Seclusion At Sea Championed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31379, 26 May 1967, Page 10

Seclusion At Sea Championed

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, May 25.

Dr. Michael Winstanley, the Liberal Party Parliamentary spokesman on broadcasting, has described as “inane and tasteless” an interview with Sir Francis Chichester, seen on British Broadcasting Corporation television on Sunday.

“If the 8.8. C. can think of no better way to spend its money than by chartering a cruiser to chase Sir Francis Chichester around the Atlantic in order to record an inane and tasteless interview, it is high time they stopped asking for an increase in licensing fees.” he said. “People who sail long distances single-handed are seeking seclusion, and hitherto the press and others seem to have recognised this and respected

Sir Francis Chichester’s obvious wishes. “It would be deplorable ■ if the BJB.C.’s enterprise—if the word can be so used of such an event—were to spark off whole intrusions into the last days of this solitary man’s great voyage,” he said. “You could see that Sir Francis Chichester didn’t want the interview. He was ill at ease and clearly resented what he thought was a terrible nuisance.” The interview was very brief and Sir Francis Chichester said only a few words.