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Post by Gene Hunt on Mar 27, 2017 15:12:01 GMT
Post your reports from this event here.
Gene.
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The Saint
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Swinging London - 1967
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Post by The Saint on Mar 27, 2017 15:19:55 GMT
Without any doubt the best meet ever!
I will post a full report and photos over the next few days, but in the meantime I copy below the text from my speech from last night that I did not get a chance to give after dinner.
The Saint
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The Get Likely Meet - Sunday 26 March 2016 - Evening Speech
Gentlemen
I think you will all agree that this weekend has exceeded the sky-high expectations that we all had!
For a weekend to run as smoothly as this one has is no easy feat, things don’t just happen by chance, everything we have done and seen this weekend has been meticulously planned and checked. Geographical locations, distances, traveling time and vehicle requirements – are to name just a few of the factors that need to be interwoven to create the seamlessly smooth experience that has been the Newcastle meet.
There is one person to thank for all of this, namely Gene. His expertise in planning location meets is unsurpassed, each meet just gets better and better and this one – our first forum weekender – is without doubt the best meet ever!
There is one problem though Gene, how are you ever going to top this meet? – Well at least you have got a few months to work on it!
Many thanks also to our drivers and to Steve Austin for printing out the screen grabs.
Over the years the core group of meet attendees has grown and good friendships have developed between us like-minded retro fans and long may this continue.
Something that does need to be mentioned, and not to bring the mood down at all, is that two members have pulled out of this meet at the last minute and that is disappointing as it can come across as a snub to all the work that has gone into making the weekend. I think that some people do need to be a little more gracious on how they approach not turning up, as it can have serious repercussions on arrangements that have already been made, especially with regard to travelling around the locations on the day itself. I will now get off my soapbox!
Turning to the forum, 4:3tv was set up just over 2 years ago by Gene and Sam, as a move away from, and a huge improvement to, the forum that most of us originally met on several years ago and 4:3 continues to go from strength to strength. Nearly 30,000 posts on the forum in 2 years speaks for itself! Special thanks is also due to Del Boy for his vast input and behind the scenes work.
Going back to the man who made this weekend possible, here’s to Gene and the amazing weekend, thank you from all of us!
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Post by Brown Granada on Mar 27, 2017 18:46:51 GMT
Well said Mr Templer.
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Post by Charles Bronson on Mar 27, 2017 19:19:09 GMT
I"m slightly shattered after a fantastic, never to be forgotten weekend, which I'm very happy to have been part of. It was absolutely brilliant. The one meet above all that will live in my memory. I'm a bit busy this evening, but I will sort my photos out and have a go at posting them in a day or two along with some further comments. Thank very much Gene especially, and the other lads for the hard work in making The Get Likely Meet such a tremendous success.
Charles.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 27, 2017 19:46:35 GMT
Well said lads! Will do a proper post soon but brilliant weekend and really enjoyed all of it and the banter with you lads too. Gene you're a star mate and massive thanks for putting this meet together and getting it all together so well. Very much appreciated by me mate. All the best lads and see you soon.
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Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on Mar 27, 2017 20:15:13 GMT
Evening all! Yes - well what can I say?? I'll put a few comments on this thread to start off but will try and come back with further thoughts later. Well after a safe trouble free journey up from Bedfordshire, and after waiting in the "Stag/Hen weekend" queue at the reception, I soon got checked in and met up with the crew Saturday evening (with a chance to sample some interesting local brews!). Great choice of hotel - being near that iconic Tyne Bridge - backdrop of a number of other productions on top of Get Carter, Likely Lads and Auf Pet!
