A Short History of an Old Royal Marine Commando Who Had Been There and Done That, Saw it All But, Never Told it All
Colour Sergeant Albert John Marriott R.M. 43 Commando 1940-45
1922-2007 R.I.P.
Albert (Bert) John Marriott,
Was Born at no.12 Temple Street, Southwark, London, October 30th. 1922, Early Schooling was at St.Judes, Southwark, and Later Culvert Road, Tottenham N.15 (Below)
He Left School 30th. October 1934 and the age of 12 years it seems, His Best Subject had been Carpentry so he Found Himself employed as a Joiners Mate in a Furniture Factory Starting off Glueing the Dowl Pegs in Those 1930's Chairs you still see Everywhere Today.
Three Years Later Bert Joined Taylor Woodrow International a Rapidly Expanding Company on his Home Patch. They Worked on Projects all over the World, so Travel here and there was in the offing,
In 1930, Frank Taylor moved down from Blackpool to London where Taylor Woodrow rapidly expanded the scale of its private housebuilding - by the mid-1930s it was building at a rate of 1,200-1,500 houses a year. The Company built over 1,000 houses at Grange Park in Hayes and set up its headquarters in Adrienne Avenue in Southall.
In 1935, the various housebuilding companies were amalgamated and floated on the London Stock Exchange as Taylor Woodrow Estates.
In 1937, Taylor Woodrow Construction was formed and, after a modest start, the company was soon engaged in defence work. With the outbreak of war in 1939, all private housing development stopped. for six years Taylor Woodrow built military camps, airfields, and factories culminating in work on the Mulberry Harbour.
But His Career was cut short as he was called up for the 1939-45 War, His Family had been Moved to Norfolk, away from Londons Blitz, and he Enlisted in a Norwich Recuitng Office in Duke Street which still exists today and Serves the same purpose tempting the young lads of today into a honourable career.
Bert Had signed up for the Royal Marines, and was soon on his way to Portsmouth. After Six Months Training He was Posted to H.M.S. Belfast 9 a Light Cruiser Still anchored today in the Pool of London as a Living Museum.
Here He did 6 months service on the North Sea and North Atlantic Convoys, Finishing Up with a 6 month spell in Iceland. Here Follows an account of those days by his own hand.
Hvitaness, Iceland 1942.
"During the earlymonths of 1942, was drafted to RN base at Hvitaness. The Daily details of Our Company of 200 Marines was to Supply Ammunitions, Stores and Mail to various 'Battle Wagons, Cruisers and Destroyers.'
The weather was foul! and the Sea was as Rough as it could get. Most of the 'Big Ones' lay a mile off the jetty's, but the Destroyers could get along side, as other small boats but, from Cruisers upwards, it meann't a trip out to them and this wasn't easy sometimes.
The CPO in charge of the Victuling Party was a 'Right Craphouse,' he worked us Marines into the ground!
Everyday in spite of the Heavy sodden clothing we had to wear, to keep out the Cold Arctic Wind, We were Perished to the Bone, Wet and Fed up to the Teeth, if he had heard any off us on the Moan he would have us up on Report, and That mean't even more work, after everyone else had gone off duty, Yup Iceland was 'One Fucking Nightmare,' I always try and forget.
I Spent Six months up there, with Practically No Daylight! 16 hours a day there was hardly any daylight at all, that time of year. I Met a few 'Bods' on the Battleship H.M.S. Prince of Wales and Several Guys onthe Cruiser, H.M.S. Sheffield. One was Brother of My Brothers Wife Vera, it was a small world in conflict, we always made sure that we got our share of 'Sippers,' when we went down to the Mess in The Sheffield. I Did meet up with him again at 'Gib' (Gibralter) He was Full of the news of Gerry BattleWagon 'Bismarck'
The Sheffield had sent two 'Tin Fish' (Torpedo's) into Her, which helped put her beneath the waves, where she belonged.
