Between the Ears: The Vet at the End of the World

Original version

BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Between the Ears

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Innovative and thought-provoking features on a wide variety of subjects

Innovative and thought-provoking features that make adventurous use of sound and explore a wide variety of subjects. Made by leading radio producers.

The Vet at the End of the World

BBC Radio 3 - Between the Ears, The Vet at the End of the World

Seal attacks, snapping penguins, angry bulls...  a vet's life on Tristan Da Cunha.

Taking field recordings to a new level - a day in the life of veterinarian Joe Hollins, under the shadow of the volcano on Tristan Da Cunha - topped off with a crater lake plunge.

Angry bulls, furious penguins, enraged seals! In the shadow of the volcano 'Between the Ears' gets a microphone close up to enjoy the action, as veterinarian Jonathan Hollins, gives us a taste of life with the remote animals and sea life of Tristan Da Cunha. 

On an island of a population of around 250 people, a thousand sheep and many more penguins, Joe also gets a flavour of what happened to the islanders when the volcano last erupted and they were forced to leave their homes, sixty years ago. Cracks in the ground were opening and closing - one sheep fell in! Boats took them to a nearby penguin colony where they sheltered until rescued. Sent to live in the UK, all chose to return to Tristan as soon as it was declared safe by an expeditionary force sent out by The Royal Society.

The island was just as they had left it, the settlement miraculously spared, though all the sheep mysteriously disappeared... there are theories as to why! 

Memories of the volcano are mixed with Joe's daily life - the domestic close up sounds of cows birthing, bulls hoisted onto land from bucking fishing vessels and gong clanging to bring the islanders together. 

The atmosphere is punctuated by updated versions of traditional sea shanties - performed by the likes of Lou Reed, Anthony, Beth Orton, Rufus Wainwright, Richard Thomson and Tim Robbins. 

This rocky outcrop was claimed by the Dutch, the British, the Portuguese, and even an American Privateer, geographically useful to all in its splendid isolation, (even in the 20th century the islanders only heard about the ‘result’ of the First World War a year after it finished). Today, we might envy their close community and isolation in a world endangered by today’s globalisation.  

Joe was lucky to get permission to record during his time there, by the island council, scarred by their previous experiences with the ‘press’, most particularly during that 18 months living as refugees in the UK. 

From the most remote community in the world – Tristan Da Cunha  -  the sounds, songs and tales of a whole island committed to socially  isolating – together.

With grateful thanks to the people of Tristan Da Cunha. 

Producer: Sara Jane Hall 

Archive:  The Royal Society  Volcanic Eruption on Tristan da Cunha, 1961 

Music:  as sourced by Danny Webb from 'Rogue’s Gallery' -  a series of sea shanties and pirate songs.
And 'Imaginary Songs From Tristan Da Cunha' by Deathprod.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Between the Ears

The Vet at the End of the World

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3