Army Officer Lawrence Kerr
英语课
Private lives - Part 3 Army Officer Lawrence Kerr
This programme was first broadcast in 1997
Clip Lawrence Kerr
I would describe myself as a keen（敏锐的，热心的，渴望的）, well-motivated person, who’s keen and eager to do well. Always ready to give 300% and expect exactly the same back from my superiors （长者，高手）and my peers（平辈）. I am a Scotsman, however, you know, I still serve Her Majesty 1 the Queen, and I’m British.
Sue: In Private lives today we meet Lawrence Kerr. He’s a Colour Sergeant 2 in the British Army. Lawrence is 33 years old, and he was born in Kilmarnock - a large town on the west coast of Scotland. When he was 15, Lawrence left school and began work as a joiner, a carpenter. But it wasn’t long before he decided 3 to join the Army, and he joined a Regiment 4 called the Scots Guards. Three years ago, he achieved his present rank of Colour Sergeant. As we’ll discover, Lawrence is very committed to his career in the Army, and we’ll hear him talk about how his career affects his family life. First, Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr remembers the day when the young joiner decided he wanted to be a soldier.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
It was one lunch break, I suddenly, I was walking up to the baker’s shop to have my lunch, and walked past the careers office, and all of a sudden had a thought, you know that, maybe the life as a Joiner wasn’t for me and I wanted to, you know, spread my wings if you like, get out of, you know, a normal mundane（现事的，世俗的） sort of life on the west coast of Scotland. So I decided then, at 16 years old, that, I thought I’d give the Army, and especially the Scots Guards a go.
Sue: Giving the Army a go, has given Lawrence the chance to travel - he’s worked in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Canada, The United States of America and the list goes on. But while he was working in England, he met Dawn, who’s now his wife, and they have two daughters. Often, when Lawrence is sent on a tour of duty - in Britain or overseas - his family go and live where he’s working. But on some tours of duty, Lawrence goes alone, and he might be separated from his family for up to 6 months at a time. So being in the Army means living “on the move”, and everyone in the family has to be adaptable 5. When he’s away, Lawrence admits he misses his family very much.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
I’m married to my wife Dawn, and I’ve got two daughters - Nicola and Natasha. It takes a certain kind of person in the Army, because it’s so unpredictable what you’re going to be doing next. Sometimes you’ve got to move house maybe up to three times in the space of three years, which does put a hell of （极恶劣的）a lot of pressure on the family - the wife and the children. But, like they say - absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Sue: At the moment, Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr works in London. He’s in charge of some of the training of the Scots Guards. The Scots Guards is one of seven Regiments 6 who, as well as working as soldiers, also guard Royal residences - such as Buckingham Palace, the permanent（永久的，持久的）London home of the Royal Family. Guarding a royal residence is known among the soldiers as “Stag Duty”. And when one Guard of soldiers comes to the end of a shift, it’s relieved by a New Guard. This ceremony - very popular with visitors to London - is called The Changing of the Guard. Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr did many shifts of Stag Duty in the early days of his career.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
Well, my main memories of Stag Duty - whether it Buckingham Palace or anywhere else - was the very first one I done, when I was about 19 years old, just having come back from Hong Kong, really looking forward it, standing 7 out there, but at the same time, really worried, thinking, “Oh God, the Queen is going to come in, what am I going to do? I’m going to get it wrong!”
Sue: Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr enjoys family life at home in a house just south of London. His wife and daughters love watching soap operas on television. His daughters, aged 8 16 and 14, enjoy Australian soap operas best - like Home and Away and Neighbours. His wife prefers British “soaps”, like Eastenders - set in the East End of London - and Coronation Street - set in Manchester, a large city in the north of England.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
TV in the house, with two teenage daughters, they’re absolutely mad on the imported Australian soap operas that’s on show in the UK at the moment - Home and Away and Neighbours and the like. The wife, she’s sort of similar, but more British soap operas - Coronation Street and Eastenders as opposed to the Australian. She’s a soap opera fanatic 9.
Sue: Both Eastenders and Coronation Street are about the experiences - especially the private troubles - of communities of working-class people.
Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr and his wife are currently planning a summer holiday. They’re going to rent a power boat and “mess about” on the Norfolk Broads in the East of England - where there are lovely waterways（水路，水道）, winding（卷，弯曲） through beautiful, flat countryside.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
This year, in July, myself and the wife have decided that for the holiday this year we’re going to leave our two children with her mother and father, and just the two of us are going to go and hire a cruise（巡航，漫游） liner on the Norfolk Broads and mess about on the river for a week. Norfolk is where my wife’s family come from anyway. We’ve been through there many times - it is as flat as a pancake, beautiful green everywhere, lovely waterways - so it’s something we’ve always meant to do, and we’re going to do it this year.
Sue: And to end the programme, Lawrence looks back on 17 years in the Army, and how the Army has given him educational qualifications that life outside - in “civilian 10 street” - would not have done:
Clip Lawrence Kerr
Well when I was 15, I was a bit of a rebel.（叛徒，反抗者） I left school with the ability to do well, but qualifications wise I didn’t get any because I wasn’t interested. But having joined the Army, it’s matured me over the years immensely（极大的，无限的）, and the qualifications I’ve got now, there was no way on earth, I think, if I did stay in civilian street that I would have had the educational qualifications that I have now.
(本文由在线英语听力室编辑整理)
点击
收听单词发音
1
majesty
n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权
参考例句：
The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！
2
sergeant
n.警官，中士
参考例句：
His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？
3
decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
4
regiment
n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制
参考例句：
As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。
5
adaptable
adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的
参考例句：
He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人，很快就将学会这种工作。
The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。
6
regiments
（军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物
参考例句：
The three regiments are all under the command of you. 这三个团全归你节制。
The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。
7
standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
8
aged
adj.年老的，陈年的
参考例句：
He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
9
fanatic
n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的
参考例句：
Alexander is a football fanatic.亚历山大是个足球迷。
I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.我不是宗教狂热分子，但我是基督徒。
10
civilian
adj.平民的，民用的，民众的
参考例句：
There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。
This programme was first broadcast in 1997
Clip Lawrence Kerr
I would describe myself as a keen（敏锐的，热心的，渴望的）, well-motivated person, who’s keen and eager to do well. Always ready to give 300% and expect exactly the same back from my superiors （长者，高手）and my peers（平辈）. I am a Scotsman, however, you know, I still serve Her Majesty 1 the Queen, and I’m British.
Sue: In Private lives today we meet Lawrence Kerr. He’s a Colour Sergeant 2 in the British Army. Lawrence is 33 years old, and he was born in Kilmarnock - a large town on the west coast of Scotland. When he was 15, Lawrence left school and began work as a joiner, a carpenter. But it wasn’t long before he decided 3 to join the Army, and he joined a Regiment 4 called the Scots Guards. Three years ago, he achieved his present rank of Colour Sergeant. As we’ll discover, Lawrence is very committed to his career in the Army, and we’ll hear him talk about how his career affects his family life. First, Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr remembers the day when the young joiner decided he wanted to be a soldier.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
It was one lunch break, I suddenly, I was walking up to the baker’s shop to have my lunch, and walked past the careers office, and all of a sudden had a thought, you know that, maybe the life as a Joiner wasn’t for me and I wanted to, you know, spread my wings if you like, get out of, you know, a normal mundane（现事的，世俗的） sort of life on the west coast of Scotland. So I decided then, at 16 years old, that, I thought I’d give the Army, and especially the Scots Guards a go.