I happened to mention the CPO, who we had put up with, up in Iceland, and he smiled and said,
"I heard that Bastard went overboard Bert," But he Never said if it was by Accident or Otherwise, :0)
I Transferred to 42 Commando in 1942, Plenty of 'Shit' with this 'Leotard,' Plenty of 'Here, There and Everywhere' in Belgium with Raids on the 'Zeebruge Knoll'.
More Commando Training at Fort Gomer down on Englands South Coast in Readiness for the Normandy Landings on 6th. of June 1944, 'Plenty More Shit' Here But Good Teamwork saw us through to Victory.
Back in England for Christmas 1944, but after two weeks rest up we were shipped out again and joined H.M.S. Illustrious (Commando Carrier) Heading for North Australia, to See off the 'Japs,'
Entered New Guinea as the War was coming to an End, The Final Job for Our Company was to look after 16,000 Japanese Prisioners of War, While awaiting return to the U.K. for 'Demobbing' It was Now May 1946, I had Served 6 Years in The Royal Marines and Came Out Tough as Old Boots and I Still am." he said, giving Me the 'Old Thumbs-up' Some thing he Famously always did when His Comrades 'The Royal Marines' were in the News wether it be in The Falklands, Iraq or Even the R.M. Band on the Royal Yacht 'Brittania' He even did it on his Death Bed as I asked him to give us a 'Thumbs-Up for the Marines' Which he always Did with a Knowing Wink.
He always Thought of the Royal Marines and was Proud to Have Served in 42 Commando for the rest of his Life
Bert Finally Gave Up His Struggle For Breath after His Lungs Were Found to still have Traces of East African Dust in Them, But official it was Emphysema, in November 2007 I fed him his Last Meal of Ice Cream and Got the Famous Thumbs Up God Bless Him and All his Comrades
The End
In 1930, Frank Taylor moved down from Blackpool to London where Taylor Woodrow rapidly expanded the scale of its private housebuilding - by the mid-1930s it was building at a rate of 1,200-1,500 houses a year. The Company built over 1,000 houses at Grange Park in Hayes and set up its headquarters in Adrienne Avenue in Southall.
In 1935, the various housebuilding companies were amalgamated and floated on the London Stock Exchange as Taylor Woodrow Estates.
In 1937, Taylor Woodrow Construction was formed and, after a modest start, the company was soon engaged in defence work. With the outbreak of war in 1939, all private housing development stopped. for six years Taylor Woodrow built military camps, airfields, and factories culminating in work on the Mulberry Harbour.
But His Career was cut short as he was called up for the 1939-45 War, His Family had been Moved to Norfolk, away from Londons Blitz, and he Enlisted in a Norwich Recuitng Office in Duke Street which still exists today and Serves the same purpose tempting the young lads of today into a honourable career.
We are Land, Sea and Air, The Marines
Bert Had signed up for the Royal Marines, and was soon on his way to Portsmouth. After Six Months Training He was Posted to H.M.S. Belfast 9 a Light Cruiser Still anchored today in the Pool of London as a Living Museum.
Here He did 6 months service on the North Sea and North Atlantic Convoys, Finishing Up with a 6 month spell in Iceland. Here Follows an account of those days by his own hand.
Hvitaness, Iceland 1942.
"During the earlymonths of 1942, was drafted to RN base at Hvitaness. The Daily details of Our Company of 200 Marines was to Supply Ammunitions, Stores and Mail to various 'Battle Wagons, Cruisers and Destroyers.'
The weather was foul! and the Sea was as Rough as it could get. Most of the 'Big Ones' lay a mile off the jetty's, but the Destroyers could get along side, as other small boats but, from Cruisers upwards, it meann't a trip out to them and this wasn't easy sometimes.
The CPO in charge of the Victuling Party was a 'Right Craphouse,' he worked us Marines into the ground!
Everyday in spite of the Heavy sodden clothing we had to wear, to keep out the Cold Arctic Wind, We were Perished to the Bone, Wet and Fed up to the Teeth, if he had heard any off us on the Moan he would have us up on Report, and That mean't even more work, after everyone else had gone off duty, Yup Iceland was 'One Fucking Nightmare,' I always try and forget.