Superb weather on the Saturday's arrival day, started us off, and although Sunday morning was a chilly one, and we made it despite the clock change, we soon got under way with the walking locations tour with locations of the 3 aforementioned productions and so interesting to see them in the flesh, and what has changed since - Even Bob Ferris appeared to have joined us too! LOL! The weather also improved soon and certainly had by the time we arrived at Whitley Bay - scene of Bob and Terry feeling like they were the last 2 men on earth (in The Likely Lads film)
Then it was on to the driving locations - I'll elaborate these on a later post but I will say that the directions and locations were spot on Gene and we always managed to get to them with enough time to look at them, even if there was a bit of a jam in Newcastle on the way to The Las Vegas guest house at Gateshead where Jack made his famous entrance with a Shotgun - (and he would have used it........!). I even was able to park my car (sadly modern) outside the actual house itself - very near where the red Jag was parked. Although not possible now to park in the same position due to the car parking spaces being as staggered as they are. Round the back entrance of the next door House where Jack again pops out of, and escapes from Con and then makes off in the MK2 Cortina. We even managed to chat to a local who knew the house was used in GC despite the fact he'd only recently moved to his house on the other side of the back entrance road where the clothes line were in the film.
The Stathes at Blyth (Where Jack chased Eric and fired at him) and the Grand Finale location at Blackhall Rocks, where Carter finally clobbered Eric Paice, but then Carter was soon wasted, was both incredibly atmospheric and a fantastic location, and being the last one was a fitting end to our tour and day out!
I must also take the time to first give a great standing ovation and thank you to Gene for organising the planning and organisation as ever, which we all appreciate the immense work that goes into the planning and organisation of these events and this will one will be a hard act to follow!! Not wishing to sound like a Cliché but yes "The best yet" - and it was! Thanks to Steve Austin too for the screengrabs, The Saint for further work and booking our Sunday evening meal, Delboy for his major contributions, Sam Tyler for his comedy character clothing, and providing the laughs, to the drivers - and my passengers on this meet for the first time, "Regan" and "Carter" - for their in car entertainment Lol! yep - Thank you very much - Thank you very very very much! - chatting stuff, and of course help with the satnav directions. Not to mention all 16(?) 43TV members who attended - everyone's company was greatly valued!
When I think of anything else I'll add more postings - I've just got back at about 3:15 pm - so hope everyone else got back safely too - whilst appreciating some had far further to travel than I did! That's dedication lads!
Waaee Man!
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Post by Windy Miller on Mar 27, 2017 21:22:26 GMT
As hoped and anticipated, the weekend saw yet another fine gathering in the company of friendly folk with easy-going personalities enjoying a glorious Meet in Newcastle and the surrounding area.
A huge round of thanks to Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt, who meticulously tracked down and identified the most iconic locations from AWP, The Likely Lads and Get Carter - each to their actual postcode. Your efforts Gene in arranging this most memorable weekend are very much appreciated. It is amazing, and I know we say this every time, but it’s true - each Meet just gets better and better.
Thanks as well go to Peter Picard who chauffeured Vienna and myself effortlessly and precisely through the streets of Newcastle and the countryside of Tyne and Wear and County Durham, aided by the clear and detailed pace notes that Gene had prepared earlier.
We were also honoured to have none other than Bob Ferris joining us on Sunday, even if it was at the expense of having to leave Sam Tyler behind at the Premier Inn. Thanks as well go to The Saint for organizing Sunday Dinner at the nearby Pitcher and Piano and to Steve Austin for the multiple, spiral bound screen grabs.
Hope everyone made it home safely.
