Hello everyone, I hope this post finds you all well.
From tomorrow I will be in Oxford for a few days. It is a trip with a mixture of emotions: I will be glad to be back in Oxford but sad at the occasion that takes me to Oxford; to attend Colin Dexter’s Memorial Service.
As part of the civic reception the family and friends of Colin asked me to create a video celebrating Colin’s cameo appearances in the Morse, Lewis and Endeavour series. Rather scarily they have also asked me to speak for a few minutes on what Colin meant to me. Other speakers are the renowned writers Philip Pullman and Val McDermid. To write that I am nervous is putting VERY mildly. I have never met Val or Philip even though I dated his sister some years ago.
I have written something that I hope will speak for all fans of Colin Dexter. I will of course publish my speech when I return along with all my thoughts regarding the day.
Understandably, I will not be taking photos or videos of the events of the day but I will take photos and videos around Oxford and publish these during my time in Oxford and I will upload these to my Instagram and Facebook account. Click here for Instagram and click here for my Facebook.
If you are planning to be there it would be great if you said hello. That is if you can pull yourself away from photographing all the famous faces that will be there. 😉
Take care and if you should read of someone fainting into a pool of their own sweat during the memorial service then it was me.
I hope all goes well for you. I can not think of anyone better to speak
What an honor for you. I’m sure you will do a great job. I love Val McDermid’s works. Good luck.
Congratulations! It is an honor and you deserve it. Best to you.
What an honor and privilege, and well deserved. I can’t think of a better person to express what so many of us feel so deeply. My very best wishes to you.
Best wishes, Chris! I am sure it will go splendidly. It is completely normal to be nervous. I have spoken in public many many times and I still get nervous, but I also know that once I begin, I feel fine and in control. Nerves can’t be avoided but they don’t mean anything really.
A well deserved honour. Be assured that you will have many people silently cheering you on, and you will be fine
Such an honour Chris – I agree that once you are up there it will be fine and you will do an amazing job! I am going to be in Oxford but not until August – wish I could be there – moral support and also what a great tribute to Colin. They asked you to do this because of your incredible work and dedication over many years so keep that in mind to keep the nerves at bay. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
I am sure you will have a wonderful day Chris I hope you enjoy yourself x
Dear Chris.
I am indeed very happy for you and like others have mentioned here and on Facebook if anyone deserves to be there it is you. You are dedicated to the work of Colin Dexter with so much care and passion. You will be doing a wonderful job – all our thoughts and good luck wishes will be with you.
Best to you,
Linda
Try to relax and be yourself, after all, you will be with like-minded people. Good luck.
The day before- Hoping all goes well- I am sure it will ;o)
You did splendedly and your short film was a touching tribute to Colin. It was a little surreal to see Colin getting gradually older while Morse got younger! It was a splendid day and I did not find it remotely sad. Everyone who spoke about Colin did so with the same warmth and gentle humour that embodied Colin. I was very honoured to have know this kindly and gentle man and equally honoured to have been invited to this very fitting memorial day.
Colin would have been the first to tell you how well you did and thank you for the memories.
I have just discovered this site. It is great. We are now watching the new Endeavour series, and I will be spending a lot of time on this blog. Thank you for your work.
Pat
Chris, it was good to meet you at the Randolph the night before the Memorial Service. What a wonderfully moving day it was: so much humour & joy at the celebration of the life of a man who enriched the lives of all who knew him (& many who didn’t) that the sadness we all expected to feel was almost overcome (except, for me, when the choir sang Faure’s “In Paradisum”!). Your speech & video were such a great tribute, delivered most professionally. (I managed a couple of photos of you on the stage & at the podium…let me know if you want them.) Like others here, I felt privileged to have been invited to share in an event where the great & the good, the famous & the unknown were all joined by a common bond.. their great love & admiration for the delightful legend that was Colin Dexter, or Codex (his crossword pseudonym) as I often called him.
Hi Annie, it was good to meet you too. Always nice to sit in the Morse Bar in the Randolph Hotel talking about Colin Dexter and Morse. Thank you for the kind words regarding my video and speech. It was a very moving day especially during the Christ Church service.