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Post by Alan Hayes on Feb 21, 2018 11:08:28 GMT
I thought it'd be nice to share our memories of the wonderful and much-missed (and loved) Geoffrey in this thread.
My own, of course, start with Catweazle, which I watched entranced as a young child in 1970 - a magical, spellbinding performance in more ways that one, which has stayed with me and makes me smile nearly 50 years on.
My love of Catweazle led me to the door of the man himself in November 1986, when a friend and I interviewed Geoffrey for an audio 'fanzine' called Sonic Waves. We spent a few hours in his company at his home in Barnes, recorded a lovely interview - which was interrupted only with cups of tea and a phone call from the BBC to say that he'd won a role in a new series called Star Cops - and then went off to our respective homes.
We could barely believe that we - a couple of kids barely out of sixth form - had been welcomed into the home of a television star, and one who was so kind and gracious - and so enthusiastic for our silly little project (which was probably only ever heard by a couple of hundred people). Bless him, he even wrote to us when we sent him a copy of the final tape, saying that he was "bumswizzled by the tape; it's professional and stylish beyond my wildest dreams. You really are to be congratulated and I was touched that you took the trouble to forward the tape with your friendly letter... You've reason to be very proud. Yours, Geoffrey."
I still have the letter. One of my treasures that I will never part with. Geoffrey was a real gent.
And then, in 2014 I joined the Catweazle Fan Club - having been badgered about it for some time by my mate Vince Cox - and met Geoffrey again, twice. I mentioned to him that I'd spent a little time with him in the late 80s and thanked him for his kindness and generosity in granting us that interview. He didn't remember. Why should he have? But again, he was gracious, friendly and warm, and even apologised for forgetting.
I was especially pleased to be present, along with many fellow Fan Club members, at Brickendonbury when he was along for the unveiling of the magnificent Catweazle bust made for the Club by sculptor Andrew Rogers. Geoffrey's reaction was so genuine, so sweet. I still have a tear in my eye remembering that day - but the tears are happy ones, even though we have now sadly lost him.
I think I'd have been bowled over to have met Geoffrey even if he hadn't been Catweazle! A truly special man, with a wicked sense of humour.
I look forward to reading the memories of other forum members.
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Post by Carol Barnes on Feb 21, 2018 13:05:32 GMT
That's a great thread to start this new forum off and a lovely reminder of why we are celebrating the most special series - one of which is because of the VERY special people that made it so magical.
I personally loved Catweazle since the moment I first saw it. I could write reams about my love for Catweazle which led onto the love of Geoffrey as a person, a character and a very talented actor whose credits are huge. When Gary Bowers and I started the club back in 2002 it was the result of me getting my first computer and immediately googling Catweazle, which put me in touch with Gary. One thing led to another and The Official Catweazle Club was born. I say official because I had to get in touch with all the people who were relevant to what we were doing. We needed their approval and recognition and I told them what our intentions were with regard to the club.
Gary put me in touch with Geoffrey (as he was already in touch with him by phone). The thing was that Geoffrey phoned me! I remember it so well because I was so very nervous, I couldn't believe I was actually talking to Catweazle, when my biggest thrill so far was getting a signed photo back!!! "Hello" he said "Is that Carol" I replied "yes it is" He said "It's Geoffrey Bayldon here" I said "You don't have to tell me, I'd know that voice anywhere!" We laughed and chatted and I remember putting the phone down and saying "My God that was Geoffrey Bayldon!"
From then on we chatted quite often on the phone and if I was nervous at that point, I was nearly sick when he said "Well when am I going to meet you?" The thought of actually going to his house actually caused me to have an anxiety attack, even though I knew that I would LOVE to go and meet him in person, I was nervous of making a fool of myself. I needn't have worried - he was so sweet and charming and funny and the first thing he did was to make me a cup of tea - Yorkshire of course! I went on about Catweazle - of which he MUST have heard a thousand times before.
