Neighbours
John McCarthy reflects on the relationships we have with those we live alongside. He visits a terrace in Birmingham to explore the bonds formed by geography and shared experiences.
John McCarthy reflects on the significance of the relationships we have with those we live alongside.
Moving house recently got John thinking about the bond we have with our neighbours. It's a unique connection that embraces trust, friendliness, kindness and community - but also the need to be reserved and maintain boundaries to allow us privacy.
John visits the Victorian terrace of Birchwood Road in Birmingham to explore the bonds formed by geography and shared experiences. Here he meets neighbours who share gardens, discovers struggles over integration and crime, and hears memories of everything from a communal coach trip to Weston Super Mare to the day a tornado struck their street.
The programme includes readings from poetry by Galway Kinnell, Mary Oliver, Benjamin Zephaniah, Andrew Greig and Douglas Dunn, as well as music by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Remmy Ongala, William Byrd and John Coltrane.
Readers: Rachel Atkins and Fraser James
Produced by Rosie Boulton
A Whistledown production for 大象传媒 Radio 4
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Music Played
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Peter Maxwell Davies
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Farewell to Stromness
- Peripheral Visions.
- Metier.
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William Byrd
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The Sixteen
Motet "Diliges Dominum"
Conductor: Harry Christophers
- Mass for 5 Voices.
- Virgin Veritas.
- 61297.
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Hugh Martin and Hugh Blane
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Stacey Kent
The Boy Next Door
- The Boy Next Door.
- Candid.
- 79998.
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Remmy Ongala
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Remmy Ongala
Living Together
- Mambo.
- Real World Records.
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Mack Gordon & Harry Revel
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John Coltrane
Love Thy Neighbour
- Stardust.
- Prestige.
- 7268.
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Broadcasts
- Sun 6 Oct 2013 06:05大象传媒 Radio 4
- Sun 6 Oct 2013 23:30大象传媒 Radio 4
- Sun 15 Jan 2023 06:05大象传媒 Radio 4
- Sun 15 Jan 2023 23:30大象传媒 Radio 4