, his mother, and sister, into their house.
With four of the Thomas siblings, now all in the 80s, he explores their different, sometimes conflicting, memories of the years 1943 to 1945 and remembers and recreates the sounds that surrounded them.
Produced by Alan Hall
Piers Plowright returns to the small Welsh village he was evacuated to during World War II Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still |
| 02 | Wordplay: Theatre in the Open Air | 20150811 | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him.
In this second episode he revisits Stowe School where, in the 1950's, he fell in love with Shakespeare's language while acting his plays in the open air. Piers compares notes with present day 'Stoics', in the middle of rehearsing this year's Shakespeare productions, to find out what his language means to them.
Produced by Alan Hall
Piers Plowright revisits Stowe School, where he fell in love with Shakespeare's language. Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still | |
| 03 | The Chuckler: A Short Ride in a Smart Machine | 20150812 | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him.
In this third episode, Piers goes for a drive with his two daughters in a Morris Minor, the same model and vintage as the one he owned between 1968 and 1990. As his only car, he discovers just what made it so special when the family was growing up.
Produced by Alan Hall
Piers Plowright goes for a drive with his two daughters in a Morris Minor. Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still | |
| 03 | The Chuckler: A Short Ride in a Smart Machine | 20150812 | 20151222 (R4) | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him.
In this third episode, Piers goes for a drive with his two daughters in a Morris Minor, the same model and vintage as the one he owned between 1968 and 1990. As his only car, he discovers just what made it so special when the family was growing up.
Produced by Alan Hall
Piers Plowright goes for a drive with his two daughters in a Morris Minor. Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still |
| 04 | Splash: The Water in Winter | 20150813 | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him.
In this fourth episode, Piers goes for a winter swim in the Men's Pond on Hampstead Heath and discovers how special the sounds are - wild-life, swimmers, the distant hum of London - on a January morning.
Produced by Alan Hall
Piers Plowright goes for a winter swim in the men's pond on Hampstead Heath. Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still | |
| 04 | Splash: The Water in Winter | 20150813 | 20151223 (R4) | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him.
In this fourth episode, Piers goes for a winter swim in the Men's Pond on Hampstead Heath and discovers how special the sounds are - wild-life, swimmers, the distant hum of London - on a January morning.
Produced by Alan Hall
Piers Plowright goes for a winter swim in the men's pond on Hampstead Heath. Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still |
| 05 | True Blues: A Cry From The Heart | 20150814 | Broadcaster Piers Plowright explores five sound-worlds - some from far back in his life and some more recent - which still resonate with him. In this last episode of the series, jazz pianist and teacher Louis Vause examines, with Piers, one of the great Blues performances of all time - New Orleans pianist James Booker's interpretation of True at the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival. This is a performance that has haunted Piers since he first heard it and has come to speak to him of all the longing and grief - and maybe hope - that the Blues express. The programme includes an interview with Lily Keber who made the recent film about Booker, Bayou Maharajah. Produced by Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4. Piers examines James Booker's interpretation of True at the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival. Piers Plowright revisits sounds from his life that resonate with him still |