I Spent Six months up there, with Practically No Daylight! 16 hours a day there was hardly any daylight at all, that time of year. I Met a few 'Bods' on the Battleship H.M.S. Prince of Wales and Several Guys onthe Cruiser, H.M.S. Sheffield. One was Brother of My Brothers Wife Vera, it was a small world in conflict, we always made sure that we got our share of 'Sippers,' when we went down to the Mess in The Sheffield. I Did meet up with him again at 'Gib' (Gibralter) He was Full of the news of Gerry BattleWagon 'Bismarck'
The Sheffield had sent two 'Tin Fish' (Torpedo's) into Her, which helped put her beneath the waves, where she belonged.
I happened to mention the CPO, who we had put up with, up in Iceland, and he smiled and said,
"I heard that Bastard went overboard Bert," But he Never said if it was by Accident or Otherwise, :0)
I Transferred to 42 Commando in 1942, Plenty of 'Shit' with this 'Leotard,' Plenty of 'Here, There and Everywhere' in Belgium with Raids on the 'Zeebruge Knoll'.
More Commando Training at Fort Gomer down on Englands South Coast in Readiness for the Normandy Landings on 6th. of June 1944, 'Plenty More Shit' Here But Good Teamwork saw us through to Victory.
Back in England for Christmas 1944, but after two weeks rest up we were shipped out again and joined H.M.S. Illustrious (Commando Carrier) Heading for North Australia, to See off the 'Japs,'
Entered New Guinea as the War was coming to an End, The Final Job for Our Company was to look after 16,000 Japanese Prisioners of War, While awaiting return to the U.K. for 'Demobbing' It was Now May 1946, I had Served 6 Years in The Royal Marines and Came Out Tough as Old Boots and I Still am." he said, giving Me the 'Old Thumbs-up' Some thing he Famously always did when His Comrades 'The Royal Marines' were in the News wether it be in The Falklands, Iraq or Even the R.M. Band on the Royal Yacht 'Brittania' He even did it on his Death Bed as I asked him to give us a 'Thumbs-Up for the Marines' Which he always Did with a Knowing Wink.
Last Orders of The Day 1945
Bert is Ringed in Picture Taken From a Historical Record wrongly Labeled By the Author as October 1944 and it was 42 & 43 Commando Combined
Front Three Rows Fifth Squad 'The Burnets' Back Row My Oppo'sTomally, Linksey, Robinson, Hill, Mac, and Whitey.
Taken in Ostend, Belgium, Christmas 1944.
R.M.S Combined Op's Not R.M. 43 Commando, B & F Platoons
No.4 Company R.M. Engineers.
"With All The Shit We Went Through These Were Little Reward" ~ Signed A.J.Marriott
Bert was Demobbed in Australia in 1946 and thought about staying out there, instead of returning to Bombed Out London He Had Met a Girl in the Admiralty Islands, But he did Return and thats Why I don't Where a Grass Skirt, :0)
Instead he Returned to Work for Taylor Woodrow International, and was Shipped Out again to Kenya, East Africa as Part of the 'Ground Nuts Scheme' where supposed fortunes were to be made in Peanuts. Here He Met Our Mum a White Seychelles National, He also Served in the Kenyan Rifles Police against the Tribes in the infamous Mau Mau Uprising, When they achieved independence Bert and Glady's were already Back in England with my Kenya born Brother James and Sister Shirley. That was the End of His Military Career For Good, a Crane Driving Roll awaited him in Tottenham again with Taylor Woodrow, he finally retired from Them after nearly 40 years loyal service as Depot Manager Hiring Out Cranes he once operated. He than decided to up sticks and Move to Sunny Norfolk after spending a nice Holiday there in 1967, he took up a Security Guard roll at Caistor Holiday Camp, (Back in Uniform again) he would ask people,
"You on the Camp," if No than he would encourage them to leave! :0)
We would always take the Mick and Ask Him if he was, "On the Camp" It had its Perks as he would raid the huge larders and bring home bags of Jam Tarts, etc. accompanied into the Larders by the local Beat Sergeant After a Chicken Leg or Three.
