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Matt Rutherford, Matthew Du Aime, Charlie and Louise Mortimer, Bill Stott

Libby Purves meets sailor Matt Rutherford; Matthew Du Aime, son of writer William Wharton; Charlie and Louise Mortimer and cartoonist Bill Stott.

Libby Purves meets sailor Matt Rutherford; Matthew Du Aime, son of writer William Wharton; Charlie and Louise Mortimer who have published their father's letters written to them over the course of 25 years and cartoonist Bill Stott.

Matt Rutherford is a sailor whose life as a troubled adolescent was turned around by the sport. In 2011 he set off on a solo navigation of the Americas in his boat 'Saint Brendan' which he completed in 309 days. During this epic journey of more than 25,000 miles he faced numerous trials and lost most of his trousers along the way. He is in London to receive the Jester award from the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) for outstanding contribution to the art of single-handed sailing.

Matthew Du Aime is the son of the late writer and painter William Wharton whose memoir, Shrapnel: Tales Not Told, is a frank summary of his experiences in World War Two. Wharton, the author of Birdy and A Midnight Clear, chose not to burden his children with these painful memories, preferring to write about them later in life. Shrapnel: Tales Not Told is published by The Friday Project.

Charlie and Louise Mortimer's father Roger, a former racing correspondent, wrote letters to his children spanning 25 years. Dear Lupin featured the letters from Roger to his son and Dear Lumpy is the sequel, from Roger to Louise - affectionately known as Lumpy. Dear Lupin: Letters to a Wayward Son and Dear Lumpy: Letters to a Disobedient Daughter are published by Constable & Robinson.

Cartoonist Bill Stott initially worked as a teacher in Liverpool where he built up a successful career as a cartoonist. His work was first published in the late 1970s in Punch and has since appeared in a wide range of publications from The Automobile, Classic Car Buyer and Yachting Monthly to Saga Magazine, Philosophy Now and Railway Modeller. He is appearing at the 10th Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival.

Producer: Paula McGinley.

Available now

43 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Paula McGinley
Producer Paula McGinley
Presenter Libby Purves
Presenter Libby Purves

Broadcasts

  • Wed 17 Apr 2013 09:00
  • Wed 17 Apr 2013 21:30

Podcast