I think he was pleased at what we were doing and Kip certainly was. When I left he gave me a big hug, a kiss and made me promise to come and see him again - which of course I did - over and over again until he passed away.
I am very proud to have met this lovely, witty, cheeky, naughty and down to earth actor and person. It is a remarkable feat for someone to make such an impact in a role that 50 years later people are still willing to pay to join a club that celebrates it. - That was down to the character on and off screen of the wonderful "Geffers" Bayldon.
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Post by Alan Hayes on May 10, 2018 11:11:31 GMT
Remembering Geoffrey on the first anniversary of his passing. As Catweazle he was a lynchpin of my childhood, and it was a delight to be able to meet him in later life and tell him just what an impact the show had on the young me. Geoffrey will always be in our hearts.
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Post by Carol Barnes on May 10, 2018 12:07:19 GMT
Yes indeed, at 2.00 this time last year I got a phone call from the doctor at the hospital with the sad news that he had passed away. I don't think a day has gone passed since where I haven't thought of him. I shared so many lovely, funny, happy days with him over the last 15 years and our Catweazle weekends were "magic" with him around. Catweazle, Geoffrey and all the cast were so memorable and touching, that it is still very easy to remember, enjoy and believe that they are, and always will, still with and amongst us.
The Catweazle weekends give us a chance to do this together as like minded people and fans. In this sad world, this is a joyous occasion to enjoy. So I hope to see as many people there as possible where we will be able to remember and pay tribute (and raise a class or two) to them all.
God Bless you Geffers xx
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phelings
Catweazle's Apprentice
Posts: 41 
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Post by phelings on May 28, 2018 22:10:39 GMT
Despite Geoffreys long CV my first post Catweazle encounter that I recall was in the Space 1999 episode One Moment of Humanity. I hadn't seen Catweazle since 1972 or 1973 (the last time it had been on LWT) but when I was 14 I remember saying to myself "I recognise that voice". In the episode Geoffrey spends most of the time hidden behind a mask that makes the viewer assume initially he is an android.
As I felt the other week seeing Geoff in The House that Dripped Blood I also felt when watching this Space 1999 episode in 1977 that he must be getting on in years a bit as his Catweazle makeup gives that impression.
Seeing him in The Curse of Frankenstein made in 1957 yet in reality he actually never seemed to age because he looked older than his years to start with so its amazing that in the Space 1999 episode he's 20 years older.
When the mask was removed near the end of the episode my 14 year old self found it hard to put the face together with Catweazle but the voice sealed it.
I saw him pop up in all sorts of things after that but he was always Catweazle to me and I can still remember the thrill I felt when Network announced the series as one of their earliest VHS releases.
I know kids tv shows are all polished and perfect these days so a tatty 16mm series would really look out of place but surely the series is strong enough for kids to enjoy these days?
I find it hard to understand why ITV do not raid their huge archive of excellent kids tv shows and give them all another go.
Even a "classic kids" nostalgia slot on ITV3 or something like that would be a start
I hope I'm wrong but did I hear a rumour recently about Catweazle being remade?
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Post by Carol Barnes on May 29, 2018 13:58:14 GMT
No you are not wrong about a new film. It is in the pipeline, but has been for some time. Kip had always wanted to end his career with a Catweazle film and to have gone "full circle" Alas he didn't live long enough to see it through. If he had survived a couple more years I think it would have gone through much quicker. His passing has meant an awful lot of switching of copyrights and other issues that have held it up.
Initially, as a club championing the original and the best, we didn't want to hear about this either I can assure you. As far as we were concerned there can ONLY be ONE Catweazle and that is Geoffrey. As far as we are concerned this will ALWAYS be so, no matter what happens.
Having said that and after consideration, many of us think that a film IF it is any good, will perhaps reawaken people to their memories of the tv series and therefore may be of benefit to the club. It may also make the tv companies repeat the originals at long last, if the film proves popular.
Lastly, if it is popular, we may be able to get some financial backing if we have an association with the new one (even if our contribution is for the original.) There is also the possibility that should the film go ahead there will be a link to the original. It would also be good to be able to have new and continual comments and therefore taking our club forward.
