Tony Grant
Re: There must be hundreds of Ronnie Pantlin stories!
Whilst on attachment, I only encountered Ronnie Pantlin once, on the Remembrance service from the Royal Albert Hall. First day rig and rehearse, second day, more rehearsal and record the event in the evening. First day, Ronnie running a tight ship, and making sure all and sundry knew what was expected of them.
Second day, all assembled in the morning ready to start, but no sign of Ronnie. This was virtually unheard of, as he was unfailingly prompt for these events, so some concern was expressed, and we staggered into rehearsal. A couple of hours later, Ronnie turned up, somewhat bandaged, bruised and bent. He’d apparently been out celebrating with various chums from the forces after the rehearsals, and knowing he had to be at work in a reasonable time the next day, he decided he should take a taxi home. Turning round, he saw one driving down the street, so stepped out to flag it down. But he was unaware that there was a sheet of plate glass between himself and the outside world, as he was in a West End hotel. Ouch.
But he kept the ship tight for the rest of the day, goodness knows how he managed, and I gathered there were plenty more stories attached to his reputation. I’d be delighted to learn more, and I was only sorry that our paths didn’t cross again.
Alex Thomas
I recall staying at the hotel attached to the railway station in York with Ronnie. We were doing a “Playschool” or “Playaway” on the walls of York.
Ronnie insisted on eating his dinner in the hotel restaurant and when I met him, in the bar of course, he was wearing his RAF gunner’s tie. The meals were ordered and then the wine waiter approached to take the wine order. He was obviously another ex- RAF chap and clocked Ronnie’s tie.
“ Leave the wine to me” the waiter said and we did.
The bottle of wine was probably the best in the cellar but it appeared on the bill as 2 glasses of house wine.
It was excellent.
Ronnie was working one of the “Jeux sans Frontières” and one of the German team asked him in English whether he had ever been to Dusseldorf.
“Yes” said Ronnie “But I didn’t stay.”
“Why not”
“It was 1944, we dropped our bombs and came home!”
Tony Crake
Not actually about Ronnie but the Producer he was often paired with…. Denis Monger (possibly ex RAF pilot ? )
This was in Type 2 scanner days (EMI 2001 era). We were doing Farnborough Air Show… I was directed to go to a Hospitality Room to look at a non functioning Courtesy TV. To my total amazement I found my self face to face with my Uncle Tony… We both said: "What are you doing here ?" He had had to change jobs and throw in his lot with Trust House Forte: he had just finished pouring large trays of champagne cocktails as the freebie drink.
"Doesn’t do for everybody", he said. "Just had one of your chaps in ten minutes ago.. looked a bit like an ex RAF Type!”.
“Do you know what he was after?"
"What I really fancy, old Boy, would be a nice drop of Scotch!"
I laughed, "Sounds like Denis.. he is a bit of a character!" (Yes! he got his Scotch! )
(Oh Yes the Courtesy Monitor … nothing to do with me but I knew where the Radio Rentals man was parked so that was soon sorted!)
Peter Cook
Another Ronnie Pantlin story involved a programme at an RAF base somewhere North of Watford. It was one of a series of live broadcasts involving the armed forces. The plan was to start the show with a number of Hawker Hunters taking off in formation. Ronnie had everything organised and some top brass, Winco or such, was designated to cue the aircraft. With a couple of minutes to go the aircraft were sitting at the end of the runway. Ronnie said to this RAF chap, "So you know what you have to do to get the kites airborne". At which the man responsible said, "Yes" and taking a handkerchief out of his uniform pocket, waved it and said "I just do this!". At which moment the formation of jets throttled up and sped off down the runway. I imagine that Dennis Monger was in the scanner and can also visualise what his reaction might have been and Pam Guyler trying to calm him down. Suffice it to say that it took some while to get the aircraft back and I believe that they did the shots towards the end of the show.
Ronnie had so many stories that he planned to get a ghost writer to help him on retirement with publishing a book. It was to be called, appropriately "Brandy for Breakfast", but sadly Ronnie slipped over the horizon without accomplishing that endeavour. I shall however always remember his stentorian voice, a very useful tool in the stage manager’s armoury. I cannot remember if he said what he shouted at the unfortunate RAF man, but I guess that there was an interesting debrief no doubt in the officers mess!! (No pun intended)
