I was only eight years old when I saw the children's BBC TV serial "The Silver Swan" and I am now 66. I still remember how it fascinated me, with its element of time travel. I remember it as a very romantic drama, with the action centred around an old violin, and the ability to step back in time through a mirror. The serial haunted me for years, especially the signature tune, which according to the BBC was an arrangement for violin and piano of Orlando Gibbons's madrigal "The Silver Swan". Although I later sang in this madrigal at school, the TV serial arrangement was rather different - strange to say I can still hear the last six bars of it in my head, so much did I love it. I would love a chance to see the serial again, but I was told by the BBC years ago that they thought it may have been wiped.
Nearly 60 years later I still love fantasy adventure - my desert island book is 'The Lord of the Rings', and I lapped up the 'Harry Potter' books. But it was 'The Silver Swan' that started it all. Looking at the details now, I see that the piece was given excellent in-depth casting and a very experienced producer and writer - so I must have been able to appreciate a good thing even at the age of eight!