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Post by Carol Barnes on May 29, 2018 15:08:45 GMT
Geoffrey was of course absolutely perfect in Catweazle - as the veteran actor Trevor Howard told him "no one could have played it better!" But he was a prolific actor and people would be amazed to see just how much worked he has done and just how much he has contributed to entertainment and drama. He has done schools and university programs. Who remembers "Magic Grandad?" and "Look and Read?" He was a member of Laurence Olivier's company, e was an RSC company member and Birmingham rep. He has acted with nearly everyone who's anyone. He played practically court jester to Vivien Leigh at their end of run parties etc. So many things. I think that if people buy his biography that we are trying to get ready for Christmas they will not only be amused, but amazed at the amount of work he has done.
He was in my and many other people's opinion worthy of an OBE for services to entertainment and drama, but alas he was not " young, fashionable, notorious or populist with the younger generation" so therefore didn't get a look in. People such as Judy Dench, and Robert Hardy amongst others backed my nomination to get him one. He was invited to the Queens Garden Party - but this was a token gesture I feel.
He is a star as far as I am concerned, he changed my life in lots of ways - for the better I might add.
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Post by greyweazle1066 on May 30, 2018 18:47:24 GMT
Let me tell you all about my memories of Geoffrey, a kind lovely man, the kind of grandad I never had, I remember taking him to Kip's funeral and staying at his house for three nights, at first when he suggested I stay over I was a little unsure, but I took the offer and have been blessed with the memories.
I always felt as if I had known Geoffrey for years and always was made to feel most welcome, when we drove up to Kip's funeral I remember Geoffrey saying Oh will we be having something to eat, that was Geoffrey always thinking of food, yes I said, we stopped at a lovely pub for lunch, are you having a starter he said, knowing full well he would have one, he had the appetite of a horse, of course Geoffrey we can have a starter and a main dish and a sweet if you've room, so there we are sat in easy chairs, Geoffrey with a large glass of red, me with orange juice, (driving) so we set the screen the starters arrive we eat them and then we wait for the next course, Geoffrey falls asleep, I'm reading the paper, ten minutes later Geoffrey wakes up, Oh I thought we were having a main course, yes I said mine was lovely,but I've not had mine he said, well I said you were asleep so they took it away,his face was a picture not knowing what to say, I left it for a few moments before I told him we were still waiting for our next course, his face lit up, we then drove up to the funeral, we arrived quite early and then Geoffrey said I normally have a rest, where can I rest, well what about the back seat!! and as only he would do we pulled into the crematorium and he climbed into the back seat and slept.
I remember taking him to Richmond Park, again will we be eating he said, he ate like a horse but never put an ounce on, we often went to his local Italian restaurant where he was very well known, then when I used to phone him for a chat he would always say Hello Graham when are you going to visit me, I never got to see him as often as I would have liked.
My memories are with me everyday, and as Carol has said he was a lovely man, kind, and I was privelidged to been able to spend precious time with him.
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Post by Alan Hayes on May 30, 2018 21:51:38 GMT
Lovely post, Graham. Thank you for sharing.  |
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Post by Carol Barnes on May 31, 2018 14:50:13 GMT
Just another reason why I am really looking forward to being able to commemorate him and all the other wonderful people at the 50th anniversary. It will be marvellous if we have the weather with us.