Sue: Giving the Army a go, has given Lawrence the chance to travel - he’s worked in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Canada, The United States of America and the list goes on. But while he was working in England, he met Dawn, who’s now his wife, and they have two daughters. Often, when Lawrence is sent on a tour of duty - in Britain or overseas - his family go and live where he’s working. But on some tours of duty, Lawrence goes alone, and he might be separated from his family for up to 6 months at a time. So being in the Army means living “on the move”, and everyone in the family has to be adaptable 5. When he’s away, Lawrence admits he misses his family very much.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
I’m married to my wife Dawn, and I’ve got two daughters - Nicola and Natasha. It takes a certain kind of person in the Army, because it’s so unpredictable what you’re going to be doing next. Sometimes you’ve got to move house maybe up to three times in the space of three years, which does put a hell of （极恶劣的）a lot of pressure on the family - the wife and the children. But, like they say - absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Sue: At the moment, Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr works in London. He’s in charge of some of the training of the Scots Guards. The Scots Guards is one of seven Regiments 6 who, as well as working as soldiers, also guard Royal residences - such as Buckingham Palace, the permanent（永久的，持久的）London home of the Royal Family. Guarding a royal residence is known among the soldiers as “Stag Duty”. And when one Guard of soldiers comes to the end of a shift, it’s relieved by a New Guard. This ceremony - very popular with visitors to London - is called The Changing of the Guard. Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr did many shifts of Stag Duty in the early days of his career.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
Well, my main memories of Stag Duty - whether it Buckingham Palace or anywhere else - was the very first one I done, when I was about 19 years old, just having come back from Hong Kong, really looking forward it, standing 7 out there, but at the same time, really worried, thinking, “Oh God, the Queen is going to come in, what am I going to do? I’m going to get it wrong!”
Sue: Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr enjoys family life at home in a house just south of London. His wife and daughters love watching soap operas on television. His daughters, aged 8 16 and 14, enjoy Australian soap operas best - like Home and Away and Neighbours. His wife prefers British “soaps”, like Eastenders - set in the East End of London - and Coronation Street - set in Manchester, a large city in the north of England.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
TV in the house, with two teenage daughters, they’re absolutely mad on the imported Australian soap operas that’s on show in the UK at the moment - Home and Away and Neighbours and the like. The wife, she’s sort of similar, but more British soap operas - Coronation Street and Eastenders as opposed to the Australian. She’s a soap opera fanatic 9.
Sue: Both Eastenders and Coronation Street are about the experiences - especially the private troubles - of communities of working-class people.
Colour Sergeant Lawrence Kerr and his wife are currently planning a summer holiday. They’re going to rent a power boat and “mess about” on the Norfolk Broads in the East of England - where there are lovely waterways（水路，水道）, winding（卷，弯曲） through beautiful, flat countryside.
Clip Lawrence Kerr
This year, in July, myself and the wife have decided that for the holiday this year we’re going to leave our two children with her mother and father, and just the two of us are going to go and hire a cruise（巡航，漫游） liner on the Norfolk Broads and mess about on the river for a week. Norfolk is where my wife’s family come from anyway. We’ve been through there many times - it is as flat as a pancake, beautiful green everywhere, lovely waterways - so it’s something we’ve always meant to do, and we’re going to do it this year.
Sue: And to end the programme, Lawrence looks back on 17 years in the Army, and how the Army has given him educational qualifications that life outside - in “civilian 10 street” - would not have done:
Clip Lawrence Kerr
Well when I was 15, I was a bit of a rebel.（叛徒，反抗者） I left school with the ability to do well, but qualifications wise I didn’t get any because I wasn’t interested. But having joined the Army, it’s matured me over the years immensely（极大的，无限的）, and the qualifications I’ve got now, there was no way on earth, I think, if I did stay in civilian street that I would have had the educational qualifications that I have now.
(本文由在线英语听力室编辑整理)
点击
收听单词发音 1
majesty
n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权
参考例句：
The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！
2
sergeant
n.警官，中士
参考例句：
His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？
3
decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
4
regiment
n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制
参考例句：
As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。
5
adaptable
adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的
参考例句：
He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人，很快就将学会这种工作。
The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。
6
regiments
（军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物
参考例句：
The three regiments are all under the command of you. 这三个团全归你节制。
The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。
7
standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
8
aged
adj.年老的，陈年的
参考例句：
He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
9
fanatic
n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的
参考例句：
Alexander is a football fanatic.亚历山大是个足球迷。
I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.我不是宗教狂热分子，但我是基督徒。
10
civilian
adj.平民的，民用的，民众的
参考例句：
There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。
n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权
- The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
- Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！
n.警官，中士
- His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
- How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制
- As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
- They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。
adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的
- He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人，很快就将学会这种工作。
- The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。
（军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物
- The three regiments are all under the command of you. 这三个团全归你节制。
- The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
adj.年老的，陈年的
- He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
- He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的
- Alexander is a football fanatic.亚历山大是个足球迷。
- I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.我不是宗教狂热分子，但我是基督徒。