Broadcaster Petroc Trelawny regrets not coming out to his father

Petroc Trelawny, a celebrated breakfast presenter on BBC Radio 3, has candidly expressed his regret over not having come out as gay to his father, Richard, before his father’s passing a decade ago. Speaking on the Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth podcast, Trelawny, aged 53, admitted that while he believes his father was aware of his sexual orientation, the topic was never broached between them during Richard’s lifetime.

Richard Trelawny, an Army officer by profession, was described by Petroc as having never made homophobic comments. This gave Petroc an inclination that his father might have known about his sexuality, a fact that was later confirmed through conversations Richard had with Petroc’s siblings. Despite this tacit understanding, Petroc and his father never openly discussed his homosexuality, a decision that Petroc now slightly regrets.

Discussing the missed opportunity, Trelawny remarked, “I never, I slightly regret that I never talked to him about it.” He elaborated that the potential conversation between him and his father would have been stressful and seemed unnecessary at the time. Petroc pondered, “What was going to be achieved by it?” adding that the situation might have been different if he had had a partner with whom he envisaged spending his life.

Petroc Trelawny hails from the picturesque village of St Martin in East Cornwall, a backdrop that served as inspiration for his book “Trelawny’s Cornwall: A Journey Through Western Lands,” published in August. The book is not only a historical discourse but also an evocative memoir painting both the warmth of his formative years and the poignant memories associated with his homeland. Within its pages, Trelawny recounts, for instance, the story of his mother, Jennifer, whom he last saw boarding a sleeper train to London for cancer treatment, a sentiment laden with both nostalgia and sorrow.

Source: Noah Wire Services