'Landmarks'

As well as the copies of the broadcast programmes, this series includes recordings of several meetings between Charles Parker, Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Philip Donnellan and the writers and composers who worked on the series, which were held to plan the programmes, and discuss issues such as the use of actuality and music, where to record actuality, the production schedule, and the lessons which could be learned from the Radio Ballads. There are also recordings of meetings held after the programmes have been made, which reflect on their success.

Copyright: BBC

For related papers, see MS 4000/2/103.

'Landmarks' was a series of musical documentary programmes about the six ages of man, produced by Charles Parker and broadcast on the BBC Midlands Home Service. The actuality recordings and songs were written and performed by various musicians and writers, probably with the intention of giving them experience of songwriting and recording and to benefit from Charles Parker, Peggy Seeger, and Ewan MacColl's experience of making the Radio Ballads. The programmes were 1) Birth, 2) School, 3) The Factory, 4) The Housing Estate/The New Home, 5) The Pub, and 6) Old Age. The television producer Philip Donnellan was closely involved in the planning and research for this series and made a series of television programmes on the same themes, also called Landmarks, which was broadcast in late 1964 and early 1965 (see the BBC Programme Catalogue at http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue).

The opening song of the programme was written by Ewan MacColl and performed by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger.

The first programme, about birth, was written by Clive Barker with songs by Graham Miles, with singers Rita Angel and John Faulkner, Alfie Carn on flute, clarinet, harmonica, Edale Martin on trumpet, Gordon McCulloch on banjo and guitar, and Bobby Campbell on the fiddle.

The second, which was about school, was based on recordings made in Glasgow, with songs by Norman Buchan and Dave Thomas. The singers were Gordeanna McCulloch and Archie Fisher, who also played guitar and banjo. Bobby Campbell played the fiddle and mandolin. The singing games were recorded from Priscilla Fisher and the Everest poem from Eddie McKay.

The third programme was about the factory and used recordings of men of the Cowley motor works in Oxford, which were made by David Kinnard and by Alistair Clayre, who also wrote the songs. The singers were Roy Harris, Wyman Symes, Alasdair Clare, and Peggy Seeger. Jim Bray played the bass and Bobby Campbell the fiddle and mandolin.

The fourth Landmark, the Estate, used recordings made in Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Harlow New Town, and Glasgow by Geoffrey Reeves with songs by Enoch Kent.

The fifth Landmark, about the pub, used recordings made on Tyneside by Johnny Handle, and in Belfast by James Simmonds, who also sang and accompanied themselves in their own songs. Colin Ross played the fiddle and Northumbrian pipes and the other singers were Laura Simmonds and Tony Wilson, who also played the guitar.

The sixth and last programme, about old age, was based on recordings made in Canterbury, London, Kettering, and Middlesborough by Clive Barker with songs by Graham Miles. The singers were Enoch Kent and Elizabeth Stuart; Peggy Seeger played the banjo, guitar, and dulcimer; Dave Swarbrick the fiddle and mandolin; and Alf Edwards the concertina.