After Yet again retiring from that Job Bert continued with his Woodworking Skills Building and selling all manner of Pine Furniture in his Workshop at the Rear of the House inbetween taking another Job as a Boiler House attendant, at Little Plumstead Hospita He was one of the Oldest People Ever to pass his City & Guilds Exams as Boilerman.
After Yet again retiring from that Job Bert continued with his Woodworking Skills Building and selling all manner of Pine Furniture in his Workshop at the Rear of the House inbetween taking another Job as a Boiler House attendant, at Little Plumstead Hospita He was one of the Oldest People Ever to pass his City & Guilds Exams as Boilerman.
He always Thought of the Royal Marines and was Proud to Have Served in 42 Commando for the rest of his Life
Rest In Peace Bert
The End
The month of October has really seen things hot up when it comes to both news and rumours about Bond 23. One of the most interesting news developments came in early October, when the Press Association, together with the BBC and various other British media sources, confirmed that Daniel Craig's third Bond adventure will see some of its final scenes shot at Duntrune Castle in Scotland. The wind-swept castle, which is located in truly beautiful countryside on the Poitalloch estate near Lochgiphead, in Argyll, was scouted a few months ago by some members of the Bond 23 production team, and has now been chosen. Scottish clan chief Robin Malcolm, who owns the 5,000 acre estate, told the Daily Record newspaper that director Sam Mendes in particular 'had decided in his heart' to go for the atmospheric location, which can often experience tough conditions in the winter months. Appropriately for Bond devotees, the Castle is about 20 minutes from Loch Craignish, where part of the final boat chase was filmed by Terence Young and his crew for 'From Russia With Love' (1963). Fans of John Gardner's 007 novels will also appreciate the irony of Bond returning to Scotland, as Gardner's first Bond adventure Licence Renewed (1981) used the country for some key scenes (in fact, the villain, Anton Murik, Laird of Mulcady, resided in a Scottish castle!). 
In mid-October the 'Bizarre' showbiz column in the British newspaper The Sun claimed that the first day of shooting on Bond 23 will be on November 7, it will involve some 'dangerous stunts' with moving vehicles, and that it will take place in a famous London meat market. The newspaper said (on October 15) that the sequence will involve Daniel Craig's 007 having to switch from a Range Rover to a Jaguar, while both vehicles are on the move, and that the sequence will be shot at London's Smithfield market. According to the newspaper: 'Traders at central London's Smithfield market are in for an exciting day as that's where the car chase is set to be shot'. Smithfield market, a famous wholesale meat market (one of the largest in Europe) is located in the Farringdon area, in the north west part of the capital city, and both it and the surrounding area have been used quite regularly in the recent past for both TV and general movie-making. A word of warning is need, however: it is difficult to know whether the details obtained by the Sun are accurate. 
Just a week after it claimed that Bond 23 would have a car stunt sequence at Smithfield Market in London, the UK's Sun newspaper returned to the 007 rumour round on October 22 by claiming that Vauxhall Bridge in the city will be blown up in the movie. The newspaper's 'Bizarre' showbiz gossip page (written by showbiz editor Gordon Smart) also claimed that Daniel Craig's 007 'is required to have facial hair' in the film. In addition, Smart's report alleged that: 'The film is going to made on a shoestring budget in comparison to the last few'. Predictably, Smart's article was based on quotes from an un-named source, who included the comment about Vauxhall Bridge. If true, the latter snippet of information will probably be the most interesting for Bond fans. Vauxhall Bridge (over the River Thames) has been used twice before by EON (in 'Goldeneye' and 'The World Is Not Enough') and is, of course, near to the real-life 'Wedding Cake' headquarters of MI6, Britain's Secret Intelligence Service.The newspaper returned to the topic of Bond for a third time on October 27, claiming that the Bond 23 production team have been bulk-buying VW Beetles, with the intention of smashing up a few of the vehicles during the filming. The usual caution is needed, however, with all this: British red-top newspapers can often be very unreliable. 
In JBIFC Newsletters and on our website this year, we have speculated on a number of occasions about whether the respected actor Ralph Fiennes has signed up for a role in Bond 23. If Sam Mendes has indeed managed to secure the services of the talented Mr. Fiennes, the new Bond movie will be gaining the fine skills of an actor who seems to be experiencing yet another set of high-points in his extensive acting career. His latest movie, 'Coriolanus', is being tipped for possible Oscar recognition. It was also announced on October 4 that Fiennes would be awarded a Fellowship by the British Film Institute in honour of his acting career. Fiennes said he was 'extremely honoured and delighted' by the BFI's accolade (which was presented to him later in the month on October 26, after a gala screening of 'Coriolanus' took place at the London Film Festival). Furthermore, his recent performance as Prospero in Trevor Nunn's stage production of 'The Tempest', which ended its run at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, London, on October 29, has also been showered with praise by most of the critics. Fiennes's performance on stage has been variously called 'virile', 'determined' and 'commanding'. 
Sir Roger Moore, the third 007, celebrated his 84 th birthday on October 14 (he was born in 1927). Sir Roger, of course, holds the record for the number of times he played James Bond on screen: seven 007 films, from 1973-1985. Sir Roger's most recent film, A Christmas at Castlebury Hall, which co-stars Merlin actress Katie McGrath and was shot in Bucharest, will released in time for the 2011 Christmas season. The film will be shown on the Hallmark Cable Channel on December 3 and will be available on DVD at the end of the month. 
Staying on the subject of 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', we were very sad to learn in early October that the actor George Baker, who played College of Arms genealogist Sir Hilary Bray in the movie, had died. Baker, of course, also dubbed George Lazenby's 007 when the latter posed as Sir Hilary while a guest in Blofeld's lair in the Swiss Alps. Baker's other contributions to the 007 franchise were as an un-credited NASA engineer in 'You Only Live Twice' (1967), and as a Royal Navy Captain named Benson in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977). Baker's long acting career included roles on stage, in film and on TV. On TV, he took roles in 'Dr. Who', 'The Persuaders', 'The Protectors', and in an episode of the cult series 'The Prisoner'. He also paid a gentle tribute to his Bond connection by playing the part of 'Jamus Bondus' in comedian Frankie Howard's satire of Roman times, 'Up Pompeii'. Baker's all-time favourite role on TV, however, was as Chief Inspector Reg Wexford in 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries', which ran for 13 years (1987-2000). Intriguingly, not long after he started as Inspector Wexford in 1987, Baker revealed in interviews given to the British media that he had been a possible candidate to play James Bond in the early 1960s. This was also confirmed by Bond director Terence Young. 
Bond fans in the UK were able to recently catch another transmission on British cable TV of 'True Bond', a drama-documentary about the spy Dusko Popov, first broadcast in the UK in January 2009. Popov has often been pointed to as a possible role-model for Ian Fleming's James Bond, although the list of such candidates seems to grow with each passing year. But Popov's dramatic career as a real-life spy in World War Two may have indirectly furnished the Bond author with some ideas for his later fictional 007 plots. Fleming, who knew Popov well and was involved in setting up some of the espionage operations the Serbian-born Popov carried out, seems to have admired Popov's playboy lifestyle and his attempts to 'clean out' Nazi agents at the gambling tables in casinos in neutral Portugal. Indeed, the programme speculated about whether Fleming had possibly witnessed one such high-stakes gambling episode when he visited Portugal during the War and saw Popov at work, and may have later used it as the basis of his first Bond novel Casino Royale. However, there have been a number of theories about this from Fleming's biographers and nobody can be sure. The programme inter-mixed frequent poor-quality clips from the EON Bond movies with its commentary, but included some astute contributions from Fleming biographer Andrew Lycett, author of Ian Fleming (1995). Although there has been much speculation in the past about Popov's precise influence on the Bond author, Popov himself always remained modest about this and often reminded his interviewers that James Bond was based on a combination of different people admired by Fleming during the War. Interestingly, the programme included clips from a rarely-seen American TV interview with Popov, conducted at the time his memoirs (called Spy, Counterspy) were published in 1974. Popov died in 1981, aged 69. 
Well, is he or isn't he? Is Javier Bardem the villain in Bond 23? Judging from some comments from the man himself, it would appear he is now on board. In an interview transmitted on October 4, when asked about the next Bond movie, Bardem responded: 'I am very excited, my parents took me to watch the movies, and I saw all of them, and to play that is going to be fun. They chose me to play this man, but I cannot give you any details'. All will be revealed at the start of production media event to be held by EON in November... 
Interesting news emerged in June that Tariq Anwar, the editor of the recent smash-hit film 'The King's Speech', may be joining Bond 23. In an interview with the Indian Telegraph, Anwar revealed that Bond 23 director Sam Mendes had sounded him out about 'whether he would be interested' in doing the next 007 movie: 'That would be different', Anwar told the Telegraph, adding: 'I will do Bond'. Anwar and Mendes have worked together before. Their first collaboration was on 'American Beauty', which brought Mendes to fame as a director. Anwar's work on 'The King's Speech' was nominated for an Oscar. Meanwhile, further news emerged on a possible Indian location for Bond 23. In the April JBIFC Newsletter, we noted unconfirmed reports that the famous Konkan Railway on the Indian coast had been floated as a possible filming location. New reports from India (again still unconfirmed) have now claimed that EON Productions have been in negotiations for a deal to shoot for three weeks at the 'Big ND Studio' in Karjay, near Mumbai (formerly Bombay). The large complex offers substantial outdoors space together with air-conditioned facilities, and would also be ideal for complex stunt-work. The highly successful 'Slumdog Millionaire' filmed scenes in the same studio in 2008. 
Harris, who was born in London, trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and her latest movie is 'The First Grader', shot mainly on location in Kenya. The movie has gone down very well with the UK's film critics. She first came to prominence in the 2002 TV adaptation of Zadie Smith's novel 'White Teeth'. She is probably best known to UK and other film fans for her role in Danny Boyle's apocalyptic movie '28 Days Later', and also as voodoo woman Tia Dalma in two of the swash-buckling 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies (numbers two and three). She has also starred with Pierce Brosnan (in 'After the Sunset'), Jamie Foxx (in Michael Mann's 'Miami Vice'), and Keanu Reeves (in 'Street Kings). More recently, she has been appearing on stage as Elizabeth Lavenza in Danny Boyle's acclaimed theatre production of 'Frankenstein' at the prestigious National Theatre, in central London. It is easy to see why the Bond team have been interested in her work. The UK's media seem to be marking her out as a name to watch. The UK's Independent newspaper, for example, gave her a big profile on June 17 as part of the publicity drive for 'The First Grader', and hinted that she was 'secretly ecstatic' to be in the running for a role in Bond 23. Interestingly, in an interview in the BBC's Radio Times magazine ('Bond girls are forever', June 18), when asked more directly about the possibility of a part in Bond 23, she responded: 'Nothing is confirmed, but I would love to be part of the Bond movies. What makes them work is that they are responsive to the times'. She also said that the Bond movie today now 'appeals to all generations, ages and sexes'. 
Early June saw some official news on the key Bond 23 opening dates. In a press release issued from London by MGM and SONY Pictures Entertainment, dated June 2, 2011, the dates for the release of Bond 23 were confirmed. According to the brief press communiqué, the UK release date for the next 007 movie has been set for Friday, October 26, 2012, with the film opening on that date at the famous Odeon cinema in Leicester Square, in the centre of London, and in cinemas across the UK and Ireland. The US opening has been set for November 9, 2012. The MGM/SONY statement also confirmed the return of Daniel Craig as James Bond, Judi Dench as his boss 'M', and Sam Mendes as the director. The movie will be based on a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. The press release also revealed that David Arnold will be returning as the music composer. The press release added that Bond 23 is in pre-production, and 'will commence production' in November, 2011, twelve months prior to the release of the film. 
A special John Barry Memorial Concert was held at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday, June 21. The concert was organised to help raise money for the new John Barry Scholarship for new music students, which is also being partly funded by the Dana and Cubby Broccoli Foundation. On a rather rain-soaked summer evening in central London, James Bond fans attended in substantial numbers alongside many John Barry aficionados. Special guests at the event included Sir Michael Parkinson, Jonpatrick Barry, Laurie Barry (Barry's wife), Sir Michael Cain, lyricist Don Black, composer Nicholas Dodd, former 007 Timothy Dalton, current Bond composer David Arnold, Sir George Martin, Sir Richard Attenborough, and Dame Shirley Bassey. As a measure of the high esteem in which the late, great composer was held, the orchestra for the special evening was the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The evening was also interspersed with various clips from a BBC Omnibus documentary about Barry's work. Highlights of the special evening included a recital of Barry's favourite poem by Timothy Dalton, a special one-off performance of 'Tick the Days' by David Arnold (lyrics by Don Black), and fantastic renditions of 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 'Goldfinger' by Bassey. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say the applause was so loud and appreciative for Dame Shirley that the roof of the Royal Albert Hall probably shifted an inch or two! Barry's wife and son took to the stage at the end of the concert as the orchestra played an excellent version of the famous James Bond theme. 
It was announced on Wednesday, June 15, that James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has won substantial undisclosed libel damages from the UK's Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers. These concerned false claims made in August, 2010, that she misused public funds when she was chair of the board of directors of 'First Light', the registered charity which helps young disadvantaged people to break into the film industry. Her solicitor told the High Court in London that Broccoli found the allegations 'deeply upsetting' and harmful to her reputation. In a statement made after her win, Barbara Broccoli said that it was 'very important' for her to get a correction, and added: 'I am very committed to my work with the charity, First Light, and I am delighted that all of these damages will assist in funding film-making projects for kids from all backgrounds across the country'. 
Basking in the positive critical reactions to his new Bond thriller 'Carte Blanche' while on the last legs of his recent whistlestop tour of the UK to help launch the book (see our May Newsletter), Jeffery Deaver quipped that he is 'one up' on his fictional hero: as a 'speed freak' and proud owner of a Porsche 911, Deaver has reached speeds of 160mph on the track, exceeding Bond's highest documented speed: 'But then I'm not chasing someone with a gun'. He also revealed that, by coincidence, he purchased his Porsche in 007's favourite car colour of battleship grey, and a long time before he knew he would be following in Ian Fleming's writing footsteps. According to sales figures released by The Bookseller, Deaver's new Bond adventure rapidly raced up the charts and reached no.2 in the UK's fiction bestseller charts by the end of the week ending June 4. Deaver is currently busy promoting the recent US release of the novel, and has indicated he may be open to penning another 007 thriller at some point. 
Amongst the gems at a vintage movie poster auction held in London on June 15 was a fascinating prototype poster for 'Diamonds Are Forever' (1971), an image that was never used for the final marketing campaign, but looked similar to the one eventually deployed. The unique hand-painted poster (Lot no.302) sold for nearly £80,000 in the sale, which took place at the famous Christie's auctioneers in South Kensington, London. The original artwork for the poster, painted by Robert E. McGinnis, was signed by the artist. After the Wednesday afternoon auction was over, Rachel Reilly, a Christie's movie specialist, commented: 'We are delighted with the results of the sale, particularly the world record price achieved for the original concept artwork for Diamonds are Forever, which sold for £79,250'. She added: 'The sale featured over 30 original James Bond movie posters dating from 1962 through to 1985'. Overall, the James Bond section of the auction made a breathtaking total of £131,546, which proves, said Reilly, 'the enduring appeal and popularity of the famous and iconic British secret agent'. Other famous film posters in the auction included ones for 'Casablanca' (1942) and 'Lawrence of Arabia' (1962). Robert McGinnis painted posters for five Bond films, and in November, 1999, to celebrate the release of 'The World Is Not Enough', the Sunday Times commissioned him to paint a special James Bond cover for their magazine. 
