The condensed version of the Listening Project interview that I mentioned here was broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire (the Andrew Peach show) and BBC Radio Oxford (the Phil Gayle show) at about 7:50 am on Friday June 15th 2012. The whole thing is a little over four minutes long. The Radio Berkshire version of it is below if you’d like to listen. It provides some insight on how I told my daughter Katie about my being a transvestite and how she felt and feels about it.
Back in March I was contacted by Claire at BBC Radio Berkshire to ask if I was interested in taking part in The Listening Project. She knew of the interview that I’d done with Bill Buckley back in March.
The Listening Project is about “capturing the nation in conversation to build a unique picture of our lives today and preserve it for future generations”. There’s more info on it here. As Claire summarised it:
In a nutshell, we get two people who are close to each other (friends, family, loved ones) into a studio and record a conversation/interview of about 40 minutes in length. One person acts more as the interviewer but it’s more natural and casual than a formal interview. We, as journalists, don’t get too involved, we can help guide the conversation but we let you set the agenda.
This audio will then be archived and put in the British Library for people to use for research in the future. It’s an opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives.
The audio is also cut into a shorter piece and played on the BBC Radio Berkshire and on Radio 4 as part of this exciting new project starting at the end of the month.
I asked Sally, my wife, if she liked the idea, but she was a little nervous about it. Both my daughters were interested though. In the end it was easier for Katie to take part … so long as it could be fitted in around her exam schedule.
It took a little organising to come up with a date that worked, but we eventually managed to make a recording on Saturday May 5th.
We arranged to be at the BBC Berkshire studios at 9:00 am. Graham McKechnie, the producer of the project at BBC Berkshire, needed to be commentating at a London Irish rugby match later in the day, hence the early start.
Actually, 9:00 am isn’t so early except that Katie needed to travel by train from London to home first, and I needed to spend a while applying makeup
The day went something like this:
6:30 am and the alarm on my phone sounds.
6:30 + a few seconds, the alarm on the radio sounds.
I get up and make tea (for Sally) and coffee (for me).
6:45 shower.
Having already decided what to wear the previous night, collecting things from the wardrobe only takes a couple of minutes.
Deodorant. Shave. Teeth. Moisturiser. Underwear. Tights (stockings and suspenders are tricky to do at the moment, my thumb is still on the sensitive side). Perfume. Foundation. Powder. Shadow.
7:15 and Sally sets off to collect Katie from Heathrow Terminal 2. The rail service from London to Windsor isn’t fully operational this weekend, so it’s easier for Katie to get to Heathrow, which is about 20 minutes from home).
Eye liner. Mascara. Blush. Lips.
Dress. Necklace. Hair. Rings. Watch. Bracelet. Earrings.
Handbag.
8:00 and ready to roll.
Makes me smile, thinking how much extra sleep I could have had if this had been in drab (dressed as a bloke).
Waiting for Katie and Sally I take a few pictures for posterity.
8:20 and they arrive.
Katie heads for the loo.
I head for the car and prepare the Sat Nav.
8:25 and Katie re-appears. She’d been at a birthday party the previous evening which went on until 3:00 am, so she’s had a lot less sleep than me.
The journey to Caversham is uneventful, though I did miss the same left turn that I missed the last time that I drove there.
8:57 I press the button at the entrance … “Andrea and Katie Wright here for an interview with BBC Berkshire.” The barrier is lowered.
We park and walk towards reception.
A car pulls up beside us, window down.
“Hello, are you Andrea?”.
“Yes. Graham?”
And it is.
Graham parks and catches us up. I introduce him to Katie.
We sign in at reception.
Graham heads off to collect some paperwork.
When he gets back he explains a little more about the Listening Project and tells us a bit about the work that he does and how it all works.
We feel relaxed and welcome.
The paperwork is filled in.
Katie offers up the name Katherine, which makes me smile.
“Would you prefer Katie?” asks Graham.
So Katie it is.
On to me.
Andrea.
“Gender?”.
“Male”, I respond. Makes me smile to be asked.
Then into the studio.
Microphones and coffee.
Sound level testing.
“What did you have for breakfast?”
“Nothing” says Katie. A late night, early morning and travelling from London.
“Me neither” says Andrea. Preoccupied with the makeup.
And then we begin.
We talk of parents. Grandparents. Childhood.
Of my gender identity. How people have handled it. How they have felt about it. How I feel about it. How Katie feels about it. Sally. Sarah. Extended family. Friends. Where it came from. Where it is going.
Graham asks if he can suggest a few questions … making it clear we’re free to ignore him if we prefer.
We talk about the difference that being TV has made to me. To Katie.
Fifty minutes have flown by. And I’ve learned a lot.
A few photos.
And time to go.
We both enjoyed the experience a lot and learned things about each other.
When I receive a copy of the recording I’ll post that if Katie is ok with it, together with the pictures.
And many thanks Claire for the time given up in organising it all and to Graham for the time to record it, for making us feel so relaxed and for the really helpful advice, interest and questions.
The BBC Radio Berkshire interview happened on Friday March 2nd.
If you’d like to listen in, there was a little over 19 minutes of talking, so I had to split it into two pieces for YouTube which has a maximum item length of 15 minutes.
So … part 1 is here:
And part 2 is here:
The pictures aren’t of the actual day. The one of Bill Buckley came from his website. The one of me was taken in Windsor a while ago. I was actually wearing the same blouse and cardigan at the interview.
I took a day of annual leave from work. And it went something like this.
It’s 9:00 am and Sally wakes me. Toot brushing. Shower. Coffee and cereal. Shave. Moisturise. Makeup. Dress.
10:50 and Andrea is set to go.
A little nervous.
