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Last broadcast on Sat, 12 Jun 2010, 09:00 on BBC Radio 4.
Synopsis
Fi Glover is joined by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, poet Salena Godden, one woman involved in the clean up of the Braer oil spill in 1993, and another who raised by two mothers in the 1980s. There's a Crowdscape from the Blackpool promenade, and actor Bill Nighy shares his Inheritance Tracks.
The producer is Simon Clancy.
studio guest :: Marcus du Sautoy
Marcus du Sautoy is Professor of Mathematics at Oxford and is also the Professor for the Public Understanding of Science. He is presenting A Brief History of Mathematics on Radio 4 from Monday 14 June 2010 at 3:45pm
Topical story :: Braer Oil Spill
Helen Moncrieff has lived on Shetland all her life and was sixteen when the Braer oil tanker ran aground off Shetland on the night of the 5th January 1993. The resulting oil spill left the wildlife on the coastline devastated. Helen took a month off school to help with the clean-up operation.
Crowdscape :: Blackpool
JP Devlin charms the punters on Blackpool’s promenade.
Two Mothers
When Sian Norris' was very young her mother left her father to move in with another woman. Sian says that her childhood was a happy one and that the relationship her mum and her partner Kathy have is one that she always accepted even if others didn’t.
Inheritance Tracks :: Bill Nighy
The actor Bill Nighy inherited 'Well Did You Evah' sung by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra and he passes on 'Sign On A Window' by Bob Dylan.
Poet :: Salena Godden
Salena Godden is a poet, performer and writer. She also has a weekly residency in London's Soho hosting and curating The Book Club Boutique.
POEMS
Oil Floats On Water
--
the owl and the pussycat
in a treacle black sea
they had plenty of worry
and plenty of money
wrapped up in
a million pound note
oil floats on water
and it shouldn’t oughta
birds stick, fish float
pollution and torture.
a film of black
and drill and spill
a tangle of lines and hooks
oil floats on water
mistake take take took
oil floats on water
rainbows in the salt
oil floats on water
passing on the fault
something we all bought yeah?
something we all caught yeah?
catch you up and caught you,
oil floats on
oil floats
oil oil oil
water water water…
-----------------------------
Oh I’m The Queen Of The Swingers!
--
Oh I’m the Queen of the swingers oh
a Blackpool VIP
I reached the tip and had to flip
over, with your husband next to me
I wanna be a swing, swing, shwinger oh
and swing all over town
it’s not just car keys in the fruit bowl
but I am all for a monkey around.
Its like that movie ‘eyes wide shut’
but no Nicole Kidman or Tom Cruise
more like Nigel from accounts
clad in leather and pink shoes.
Oh I swing when I do the laundry
and I swing when I am at the shops
I swing when I break speed limits
with all the traffic cops.
I swing when I post my letters
and with the milkman drinking tea
and I am swinging on the bus
you know they always come in 3’s.
Oh I am swinging in the chippy
all over my mushy peas
and I swing like a cat on a hot tin roof
even my fleas are swinging fleas.
Oh I’m the queen of the swingers yo
and there is rhythm in my rhumbas
I’m all for pampas grass
and the pattern of twin prime numbers.
Oh I’m the Queen of the swingers oh
a Blackpool VIP
meet me in The Torture Garden
tonight, it’s the swinging place to be!
Broadcast
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Sat 12 Jun 201009:00
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