And Now The Shipping Forecast: A tide of history around our shores

by Peter Jefferson

Never mind that few people could point to Viking on a map or make much sense of ‘Fitzroy: north east five or six', the nightly Shipping Forecast has ‘permeated the British psyche in a most extraordinary way’. Peter Jefferson, who read the Forecast on BBC Radio for over 40 years, enlightens us on all aspects of its genesis and how it gets broadcast, plus related maritime matters including shipping areas past and present, meteorological terms, lighthouses and sailors’ lore.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2011

About the author

Born in May 1945, Peter Jefferson is a former BBC Radio 4 continuity announcer.

He was educated at the independent Halliford School in Shepperton, Middlesex. He joined the BBC in 1964 and became a Studio Manager in 1968. During this period, he worked for Radio 1, and read the news during the DJ Kenny Everett's programme.

Jefferson retired in 2001, though he continued to work as a freelancer until 2009. In May 2005 he stood in as a newsreader during strike action by other staff. He is often dubbed "Voice of the Shipping Forecast". He has also read the quotations in the Radio 4 quiz game Quote, Unquote. Jefferson lives in Weybridge, Surrey.

Reviews

[Julian Worker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shipping Forecast is a much-loved part of the British cultural landscape with an avid following of listeners, most of whom aren't affected by the news it provides.

This book describes how the forecast came about along with the science behind the gathering of the information and the inside track on the delivery of the radio programme. The author presented the Shipping Forecast for over 40 years and so knows what it's like to read the daily bulletins.

Details are given on each of the 31 shipping areas all the way from Viking down to Trafalgar and back up to South East Iceland plus the significant events that happened in the area ranging from the Battle of Jutland to the Goodwin Sands and from Dover Castle to Rockall.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard of the shipping forecast on the television program “As Time Goes By” on PBS. I have listened to the forecast on the Internet several times but never knew of the places mentioned and what the different levels of gales were. The book was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Galvin Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.

The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.

For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...

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[Jade O'Donohue · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Posh. What a word - and what a misunderstood and misused word in maritime circles. I had always understood it to be an acronym for Port Out, Starboard Home, relating to the preferred cabin location on British ships travelling to and from India in the late 19th century. The idea was to always be on the north-facing, shaded side of the ship, away from the blazing sun - in other words to be on the left (port) side on the way to India and on the right (starboard) side on the way home. This explanation for the derivation of 'posh' is unproven, however, and pooh-poohed by various authorities. But even if this isn't the real explanation, the concept of 'Port Out, Starboard Home' was all about having choice, and access to accommodation that was costly, elegant, exclusive, expensive, first or upper class, grand, luxurious, opulent, palatial, rich, ritzy, select, splendid, sumptuous and swanky. These are all synonyms for the present-day meaning of posh, and sum up what sea travel could be for those that could afford it in olden days.”

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wavered a bit on rating, as he’s a climate skeptic and drops that in like a turd in a punchbowl, but the book is generally sound and very interesting…and he does mention the Russians vs Trawlers shoot out (which turned into Russians shooting at Russians), plus every time he even vaguely starts a reading it’s soothing. Yes, I’m a Shipping Forecast addict.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too many personal tangents makes this an I referring but sometimes arduous read. By all means an excellent introduction to the shopping forecast however it ceases to become an in-depth look about half way through devolving continental military and nautical trivia.

[Jeff Lukens · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an Anglophile, I loved the history of the Shipping Forecast this book provides. Mr. Jefferson’s writing was rambling at times, but over all I enjoyed the book. Good, occasionally moderate at times.

[Kate L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Information was great and I can understand the shipping forecast now, but the writing style is all over the place and very difficult to follow.

[John Buckingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A personal perspective which has its own individual querkiness. No worse for it if you are patient, for it covers a wide span of interesting aspects related to the title piece.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative book

[Richard Larkman · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit rubbish really. The writing style didn't help.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great and interesting short book that I am glad I found on libby. I read this book in one sitting

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A random collection of information mixed with some random views of the author. The actual shipping forecast bits is small.

[Diana180]

This book was beautifully produced by Here Design for UIT Press. I wish as much care had been spent on the prose, which rambles like a late-night radio announcer with time to fill, and wraps up most sections in clichés instead of drawing fresh conclusions. Leave it at the pub, please. Much space is spent on how the forecast gets from teletype to listeners via readers like Jefferson, but almost nothing is told about the meteorologists who actually write it. It's a pity because there is a germ of a gem of a book hiding under the padding. The biggest takeaway, besides how to interpret the shipping forecast, was how crowded the shipping lanes around Britain are and how much energy it takes to keep these channels safe and flowing.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange little book given to me as a gift... Interesting in parts but in others seems to jump between subjects as they come into the author's mind. The title with its emphasis is misleading - the emphasis is on the Shipping Forecast, but this forms only the first, shorter, section of the book which disappointed; it was only loosely linked to what followed. To call the rest "a history" is grand - the chapters don't go into much depth on the somewhat random subjects they cover and while some of what they do discuss is interesting, the writing style is distracting.
All that said, it's an easy and enjoyable read that has piqued curiosity in some aspects covered.

[Carol Cronin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rambling overview of history along the coast of the UK, bound loosely together by the shipping forecast which has been broadcast on the BBC since its debut in the 1920s. A welcome insight into why the forecast began and how it is produced, why it still exists, and a reminder that many people who never plan to go to sea stay awake until 1am just to hear it.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in parts but a bit disjointed and difficult to follow. Often mentioning coming back to something later in the book but I couldnt really keep track of whether that actually happened or not!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly patronizing...

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It may not be the nicest prose but the content was interesting to me if not a little broad and unfocused in places.

[Pete Green]

Hazily conceived, badly written, sloppily edited, complacent and self-indulgent.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is essentially just the author's random ramblings, loosely based on the shipping forecast. It was an easy but interesting read.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The back-story to the broadcasting of the shipping forecast on the BBC. Interesting history of the shores and seas surrounding Great Britain.