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Bradford's
award-winning Colour Museum has its origins in the textile industry.
Set up by the Society of Dyers and Colourists it focuses on the
way colour is used in the world and how it impacts upon our lives.
But colour can be found in the most surprising of places and a visit
to Holmfirth by the museum's curator, Graham Alcock, has resulted
in a new exhibition, 'Colourful Characters, Colourful County.'
The
'colourful county' is none other than our own West Yorkshire and
the 'characters' are all those familiar faces from the world's longest-running
comedy series, Last Of The Summer Wine.
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| Compo
(the later Bill Owen) in his clobber |
Photographs
and props are on display and you can try your hand at identifying
some of the more than colourful characters and well-known actors
who have at one time or another appeared in the series over the
last 33 years!
While
you don't get a ride on it, you can certainly have a good look at
Marina's bicycle, so often used for her clandestine meetings with
Howard. Those of you who remember the Swan Man of Ilkley episode
can take a look at the swan although not quite in the flesh! But,
for most visitors, the most poignant part of the exhibition must
be the glass case entitled 'Bill Owen MBE 1914-1999.' On display
are Compo's Clobber from Series 21, the clothes worn by the actor
in the final appearance he made before his death. But, essentially
as the captions show, the whole exhibition is meant to be a bit
of fun.
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| "The
swan of Ilkley" |
On
Monday September 12th the Colour Museum was packed out when the
"prolific" writer, Roy Clarke, the "indefatigable"
producer, Alan J.W. Bell and several of the stars attended the official
opening of the exhibition. It is no wonder that Peter Sallis (Clegg),
who has appeared in all 280 episodes, and Frank Thornton (Truly)
could be spotted wearing their MCC ties on the day England won the
Ashes! Many actors make their name in a television series and then
perhaps move on to other things. Not so with Last Of The Summer
Wine! Actors like the late Dame Thora Hird came to the series with
long and successful careers behind them. Bert Kwouk, who must have
been in more films than most of us have had hot dinners, also made
the journey to Bradford - he joined the programme for just a few
episodes and has stayed for a few years.
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| Summer
Wine Country! And it's all here in West Yorkshire |
It
comes as no surprise that the series has even given rise to Summer
Wine Appreciation Society. There was much talk, as people went round
the exhibition, about the locations shown in the photos - a reminder
that the countryside around Holmfirth is also a star of the show.
This
was my first visit to The Colour Museum and it came as an incredible
surprise! Also on show at the moment is the Society's 2005 Colour
in Design Competition, an opportunity to take a sneak look at eight
very wearable outfits but I will certainly be returning to have
a better look at the permanent exhibition!
Chris
Verguson
Colourful
Characters, Colourful Country is on show at the Colour Museum in
Bradford until Christmas.
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