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Terry Nutkins: In the Ring of Bright Water

Terry Nutkins

Karen Gregor

Terry Nutkins: In the Ring of Bright Water: Episode 1

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Episode 1

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Terry Nutkins: In the Ring of Bright Water, Episode 1

Wildlife expert Terry Nutkins recalls a childhood spent with author Gavin Maxwell.

4 Extra Debut. Wildlife expert Terry Nutkins recalls his unusual childhood spent with author Gavin Maxwell in the West Highlands. From October 2009.

Following the sad death of Terry Nutkins, we revisit two documentaries he made about his unusual childhood spent with the author, Gavin Maxwell, in the remote west highlands.

When Terry Nutkins was 13 he moved from London to the isolated west highlands to live with Maxwell, whose most famous book is 'Ring of Bright Water' . In 2009 - forty years after Maxwell's death - Terry told the remarkable story of his life with this mercurial man and his famous otters, Edal and Teko.

'Ring of Bright Water' is, arguably, the finest book ever written about a man's relationship with landscape and wildlife. Published in 1960, it tells the story of Maxwell's life in the now almost mythical setting of Camusfearna. His poetic observations of otter behaviour and the detailed sketches and photographs in the book helped to change - on a worldwide basis - the reputation of these animals which were widely persecuted at the time. 

Terry Nutkins had a boy's own adventure in a uniquely beautiful landscape. But he also found himself living a peculiar existence, in virtual isolation, with a man who was as charming as he was difficult, and whose depression led to severe mood swings. As Terry said, he had to grow up quickly.

Producer: Karen Gregor.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Terry Nutkins tells of his childhood, spent with the mercurial author Gavin Maxwell

When Terry Nutkins was 13 he moved to the isolated West Highlands to live with the writer Gavin Maxwell. 40 years after Maxwell's death, Terry tells the story of that time

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