Heads Up - Channel 5 Series : Heroes of the Sky

[CoffmanStarter]

Much better programme this evening from Lord Ashcroft ...

My comment above was "relative" to the previous two programmes. SCAFITE hit's the preverbal nail on the head. In a Country, sadly, where our children and most of their parents know little or couldn't care less about our immediate past, which helped secure the freedoms they now enjoy ... any opportunity to educate and inform is a blessing in my book. Yes ... most of us as the cognoscenti would expect more ... but we have the wit to research and understand more of the detail ... which I suspect would be a further turn-off for Joe Public.

I won't be purchasing Ashcroft's book that accompanies the series ... but I'd be very happy if only a few of Joe Public are minded to do so following the series if only to keep the memory of such brave men, like W/O Jackson, alive.

NutLoose ...

Thanks for the information ... Let's hope the memorial remains cared for now the RAF has departed

Best ...

Coff.

[INT_QRU]

The shame of it is that the programmes COULD have been a lot better. Scafite - you are correct in what you say but I found myself concentrating on the factual errors rather than the story as a whole.

I am disappointed- I expected more. Rather typical of today's standards of programme methinks..

[Tankertrashnav]

What is Ashcroft's academic historical background.

This link might help.

Victoria Cross Heroes :: The Ashcroft Collection

I agree he's no great shakes as a TV presenter, he's certainly no Richard Holmes. Mind you, I think I prefer him to Snow pere et fils gushing over the subject. I'm sure he wouldn't describe himself as a military historian either, just someone who admires the concept of gallantry and has the wherewithal to have amassed a huge collection of Victoria Crosses. They are on display at the Imperial War Museum and I'm looking forward to seeing them next month.

[Wander00]

Good motives, fantastic collection, but does that make him a "historian" or a "TV presenter". There are many much better at both, and don't we miss the late Richard Holmes, also one of the nicest guys I have ever met.

[MightyGem]

was the worst so far, 15 mins of good factual information

Typical Ch5 documentary in my experience. Most of them can be condensed down to about 15-20 mins of useful/interesting information.