James Ellis
Friday evening was illuminated by celebrating the 90th birthday of the late and great actor James Ellis. He was well known for his portrayal of PC Bert Lynch in Z Cars which ensured a wide audience but the fact is his career spanned so many stages around the world. Of course television brought him directly into our homes, The Billy plays, Dr. Who, Only Fools and Horses, Ballykissangel and the list goes on. James Ellis was much more than a television actor. After school at Methodist College, he went to Queen’s where he received a Doctorate in 2008, onto Bristol Old Vic and home to cut his teeth at the Group Theatre. His big break was in Randy Dandy for the BBC and it was a springboard to fame. But he wasn’t after fame, he loved his theatre life and shared his talents willingly, he was a musician, a writer, a producer and director and a little known poet and very much a man of the people. I’m sure few know that he translated Greek mythology and taught himself Romanian. However, he was Belfast through and through, I recommend you go to Youtube and look up The Diagonal Stream Trap, written by Crawford Howard but always associated with Jimmy Ellis. He wanders the shipyard where his father worked telling the story “Now they built a big ship down in Harland’s ..” It’s a tonic to hear and a joy to watch, one man and 25 verses.
His own poetry is deep and personal and virtually unknown. Thankfully that is to be rectified soon with a book of his poems being published with the Linenhall Library celebrating the event when the times comes. It will be a fitting partner to his book Troubles Over The Bridge.
I recall filming in London with Jimmy many years ago and he invited the crew of about six back to his flat for ‘a jar’ and some supper. We were having fun, the craic was witty and sharp when he received a phone call and he had to leave. He insisted we say on – raid the larder and empty the drinks cabinet and pull the door after you when you go. His generosity knew no bounds, no wonder he was so loved by family, friends and his adoring public.
The birthday tribute, hosted by Connswater Community Greenway also celebrated the fourth anniversary of the opening of the James Ellis Bridge. Claire Murray from the Lyric Theatre guided us through a delightful evening of tributes from fellow actors, friends and of course, his widow Robina Ellis and his son Toto. Speaking from their home in London they talked of a butterfly that had hibernated in the studio all winter and was showing signs of life just at the time when Jimmy’s life after death was engaging with a new generation. A theatre maker in every sense of the word and to be remembered for all time.
Sometimes it’s difficult to see the point in government decisions, it all seems a bit arse about face, skewed to a point of ridicule, consultants taking a long time to consult with mega bucks piling up in their coffers, train tracks that have yet to be laid, already vastly over budget and tearing the land in middle England apart. Over here who knows what’s going on, how was the monies allocated to ‘the arts’, £33m plus more recently but there is very little publicity about the spread, artists of all disciplines are working hard to make lockdown into a new audience possibilityies but there is no security and no immediate hope of regular work. But sporting organisations need not worry – they are on the pigs back.
Consider: A recent handout to golf clubs – Royal County Down received over £1.5 million for lost turnover. Portstewart £154,957 Malone £330,433 Galgorm Castle £142,539. Then at the bottom of the list, City of Derry 16,566. Greenisland £7,107 and little Newtonstewart a paltry £5,651. There has been an outcry against what is considered by most as an elitist game – certainly the smaller clubs with no great clubhouse action seem to be snubbed.
I read in a Scottish newspaper that:”Other sports to receive funding are gaelic games, rugby union, cricket, hockey, sailing and angling. The Sport NI Sports Sustainability Fund, launched in December, is designed to support bodies and clubs who have been impacted by the ongoing pandemic. It was set up to help support sport to emerge from Covid-19, with Sport NI working to create a pathway for a return to sport. Antoinette McKeown, Sport NI CEO, said: “The value of sport is never more important for us all as a society, as we tentatively emerge from Covid-19.”
If you don’t already know read the interesting details at
Revealed: How much every sport in Northern Ireland ….
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/corona…
THE PASSING OF A MAN OF QUALITY
Professor Dr. Jim Dornan’s death came suddenly to most of us and it was a shock the news has reverbarated round the world. This man who brought thousands of babies into this world, who gave confidence to frightened young mothers and sorted out complex genealogical problems was beloved of so many. Not only women but their menfolk too, he loved family his own and those he attended. He was the go-to man for interviews on the subject and when I was making a series of medical programmes I called on him for help. A Woman’s Lot addressed HRT, PMT, menopause, periods, hysterectomy and Dr. Jim had all the answers.
