HMS Ark Royal. BBC series Sailor - intro

[moyston32]

Can anybody tell me who composed the music to this clip cheers

[Scalatympani]

hi the reason Rob Stewarts theme can't be used is because a member of my family who shall remain nameless arranged that tune and got a rather strong worded letter from Mr Stewarts people regarding its use, they would often listen to the top 40 through headphones one scribing the music the other rearranging to play to the ships company in the evening...never intending it for public listening

[NOODLES38]

Gutted there is no floyds shine on with the footage does anyone on here have it ?

[Popeetog]

@NOODLES38 search my Sailor footage and you'll find it - -have tried posting the link but Youtube says I cant. Barstewards!

[daddyofjames]

@NOODLES38 yes.... look on my channel for the Buccs and Phantoms with the music..

[Popeetog]

I know, I know. When I first put this up three years ago all was fine for the first six weeks - then YouTube said thou shalt not - for apparently Rod and Sony need the royalties money. NOT!

Anyways ,when time allows will reload afresh with either Rodders or failing that, the RM band version that was used in the VHS and DVD re-issue of the series.

[digitalbroadcaster]

Also confusing is why you couldn't put Rod's Sailing track on here. It's everywhere else on YouTube. Such a shame you got blocked.

[digitalbroadcaster]

I remember watching the series as a child with my mum. What made it work was the Rod Stewart track. The music played here, was enough to make me stop this video. One more minute of it and I would have inhaled my fishpond!

[juno60]

She wan't towed for scrap in 1978. She was still laid up in the trots in May 79.

[MrAndyharpo]

I served on hms zulu in 1976 at punta gorda border between belize and guatemala and seem to remember it was us and hms nubian and a few land based harriers and pongoes that had the task of deterring the guatemalans from invading belize the only time we saw ark royal was in porto rico they were too busy putting on make up for the tv prog

[type42sheff]

Remember being on Sheffield and being arks guard ship in late 70s. Watching the pilots doing training flights, cant believe had no camera , what memories.

[TheAtomicCUCUMBER]

So sad to see it go

[kwitchykim]

My brother is in this series....Sailor

[THOMASBANTON]

CAN SOME1 PLEASE TELL ME WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IF SHE WAS IN THE FALKLANDS FOR THE WAR THANKS

[Popeetog]

@THOMASBANTON this Ark Royal was did not participate in the Falklands conflict. About 80% of her had been cut up and scrapped by then.

Hypothetically If she had been there we wouldn't have lost as many ships - - courtesy of the AEW Gannets she carried

[LiamE69]

@Popeetog Not to mention the Phantoms and Bucaneers. Had they been available there would have been little to no threat from the Argentine airforce. As it was the Harriers couldnt engage their mirages.

[Trimedial]

@THOMASBANTON there have been several Ark Royals. Falklands had a different one without Cat and Trap

[xxDGTxx]

My brother seved on the Ark Royal and served during it's final world tour.

[Aircrewboy]

@mayboy892 I think you knew po Lindfield who was the man took charge of the officers' catering. Nice man, later served onboard HMS Bulwark as catering officer.

[Aircrewboy]

mayboy892 I think you knew po Lindfield who was the man took charge of the officers' catering. Nice man, later served onboard HMS Bulwark as catering officer.

[PeterS339]

i worked on the Ark at Devonport i was 17 at the time when she sailed on this deployment

[SNOWBALL1690]

fucking cunts ruined it. (sings) A AH LIKE THEYA ALAWAYS DOOOO. fukin shitheads. Whats the point of buying this dvd for someone who remembers the show for them to hear it start off with some new fukin enya toilet paper plinky plonk harpy shitadvert shit pigmusic AAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[foggydayinlondon]

I spent 7 years in Ark - Ships company flight deck party aircraft handler. Ark was 'the best' as I spent earlier times and later times aboard other carriers during my 31 years service. If I could do it all again - I would, and all of it aboard Ark!

[graemejwsmith]

Back when Britain had a navy.......

I remember watching the series and just 4 years later watching her going to the breakers at Cairn Ryan and then over the next two years getting cut down and hauled up the ways - a bit at a time - till there was nothing left.

That was truly heartbreaking.

[chrisofcolombia]

Ratbags. A slow and consuming p*x on Warner decision-makers - as if they were going to lose a single cent by allowing "their" music to be heard in the context of this clip.

Also a big 'boo' on YT for consistently capitulating to any of the big players whenever they rattle their legal swords in their scabbards. Yessir, Nosir, 3 bags full sir.  They say jump, and you say "how high sir?

Popeetog - keep trying!

