Seekers, The
Item
Edited Title
Seekers, The
Archivist's Original Title
Seekers, The
Original description
In 1958, a programme titled "Seekers, The Christmas Day Programme" was produced by Laurence Gilliam and Alan Burgess, with incidental music composed by William Alwyn. The programme, narrated by Peter Finch, praised the pioneering spirit of individuals from various parts of the world, including Canada, Africa, Australia, and the West Indies. The programme included readings and recollections from notable figures such as Sir Henry Dale, Sir Howard Florey, and Sir John Cockcroft. The narration was accompanied by actuality inserts, including recordings of a leper colony choir, the Ceylon Girls' Choir, and Bahamian children. The programme concluded with a poetic prose and the expression of the philosophy of a 100-year-old individual named John Evans.
Time duration
0:58:16
Recording date of the original material
1958-12-10
Broadcast Date
1958-12-25
Country Name
Recording place
Resource Language
English
Performer/Speaker
Archivist Category
Radio Programme
Recording context
Radio Programme
Collection source citation
Holding Institution of Original Materials
Licensing Institution
Original item number
27SX4274
SEAH Identifier
BBC00123
Other Identifier
c208a934-971f-7bfb-e040-a8c004093871
Broadcast Topic
Culture
Description
Christmas Day Programme. A verse prologue followed by a programme in praise of the pioneering spirit in man. Written by H.A.L. Craig. Produced by Laurence Gilliam and Alan Burgess Incidental music composed by William Alwyn and played by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Muir Matheson. Narrator: Peter Finch.\r\n\n\rPRE:During transmission there was an announcement at end of prologue which is not included in this recording. \rLP24635 : Side 1 \rPrologue only (read by Peter Finch) with incidental music. \rLP24636 : Side 2 \rDebenham remembers the hopeless wait for Scott's party to return from the \rPole. Composite picture of early pioneers in New Zealand (Matthews, 135). \rRhodesia (Lovemore 150). S. Africa (Leviseur aged 101. 180). British Honduras \r(Wiebe 190). Cohen (210) describes trading in S.W. Africa. Early administration problems in Nigeria (Allen); Ceylon (postal officer); and \rJamaica (King, 250). \rLP24635 : Side 3 \rHardships in Canada in 1911 (Scharff and Lamb). Exploration of natural resources in Trinidad where Shallow (130) recalls the drilling of first oil-well. Community development in Nigeria and Sarawak. Growth of lythium and uranium towns in Africa and Australia, (Nolan 170 and MacConachie 185). \rPioneer pilot McCurdy describes first flight as contrasted with the powers of \rComet IV (de Havilland). Pioneer work in combating diphteria (Dale 255), \rdiscovery of penicillin (Florey) ... \rLP24636 : Side 4 ... and hormone insulin for diabetes (Best). Treatment of tropical diseases \r(Fairley) and leprosy (Harcourt White and Mrs. Davey 120). Impressions of recent Antarctic Expedition (Fuchs and Lister 155). Explanation of how they split the atom by Walton and Cockcroft (175) Poetic prose conclusion by narrator (with music) culminating in expression of philosophy of 100-year-old \rJohn Evans. \rMusic (other than incidental music): \rRec. Actuality Inserts: \rHarcourt White's Leper Colony Choir TWA 26958 \rSong of the Reapers (Ceylon Girls' Choir) TCL 26979 \rNever Let the Old Flag Fall (sung by Bahamian children) KBH 26967 \r \rNTS:Other recording dates: 10.12.1958 \rOTN:TLO 75590; 10 FRM 10 329/31; 30/32 \rTXN/TDT:HS & LP 25-Dec-1958 \rCON: Taking Part : from Gt. Britain: Prof. F. Debenham, Dr. V. Fuchs, Dr. H. Lister, Sir G. de \rHavilland, Prof. J. Evans, Sir Henry Dale, Sir R. Peters, Sir N.H. Fairley, \rSir H. Florey, Sir J. Cockcroft, E. Walton. from Canada: R. Scharff, Dr. M. Coady, Dr. C. Best, S.R. Lamb, J.A.D. \rMcCurdy. from Africa: Grannie Lovemore, Mrs. S. Leviseur, Sam Cohen, Godfrey Allen, S. \rKing, C. Ekwansi, George Nolan, Dr. F. Davey, Mrs. Davey, Harcourt White. \rFrom Australia: Bill MacConachie from New Zealand: Harry Matthews. from Ceylon: a postal department officer, L. Senerathe. from W. Indies: A. Roberts, Bobby Shallow. from British Honduras: Peter Wiebe, A. Mennonite. \r \rLISTER H., Dr. (spkr) \rPETERS R., Sir (spkr) \rBEST C. (spkr) \rBURGESS Alan (prod) \rCOCKCROFT John, Sir (spkr) \rCRAIG H.A.L. (auth) \rWALTON E. (spkr) \rDALE Henry, Sir (spkr) \rWHITE Harcourt (spkr) \rDE HAVILLAND Geoffrey, Sir (spkr) \rDEBENHAM Frank (spkr) \rEVANS John (spkr) \rFINCH Peter (narr) \rFLOREY H., Sir (spkr) \rFUCHS Sir Vivian (spkr) \rGILLIAM Laurence (prod) \rMATHIESON Muir (cond) \r
LISC896999\n\n Rewind Asset ID: 6035f8ec748d8fc68c949b6d
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| E. Walton | Person | |
 Geoffrey de Havilland |
Person | |
| H. Florey | Person | |
| H. Lister | Person | |
| Harcourt White | Person | |
| John Evans | Person | |
| Laurence Gilliam | Person | |
 Sir Henry Dale |
Person | |
 Sir J. Cockcroft |
Person | |
 Vivian Fuchs |
Person |