Recently, I have been introduced to a group called Fallout which represents children of nuclear test veterans and, through their Facebook page, I became aware of what was billed as a film premier to be screened within The Palace of Westminster. So, as a veteran myself (and quite interested to see inside the palace), I arranged to meet up at Waterloo Station with another veteran (who became my Best Man after we were demobbed) and we made our way to join other veterans, relatives, and supporters at the meeting point (click on photos to enlarge).
At the appointed time, we were escorted to an entrance to the palace and subjected to a rigorous - airport-style - search and issued with numbered necklace passes before commencing what I found to be a most interesting stroll though what seemed to be most of the public areas (Westminster Hall, for example) on our way to the Meeting Room where the film was going to be shown.
In the event, we weren't shown the whole film.
Evidently, although it had been produced with a TV audience in mind, finding a channel which was sufficiently interested proved to be difficult. So, it was hoped that it would be shown at selected cinemas throughout the UK; following which it was expected that DVDs and internet downloading might become available at some point.
Insofar as the premiere was concerned, bearing in mind the event was billed as a film premiere - and this is an entirely personal point of view - I felt that (1) although I recognise the need to keep the media informed, the fact of the matter was that the M.P. patron and the chairman of the association were preaching to the already converted; and (2) not enough time was set aside for the film. As a consequence, what was shown probably failed to convey what I expect was the message the film producers spent four years trying to convey.
In the event, we weren't shown the whole film.
Evidently, although it had been produced with a TV audience in mind, finding a channel which was sufficiently interested proved to be difficult. So, it was hoped that it would be shown at selected cinemas throughout the UK; following which it was expected that DVDs and internet downloading might become available at some point.
Insofar as the premiere was concerned, bearing in mind the event was billed as a film premiere - and this is an entirely personal point of view - I felt that (1) although I recognise the need to keep the media informed, the fact of the matter was that the M.P. patron and the chairman of the association were preaching to the already converted; and (2) not enough time was set aside for the film. As a consequence, what was shown probably failed to convey what I expect was the message the film producers spent four years trying to convey.
The committee room was right alongside The Thames; so, I couldn't resist trying out the camera on my new mobile phone. I was also seated near the front; so managed to get a slightly blurred shot of (L to R) The film producer, the BNTVA chairman, the BNTVA patron.
