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The Shipping Forecast: A Miscellany
The rhythmic lullaby of ‘North Utsire, South Utsire’ has been lulling the nation’s insomniacs to sleep for over 90 years. It has inspired songs, poetry and imaginations across the globe – as well as providing a very real service for the nation’s seafarers who might fall prey to storms and gales. In 1995, a plan to move the late-night broadcast by just 12 minutes caused a national outcry and was ultimately scrapped.
Published with Radio 4 and the Met Office, The Shipping Forecast is the official miscellany for seafarers and armchair travellers alike. From the places themselves – how they got their names, what’s happened there through the ages – to the poems and parodies that it’s inspired, this is a beautifully evocative tribute to one of Britain's – and Radio 4's – best-loved broadcasts.
Published with Radio 4 and the Met Office, The Shipping Forecast is the official miscellany for seafarers and armchair travellers alike. From the places themselves – how they got their names, what’s happened there through the ages – to the poems and parodies that it’s inspired, this is a beautifully evocative tribute to one of Britain's – and Radio 4's – best-loved broadcasts.
- GenresNonfictionTravelCultural
224 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2016
26 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Nic Compton
35 books24 followersNic Compton is a writer/photographer specialising in sailing - but with a keen interest in environmental issues. After an idyllic childhood on boats in the Mediterranean, he returned to the UK at age 14 to complete his formal education, including in a degree in English with American & Commonwealth Arts at Exeter University. After a decade or so working as a journeyman shipwright, he studied Journalism at City University, eventually fetching up at the offices of Classic Boat in land-locked Croydon. He was deputy editor and then editor of the magazine from 1994 to 2000. That was when he gave up the security of the monthly pay packet for the vagaries of freelance life. Since then he has travelled the world as a writer/photographer, contributing to a variety of magazines, and has written 15 books mostly about boats. He recently completed an MA in Global Political Economy at Sussex University, and co-wrote two books about economics. He currently lives by the River Dart in Devon, UK, from where he sails a Romilly 22 called Ramona. More information at www.niccompton.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 18, 2019
I picked this book up in Helen's Wool shop in Moeflre, Anglesey. If you are ever that way pop in, the second hand books are sold to raise funds for the air ambulance service and the Anglesey lifeboat station is next door. I mention this because it was the sinking of the Royal Charter which was the catalyst for the shipping forecast. The Royal Charter hit rocks just to the north of Moelfre shortly after Robert Fitzroy had been given the mandate to create what later became the Met Office and it was this disaster which led to the initial broadcast of weather warnings to shipping around the UK shores. By the way, Fitroy's mandate was the result of a meeting of leading maritime powers in Brussels in 1853 to agree to work together - so the EU really does have a long and fruitful history!
I like this little book because after a short introduction setting out the history and development of the shipping forecast areas, as well as a schedule of all the readers and some other uses of the forecast in the media, there is a section on each area. These sections start with vital statistics (which can be very frightening when you realise some areas have recorded wave heights of 80 and 90 feet) followed by some interesting facts and stories about events in each shipping area. The Spanish Armada features in quite a few areas around the British Isles and there is a tale of the British Armada I had never heard about.
Definitely a volume to read sitting outside the tent with a glass of red while listening to the Irish sea wash against the rocks.
I like this little book because after a short introduction setting out the history and development of the shipping forecast areas, as well as a schedule of all the readers and some other uses of the forecast in the media, there is a section on each area. These sections start with vital statistics (which can be very frightening when you realise some areas have recorded wave heights of 80 and 90 feet) followed by some interesting facts and stories about events in each shipping area. The Spanish Armada features in quite a few areas around the British Isles and there is a tale of the British Armada I had never heard about.
Definitely a volume to read sitting outside the tent with a glass of red while listening to the Irish sea wash against the rocks.
December 27, 2016
A very nicely put-together book, much better-written than 'Attention All Shipping' and benefiting from a sailor's expertise. My one quibble would be the endless quotes all pretty much saying the same thing about the status of the Forecast in the British psyche and having very little to do with the sea area in question.
