One 2 Three
Patrick Sherring
As Bishop of Colchester, Bishop Roger covers the northern part of Essex, as well as some responsibilities across all Essex.
It is 23 days since Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Bishop Roger feels it is good to have a time of reflection and take stock of your life. He gave the example of Alfred Noble. Due to a newspaper error, he read an obituary of himself as the man who had killed the most people in history through the invention of dynamite. He felt he did not want to be remembered this way, subsequently establishing the five Noble prizes, including the Peace prize.
For over 20 years he has stage-managed the Canopy Stage (previously The Performance Cafe) at the annual Greenbelt Festival, focussing on social justice, faith and art. He described the festival as “like Glastonbury, but no-one will steal your wallet.” For more information about the festival this year , 21st – 24th of August at Broughton house, nr. Kettering, check out
Https://www.greenbelt.org.uk.
Bishop Roger loves modern music and films. He recommended watching Adolescence, the recent series on Netflix.
Where he was born, Bristol Rovers, “The Gas” were the only team to support. He watches them when he can.
We were also joined by University student Chyna Rose who has been on work experience at PhoenixFM throughout this week.
Playlist
Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys – High time – check out their website for details of a gig in Ardleigh on 31st of May.
Beatles – When I’s sixty four – from 1967 album – Sgt Pepper’s lonely hearts club band – UK sales of over 5 million, global sales of 32 million plus. Last week’s guest Lisa from the Alheimer’s Society talked about the importance of music and songs in stimulating memories.
The Damned – Neat, Neat Neat – 1977 second single release. From the album – Damned, Damned, Damned – UK no 34. Bishop Roger said his “musical epiphany” was post punk. It democratised music. Many people at his school were in bands.
Jim Moray – All you Pretty girls – 2009 winner of Best original song in the Folk awards. Bishop Roger told an anecdote about why this song reminds him of Greenbelt.
Rose & Bruno Mars – APT – 2024 – over 100 million streams on Spotify in 7 days, total over a billion. No 1 in 49 countries. UK no 2, USA no 3. He called this a fun song. Every year he publishes a list of his tracks of the year. Somehow he missed this one. To find them go to https://substack.com or Bluesky and search Bish Colchester.
Birthdays competition
Beverley Knight ft London Community Choir – Everythings gonna be alright – 2023 Album UK no 23. Beverley Knight is 52 years old.
Gary Jules – Mad world – 2003 No 1 UK & Portugal. Top 10 in 5 countries. Gary Jules is 56 years old.
Frank Sinatra – New York, New York – 1986 UK no 4. Grammy award for Best male vocal performance. Composer of this track, John Kander is 98 years old.
Adam Faith – As you like it – Patrick requested this 1962 track that is just one minute fifty eight seconds long! UK no 5, Ireland no 4, New Zealand no 8.
Thanks to Chris, Sian and Bob in Harlow, Bishop Roger and Chyna in the studio and Chris in Guildford for taking part today. The joint winners with points Sarah and Sain. Bishop Roger and Chyna both scored one point, and were pleased and surprised.
Pink Martini – Splendour in the grass – title track of 2009 album. Canada no 13. Top 50 in 4 more countries including USA.
Jon Foreman – I propose a toast – from 2024 album – In bloom. Chosen as a guest by Ian Kemble from Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust. Ian will feature on the Good Friday show on 18th of April.
Chart this week in 1987
No 5 Freddie Mercury – The great pretender – UK no 4, New Zealand no 1, Top 10 in another 2 countries.
No 14 Ben E King – Stand by me – originally released 1961 when USA no 4, UK no 27. Soundtrack at the film – Stand by me – UK no 1 & 2 more countries. USA no 9. No 122 Rolling Stone 500 Greatest songs of all time.
No 20 Carly Simon – Coming around again – UK no 10. Top 10 in 4 more countries. USA no 18. Top 20 in 2 more countries. Written for the film – Heartburn – which starred Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.
Animals – It’s my life. Chyna chose this track as one she had heard played on PhoenixFM during the week.
Chyna Armstrong had been at Phoenix FM all week on work experience. She said that it had been a great experience. One of the the tracks she
Quincey Jones – Soul Bossa Nova
Deacon Blue – Great Western Road – title track of album released 21st March 2025, their 12th studio album. The first – Raintown – was released in 1987.
Next week my studio guest is Rob Saggs from https://chesshomeless.org He will give the latest news about The Turningpoint project.
