SILENCE is golden but businessman Jon Treanor was finding it almost impossible to find it in the hurly burly of modern-day life.

Faced with constant noise from TVs, telephones and even computers, he leapt at the chance of putting his life on hold and taking a vow of silence, helped by Benedictine monks.

Mr Treanor, 55, founder of business advisors Conduit Partners, and former chief executive of Celoxica, based at Milton Park, near Didcot, is one of four people whose retreat was filmed for TV programme The Big Silence.

They were guided by the Abbot of Worth, Christopher Jamison, who believes that through silence people can understand themselves better and have a clearer vision of life.

Mr Treanor said: “I had been wanting to change things in my life. I have been quite successful in business but it is losing its appeal.

“The idea of silence sounded terrifying but I really did ‘find myself.’ You can’t go that deeply into silence and not have it affect your life.”

The silence lasted 11 days, first at the Worth Abbey, West Sussex and then at St Bino’s Catholic Centre in North Wales, which is run by Jesuit priests and spiritual guides. No talking was allowed, except a one-hour counselling session a day, and the recording of a short diary on tape.

The effects were remarkable, said Mr Treanor.

“I learned to love and accept myself more and discovered what was really important to me and what wasn’t.

“It was a real cathartic journey but it took away anxiety and I learned to accept myself and avoid stress.”

Helped by Brendan Callaghan of the Jesuit Centre in Oxford, Mr Treanor has now built silence into his daily routine, watches less TV and even his taste in music has changed from hard rock to jazz and blues.

He is now studying for a psychotherapy degree, which he intends to use in his business to support chief executives and managers and is spending more time with daughters Porcha, 30, and 14-year-old Molly as well as nine-year-old grandson Milo.

Mr Treanor admits he is “still not a fan” of religion but has become far more spiritual as a result of the experience.

He added: “It is difficult to maintain, but I would highly recommend people take a weekend retreat in silence. It is an amazing experience because it gives you a different perspective.”

l The Big Silence is on BBC2 tomorrow at 7pm.