October 1, 2018
This book is OK for passing the time, but I found that the snippets of information about each of the shipping forecast areas were fairly unmemorable, and the quotes from people waxing lyrical about the cosiness of the forecast soon became repetitive.
February 17, 2023
Now, here’s ‘The Shipping Forecast’ by Nic Compton…
Charming, 3 or 4 (stars), becoming very interesting, then less memorable for a time. Fair. Good, occasionally repetitive.
Charming, 3 or 4 (stars), becoming very interesting, then less memorable for a time. Fair. Good, occasionally repetitive.
October 2, 2016
För alla med sjömanssjäl. Alldeles underbar!
June 13, 2023
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...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
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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...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/fastcat-boat...
https://numberoneboats.com/fastcat-bo...
https://theboatyacht.com/guimond-boat...
https://numberoneboats.com/guimond-bo...
June 13, 2024
I’ll make a confession, I’ve never actually listened to the Shipping Forecast but I’ve often heard the names Forties, Rockall and Fastnet (which also, weirdly, featured in the last book I read, The Storm Sister). I now live in a fishing community and always happy to learn more about a random subject I picked this hard backed little beauty up from my local charity shop.
The book weaves its way around the UK coastline with little titbits about the first yacht club in England, a Viking motorway and how Captain Cook popped his cherry on the Freelove. Accompanying these tales are poems, recollections from newsreaders of the Shipping Forecast and facts on things such as average wind speed and wave height for the particular area. The whole thing had a kind of melodic flow to it, which if I understand correctly, is similar to the feel of the actual forecast.
Towards the end it did get a little repetitive (the quotes in particular) and you could tell some areas were more difficult to wax lyrical about than others. Overall however I really enjoyed the light introduction and may stay up one night until midnight to listen to the actual thing!
The book weaves its way around the UK coastline with little titbits about the first yacht club in England, a Viking motorway and how Captain Cook popped his cherry on the Freelove. Accompanying these tales are poems, recollections from newsreaders of the Shipping Forecast and facts on things such as average wind speed and wave height for the particular area. The whole thing had a kind of melodic flow to it, which if I understand correctly, is similar to the feel of the actual forecast.
Towards the end it did get a little repetitive (the quotes in particular) and you could tell some areas were more difficult to wax lyrical about than others. Overall however I really enjoyed the light introduction and may stay up one night until midnight to listen to the actual thing!
February 20, 2023
Lovely book/almanac/snippets collection about an institution - the radio broadcast the Shipping Forecast. Well, partly about that, partly about the history, geography, folklore and sea lore of the various sea regions and coastlines surrounding Great Britain and Ireland. Nice one to dibble in and out of just before bed. I don't sail at all, so some of this goes straight over my head, but I did enjoy it. A lot of the names in here are familiar in that childhood memory way, as I liked the stop-motion animation series Portland Bill as a child. It's an innocent, eccentric tale of a lighthouse keeper and his two assistants, and the nearby coastal village. All the characters are named after regions of the Shipping Forecast, islands, lighthouses and the like. So in a way it was fun to read about their back stories =)
Borrowed from the library.
Borrowed from the library.
January 21, 2025
Great read with plenty historical facts relating to local areas on both land and sea. Statistics pages while interesting were not worth as much compared to the short points on each sea area. The initial paragraph of each section perfectly summarise each. No two areas felt alike or repetitive and I found this one very easy to read the end of. Lovely physical book too with a great cover and images throughout. My only wish would be for each sketch to be even more clearly linked to each region.
I am writing this at 00:32 after an evening of coding so I think I'll wait for a little while and enjoy Sailing By to relax. Thanks FitzRoy!
I am writing this at 00:32 after an evening of coding so I think I'll wait for a little while and enjoy Sailing By to relax. Thanks FitzRoy!
January 24, 2021
21st January 2021, my current synopsis. If you want to know your North Utsire from your South Utsire and your Fastnet from your German Bight, then this is the book for you. Each area of the Shipping Forecast is dealt with in detail with all the quirky facts you just want to know. I, for one, didn’t know we had an independent state called Seeland just off the South East coast of England, did you ❓☀️💦💨🌨🌊
August 24, 2019
As a long-term listener to the shipping forecast, both as an insomniac and for its meteorological value, it was great to learn a bit of the history surrounding the sea regions, as well as how they came to be. I particularly like the 'top trump style' comparison between the shipping areas, at the beginning of each chapter.