[chrisofcolombia]

It won't let me comment for some reason. Any idea why?

[mayboy892]

Mayboy892@Popeetog:

I`ve got all the original "Sailor" recordings on VHS tape. My brother recorded every episode for me whilst I was away with the Ark. The DVD box release is not as good as it has been cut and the original music removed.

She was a very good ship with a very good crew.

I`ve got many, many good memories of my time spent aboard this fine ship.

[mayboy892]

I served on H.M.S. Ark Royal twice. Once with 892 Squadron Phantoms and again as part of her crew. I was aboard the Big A when the BBC recorded the programme Sailor.

The Intro music was Rod Stewarts "Sailing" and not what is playing on this video.

It was a sad day when she was towed away to Cairnryan near Stranraer to be scrapped (1978) two years after her sister ship the Eagle.

[Popeetog]

@mayboy892  - - -intro music of BBC re-release of VHS and DVD was RM band version of Sailing. Have tried the Rod Stewart version here, but youtube and Warners blocked it - -yeah, like Rod needs the money!

[waffoorn]

@mayboy892 Hey I was there too........Ships Co (WAFFOO) from May 74 till March 77,I re commissioned Crazy fool. Maybe we met.

[Aircrewboy]

@mayboy892  you must know PO Lindfield, the man took charge officers' catering. He later became S/Lt Lindfield onboard HMS Bulwark.

[pompeygirlGA]

@mayboy892 Dad was on the Eagle and the Ark Royal, broke my heart when they were scrapped, it was like my childhood was being torn apart

[joshholiday1]

i proud to say i'm apart of TS ark royal sea cadet corp that is detachead from the beautiful hms ark royal

[rugbybem]

I will always remember the final scenes of the series where the Ark Royal sailed into the sunset with the crew (I believe) singing 'We are sailing'. It gave me goose pimples at the time. I hope one day that someone will post the scenes on YouTube.

[Cexuup]

hmm what is this? i am noob

[Popeetog]

@Cexuup = it's about how the UK used to have a naval fighting force

[Gonzoidz]

This tv show was pretty big news when it was made. The best two guys in it were the old chief, 'my flower' and the rogue leading hand.

[Popeetog]

I'll second that - Fleet Master at Arms Tom Wilkinson MBE and 'Twinkle' Powell

[Popeetog]

Seeing as WMG and Google (masters of Youtube) can't get their act together the soundtrack has now gone AWOL. O imagine the intro to sailing in you're head please.

[sketchy74]

This sucks that WMG pulled this because of a Royal Marine Band version of that song, as if it is really going to affect their record / ahem I mean MP3 downloads.

Such a shame, oh well thanks for posting in the first place Popeetog!

[Popeetog]

It was the Rod Stewart track Sailing that has been pulled. The RM band version is probably deemed ok.

[ECAaxel]

@Popeetog could you upload it to metacafe or something?

[Popeetog]

@ECAaxel Probably - -have re-edit as original long since deleted off hdrive

[EDS01475634763]

@Popeetog I would love it as well if you could upload the series i've been looking for it online. I could buy it second hand if i'm honest but it's upwards of £120 and basically i can't afford it.

[Quinny1961]

Inspirational TV, it inspired young lads like me to join up, especially after seeing the scenes in Lils!.

30 years later, my old ship INTREPID is being broken up in Liverpool.

[FlyingFoxOz]

Quality, thanks!

I seem to remember an amusing scene of matelots puking their rings up as they returned from a run ashore. I bet RN PR loved that bit.

Then again, I'm sure this series inspired a lot of people to enlist.

I'd give my left nut for a decent recording of the ship's company singing 'Sailing'. My old man was a merchant seaman and we had it at his funeral....

[Longs81]

If the RN still had this Ark in 1982 instead of scrapping her in 1980 I doubt Argentina would have still invaded the Falklands.

[s98liquidator]

Wow, this brings back a lot of memories. I think it used to be on on a Tuesday or Thursday night. I had to be in bed before it started but always remember hearing this when I was upstairs as the programme started. Great stuff, happier days.

[Deaks100]

Do you or anyone have copies of this series? I would love a copy of the DVDs now they're out of print, or even better would be the original TV versions?

[Popeetog]

I have the dvd version and earlier vhs PAL release. Sadly the original footage is locked deep in Aunty Beeb's archives

[hun3107]

Outstanding - watching the programme as a young kid made me want to join - I did and stayed for 24 years. Hell I miss the Andrew!!

[KrisRamJ]

Awesome, thanks for uploading, I've been searching for this for ages!

[Popeetog]

Extended version to follow when time allows!!