Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
John FAIRFAX (1937-2012)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - John Fairfax, rower and adventurer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.
John, who was born in Italy, spent his teenage years in Argentina, where, aged thirteen, he left home to live in the jungle. In 1959 he drove across America from New York to San Francisco and later spent three years with pirates in Panama before travelling to Argentina on horseback.
Having become aware of Chay Blyth and John Ridgway's successful joint venture of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, John set out to be the first person to do it solo. He spent two years in England preparing his venture, and on 19 July 1969, after 180 days at sea, he arrived in Florida, having set off from the Canary Islands to become the first person ever to row solo across an ocean.
programme details...
- Edition No: 263
- Subject No: 265
- Broadcast live: Wed 7 Jan 1970
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Venue: unknown
- Series: 10
- Edition: 7
on the guest list...
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unknown
production team...
- Researcher: unknown
- Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
- Director: Margery Baker
- Producer: Robert Tyrrell
adventurers of the high seas
The Times 8 January 1970
Mr John Fairfax, the first man to row the Atlantic single-handed, announced on the television programme This Is Your Life last night that he and his girl friend intended to row the Pacific from California to Australia. His friend, Miss Sylvia Marrett, aged 29, of London, said the 10,000-mile trip did not frighten her.
Series 10 subjects
Des O'Connor | Bobby Charlton | Harry Driver | Twiggy | Honor Blackman | The Beverley Sisters | John Fairfax | Henry CooperJackie Stewart | Jimmy Savile | Arthur Dooley | Wendy Craig | Tony Jacklin | Charlie Cairoli | Richard Evans | Alfie Bass
Jack Good | Joe Mercer | Ronnie Corbett | Colin Milburn | Frankie Vaughan | Lorna Ridgway | Val Doonican
Johnny Speight | Reg Varney | Harold French