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Many of us have awoken early or late to hear the soft tones of the BBC deliver the Shipping Forecast, warnings of gales later, good becoming moderate? And then, `Weather Reports from Coastal Stations', observations of actual weather from around the fringes of our islands, names familiar yet remote. How many people go on to wonder about the coastal stations themselves, from which the weather reports emanate? Are these wild and weather-battered lighthouses or coast guard stations, once warmed against the winter gales by smoky coal fires but now deserted? Or do people still actually gather the data, read barometers and rain gauges before preparing their stylised reports for transmission? That was the genesis of my idea, to visit each of these far-flung coastal stations, find out what is there and then write my own report!
I daydreamed often of what it would be like, of how to accomplish a journey to each of these locations, of whether it should be in winter or summer, or in my madder moments, both! Perhaps I could visit them all on a single journey around the extremities of the islands? Clockwise, starting with Tiree, would be the direction in which they are read, so perhaps that was the way to go. That would certainly be fun, and the journey around the extremes would be a real challenge too. But then reality struck home. If I waited until I had the time to do this, it would never happen. Little did I realise just how difficult it would be, nor how long it would take, to visit them all irrespective of the season. Nor did I realise how much fun I would have making journeys to each as and when I had the time.
Somehow there were always other things that came first. Not insignificant things either. I have been very lucky in my travels, both for work and for pleasure. Indeed, sometimes when faced with the question on an immigration form, `Business or Pleasure?' I have been hard pressed to decide. There is never an option that says "It's a pleasure doing business here!" My family have always given me great support for those travels, sometimes joining me, and sometimes just wishing me well as I set sail for some distant horizon. Their support would be needed again if I was to undertake these rather curious journeys nearer to home.
I daydreamed often of what it would be like, of how to accomplish a journey to each of these locations, of whether it should be in winter or summer, or in my madder moments, both! Perhaps I could visit them all on a single journey around the extremities of the islands? Clockwise, starting with Tiree, would be the direction in which they are read, so perhaps that was the way to go. That would certainly be fun, and the journey around the extremes would be a real challenge too. But then reality struck home. If I waited until I had the time to do this, it would never happen. Little did I realise just how difficult it would be, nor how long it would take, to visit them all irrespective of the season. Nor did I realise how much fun I would have making journeys to each as and when I had the time.
Somehow there were always other things that came first. Not insignificant things either. I have been very lucky in my travels, both for work and for pleasure. Indeed, sometimes when faced with the question on an immigration form, `Business or Pleasure?' I have been hard pressed to decide. There is never an option that says "It's a pleasure doing business here!" My family have always given me great support for those travels, sometimes joining me, and sometimes just wishing me well as I set sail for some distant horizon. Their support would be needed again if I was to undertake these rather curious journeys nearer to home.
From the Publisher
Everyone loves the Shipping Forecast!
This is what the author found out while researching his own quest, not the Shipping Areas, but the Coastal Stations from which observations are made, and reported.
Excess Baggage, the popular Radio 4 Saturday show hosted by John McCarthy, certainly agreed. The Author was interviewed on the show in November, and it's still available as a Podcast.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed reading Geoff Saunder's book very much. I found it hard to put down, because I got caught up in his energy and enthusiasm. Not only does write very well about each visit he made to all the coastal stations, but he gives lots of interesting local knowledge which accompanied these journeys. If you have ever wondered how we get our weather forecasts or are even mildly curious about the weather stations, you will enjoy this book.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Reports from coastal stations' are a familiar part of the Shipping Forecast. But where exactly are these places, and what do they consist of? Geoff Saunders decided to find out by visiting each one. This turned out not to be straightforward, and took several years; his book is an account of the search. Geoff is evidently a person who can charm his way into even the most secure and heavily guarded places, and conversations with people who operate (or used to operate, before they were displaced by electronics) the stations form an important part of the book. So, too, does the history of weather forecasts for sailors, originally started by Captain Fitzroy, who commanded the Beagle on Darwin's famous voyage. Altogether, this is a fascinating and witty book.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent little book. If you have laid in bed listening to the shipping forecast on BBC radio and wondered where these weather stations with strange names are and what they do this book explains all. It is a delightful mix of anecdotes from the author's journeys to each station, some history the establishment of the weather stations, details of the actitvities of each station and other observations on life and language in the British Isles. Highly recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent
As one of the 'supporting characters' in this book I read it with highly
critical interest. I found an engaging and chirpy narrative full of
interest, humour and quirky... Read more
critical interest. I found an engaging and chirpy narrative full of
interest, humour and quirky... Read more
Published 11 months ago by TheFifthElf
Good Reading Weather
Geoff Saunders' Reports from Coastal Weather Stations is a highly enjoyable tour of those far flung corners of the British Isles familiar only by their occurrence in the BBC... Read more
Published 11 months ago by David Williamson
A fascinating journey around the weather stations
A fascinating tale which brings to life those mysterious places on the BBC shipping forecast. A lively journey of dogged determination and curiosity, with present day tales mixed... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Steve Macaulay
Listmania!
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