I note from my current copy of the Radio Times that next week — Wednesday, April 4th, at 11 am — BBC Radio 4 is to broadcast a programme on the vandalism suffered some time ago by the Wyriall Hill version [planted 1952], of the town’s well-known Jerusalem thorn.
The reporter/producer is Jolyon Jenkins, who interviewed me, along with my wife, some time ago — purportedly for a programme on the various faiths in the town. (My wife has an interest in these differing faiths, and published a report on them on her website a few years ago.) Only at the end of a fairly long interview was the question suddenly and brutally raised of the thorn; and : "whodunnit".
As I haven’t a clue (and frankly, am not really interested anyway), I wasn’t able to help at all. I’m really sad about this, because I’m actually very creative in my own cynical little way. If only I’d been given more time to prepare and think about it, I could have really expanded my thoughts on this subject — in a proper Glastonbury manner, of course. From aliens, through religious bigots (both local and imported), to precursors of the end of world predicted by the Mayan calendar. The possibilities are limitless.
Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to. I now realize that what Jenkins really wanted for his programme was some definite finger-pointing from local residents — preferably at local residents (there’s nothing like a small rural community for salacious gossip, is there) — which of course, he didn’t get, as I wouldn’t have a clue where to point to start with.
Sigh.
And as we haven’t been informed of the broadcast by either the producer or the Beeb, we’re assuming that none of our input has been used in the programme.
However, I do know that others in town were on the list of potential interviewees. Was anyone else approached ? Anyone else got any comments to make about this programme before it goes out ?
Interested parties in town might like to hear more.
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