In the mid 1980’s, there appeared on television a series of programmes describing the mis-adventures of Trevor Chaplin (itinerant Geordie woodworker) and Jill Swinburne (English teacher and conservationist) all loosely tied together by the music of Bix Beiderbecke (the first white jazz cornet player – his music it is said ‘sounded like bullets shot from a bell’.) Our opening video brings us a taste of one of Bix’s great hits – Cryin’ All Day, played here by Frank Ricotti.
Katy and I loved these programmes when we fist came across them and have watched them endlessly since. The writing of Alan Plater is sublime and the cast is excellent. Indeed we often felt that we bore a faint resemblance to Jill and Trevor. It was very appropriate that a few years ago we found ourselves transported to what Trevor would describe as the ‘moonstruck outer limits of Leeds’.
Here is an encounter in the hall at the locally named ‘San Quentin High’ between Jill, Trevor and Mr Carter (self proclaimed cynic) describing the events of the previous night. It is superbly elliptical.
Jill and Trevor often go off into the Dales in Trevor’s little yellow van to find peace. Yesterday we travelled through the Dales ourselves on the way to visit Amie. The wild beauty of the area is breathtaking. So let me take you to the very end of their adventures when Trevor muses that the difference between people is all down to whether they hear the music. Those who would wreak havoc on our world, who seek after riches, power and influence simply don’t hear the music – it is too prosaic for them – they have no time to listen. Those who would seek to treasure life and the wolrd in which we live – have time to listen and hear the music of the spheres.
If you can find a copy of these shows, they are well worth watching.
