Writer's interest sparked by sea

Sir Arthur expressed an interest in whale farming

British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke, who has died aged 90, said being born by the sea in Somerset had inspired his interest in space.

In a BBC interview from 1982, just dug out of the archives, the Minehead-born writer said the mystery and expanse of the oceans had fuelled his interest.

But, Minehead itself held little interest anymore, he remarked, since he had moved to Sri Lanka.

"I have now found a tropical equivalent," he said.

"I cannot imagine not being born by the sea," he said. "Its wonder eventually made me think about space."

He didn't suffer for the last few hours Fred Clarke

The author came to fame in 1968 when short story The Sentinel was made into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey by director Stanley Kubrick.

His detailed descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems inspired millions of readers.

But in the 1982 interview, he said such "predictions" were more extrapolations of trends.

Asked about other ideas, he said: "I'm interested in whale farming. Is this the only way of protecting whales?"

In the 1940s, he maintained man would reach the moon by the year 2000, an idea which was dismissed at the time.

The author, schooled in Taunton, married in 1953, and was divorced in 1964. He had no children.

Sir Arthur's brother, Fred, still lives locally. He has devoted one room of his house to Arthur C Clarke memorabilia.

"Yesterday was hard. I've had phone calls from over the country. He didn't suffer for the last few hours."