The car radio is tuned in to BBC Radio Berkshire.
Somehow the listening makes me more nervous. Everyone sounds clear. Uncomplicated. Easy to understand. Gulp.
I’ve been in the car just two minutes.
The lady on my Sat Nav says “Turn right”.
But I drive straight on.
Silently she re-routes.
I’m more nervous than I think.
I decide to turn around when possible and the engine stalls.
I must be even more nervous than I think.
I change my mind about turning round and follow the re-routed route.
On the Radio Bill interviews a local lady who has brought in some Goat’s fudge (fudge made from Goats milk) that her goats produce.
A recorded piece from Anne Diamond about a lock that would shoot you if you tried to use the wrong key to open it.
Travel news. Weather.
It’s a little foggy. But not bad enough to affect traffic.
Tom Tom is programmed to avoid motorways so it’s a short route and takes me through Twyford and Sonning on my way to the studio at Caversham.
11:30 and I’m outside Caversham Park, where it all happens.
A little on the early side, so I drive past and re-program the Sat Nav to take me towards the pub that I’m to meet up with Tina at once the interview is over.
Enough traffic to make me turn back before reaching there.
11:38 back at the BBC.
The security barriers are impressive.
I press the intercom button.
“Hi. It’s Andrea Wright … the Anne Diamond show.”
I have quite a deep voice for an Andrea, But they are expecting me.
The barrier descends into the road and the green light flashes.
I drive towards the car park and pull into a space.
On the whole, I feel nervous but relaxed.
I#m not sure what the questions will be nor what angle things will be approached from. But the people that I’ve spoken with on the phone have been really helpful and positive. So although nervous, I’m not feeling worried.
It’s a short walk from the car park to reception.
It’s strange the things that go through my mind.
How is my deportment? Am I walking in a lady-like fashion?
At reception I introduce myself. Sign the visitors book. Receive my security pass. The ladies at reception are totally un-phased. They make a phone call to say that I’m here.
I take a seat beneath the large TV screen that quietly plays the BBC News service.
Across the way there two guys sit and talk with each other.
And then, someone arrives to collect the three of us.
We’re escorted towards the studio.
Gareth Owen, a movie producer and BAFTA judge from Pinewood studios heads for the studio … I’m due next at midday.
I visit the ladies.
Back in the room beside the studio I’m offered a coffee.
I chat with Andrew, who’s waiting for Gareth, and, I think Marie, who works at the radio station.
Andrew tells a little of his experiences as a contestant on The Weakest Link.
It’s getting close to noon.
Gareth arrives back.
I psyche myself up.
A siren kind of noise begins to sound.
It’s a fire alarm.
We have to evacuate.
Oh my gosh!
I follow people outside.
There’s Marie (I think … but I didn’t catch her name at the beginning) with Bill and she introduces me.
I’m wondering if the interview will ever happen and am glad that it’;s not raining and that the cardigan I’m wearing is nice and warm.
Bill offers goats fudge sweets all round. Coffee flavoured and very nice.
In an odd kind of way the surprise of the fire alarm going off is a bit of a tension reliever. And it’s really nice to have a chance to say hello outside of the studio atmosphere.
The radio listeners are presently listening to music.
Surprisingly soon the alarm stops and the all clear is given. We head back inside and I’m escorted straight to the studio.
Bright Eyes (Art Garfunkel) is playing.
I take a seat opposite Bill, behind a microphone that has a green covering.
The music ends.
The interview begins.
And how do I feel about the whole experience now?
Very positive. The people were all great. Bill Buckley is a lovely guy. The questions were put together in a way that provided an opportunity to say a little about how I got to be where I am.
Of course … after the event … with some time to think … there are lots of observations:
I missed out a whole lot more than I said … but 20 minutes is a short time.
I’m glad of the experience and really grateful to Catherine Bolsover at BBC Radio Berkshire who first contacted Billie and Kathie about the possibility of doing this interview and followed it all up and organised it.
Towards the end of the interview, Bill asked:
What’s your ultimate aim both for you and for transvestite people generally? Do you have any kind of dreams or hopes particularly?
My response was:
I think, I find it very satisfying and comforting just to be able to kind of walk out in normal places like town centres and things and for people just not to take any notice really. Just to be treated as a human being.
Bill: You just want to be accepted.
Andrea: Yes, exactly.
And I think that captures the essence.
And as Bill said:
Well we’ve come a long way when you think how life would have been either for me as a gay man, or you as a TV, even 20 years ago. Certainly 50 0r 100 years ago. My goodness. Hooray for that.
And yes, things are changing.
And hopefully just little things, this interview will help in that.
Last Sunday was a Surrey Swans night. We had a visit from Lynne and Claire from Femesque. It was an excellent evening. Great to meet up with people. There’s more detail and some pictures here.
On Friday I’m scheduled to visit BBC Radio Berkshire for an interview about what it’s like being a TV in Berkshire and in general. Billie and Kathie had first been approached but weren’t able to take part. When they mentioned the possibility to me I was happy to volunteer.
If you’re interested in listening in, the radio station can be listened to, live, online here. It’s the Anne Diamond show and I’m due to be there on Friday 2nd March from noon until about 12:45 pm UK time. Normally the show is hosted by Anne Diamond, but this week Bill Buckley is in charge. If you miss the live broadcast but would like to hear a recording then I think it’ll be available for about a week here.
I’m looking forwards to the experience, though I admit, with some nervousness. I don’t know exactly what I’ll be asked or what I’ll say. But that doesn’t particularly worry me. All I can do is say what I think and feel.
My thumb is feeling a lot better. Nail-less but also bandage-free. It looks a little odd, but so do I sometimes when I’m all dressed up.
