Welcome to my strange alternative world of wargaming with toy soldiers: a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys' games and books (HG Wells, Little wars)
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Cushing's view
The seat on the sea wall here at Whitstable is a memorial to the celebrated actor, and wargamer, Peter Cushing, who used to sit here in retirement, looking out over the English Channel.
I think my first encounter with Peter Cushing was in a role he did not invent and which is probably often overlooked: Dr. Who. A local television station would run movies at 4:30 PM (ending at 6:00 PM in time for the news, so everything was cut down to 90 minutes, less commercials). One week they showed the Hammer Films versions of "Dr. Who and the Daleks" and "Invasion Earth 2150 AD" this poor colonials first encounter with Dr. Who. It wasn't until years later, in the later 1970's, that another station started showing the Tom Baker episodes on Saturday morning while I was in college (usually an entire episode, back-to-back until the story played out). Then came Public Broadcasting and their realization that there were a lot of poor colonials out there willing to volunteer for fund drives or willing to pay into fund drives if shows like Dr. Who were shown.
Great stuff, either with Peter Cushing or in the real television serials.
I love Whitstable. Its one of those perculiar seaside towns which has a special sort of light (I know it sound odd, but it does) and feel about them. I can fully understand why Peter Cushing loved the place so much.
Whitstable is a lovely town. My wife and I pop down there once a week to take the air and lunch. We are from Newquay, originally, so love the seaside. Whitstable has avoided the drunkification that has overtaken most resorts. Do you know, the Whitstable high st has the largest number of independent shops of anywhere in the UK. John
The seat on the sea wall here at Whitstable is a memorial to the celebrated actor, and wargamer, Peter Cushing, who used to sit here in retirement, looking out over the English Channel.
I think my first encounter with Peter Cushing was in a role he did not invent and which is probably often overlooked: Dr. Who. A local television station would run movies at 4:30 PM (ending at 6:00 PM in time for the news, so everything was cut down to 90 minutes, less commercials). One week they showed the Hammer Films versions of "Dr. Who and the Daleks" and "Invasion Earth 2150 AD" this poor colonials first encounter with Dr. Who. It wasn't until years later, in the later 1970's, that another station started showing the Tom Baker episodes on Saturday morning while I was in college (usually an entire episode, back-to-back until the story played out). Then came Public Broadcasting and their realization that there were a lot of poor colonials out there willing to volunteer for fund drives or willing to pay into fund drives if shows like Dr. Who were shown.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, either with Peter Cushing or in the real television serials.
I love Whitstable. Its one of those perculiar seaside towns which has a special sort of light (I know it sound odd, but it does) and feel about them. I can fully understand why Peter Cushing loved the place so much.
ReplyDeleteDear Fred
ReplyDeleteI remember the film versions of Dr Who. It was the first Sci Fi franchise to appear on TV, film, book and the theatre.
John
Whitstable is a lovely town. My wife and I pop down there once a week to take the air and lunch. We are from Newquay, originally, so love the seaside. Whitstable has avoided the drunkification that has overtaken most resorts. Do you know, the Whitstable high st has the largest number of independent shops of anywhere in the UK.
ReplyDeleteJohn