Hobbies and Leisure Memories

Having written about childhood leisure time elsewhere, it is now time to look at how I’ve spent my free time as an adult.

 

Books and Magazines

 

I have always been an avid reader and historical novels have been firm favourites since I was a young teenager. Authors that I have read extensively at some point include Anya Seton, who introduced me to historical novels when I was about eleven, Jean Plaidy, who taught me about English historical chronology, E. V. Thompson, Norah Lofts, Susanna Gregory, Susan Howatch, Lindsey Davis and Cynthia Harrod Eagles. I’ve enjoyed some by Barbara Erskine and R. F. Delderfield too; some of the latter are set in Addiscombe. I binge read many Agatha Christie books after * was born and have re-read them several times since. Ruth Rendall and P. D. James also featured on my bookshelf in the 1980s and 1990s. More recent detective novels that count amongst my ‘must-reads’ include those by L. J. Ross about DCI Ryan, set in familiar Northumberland locations and Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series. Genealogical mysteries also predominate, with Nathan Dylan Goodwin and Wendy Percival being my favourites.

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I had every issue of Family Tree Magazine for many years and read magazines that come with my memberships of various organisations. The only other adult magazine that I have had a long-term subscription to is House Beautiful.

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Radio and Television

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I have already written elsewhere about radio and television programmes that I listened to and watched as a child, some of which were aimed at adults. I haven’t really listened to the radio as an adult, although John was a serial The Archers (1951) omnibus listener and he often had the radio on as a background.

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Here are some favourites from adulthood. I have included the dates that the programmes were first broadcast in brackets; most but not all, I watched from the first episode. Those that I watch, or have watched regularly, include family history related programmes, such as Who do you Think you Are? (2004) and Long Lost Family (2011) as well as various programmes based on DNA. The originals that inspired many family historians, including me, were Gordon Honeycombe’s Family History (1979) and the serialisation of Arthur Hayley’s Roots (1977). Other history related series that I’ve enjoyed include the Victorian/Edwardian/World War II (etc) Farm (2009) reconstructions with Ruth Goodman and co.. I always quite fancied being Ruth Goodman, apart from the slaughtering animals bit. There have also been various ‘back in time’ programmes and a series of memories of severe weather event of the past, bound up with social history that I like. David Olusoga’s House Through Time (2018) also finds a space in the must-watch schedule.

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I watched the hospital dramas Casualty (1997) and Holby City (1999) for many years before abandoning them. Other dramas from earlier adult years that stick in the mind are When the Boat Comes in (1976), A Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1976), The Aphrodite Inheritance (1979), The Flame Trees of Thika (1981), The Thornbirds (1984), Poldark (1975), All Creatures Great and Small (1978), Darling Buds of May (1991) and A Woman of Substance (1985). The last four have been remade but the new versions just don’t seem right. All of these led me to the books of the same name. As well as Poldark, other programmes set in the West Country have also been popular Doc Martin (2004) and Beyond Paradise (2023) for example. I also like Return to Paradise (2024) from the same stable but set in Australia. Recently, I’ve avidly watched the children’s Malory Towers (2020) series, which is not terribly faithful to Enid Blyton’s books but is set in beautiful local scenery. Others on past regular watch lists include London’s Burning (1988), Bad Girls (1999) and Rockface (2002). Along with most of the nation, we watched Dallas (1978) to find out who shot J.R. and the spin-off Dynasty (1982) but I’ve never been a great fan of American T.V..

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I’ve enjoyed crime dramas such as Van der Valk (1972), Shoestring (1979), Bergerac (1981), Inspector Wexford (1987), Midsomer Murders (1997), New Tricks (2003), Inspecter Morse (1987) and the spin-off Lewis (2006). I’ve watched Agatha Christie’s Poirot (1989) and Miss Marple (1984); anyone other than David Suchet and Joan Hickson in those roles just doesn’t seem right. I have also enjoyed programmes based on forensics, Waking the Dead (2000) and Silent Witness (1996) for example, although the latter has become too convoluted more recently. I also watch real life forensics programmes.

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I’ve never really been a soap opera addict, although I watched Neighbours (1986) for a while when the children were small and Chris was a fan of Emmerdale (1989 – previously Emmerdale Farm), so that was a regular for some years before it was abandoned.

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I started watching reality TV with Big Brother (1997), following the first few series of that, later defecting to Love Island (2015), which is so awful that it is compelling. In fact, the first reality programme that I watched was probably not Big Brother but The Family (1974). One of the cast later worked at the playgroup that I ran in Reading. I am a great fan of the Seven Up (1964) series, which has followed people of my own age every seven years since 1964. Also classified as reality TV is the Our Yorkshire Farm (2018) series featuring the Owen family, with their nine children. This too has had its spin-offs. I also like the Educating Essex (2011), Educating Yorkshire (2013) fly on the wall series following life in secondary schools. Traitors (2022), from various English speaking countries, is a recent must-watch.

