This Is Your Life: Uffa Fox

Uffa FOX CBE (1898-1972)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Uffa Fox, sailor, author and boat designer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Colston Hall in Bristol, from where the programme was then recorded. He had been led to believe he was there to look over a radio exhibition.

Uffa, who was born and raised on the Isle of Wight, began his working life as an apprentice to a boat builder before serving with the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War. After the war, he sailed the Atlantic Ocean twice, with the Typhoon in 1920 and with Diablesse the following year.

Having set up his own boat-building business at the age of 21, Uffa achieved much success with racing his own boat designs, notably the Avenger. During the Second World War, he conceived the idea of the Airborne Lifeboat - a vessel to be carried beneath aeroplanes and dropped by parachute to survivors of ditched aircraft - which proved a huge success and saved thousands of lives.

programme details...

Edition No: 212
Subject No: 213
Broadcast date: Tue 29 Jan 1963
Broadcast time: 7.55-8.25pm
Recorded: Thu 24 Jan 1963 8.00pm
Venue: Colston Hall, Bristol
Series: 8
Edition: 17

on the guest list...

Leonard Faichney
Robert Lumsden
Wilfred Heber
Joe Porter
Bill Waight
Stan 'Spike' Crews
Peter Scott
Charles Willis
James Bowman
Charles Parry
Jack Loveless
Yvonne - wife
Troop of Sea Scouts

production team...

Researcher: unknown
Writer: unknown
Director: Vere Lorrimer
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Life on the Ocean Wave

adventurers of the high seas

Peter Scott

Photographs of Uffa Fox This Is Your Life

June Dixon recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in her book, Uffa Fox...

The international airports of Paris and London were to become almost as familiar to Uffa as his beloved Isle of Wight as, during the months of winter, he winged his way back to England for an assortment of engagements ranging from his annual stint as Technical Adviser at the Boat Show to personal appearances on television and meeting with publishers or to check progress on boats being constructed to one or other of his designs.

One of these journeys in January 1963 was for the express purpose of joining in a recording at the BBC's studio at Bristol. The complexities of the mid-winter journey from Cowes to Bristol, with the ever-present threat of boat cancellations or delays, made Uffa accept with open arms Norman and Josephine's invitation to spend a few days at their Alvechurch, Worcestershire home and make the less hazardous journey to the studio from there.

Uffa had become a regular visitor to Alvechurch, and he and the Terrys such close friends that they could be completely open with one another. If Uffa overstayed his welcome and became too stroppy Norman had only to say, 'Uffa, you know your famous saying about fish and guests stinking after three days...' for Uffa to disappear with his tail between his legs until the next time.

On the night of the recording they set out by car with what they believed to be plenty of time in hand, even allowing for the adverse weather report, but Mother Nature was not on their side. There was snow and ice, and with every mile the visibility decreased, the roads becoming more and more treacherous; and it was only by a superhuman effort that they pulled up outside the studio with seconds to spare before the programme was due to commence.

All three entered the reception together, Norman and Josephine backing away as Uffa, catching sight of an old friend, advanced, hand outstretched in greeting, saying, 'Hello Eamonn, so nice to see you again.'

Eamonn Andrews, never knowing what Uffa would come out with next, hastily responded: 'Good evening, AND BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, let me tell you that the moment you stepped through these doors, you stepped right into your own programme. For tonight, Uffa Fox, CBE, This Is Your Life.'

For the next half hour or so, under the glare of spotlight and television cameras, Uffa was brought face to face with friends and acquaintances who had shared varying moments of his life, including the surprise appearance of his wife, Yvonne, who had been flown over from Paris especially for the occasion. The grand finale, and the moment to bring a lump to Uffa's throat, was the presentation of a certificate on behalf of the Goldfish Club, whose exclusive membership is restricted to aircrew ditched and rescued from the sea, in recognition of the many lives saved by his airborne lifeboats.

Uffa's subsequent and final word on the programme was 'It is quite painless. You just sit there like a stuffed turd while everyone comes on and says nice things about you. Then, when it's all over they hand you a cheque for £100.'

Series 8 subjects