Tue 14sep2010 on BBC 2: Battle of Britain "First Light" Docudrama...
On a more prosaic note - superb attention to detail. Uniforms spot on, haircuts right, shape of wings right, they were even wearing collar detached shirts with collar studs!
Terrific programme
Terrific programme
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Superb.
Feel totally humbled. For once Aunty Beeb did the subject justice.
Mr's GA watched with tears in eyes. She wasn't alone.
My best wishes to you sir, you have my total respect and thanks.
Mr's GA watched with tears in eyes. She wasn't alone.
My best wishes to you sir, you have my total respect and thanks.
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The best TV I have seen in many years! Great production.
Agreed, my screen seems a little blurred....
Absolutely superb. Closing comments hard to read without lump in throat - nervous breakdown at age 20?
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Fantastic
Even Mrs. Madbob was moved by the programme and didn't leave her chair once.
Great film and really turned the clock back in more ways than one; I remember being an APO with a "pulled thread" on my No.1's but even then I was 39 years too late for the BoB!
Hats off to "Boy" and all on 92 and the rest.
MB
Great film and really turned the clock back in more ways than one; I remember being an APO with a "pulled thread" on my No.1's but even then I was 39 years too late for the BoB!
Hats off to "Boy" and all on 92 and the rest.
MB
About three weeks ago I posted to say how poorly the BBC treated the start of the BoB commemoration in Whitehall.
I would now like to say that this was one of the best productions I have seen regarding the war in the air - on any channel. Riveting from beginning to end, couldn't be faulted.
Congratulations BBC.
'Boy' - Thank you.
I would now like to say that this was one of the best productions I have seen regarding the war in the air - on any channel. Riveting from beginning to end, couldn't be faulted.
Congratulations BBC.
'Boy' - Thank you.
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Humbling, beautiful and moving. Whole family watched it, mesmerised. A great production which did the book perfect justice. I bow my head in deep respect, not just to Sq.Ldr. Wellum and his generation but also to you guys and gals who share with him the distinction of being, or having been serving aircrew. (Something I might have been had I not been a specs wearer. )
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So glad I watched this; I served with 92 Sqn at Wildenrath in 90/91 and they were a fiercely proud Sqn with a great sense of history about their past. This documentary was a fantastic tribute to those men (and women) that answered the call in our darkest days. St Andrews at Tangmere are holding a Memorial Service for all those who served during the Battle of Britain on 19th September - I will be there and thinking of those young men who gave everything, I only wish we could still hear the engines of those spitfires flying by!
Terrific. Probably the closest I'll ever get to understanding what they all went through - pilots, groundcrew and families, too.
Aunty Beeb - Thank you.
Sqn Ldr Wellum - Sir, we will remember them.
Aunty Beeb - Thank you.
Sqn Ldr Wellum - Sir, we will remember them.
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Probably going to sound like a terrible pedant but every time they showed some poor sod's name being wiped of the blackboard, the previous poor sods' names had reappeared. Still not enough to ruin a great piece of telly though.
I'll get me coat.........
I'll get me coat.........
Lifelong friend of mine, it is touching that the anecdotes and stories that he told me as a lad have now been told in print and now video.
At last (I feel) - the beeb have got it pretty much right.
GW provided me with my reference for CIO Truro. Was funny to see their faces when they opened the envelope and saw it from 'Sqn Ldr Wellum, DFC.'
If you're reading - 'Rum & Shrub Sir?' ;-)
See you next time in the Mounts Bay/Old Inn.
At last (I feel) - the beeb have got it pretty much right.
GW provided me with my reference for CIO Truro. Was funny to see their faces when they opened the envelope and saw it from 'Sqn Ldr Wellum, DFC.'
If you're reading - 'Rum & Shrub Sir?' ;-)
See you next time in the Mounts Bay/Old Inn.
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My Dad ( B of B spectator then Seafire Leading Air Mechanic 1941-on ) and I read 'First Light 'recently and both loved it; if I have any complaint it's that I wanted it to be as big as a phone book, didn't want it to end !
We both eagerly awaited the BBC effort, though I must admit had deep fears.
Our misgivings were proved wrong, I don't think I've ever seen a filmed book done better; and not one Hurricane 'Spit' and no Harvard soundtrack either !
Dad is currently chewing the carpet as he recorded it on his Sky kit, then accidentally hit the wrong button and lost the lot, and I hadn't recorded it...If anyone does have the facility to provide a recording - VHS, DVD - I'd be very happy to stump up, possibly something to charity would be an idea, but it would be good for Dad to see.
We'll probably have to wait for a repeat or DVD; meanwhile if there's any justice surely this production must win awards ?
We both eagerly awaited the BBC effort, though I must admit had deep fears.
Our misgivings were proved wrong, I don't think I've ever seen a filmed book done better; and not one Hurricane 'Spit' and no Harvard soundtrack either !
Dad is currently chewing the carpet as he recorded it on his Sky kit, then accidentally hit the wrong button and lost the lot, and I hadn't recorded it...If anyone does have the facility to provide a recording - VHS, DVD - I'd be very happy to stump up, possibly something to charity would be an idea, but it would be good for Dad to see.
We'll probably have to wait for a repeat or DVD; meanwhile if there's any justice surely this production must win awards ?
Last edited by Double Zero; 15th Sep 2010 at 06:57.
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BBC iPlayer - iPlayer TV Home
It's on there. You can download it if you don't want to watch it straight away or you can watch a bit [hard not to watch the whole thing in one go!] and return later and the site will start where you switched off.
It's on there. You can download it if you don't want to watch it straight away or you can watch a bit [hard not to watch the whole thing in one go!] and return later and the site will start where you switched off.
Last edited by aviate1138; 15th Sep 2010 at 05:56. Reason: correct url
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A lot of dust around in the house last night. It kept getting into my eyes and making them water.
Both programmes (Wellington and Firts Light) were superb.
Both programmes (Wellington and Firts Light) were superb.
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Duckandcover & Aviate,
Thankyou both - Oi didn't fink ov that !
Climebear, completely agree; why is it that I get something in my eye when I'm much too 'young' at 48 to have been near involved...
Then again in the early 1980's I happened to be sitting outside at a ( nice ) pub when Nick Grace practiced overhead; a gang of young - trendy at the time - punk rockers fell completely silent and actually stood up and watched then cheered, and they were not being ironic !
Thankyou both - Oi didn't fink ov that !
Climebear, completely agree; why is it that I get something in my eye when I'm much too 'young' at 48 to have been near involved...
Then again in the early 1980's I happened to be sitting outside at a ( nice ) pub when Nick Grace practiced overhead; a gang of young - trendy at the time - punk rockers fell completely silent and actually stood up and watched then cheered, and they were not being ironic !
I have read that the show was made on a tight budget - if so, the producers should be congratulated; and I, for one, can forgive the continuity errors. It was shot and lit beautifully, with an 'early colour process' look which dovetailed perfectly with the 1969 BoB film sequences. And the young actor playing Wellum was, IMHO, excellent - as was his haircut.
Quite the best modern treatment of a wartime RAF subject I've ever seen. So I'd love to see the producers do something with a Bomber Command story...
Quite the best modern treatment of a wartime RAF subject I've ever seen. So I'd love to see the producers do something with a Bomber Command story...