Having clocked up over 40 recorded interviews in my RSA RDInsights series, with a range of outstanding interdisciplinary designers, from Thomas Heatherwick to Kenneth Grange and from Margaret Howell to Sandy Powell, it was an odd sensation to have the tables turned on me. But last week, I was a guest on BBC Radio York's Dr Rock.
Illustration by John Richardson, design by Patrick Argent.
Dr Rock, aka Charles White, is an eccentric mix of practising chiropodist, environmental campaigner, DJ and successful biographer of rock legends Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis.
As a radio presenter in his guise as Dr Rock, he has had a wide range of guests on his show. From the world of pop, they include Mark Knopfler, Nils Lofgren, Bill Wyman and many more. He also likes to draw from the world of design and has featured Milton Glaser, Bob Gill, George Lois and Sir Peter Blake, just for starters. And now, embarrassingly, I am included among this illustrious company.
With his environmental activist hat on, Charles White has a far steelier side. Along with a group of equally minded friends, they formed the 'Sons of Neptune' in 1983, long before the 'Surfers Against Sewage' collective. The Sons of Neptune quickly became a three-pronged spear in the side of Yorkshire Water the utility company serving the region but woefully neglecting its environmental duties by spewing thousands of gallons of untreated effluent directly into the sea around Scarborough. Yuk!
For over three decades, Charles and his buddies have monitored Yorkshire Water¹s dodgy activities and have presented a whole mass of evidence against the company, eventually curtailing its activities via changes in the law, which have helped to prevent the spread of some very nasty bugs. A brief look at Yorkshire Water's Wikipedia page will show you just how neglectful the company has been over the years. Ironically, its vision is 'Taking responsibility for the water environment for good' clearly all waffle.
Me with the legendary Dr Rock (Charles White)
You can hear Part 1 of my appearance and listen to my selection of music on Dr Rock here.