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When I decided to make the
television series ‘Don’t Drop the Coffin’, I did so only after a great
deal of thought, contemplation and discussion with my family. Both my
dad George, and Fred Albin were not keen and were quite rightly
concerned that it could be misinterpreted or misrepresented.
Thank God neither of those things happened and I personally view the
series as a wonderful credit to the company and the staff and I
believe that my dad and Fred, both now in their 80’s having seen the
programme, are as proud as I am.
But then guess what I discovered!
Back in the late 50’s, early 60’s, a television programme was made
about a local Bermondsey family, looking at a birth they were to have
in the family and a 21st birthday party. This was to be shown in the
form of a documentary made by Granada TV I believe. During the
filming, the family suddenly suffered a bereavement losing their dear
old dad. The whole of the funeral was filmed, showing dare I say it,
my dad and Fred. So they had in truth become TV personalities before
me.
Although I vaguely remember the programme, I was too young to have
seen it in its entirety and it was never repeated. You can imagine my
surprise and delight, when I found that my old friend Bobby who owns
the furniture business on Crystal Bridge, and whose family were the
subject of the programme, had moved Heaven and Earth to get the
original copy from an old warehouse up north and presented me with a
copy. I was elated!
When I sat down privately to watch it, I have to confess I was quite
tearful watching dad, Fred and Micky Collins and other members of the
staff I remember as young men, with wings on their heels. It was so
moving and I am so proud to have it. I realised watching it that
everything that was good about what we did and what we do was already
there set in stone and what I had done was just carry the mantle for
another generation and I can just see that going on and on through my
children and my children’s children. (Dad and Fred kept that quiet
though didn’t they?)
Why not take a look at a small clip of ‘Don’t Drop the Coffin’
followed by a clip from ‘Walk Down Any Street’.
Enjoy…
Barry
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