Dear Lupin

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20120611

The late Sunday Times Racing Correspondent Roger Mortimer wrote to his wayward son Charlie over a period of twenty five years. The correspondence was sometimes touching, often hilarious and always generous. Charlie is publishing this collection as a tribute to a father who never gave up on him despite his frequent disasters and general inability to live up to expectations.

'Initially there were hopes that I would get my house colours at Eton and become an officer in the Coldstream Guards. Ultimately my dad merely hoped that I would avoid 'being taken away in a Black Maria' ... As he predicted it is only in later life that I have come to fully appreciate the affection and wisdom imparted by him to me.'

Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson.

Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

A moving and humorous selection of letters from a despairing father to his wayward son.

20120612

To his father's surprise, Charlie has made an impetuous decision to join the Coldstream Guards as a squaddie. But true to form, he regrets it almost immediately. And his father writes him encouraging letters about his own days in the army, not always glorious, and relates the usual tales from home. 'In the Hyperion Bar a blonde lady stood me a large Irish whiskey which I naturally accepted ... It would be interesting and doubtless humiliating too, to discover who she thought I really was.

Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson

Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

Charlie is regretting his impetuous decision to join the Coldstream Guards.

20120613

More correspondence from a father to his wayward son: 'Dear Charles, I suppose writing a serious letter to you is about as effective as trying to kick a 30 ton block of concrete in bedroom slippers, but I'm a glutton for punishment as far as you are concerned.

Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson

Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

Roger despairs of ever writing a serious letter to his wayward son, Charlie.

20120614

Charlie is drifting from job to job but his father keeps in touch with a mix of gentle admonishment, advice and amusing tales from home: 'We had a very good midday party where there was a lot to drink and your dear mother took advantage of that fact. Nor in fact did I stint myself ... A tall lady in an azure wig explained at some length why she loathed her husband so much. Perhaps I am a sympathetic listener; possibly I just lack the energy to move away.

Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson

Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

As Charlie drifts from job to job, his dad writes with admonishment and amusing tales.

05 LAST

20120615

David Horovitch and Nicky Henson conclude their reading from the collected correspondence of a long-suffering father to his wayward son.

My Dear Lupin, How are things going with you? Are you (a) On the verge of becoming a millionaire? (b) On the brink of insolvency? (c) The subject of investigation by the Fraud Squad?' or (d) Cruising along like me, in genteel poverty?

Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

Despairing Roger's letters to his son. Read by David Horovitch.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20120611	The late Sunday Times Racing Correspondent Roger Mortimer wrote to his wayward son Charlie over a period of twenty five years. The correspondence was sometimes touching, often hilarious and always generous. Charlie is publishing this collection as a tribute to a father who never gave up on him despite his frequent disasters and general inability to live up to expectations. 'Initially there were hopes that I would get my house colours at Eton and become an officer in the Coldstream Guards. Ultimately my dad merely hoped that I would avoid 'being taken away in a Black Maria' ... As he predicted it is only in later life that I have come to fully appreciate the affection and wisdom imparted by him to me.' Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson. Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. A moving and humorous selection of letters from a despairing father to his wayward son.
02	20120612	To his father's surprise, Charlie has made an impetuous decision to join the Coldstream Guards as a squaddie. But true to form, he regrets it almost immediately. And his father writes him encouraging letters about his own days in the army, not always glorious, and relates the usual tales from home. 'In the Hyperion Bar a blonde lady stood me a large Irish whiskey which I naturally accepted ... It would be interesting and doubtless humiliating too, to discover who she thought I really was. Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. Charlie is regretting his impetuous decision to join the Coldstream Guards.
03	20120613	More correspondence from a father to his wayward son: 'Dear Charles, I suppose writing a serious letter to you is about as effective as trying to kick a 30 ton block of concrete in bedroom slippers, but I'm a glutton for punishment as far as you are concerned. Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. Roger despairs of ever writing a serious letter to his wayward son, Charlie.
04	20120614	Charlie is drifting from job to job but his father keeps in touch with a mix of gentle admonishment, advice and amusing tales from home: 'We had a very good midday party where there was a lot to drink and your dear mother took advantage of that fact. Nor in fact did I stint myself ... A tall lady in an azure wig explained at some length why she loathed her husband so much. Perhaps I am a sympathetic listener; possibly I just lack the energy to move away. Read by David Horovitch and Nicky Henson Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. As Charlie drifts from job to job, his dad writes with admonishment and amusing tales.
05 LAST	20120615	David Horovitch and Nicky Henson conclude their reading from the collected correspondence of a long-suffering father to his wayward son. My Dear Lupin, How are things going with you? Are you (a) On the verge of becoming a millionaire? (b) On the brink of insolvency? (c) The subject of investigation by the Fraud Squad?' or (d) Cruising along like me, in genteel poverty? Abridged and Produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. Despairing Roger's letters to his son. Read by David Horovitch.