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Some programmes mark the seasons, World’s Strongest Man (1977) is a Christmas tradition. The New Year brings Dancing on Ice (2006) and Call the Midwife (2012). I watched several series of The Voice (2011), which also fills the after Christmas schedules but I abandoned this when it became repetitive, with too much focus on rap. Strictly Comes Dancing (2004) slots in in the period from September to December. There are the craft or skill-based competitions, all of which have to be ‘Great’ such as Great Pottery Throwdown (2015), Great British Bake Off (2010) Great British Sewing Bee (2013) and Interior Design Masters (2019) which morphed from The Great Interior Design Challenge (2014). These too have their place in the calendar.

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I’ve enjoyed house buying and renovating programmes, such as Changing Rooms (1996), Location, Location, Location (2000), Ground Force (1997) and Garden Rescue (2016). Sunday afternoons in front of the Coles Manning wood burner were often accompanied by Four in a Bed (2010). I quite enjoy antiques programmes, notably Antiques Roadshow (1979) and Flog-it (2002). Quiz programmes such as Pointless (2009) too have had their turn in the spotlight. I am not a particularly avid watcher of comedy and prefer subtle satire to more obvious, slapstick-style humour. Although I do occasionally watch comedy, I don’t think there’s been a comedy series that I would be sad to miss since the days of Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969). Equally, I am not a great watcher of sport, apart from athletics and Wimbledon, as well as any coverage of the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

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Music

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I can’t sing, which is a great regret. As mentioned elsewhere, I played the recorder at school and had piano lessons for a year when I was seven, followed by taking my grade 1 exam in 2022. I’ve not really kept this up since and rarely play now. I love a ceilidh and usually attend one each year with Dan Britton, who wrote the music for my books, playing. Advancing age makes these more exhausting.

 

Listening to music initially meant vinal but by the time I was in my later teens, it was cassette tapes and then CDs. I’ve never really moved on to digital downloads. As a teenager, I would listen to music in the garden on my transistor radio, with its single ear piece and short-lived batteries. Almost all my current music listening takes place when am in a car. There were 78rpm records at home when I was small and I had 45rpm singles and EPs (extended play), as well as 33rpm albums which we listened to on a Dansette record player. Music on television came in the form of Juke Box Jury (1959), with its catch line ‘I’ll give it five’, reflecting the scoring system and Ready, Steady, Go (1963). These were superseded by Top of the Pops (1964). We all loved the dancers, Pan’s People and I was fascinated by the videos that occasionally accompanied songs, thinking for a short while that I’d like to make music videos as a career. There was also The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971), with whispering Bob Harris, which I very rarely watched but it was cool to say that you did.

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I had children’s records such as Sparky’s Magic Piano. I think the first single I bought was The Seekers’ The Carnival is Over in 1965. My parents had an LP that contained a compilation of songs from Italy, France and Spain, whose title now eludes me, Holiday something maybe, It included the track Funiculi Funicula and I played it repeatedly as a small child. I’ve always preferred folk-style music, although it was obligatory to ‘like’ heavy metal when I was a teenager. Favourite bands and musicians over the years have included Carol King, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, The Spinners and Fisherman’s Friends. I made what would pass as a dementia play list but it has got a little out of hand! There is a heavy bias towards music of the 1960s and 1970s and what Chris refers to as ‘dirge’. In no particular order:-

Hallelujah Leonard Cohen (1984) – just an all-time favourite. I heard it playing on a car radio at sunset when I was at Orange in Australia, allegedly the flattest place on earth – spectacular.

The Guests Leonard Cohen (1979) – listened to repeatedly on the flight to New Zealand in 2009.

The Boxer Simon and Garfunkel (1969) – probably just tops it as my favourite Simon and Garfunkel song. I remember * singing along with the lie la lie parts from her push chair.

Sound of Silence Simon and Garfunkel (1966) – close run thing for the favourite Simon and Garfunkel track. I wrote an essay based on the lyrics when I was at High School.

Sound of Silence Disturbed (2015) – I probably prefer this version to the Simon and Garfunkel one and that takes some doing.

Where do you go to my Lovely Peter Sarstedt (1969) – I distinctly remember this playing full volume when I visited Alum Bay whilst on a day trip to the island in 1969.

Bright Eyes Art Garfunkel (1979) - John and I never had ‘our song’ but if we did this might have been it. It was played at his funeral.

The Times they are a Changin’ Bob Dylan (1964) – another artist where it is hard to be selective. I wanted this to be the title of my Remember Then memories book but obviously, it was copyrighted.

Blowin’ in the Wind Bob Dylan (1962) – probably this is number one of the Bob Dylan tracks

Mr Tambourine Man Bob Dylan (1965) – yes, this one makes it on the list too.

