2. Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River

“While we existed on dry land, and swam in the river, we lived for the sea”

So says Alan Read, Professor of Theatre at Kings College London as he explores Estuary Soul and recalls the time he spent growing up by the riverine estuary of Essex.

“Those of us without boats, and that was all of us, swam through the summers and other colder months too, and when after hours of up and down, in and out, going nowhere, we rested, it was in the water still.”

The mouth of the estuary was their playground, and the history of this landscape fed into the estuary soul; the music, people, industry and culture “in the end, we knew we were all at the end, of the river, together, alone.“

Written and presented by Alan Read.

With Susan Jameson

One of five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson

Natural History Unit Producer: Sarah Blunt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2016.