Michael Foot - Biographer of H.G Wells
Ian Partridge
age.
I remember him making a speech from the base of the Landseer lions to the
crowds of us gathered after a demo procession to Trafalgar Square. The
characteristic figure wearing navy surplus duffell coat, windswept white
hair, and thick-framed spectacles.
The next time was him leaning over the stairwell above to greet me as I came
up the steps of the Tribune building where he retained an office. The walls
were stacked floor to ceiling with old newspapers demonstrating he kept the
whole paper intact, not simply clippings, of his writings. Above his desk
was a humourously contrived close-up 'portrait' photograph of just his suede
desert boots. He had a basic filing system comprising two spikes on his
desk for incoming and outgoing paper work. Stretched back in his swivel
chair he told me of his meetings with H.G. Wells. I was researching for a
short film project on Wells's childhood in an underground kitchen basement
below his parents's shop in Bromley High Street.
I did not realise at the time that he was making his own television H.G.
Wells film. He was evidently being nagged by his publisher to complete the
impending deadline for his Wells biography, "H.G. - The History of Mr
Wells." He wanted to tell me about his Wells programme and suddenly
stopped, saying "I can't tell you." I only later realised his enthusiasm for
encouraging me with my Wells script, and his loyalty to the makers of the TV
biopic was divided.
What struck me was his real and genuine concern about me, not just in his
guise as former Minister for Employment (he had just read my outline
script!), but on a personal level.
Ian
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---