>Having read Chris Bentley's letter, I am surprised at his >tone which I
>understand may come from personal distress but I think >is unhelpful. I >have read all the messages on the board since the >reported deaths of >Ed and Mike and I see no justification for `disgust' and >nor can I >identify anyone who warrants the charge of being `awful' >and `cynical.' >I certainly don't think it is picky to want to know when >the deaths >occurred. I was one person who asked for clarification >of Ed's date of >death as those sort of details matter to me (and others I >suspect) >even if, as Chris implies, they aren't of any significance >to him >personally. The initially reported date of Mike's death >was wrong. >This type of confusion over dates happens all the time >with celebrity >deaths so it is not at all surprising that we see it >happening here. >Two different dates were reported for Ed's death. It's >not a personal >attack on Chris Bentley or Fanderson to seek some >accuracy on these >important points. >It has already been pointed out that one >factor .undermining confidence >in the news is Fanderson's convention of using 2105 for >2005. It may >be what they have always done, but for those who are >not familiar with >this, then of course that is going to raise questions about >validity >of the story especially, as Chris himself acknowledges, >people don't >want to believe what is generally agreed to be a difficult >story to >accept. The deaths of the two leading actors from UFO >occurring so >close to one another is by anyone's standards a bizarre >and tragic >coincidence. >Although there may be by now a significant body of >information from a >variety of sources confirming this story, people will >continue to come >to it new over the next few days and maybe even >weeks. They may not be >aware of all the corroborating details and nor will they >necessarily >know anything of the quality of the sources. Few of us >have the >privilege of having personal contact with Ed or Mike's >family or >associating with people who do. They will have to sort it >out for >themselves and may need to ask questions to do so. >Surely we can allow >that. >I'm sure like me, most of you were in a state of shock >and disbelief >when you first heard the news. As a community, >perhaps we can show >some understanding to one another as people struggle to >come to terms >with what are, for most of us, significant losses. >All the best to all who are affected by these most >unhappy events, >David >For the record, I have never believed this was a hoax I have to agree with David generally on this. Chris ,although rightly respected for his position within the Fanderson community has possibly been a little to critical. My first reaction,was of total disbelief,even after I,d checked the Fanderson website.A possible reason for this was the very matter of fact and semi-dispassionate way in which Fanderson report all the deaths of those actors who have been involved or featured in Gerry Anderson productions. In this respect Fanderson should not consider itself as a news outlet but as a more emotive voice for a significant number of fans who want and need to know more.There is possibly an attachment here which maybe is not truly understood. It has possibly taken a sad co-incidence such as we have experienced recently to realise this. Of course this is not criticism,how can it be?Fanderson does a truly excellent job,but I think it is appropriate to point out that under the circumstances a minority of fans could have "in hindsight" responded the way they did. This would not,as David pointed out been from dis-respect,but out of frustration and a simple refusal to accept that this may actually be true.Rightly or wrongly there may also have even been some mis-directed anger. Under these circumstances the words,cynical,awful and disgust do seem un-warranted. The message from Chris in fact is not unlike the messages he purports to label in this way.However as Chris is quite clearly closer to events than we,his response is far more understandable and in consequence far more empathic. It is unforunate that the death of Ed Bishop and Mike Billington has created a certain friction within the community,but then again, perhaps it would be in-human and uncaring if it did not. Regards Mark UK [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Davies" <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 7:46 PM Subject: [SHADO] Death of Ed Bishop and Mike Billington > >Having read Chris Bentley's letter, I am surprised at his >tone which I > >understand may come from personal distress but I think >is unhelpful. I > >have read all the messages on the board since the >reported deaths of > >Ed and Mike and I see no justification for `disgust' and >nor can I > >identify anyone who warrants the charge of being `awful' >and `cynical.' > ------------------------------------------------------ If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that initial reports from lean sources are usually unreliable. I've never been one to accept ANYTHING right off the bat. It never hurts to let news of incredible things settle and filter out a bit before placing your full faith and belief in them. If that offends Chris then I'm sorry, but that's just the way I am, and many other people are too. That said, I'm sorry to Chris for any offence he may have read into my "wait and see" attitude, for the loss he surely must feel for losing two very important people in his life, I'm sure, and to anyone else who these characters meant as much as they did to me. Dave H. |
Hi.
True, we are mourning the passing of two esteemed gentlemen, Ed Bishop and Michael Billington, but we should remember, too, that they may only be _asleep_ in death. It is something Cmdr. Straker said in the episode "SUBSMASH". "And the sea will give-up her dead......" True. The point I am trying to make is that, in scripture, the writings include "Those in thr memorial-tombs will here his voice and come out." The book of "Revelations" points to the time that "Death will be no more." I am not trying to commense a philosophical debate here, only words of comfort to those who grieve, as we all, in this interest-group are at this time of great sorrow, and I hope these words encouage us to take comfort and find strength. Peace. Your friend, Paul J. Foster. P/S. I am not a preacher, just a humble messenger. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
Thank you Paul for those wonderful words of comfort. Hopefuly you wont get flamed for being a Christian who believes in the Bible.
Paul Foster <[hidden email]> wrote:Hi. True, we are mourning the passing of two esteemed gentlemen, Ed Bishop and Michael Billington, but we should remember, too, that they may only be _asleep_ in death. It is something Cmdr. Straker said in the episode "SUBSMASH". "And the sea will give-up her dead......" True. The point I am trying to make is that, in scripture, the writings include "Those in thr memorial-tombs will here his voice and come out." The book of "Revelations" points to the time that "Death will be no more." I am not trying to commense a philosophical debate here, only words of comfort to those who grieve, as we all, in this interest-group are at this time of great sorrow, and I hope these words encouage us to take comfort and find strength. Peace. Your friend, Paul J. Foster. P/S. I am not a preacher, just a humble messenger. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links signature test'; "> --------------------------------- Discover Yahoo! Stay in touch with email, IM, photo sharing & more. Check it out! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
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