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Post by BomberCommand on Mar 20, 2021 11:04:57 GMT
I thought it'd be nice to share our memories of the wonderful and much-missed (and loved) Geoffrey in this thread. My own, of course, start with Catweazle, which I watched entranced as a young child in 1970 - a magical, spellbinding performance in more ways that one, which has stayed with me and makes me smile nearly 50 years on. My love of Catweazle led me to the door of the man himself in November 1986, when a friend and I interviewed Geoffrey for an audio 'fanzine' called Sonic Waves. We spent a few hours in his company at his home in Barnes, recorded a lovely interview - which was interrupted only with cups of tea and a phone call from the BBC to say that he'd won a role in a new series called Star Cops - and then went off to our respective homes. We could barely believe that we - a couple of kids barely out of sixth form - had been welcomed into the home of a television star, and one who was so kind and gracious - and so enthusiastic for our silly little project (which was probably only ever heard by a couple of hundred people). Bless him, he even wrote to us when we sent him a copy of the final tape, saying that he was "bumswizzled by the tape; it's professional and stylish beyond my wildest dreams. You really are to be congratulated and I was touched that you took the trouble to forward the tape with your friendly letter... You've reason to be very proud. Yours, Geoffrey." I still have the letter. One of my treasures that I will never part with. Geoffrey was a real gent. And then, in 2014 I joined the Catweazle Fan Club - having been badgered about it for some time by my mate Vince Cox - and met Geoffrey again, twice. I mentioned to him that I'd spent a little time with him in the late 80s and thanked him for his kindness and generosity in granting us that interview. He didn't remember. Why should he have? But again, he was gracious, friendly and warm, and even apologised for forgetting. I was especially pleased to be present, along with many fellow Fan Club members, at Brickendonbury when he was along for the unveiling of the magnificent Catweazle bust made for the Club by sculptor Andrew Rogers. Geoffrey's reaction was so genuine, so sweet. I still have a tear in my eye remembering that day - but the tears are happy ones, even though we have now sadly lost him. I think I'd have been bowled over to have met Geoffrey even if he hadn't been Catweazle! A truly special man, with a wicked sense of humour. I look forward to reading the memories of other forum members. |
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Post by BomberCommand on Mar 20, 2021 11:07:46 GMT
Hello. Just wondering as to whether you still have the recording made with Geoffrey and if so, do you take time out to listen to it still. Can you quote any particulars with us?
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Post by Alan Hayes on Mar 20, 2021 12:21:27 GMT
I haven't listened to it in a while - mainly because I don't tend to relisten to things I've been involved in. At least in this instance my voice is not heard in the interview as my co-interviewer Martin Holder fronted the interview while I looked after the technical side. We'd collaborated on questions beforehand of course. The last time I listened to it was to source quotes from it for my essays in the Tis Magic book: www.hiddentigerbooks.co.uk/tis_magic_catweazle.htm |
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Post by BomberCommand on Nov 17, 2023 13:14:40 GMT
As we're nearing that time of year again (yes, I know it's still some five or so weeks away) one of my Grandchildren asked if there was something Christmasy she could look at and I suggested the 1970 film adaptation of Scrooge, simply because it's a musical and I haven't given it a viewing in over thirty years. I'd totally forgotten the appearance of Geoffrey as the proprietor of the toy shop. Such a shame he never had many lines but he had that gobsmacked look of his that Catweazle had.
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Post by southernspirits on Dec 19, 2023 9:24:34 GMT
Hello all.
I'm so intrigued by what Kip perceived of Geoffrey that made him write the role for him. He must have understood that Geoffrey would so imaginatively fulfil the role, and I suspect that he knew that Geoffrey would bring to light all the facets of character that he put on the page.
Geoffrey's capacity to portray a character who was so steadfastly independent in purpose and interest is what really sets the character of Catweazle apart and makes him real: all the time he's on his own mission/s, and that that's why he tells Carrot ....'when you're not there, I do not think of you.' This is consistent in the portrayal, and means that the character could never really be part of our age: in a way, he's not going to be part of any age.
That independence gives the character the capacity to more impartially judge us, and not be so overawed by our 'magic' that he just curls up into a ball. He stares down the charlatans and dismisses the pretenders: the stature of the people in the 20th century has little to awe or impress him.
Anyway, I digress, but Geoffrey just brought so much to the role, and to return to my original point, I'm so impressed that Kip found a way to bring all of that to the screen and I wonder if any of us know about Kip's insights and the way he might have guide Geoffrey taking on of the role.
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