Sylvia’s Mother Dr Hook and the Medicine Show (1972)

House of the Rising Sun The Animals (1964)

You’ve got a Friend Carol King (1971)

You can Close your Eyes James Taylor (1971)

Barefoot on the Cobbles Dan Britton (2018) - Written especially to accompany my historical novel of the same name. Uncannily Dan had included events in the lyrics that were in the novel but he didn’t know it at the time. I cried when I heard it playing live for the first time at the end of 2017, before its official release.

Sins as Red as Scarlet Dan Britton (2020) – Written to accompany my second novel.

The Storm Dan Britton (2017) – Written to commemorate the Clovelly fishing fleet tragedy of 1838, which I was commissioned to research.

Eve of Destruction Barry McGuire (1965) – depressing maybe but as relevant now as it was when it was written. This is a song I came to more recently, rather than at the time.

San Francisco Scott Mackenzie (1967) - a feel good song that reminds me of summer.

Father and Son Cat Stevens (now known as Yusef) (1970) – for no particular reason, although it is one I’ve tried to play on the piano.

Play with Fire Rolling Stones (1965) – mainly because I remember it playing numerous times at a particular party when I was at college.

As Tears Go By Marianne Faithful (1964) – another sixties song that I came to much later.

Fairytale of New York Kirsty MacColl (1987) – the best Christmas song and one that I attempt to play on the piano.

Mr Bojangles Jerry Jeff Walker (1968) – mostly because I was serenaded with this when working at Berry Brow Hotel.

Steets of London Ralph McTell (1969) – a favourite at the time and heard live twice, thirty seven years apart, in 1974 and 2011 and I try to play it on the piano.

Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum (1967) – another track I’ve heard live.

Cousin Jack Fisherman’s Friends (2013) – I’ve tried hard to be selective with Fisherman’s Friends tracks. I like this one because it is about emigration from Cornwall.

Sloop John B Beach Boys (1966) – one that was a favourite of Mark Lee, the girls’ primary school headmaster, so one they played on the recorder and guitar. Also sung by Fisherman’s Friends so a sneaky way of getting in another of their tracks.

Keep Hauling Fisherman’s Friends (2019) – up there as one of their best tracks.

Cornwall my Home Fisherman’s Friends (2022) – now this is the best track, very emotional for someone with Cornish heritage, even if I don’t live there.

The Leaving Shanty Fisherman’s Friends (2022) – aka the funeral song but very evocative.

Donald Where’s your Troosers? Andy Stweart (1993) – the Christmas song of the children’s childhood.

One More Step Along the World I go written by Sydney Carter (1971) – a hymn so no artist but sung at the end of every school year when the children were at Broadlea and played at John’s and mum’s funerals, as well as at *’s wedding.

Bind us Together written by Bob Gillman (1974) – another hymn, sung at Braund Society reunions this time.

The Carnival is Over The Seekers (1965) – it seemed to be continually on the radio and for some reason reminds me of Bridget. As mentioned above, it was probably the first single I bought.

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As regards live music, I went to a Cliff Richard concert in 1969, which I have no memory of at all. Through the school, I attended some Saturday Arthur Davidson Concerts for Children and I particularly remember a performance of Peter and the Wolf. I also went to some other classical concerts at the Fairfield Halls in the 1960s. I heard various bands when I was a teenager and student, including Hawkwind, Genesis, Uriah Heap, Gordon Giltrap and Procol Harum. I went to several Pink Floyd concerts, mainly because my then boyfriend was a fan. The first of these, in February 1972 was at the Rainbow Theatre and seats in the stalls cost £1.50. They were, at the time, the loudest band on tour and we went to see them at Wembley Stadium, which was be the coldest, most uncomfortable venue imaginable. I disgraced myself by falling asleep!

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I also went to hear Christian music from the likes of Graham Kendrick and Randy Stonehill at the Sack and Hessian Warehouse in Purley. When I was at college in 1975, I saw an American group called The Forerunners, who were part of a movement called Campus Campaign for Christ. In 1971, I, along with 10,000 others, allegedly saw Elton John, Fairport Convention, Tir Na Nog and Rory Gallagher at Crystal Palace but I am not convinced that I stayed to hear all these bands. I was very indignant when my mum wouldn’t let me go to the Isle of Wight festival when I was fourteen.

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Between 1981 and 1991, we went to four concerts by the Spinners. More recently, I‘ve heard Freeborn John, Maddy Prior, Ralph McTell in 1974 and again in 2011 and Seth Lakeman. I think it was on the way to the 1974 Ralph McTell concert that I witnessed a road traffic accident on my way to the bus stop. I had to give evidence in the coroner’s court. 

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Since 2011, I’ve seen Fisherman’s Friends several times each year, except during Covid and when concerts were suspended after a band member and roadie were killed. The first time we went to one of their concerts was in May 2011 at the Minack Theatre and this is always an iconic venue in which to see them. We also attended their last advertised free concert on the Platt at Port Isaac in 2019, with over 2000 there. Since then any Platt performances are not advertised.