Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 26, 2008 23:41:16 GMT 12
Maybe someday Joe. My RNZAF book is more important right now and I have another half written on the life of John Laurie too that needs completing. It was great when i was writing the book though as I got to interview the late Don Estelle, the late Ken Macdonald, Stuart McGugan who's a real terrific guy, Donald Hewlett, Mike Kinsey, Melvyn Hayes, George Layton, John Clegg and Michael Knowles. I think the only surviving members of the cast I never got to interview were Babar Bhatti who was somewhere in Pakistan and hard to track down, and Windsor Davies who wasn't interested. Of course Michael Bates and Dino Shafeek and the Chinese cook were all long dead.
At the same time I was writing my book, Jimmy Perry was writing his autobiography. He was helping me a lot with my book, but unlike mine his did get published and it naturally has a lot of background to the show as it is all true, he lived it. Bombardier Solomons is based on him. In fact I highly recommend Jimmys book, it's fantastically funny and very elightening. It's called 'A Stupid Boy'. Jimmy's a terrific bloke, and a real hero of mine. David's real nice too, but a lot more reserved than Jimmy. Jimmy is a huge fan of NZ as his sister lives here.
I remember on the night of the 50th Anniversary of VJ Day Jimmy phoned me after he'd just gotten in from London where he'd been a guest, as he was a verteran of the war in Burma and India. He'd had such a marvellous time at the celebrations, he was really keen to talk to someone and share all his thoughts, and it was nightime by the time he arrived home so he decided to phone me on the other side of the world because he knew I was his only mate who'd be awake. it was terrific and a huge privilege to listen to his war stories and his account of the huge, massive event in London that day. The BBC had arranged a special seat for him near the front and he was so pleased. Anyway, that's just another aside. I was happy to share the day with him in spirit.
At the same time I was writing my book, Jimmy Perry was writing his autobiography. He was helping me a lot with my book, but unlike mine his did get published and it naturally has a lot of background to the show as it is all true, he lived it. Bombardier Solomons is based on him. In fact I highly recommend Jimmys book, it's fantastically funny and very elightening. It's called 'A Stupid Boy'. Jimmy's a terrific bloke, and a real hero of mine. David's real nice too, but a lot more reserved than Jimmy. Jimmy is a huge fan of NZ as his sister lives here.
I remember on the night of the 50th Anniversary of VJ Day Jimmy phoned me after he'd just gotten in from London where he'd been a guest, as he was a verteran of the war in Burma and India. He'd had such a marvellous time at the celebrations, he was really keen to talk to someone and share all his thoughts, and it was nightime by the time he arrived home so he decided to phone me on the other side of the world because he knew I was his only mate who'd be awake. it was terrific and a huge privilege to listen to his war stories and his account of the huge, massive event in London that day. The BBC had arranged a special seat for him near the front and he was so pleased. Anyway, that's just another aside. I was happy to share the day with him in spirit.