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Post by Steve Austin on Mar 28, 2017 12:42:11 GMT
Oh remember when we thought we had forever. Well, we didn't have forever, just under 12 hours to cover 15 years or so and three of the finest pieces of film and TV the North East has ever produced. Not a problem when it's been planned by a certain Mr Hunt. For this daylight dreamer, the weekend started with a big breakfast and a pint or two before having a wander round the toon with the aforementioned Mr Hunt and a few of the squad where we took in a few locations not on Sunday's agenda, smashing. Then there was just time for a quick freshen up before the evenings pub crawl, for the purposes of checking a few locations you understand, nowt silly mind. They would not disappoint. One of the benefits of using real locations is it gives you the chance to interact with them and really put yourself in the place where our heroes would have been all those years ago. Being able to eat and drink and sample the night life makes you feel more involved than any studio tour could ever do. I made my way into the night (earlier than one or two more hardy souls, those midnight schemers) so I could be refreshed for the big day. That was my excuse anyway. Sunday, like the day before, greeted us with clear blue skies, perfect. Even Ferris himself joined us, careful not to get press-ganged this time, gang banged maybe but not press-ganged. The walking, made easy because of the weather, took in the quayside and bridges before moving on to the long steps. As mentioned above, it was fantastic to be able to follow in the footsteps of Michael Caine, albeit slightly slower at this particular location. Before long, it was over and we made our way back to the hotel (ideally located) for the driving tour. Having Gene aboard meant that I was able to just drive and enjoy the scenery as we moved from point to point. I cannot pick out a favourite from this section but if I had to it would be the Beehive pub but the Staithes was just as iconic. It must have been some place back there in the early 1970's on that grey day, standing tall and ominously. Even without the elevated section and on a beautiful day, it was eerily silent. Being Mothers Day, the roads were pretty busy and that meant that we could not enjoy Tynemouth in as much detail as would have been preferred and by the time we made our way to the Las Vegas guesthouse, they were at their peak but we were able to walk right around that area and see the route Jack took to escape Con & Peter The Dutchman but this time the washing was in. Traffic began to drift away as we made our way to ours and Jack's final location, Blackhall Rocks. Like Whitley Bay seafront, this has changed a little but did not spoil the location. Walking along the beach in that light with images of Jack chasing Eric was magic. A climb up the cliff to Eric's denouement was the perfect spot to end the tour. Just superb. Not the end of the weekend though. The final location was just as anticipated as it gave us all a chance to eat, drink and reflect on what was truly a fantastic weekend. Unfortunately, tomorrow did come and like myself, the weather was melancholic but did give an opportunity for just one more photo - the fog on the Tyne was mine. This is only my third meet but I have been made to feel very welcome and so I'd like to thank everyone for being so hospitable. I'd also like to thank Mr Steed and Del for their company and banter as we made our way around and to The Saint for organising the meal on Sunday evening. Finally, a big thanks to Gene for the putting together this itinerary and for the planning that must have taken, you've made a bit of a rod for your own back now though mate - can't wait to see what you come up with next. Thanks for the CD too which I only played a dozen or so times on the way home.
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Mar 28, 2017 17:46:18 GMT
Well, what a great weekend it was in the North East of England - the best meet so far, IMO. After arriving in Newcastle and checking into the hotel on Saturday afternoon, the squad all met up and headed up town for a pub crawl to sink a few beers/shorts (and even a late night curry for some). Although one or two members were a bit worse for wear, it seemed! On the day itself, after not a great breakfast, we went for a walkabout to checkout some locations nearby such as the scenes near the Tyne Bridge in Get Carter. We then got into the motors for trips to the crematorium and the staithes in Blythe from the film, then on to The Beehive and locations from The Likely Lads film in Whitley Bay, plus some decent fish & chips. Then it was on to Tynemouth for Terry's fishing scene before heading back to Gateshead and Edna's guesthouse. But the best location for me was the drive out to Blackhall Rocks for the final scene in Get Carter of Eric's demise on the coal-stained beach: simply brilliant! We then headed back into town for what I thought was a decent meal at the Piano and Pitcher and a couple of jars at the Slug and Lettuce. Thanks to The Saint for ordering the meals; Peter Picard for driving Windy Miller and me around on the Sunday; Windy himself for his excellent navigation skills; and all members of 4:3tv who attended the meet. But special thanks is reserved for Gene Hunt: if it wasn't for his hard work, dedication and weeks of organisation these meets wouldn't get off the ground, so many thanks to him for a fab meet. Let's do it all again very soon... Vi
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Regan
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That were in days of methuselah, money were worth more!
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Post by Regan on Mar 28, 2017 18:25:30 GMT
Well done to all concered, It was a great meet - It did knacker me though all the walking!! and the fact I had too many shandys the night before!!
Thanks to Bryn & all the others for a great weekend.
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