However, one area was vital to the story and that was the birth of a baby. He and I talked, he asked what day would suit to come along with the film crew? Magic to my ears. “You come first and see a birth just so you know what happens.” I did. Lovely young woman welcomed me into her room, Jim explained she would have to be induced and that everything was ready. Then it all happened, the baby was coming of his own accord and there was great excitement, I was flat against the back wall terrified something would go wrong but it didn’t! All the mother kept saying was “Can Anne see OK.” What I saw was Jim Dornan in action, his encouragement, his humour and above all his skill.
So The Thursday of Filming Arrived.
We met Jim at the front door of Royal Maternity, a hug and the news that the ‘candidate’ had unexpectedly gone into labour and delivered her baby. A moment of disappointment but only a moment because the next question was: “Would a Caesarean birth be any good?” And so we met Mary Logan, great with child and delighted to share her joy with us.
Jim explained that as Mary had a tiny frame and was only 4’ 10” the baby was unable to travel through the birth canal in the normal way and to avoid distress to both an epidural injection would numb the lower part of her body and the Caesarean performed. And so David Logan came into this world and there was no one more delighted than Jim Dornan. To him every birth was a miracle, indeed his book was entitled An Every Day Miracle. Delivering Babies and Caring for Women. A Lifetimes Work.
The reaction to the programme was amazing thanks to Jim’s positive information. He and the colleagues he involved in the making of A Woman’s Lot helped very many women in their approach to the birth process and indeed to being a woman coping with many physical traumas throughout their lives.
Followup to This Story.
Twenty one years later Mary Logan contacted me to say that baby David was about to celebrate his ‘big’ birthday and was off to New York with his guitar and a spirit of adventure. I phoned Dr. Jim and told him and he was delighted. “I’d love to meet him and wish him well,” was his reaction and so we all met at the Irish News for a small celebration. So the story came full circle.
During his brilliant career Professor Jim had his own traumas to face, the death of his first wife, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and finally Covid 19. He once told me in another life he would have been an actor and he was delighted to have a role in a number of crime dramas shot locally. He was proud that his son Jamie became a respected actor and lived his father’s dream.
Our paths crossed often, the last time at a petrol station on the Ravenhill Road. He was in great form, as handsome as ever and we laughed a lot, remembering times we worked together. He was generous with his time and his talents, he did favours and asked for no reward and I don’t suppose we’ll ever know the influence he has had when working with medical organisations around the world. Condolences to his wife, his children and his grandchildren on the loss of such an exceptional man.
What a Few Weeks it’s Been,
Dominated by the grownup royal babies and Oprah. Harry and Meghan threw their toys out of the pram with style sitting in the portico of a sumptuous mansion, quite right for this high profile threesome; however, my criticism lay with the interviewer who was lazy, who went ‘Wow’ and ‘Whaaat’ at intervals as Megan spilled the beans on life in and around the palace. It seems she has a track record of upheaval – her father, her staff, her friends to have been sieved with only a few remaining. She’s even turned her back on Piers Morgan much to his chagrin it would appear. Why did Oprah allow her to ramble on without asking the questions we all wanted to ask – back it up with evidence. She was doe eyed and hesitant as if ‘I don’t want to let the royal family down but I feel I have to tell you Oprah …..’
I laughed when someone remarked, “Look at her dress, even the seagulls don’t like her!”
But it’s easy to be critical from a distance. My sympathies are with Harry who seemed uneasy; what a dreadful experience to loose your mother in such a way and walk behind her coffin in the full glare of the world. As a military man he had a role in life, he was respected and well liked. Perhaps life is rather aimless now as he tries to find his feet in America. My hope for him is to join his family for the unveiling of Diana’s statue with some understanding being reached and love restored. Will Meghan travel with him? I suspect not. He talks about his brother and father being trapped but how trapped is he stuck in Los Angeles with a wife who doesn’t want to know and children who’ll remain with her so can he ever return to the bosom of his family?
DON’T DESPAIR – THERE IS HOPE
