Gilbert the Great Blue Whale is, quite literally, the biggest music fan in London. He manages the sound department archives at the library – a job that requires immense patience, impeccable hearing, and flippers that can handle cassettes. 

  

His personal passion is marine recordings. Many come from his friend Gobfrey Whale Shark – choirmaster and deep-sea shanty collector. Every few months, he sends over a tape marked “urgent”: usually an out-of-tune humpback chorus or a particularly spirited rendition of My Barnacle Lass.  

  

 Perhaps you could share your favourite tune with him, too?