Eye has been listening to some old audio cassettes sent in by Ron Drew of a programme broadcast on Radio Carlisle in the 70s. The mists of time swirl up through the sound, making it seem much longer ago than it is. On tape are the voices of Cumbrian Quakers explaining their faith, rather elegantly Eye thought – where were the local dialects? – in a touching fashion.
Ron found these old tapes while rummaging at home, as one does (last week old tapes of the poet Philip Larkin reading his verses were found in a work colleague’s attic) and he told us the story of Sleepers Awake. ‘In the early 1970s Radio Carlisle approached the various religious organisations in Carlisle and District and asked them to make a short programme about themselves. They were given a tape recorder, and some tapes, and then left to their own devices.’ Typical! Who said reality broadcasting was new?
As Ron was a broadcast engineer, he was asked to oversee the Quaker contribution. ‘The tape recorder was first sent to Pardshaw MM and then to a Family Weekend at Glenthorne organised by Carlisle and Holm MM,’ said Ron. ‘I made a rough-cut guide from the tapes which I then delivered to Radio Carlisle.’ But was that enough for these lazy radio journos? ‘I was then informed that they would need an introduction and links. I wrote these using Quaker pamphlets and some of my own words. I thought that they would provide an announcer to read them.’
Wrong again! ‘I was persuaded, against my better judgement, to read them myself, something that behind the scenes technicians do not do!’
Ron has asked the local radio station if they would search their archives for the dates of transmission. ‘Several of the contributors are deceased’ he tells us.
Eye’s favourite contribution on the tape came from a Friend describing how a very young visiting French couple sat through a totally silent Meeting. The Meeting was sad that there had not been any ‘action’ for the newcomers but were surprised to discover that they had been overwhelmed by the silence and felt the form of worship would greatly appeal to young people.