Whickers World
Discussion
Found myself watching 'Whickers World: QE2 Fast Boat To China' on Youtube (not available on DVD) and realised just how much I loved Whickers TV programmes as a kid in the 70's & 80's. I'm looking at buying the complete Wickers World collection on DVD.
His Wickers War programme was fascinating too, about his time as a journalist officer reporting on the invasion of Italy during WW2. The Gernan army surrounded to him personally and handed over the contents of a bank they were held up in. Millions of £££ of cash/jewellery etc.
He was such a unique character with such a distinctive voice, who I didn't realise I missed so much from TV.
His Wickers War programme was fascinating too, about his time as a journalist officer reporting on the invasion of Italy during WW2. The Gernan army surrounded to him personally and handed over the contents of a bank they were held up in. Millions of £££ of cash/jewellery etc.
He was such a unique character with such a distinctive voice, who I didn't realise I missed so much from TV.
The story of Alan’s SIII Chinese Eye is a fascinating one. He’d had a variety of secondhand Bentleys from the late 40s to the mid 60s and bought the SIII as a lifetime investment. He used it as his only car for something like eight years and did an enormous mileage before he and Valarie moved to Jersey. They took the Bentley with them and it never left the island thereafter. It grew evermore dilapidated until it was given a full restoration at massive cost in the late 90s and, thereafter, was replaced with a Honda Civic as their everyday car. That said, it was still a regular sight on the island’s roads until Alan’s death.
I’ve not seen it come to market since Alan died, so I assume Valarie still has it.
I’ve not seen it come to market since Alan died, so I assume Valarie still has it.
I’m copying the QE2 series onto a hard drive so I have a copy. Remember as a kid sitting down as a family to watch it, the adults drooling over the luxury onboard.
I did a cruise a few years ago and I reckon our P&O Ventura looked a similar standard apart from the food maybe. Strange how time move on. I’d love to do a cruise on a modern day equivalent ship.
I did a cruise a few years ago and I reckon our P&O Ventura looked a similar standard apart from the food maybe. Strange how time move on. I’d love to do a cruise on a modern day equivalent ship.
LeadFarmer said:
Interesting. I assume you live in Jersey, if so, I’m interested in what kind of house he lived in. Was it quite modest considering he drove a Honda Civic, or palatial considering his success?
I don’t but I went through a period of some years travelling to Jersey a few times a month for work - that’s how I got to - slightly - know Alan. We struck up conversation in the BA lounge because I was wearing my Sapper’s tie and reading a copy of Classic Car. He was an absolutely delightful man and had that wonderful quality of knowing a lot about a lot of things. He was also entirely without pretension of sense of his own importance.His house was a delightful - and large - 1970s villa that he and Valerie had built on the northern tip of the island.
ClaphamGT3 said:
I don’t but I went through a period of some years travelling to Jersey a few times a month for work - that’s how I got to - slightly - know Alan. We struck up conversation in the BA lounge because I was wearing my Sapper’s tie and reading a copy of Classic Car. He was an absolutely delightful man and had that wonderful quality of knowing a lot about a lot of things. He was also entirely without pretension of sense of his own importance.
His house was a delightful - and large - 1970s villa that he and Valerie had built on the northern tip of the island.
Amazing that you met him. I’m guessing you’ve seen his Whickers War program? The book is excellent too. If I remember correctly as an army journalist/photographer he had to try and stay ahead of the British advance in Italy to snap them as they advanced to locations. His house was a delightful - and large - 1970s villa that he and Valerie had built on the northern tip of the island.
Edited by LeadFarmer on Sunday 10th January 16:27
https://youtu.be/nppsHuwGBbQ
Loved the theme-tune, it sounded like jet-setting glamour to me when I was a kid.
Loved the theme-tune, it sounded like jet-setting glamour to me when I was a kid.
vixen1700 said:
https://youtu.be/nppsHuwGBbQ
Loved the theme-tune, it sounded like jet-setting glamour to me when I was a kid.
You're right, and the QE2 series theme tune was good as wellLoved the theme-tune, it sounded like jet-setting glamour to me when I was a kid.
https://youtu.be/haBHCjaP-Ks
), though I do enjoy Louis Theroux’s stuff. P5BNij said:
Laurie Johnson, what an absolute legend and still with us (aged 93)
Call me crazy, or a nostalgic fool but I've just purchased the complete Whickers Word DVD set, series 1-6 (nah-nah-ner-nah, nah nah nah nah nah-ner ner, BANG BANG) along with his first autobiography 'Inside Whickers World'.
I'm now saving up to buy his Jersey house that was previously on the market for over £4m
I'm now saving up to buy his Jersey house that was previously on the market for over £4m
Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 12th January 16:32
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