The 89 year old boy.

[Al R]

The 89-year-old Boy | The Spectator (http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/6142928/the-89yearold-boy.thtml)

‘I once had an interview with a bloke who was going to put an article in the Sunday Times Magazine,’ says Wellum. ‘He said, “How did you know when you’d run out of ammunition? Did it come up on your computer?” I said, “You’re taking the piss.”

I looked at him and I said, “Well the guns stopped going bang and the bullets didn’t drop out of the end.”’

[dakkg651]

First Light. One of the best books I have read. Would love to meet him.

[Dan Winterland]

First Light is easily the best of the BoB books.

[Tankertrashnav]

I've met Geoffrey Wellum a few times and had the honour of remounting his medals for him before he accompanied the Book of Honour at the annual Battle of Britain Service in Westminster Abbey a few years back. Great character, also found myself next to him in the queue to check out at the RAF Club once and he was having a moan at the slowness of the system! Havent seen him for a year or two, and I'm glad he's still keeping well and as irrepressible as ever.

[kevmusic]

What news of the BBC adaptation?

[Ray Dahvectac]

What news of the BBC adaptation?

It is due to be shown as part of the BBC's Battle of Britain Season: Details here. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/battle-of-britain-season/) Looks like the BBC have pulled out a few stops to give the 70th anniversary the kind of profile it deserves.

The only info I can find on an air date is "September" - which would make perfect sense of course. :ok:

[NickB]

My Dad & I met Geoff Wellum in probably the same pub mentioned in the appended article. He lives a few miles from Mum & Dad & I wrote to him asking if he would be prepared to meet up for a beer & a chat. The day he received the letter he called & said he would be very happy to do so & that was that.

Lovely chap who still knows how to knock a beer or two back :ok:

[Non Emmett]

I had the pleassure a couple of years ago of hearing him give a talk to a local Aviation Society. It was a very special evening and a huge privilege to see and hear him in his understated manner discussing the events of so long ago in a very lucid manner.

[Ray Dahvectac]

Probably the right time for this one to see the light of day again.

The BBC adaptation of Geoffrey Wellum's book 'First Light' will air on BBC2 at 9pm on Tuesday 14th September.

[tarantonight]

Agree with dakkg651 and DW - First Light is just fantastic. The best I have read too.

TN.:D

[Molemot]

Taster clip available here...

Lion Television . First Light (http://www.liontv.com/London/Productions/First-Light)

[green granite]

Didn't someone ask him not why he'd written the book but why it had taken him so long to get around to it?

Agreed one of the best.

[airborne_artist]

Also coming to air is Lion Television . The Real Battle of Britain (http://www.liontv.com/London/Productions/The-Real-Battle-of-Britain)

"To mark the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, arguably the most important event in modern British history, brothers Colin and Ewan McGregor present a ninety minute special for BBC1 leading us through the timeline of events during the height of the Battle.

Colin is an R.A.F veteran of twenty years' service - Ewan a hero of the big screen and fledgling pilot himself. Together they take us on a journey to honour the heroes of 1940 both on the ground and in the air, bringing the story of the Battle of Britain to a new generation."

[Dr Schlong]

Set your Sky+ (or other generic hard-drive recording device)

Details here (http://www.radiotimes.com/ListingsServlet?event=10&channelId=105&programmeId=128443000&jspLocation=/jsp/prog_details_fullpage.jsp).

[Ray Dahvectac]

Also to be shown around the same time:

Spitfire Women

As part of a special season marking the 70th anniversary of The Battle Of Britain, Spitfire Women tells the story of the remarkable women who, against all odds, flew planes for the Air Transport Auxiliary from 1939 to the end of the Second World War.

Using archive footage and testimonies from the surviving members and their relatives, Spitfire Women captures the drama, danger and significance of the story of these unsung heroines, who came from across the world to fight for Britain but whose tales of courage and determination remain largely unrecognised.

20 Sep 2010, 9pm, BBC4

and

Wellington Bomber

One autumn weekend, early in WWII at an aircraft factory at Broughton in North Wales, a group of British workers set out to smash a world record for building a bomber from scratch. They managed to build a Wellington Bomber in 23 hours and 50 minutes. So who were the men and women who made this record-breaking Wellington? This programme has traced six of them, one of whom was only 14 years old. Their story of the excitement of the attempt is the heart of this documentary.

14 Sep 2010, 8pm, BBC4

and

Battle Of Britain – The Real Story

In Battle Of Britain – The Real Story, writer and historian James Holland presents a unique examination of the tactics, technologies and intelligence on both sides during the extraordinary summer of 1940. Drawing on specialist research, and first-hand testimonies from both the Germans and the British, Holland presents a striking new analysis of this most epic of stories and evaluates the impact of the battle and its place in history.

19 Sep 2010, 12pm, BBC1

[Peter-RB]

Nick B Age will not Dull them

One never forgets how to quaff foaming Glasses, no matter what age, it becomes a balancing act though once past a certain age, the trick is to balance the proximity and availablity of the ceramic, .. to the place of refreshments....:ok:


Peter R-B