A very niche, but excellent read.
A very niche, but excellent read.
April 8, 2018
Quick and enjoyable to read, although I'm pretty sure I was informed of the Met Office's decision to rename Finisterre about six separate times throughout the book... Just in case you didn't know, it was a contentious issue of the highest order.
February 11, 2022
Absolutely loved this. Full of little snippets of information. The shipping forecast starts my day, if I'm not sat down to breakfast by ardnamurchan point I'm running late for work. When they moved it to 5.30 for a couple of weeks at the start of the year I couldn't cope.
August 2, 2022
A concise look at each forecast area with some quotes, songs written and folklore chucked in. It's not remarkable but a pleasant look at a quintessential British eccentricity. Vital for those at sea and a lullaby for those that aren't.
December 27, 2018
An awesome explanation and dive into a most sacred institution.
January 9, 2019
I like Radio 4!
March 29, 2019
Ok look at one of britains most ionic institutions but some of the information was repetitive and the quotes were the most annoying bit as they were extremely repetitive.
April 9, 2019
Meh.
Short. Chapters lack coherence: more detail on less might be preferable. In places a clear lack of anything to say!
But it isn't trying to be anything more.
Short. Chapters lack coherence: more detail on less might be preferable. In places a clear lack of anything to say!
But it isn't trying to be anything more.
October 29, 2021
Oh, sweep me up and send me to sleep dear Shipping Forecast. A fun little book with a few good bits of trivia - a lovely, gentle holiday read!
May 27, 2023
Informative, conservative, occasional funny, becoming middle class nostalgia later. Dated.
April 23, 2024
I was introduced to the Shipping Forecast as a teenager while on a school trip from Germany to London. And while I rarely listen to it anymore, I still love to listen whenever I come across it.
This book is a love letter to the forecast. I enjoyed reading all the little tidbits of history from the different areas, about the nods from artists and especially the quotes from the announcers themselves.
This book is a love letter to the forecast. I enjoyed reading all the little tidbits of history from the different areas, about the nods from artists and especially the quotes from the announcers themselves.
March 8, 2017
A interesting enough almanac-style book, that suffers from being padded out somewhat with quotations from Radio 4 news readers and by poor editing / proof-reading. Examples of the latter:
- "Sitting exactly on the boundary between the Forth and Fyne (sic.) sea areas lies the island of Lindisfarne" (p.56);
- "'This is a gale warning issued by the Met Office at 13:65 (sic.)'" (p.157).
When a book is based around the presentation of short, snappy, fact-based paragraphs, then it's pretty much essential that the facts are relayed accurately.
- "Sitting exactly on the boundary between the Forth and Fyne (sic.) sea areas lies the island of Lindisfarne" (p.56);
- "'This is a gale warning issued by the Met Office at 13:65 (sic.)'" (p.157).
When a book is based around the presentation of short, snappy, fact-based paragraphs, then it's pretty much essential that the facts are relayed accurately.
January 9, 2017
This is a lovely mixture of the factual - actual position of each shipping area, average wind speed, highest recorded wave and other fascinating things, alongside a miscellany of facts, poems and stories for each area, and people's thoughts and reminiscences about the shipping forecast itself.
It is really a very British thing though - I can't imagine the poetry of 'North Utsire, South Utsire, Fisher, Dogger, German Bite ,' having the same resonance for anyone else!
It is really a very British thing though - I can't imagine the poetry of 'North Utsire, South Utsire, Fisher, Dogger, German Bite ,' having the same resonance for anyone else!
October 17, 2016
Being a huge fan of the ships, I found this book an excellent filler to the often hypnotic forecast, full of interesting background stories about all the areas in forecast, a book that will be "dipped into" often
January 11, 2017
I am a fan of the shipping forecast and this book is very interesting. It has information about area's in the forecast, about the history of it and anecdotes from people who have read it on air which gives an insight to the accuracy involved in the broadcast.
December 9, 2016
детска радост
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews