Farewell Jacky Wardrop.

I got back from a work trip earlier today to receive the sad news that my Pal and film subject Jacky Wardrop had passed away last week, and that his funeral was today. It was one of the nicest, funniest services I've been to, and Jacks family, his wife Margaret and his best buddy David Muir all seem to be bearing up ok. I was very humbled to be mentioned by Jacks son Alan during the service, and that the film I made with Jack was shown at his wake. Jack really was one of life's characters, a brilliant sense of humour, spirit of adventure and as amateur film-makers go, a gifted story teller with a 'go anywhere' attitude.

The above video grab is of Jack on a 'Doors Open Day' tour of the TS Queen Mary refurbishment at Garvel dry dock a year past in September. Jack was making a film about the ships return and I was making a film about Jack making a film.

I found out the doors open day was happening, and booked a couple of tickets, expecting that Jack and David would be dead keen to get some extra footage. When Jack climbed out of his car, I didn't realise how keen, with his steel boots, high vis-vest and hard hat. “A bit over-prepared?” I thought. “Maybe a bit eccentric?” Not so, Jack was dressed exactly like the various tradesmen refurbishing the old turbine steamer for good reason.

Whilst everybody was watching the tour guide, except me - I was filming Jack – and with the guides back turned for a second, Jack was off down the stairs into the restricted area of the dry dock, camcorder in tow.. welding sparks and pressure washers going off round about him! Somebody cottoned on to him soon enough, and with a bit of a joke and a bit of charm he was softly ejected from the dry dock back into the tour group. I was in stitches, the gall! There were many similar stories today, for Jack signs were there to be ignored, perhaps easier to ask forgiveness than ask permission. Our mutual friend Richard Weeks has spoken about some kind of memorial screening event in the not too distant future, to mark Jacks passing, to celebrate his life, and to share his extensive canon of local film-making. I hope it happens.