The birdsong that wasn’t

INSPIRED by film-maker Rachael Prior’s evocative tweet, “Nowhere and no time do I miss my dad more acutely than in the men’s department of M&S at Christmas” – which has moved James Corden, JK Rowling and Alison Moyet to tweet in sympathy – I asked my BBC Radio London listeners for the triggers that most vividly remind them of those they have lost.

A lady called Geraldine rang in to say the chirping of sparrows is the catalyst for memories of her late mother. As she spoke cheeps and chirrups of birds that sounded very much like sparrows could be clearly heard in the background. I assumed she was outside in the garden.

When I mentioned the birdsong to Geraldine she was mystified. She was inside with no bird anywhere in the vicinity and hadn’t heard a peep. I asked our technical director to clip and replay the tape. Sure enough, there were the birds clearly singing away. I went hot and cold all over. Geraldine was emotional and gently sobbing.

Listeners were quick to ring in and say they had now heard the birds twice and were confident Geraldine’s late mother was using the radio to send love and reassurance to her grieving daughter.

Can you think of an alternative explanation? Frankly, I can’t.