Classic BBC Radio Theme ~ Shipping Forecast (Sailing By)

This is "Sailing By" composed by Ronald Binge in 1963, and performed by the Alan Perry/William Gardner Orchestra, and is the version used by the BBC for its late night shipping forecast.

Sailing By is played every night on BBC Radio 4 at around 00:45hrs before the late Shipping Forecast. Its tune is repetitive, assisting in its role of serving as a signal for sailors tuning in to be able to easily identify the radio station. It also functions as a buffer — depending on when the final programme before closedown finishes, Sailing By (or part of it) is played as a 'filler' as the shipping forecast starts at 00:48hrs precisely. The initial reason for its introduction was because of the indeterminate finish time for the preceding Midnight News, leading to filling music being played until the Shipping Forecast was due to start. Sailing By was added to allow for a clear break between the end of the music and the start of the forecast

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Vintage
• radio
• theme
• BBC
• light
• programme
• OST
• Radio
• BBC Radio 4
• Meteorology
• Weather
• forecast
• coastal
• weather
• stations
• sea
• area's

[kimi705]

This would be the last thing my Grandad would listen to before he went to bed. Sadly my Grandad passed away May last year. We had a cremation and as the curtains closed for the final time, this song was played.

It was Grandad going to bed for the very last time.

I plan to walk down the aisle to this song. So So beautiful x

[MrVoyager123]

WHEN I HEAR THIS ITS TIME FOR SLEEP

[KCAZYT]

@superova32000

Grow up, you moron

[superova32000]

What a crock of shite...

[josephdarby1987]

I love this song I used to use to try sleep but now it's something I look forward to hearing after book of the week.

[fattyMcGee97]

@onsideowl I completely agree with you. It's great at 00:45. It really does calm me for going to sleep + the shipping forecast only helps.

[zarakhast]

Adore this.

[onsideowl]

Lovely piece. Its the only reason why I listen to the shipping forecast. I hate it when the BBC fade it in and out. Play it in it's entirity!

[NiamhG7]

I still use this to calm myself down when stressed. Happy memories of listening to this with my dad when I was a kid.

[SirCrouch1]

*Yawns then rests my head on the pillow and drifts off to sleep*

[fattyMcGee97]

You're the skipper of the trawler Rose (real boat, it sank last year) you're stuck off the coast of Peterhead or Kirkwall. You think it's going to be unpleasant returning to the depressing port of one of those places. It's at least a jolly little song to hear while you moan about returning home at 1am. It's good to have relaxing songs like sailing by sometimes.

[MrBurdett007]

Soothing, time to go to bed music, to float on the waves and dream.