LOW FINISTERRE 1007 LOSING ITS IDENTITY BY THE SAME TIME br br br It’s BBC Radio 4 br but the familiar br br litany of br THE SHIPPING FORECAST br br is alas...maimed br not the same. br br They changed br a national institution br br of the mind br redeveloped the mental landscape. br br They have even dare to have it br moved br br by 15 minutes br and renamed br br FINISTERRE br ...FITZROY. br br Like br ...why? br br It isn’t cricket br ...is it? br br This the beloved br Lord’s Prayer of places. br br Not even a great British br outrage could save it br br change br the changes. br br For years br its well worn sounds br br embedded in br our head br br the national psyche br br as we drifted off br to sleep br br perchance to dream br with SAILING BY. br br But secretly we recite br night by night br br re-instating br FINISTERRE br br letting FITZROY br sink to the bottom of our minds br br drown br br as we cuddle up br to the long loved br br old familiar br sounds. br br br ******* br br Consternation was caused when a name change was brought about in Feb.2002 and the well known and well worn sound of FINISTERRE was transformed into FITZROY. It was as if one had attacked a living person...a great British institution and there was uproar and pandemonium. br br But FITZROY won the day and the man who carried Darwin on the BEAGLE and invented the weather forecast was the new sound in town. He was a Christian creationist and never forgave himself for evolving Darwin and indeed committed suicide later on in life over the grief of this.) br br I prefer the world’s end feeling and sound of FINISTERRE but...