There is a Facebook group here:
https://www.facebook.com/VT-Tea-1452107871692093/
Pat Heigham
I think it was a great gag, that wherever the Film Unit were around the world, a photo of VT Tea mugs would be taken and sent in. There are several examples on the various Christmas tapes, spoofing the Martini ads: "Try a taste of VT Tea!".
Whenever the regular presenters (particularly Noel Edmonds) made an almighty cock-up – a direct look to camera and "Merry Christmas, VT!" would be offered.
This parallels a story I heard from a Naval friend. The crew of a warship about to leave Portsmouth for a world tour, nicked a garden gnome from some poor lady and either photographed it or sent a postcard from him from the various ports of call, eventually returning gnome when they arrived back!
Apparently this is not an isolated incident as there have been several examples of ‘The Travelling Gnome’. The concept of the roaming gnome and his international escapades dates back to the "travelling gnome prank" that began in the 1980s, later reflected in the 2001 French film “Amélie”.
In the film, Amelie’s father finds that his lawn gnome has gone missing. In the mail, he receives pictures of the gnome in exotic landmark locations.
Peter Cook
Talking Naval stories, an OB engineer friend had trained as an officer with the Navy and was I/C of a minesweeper in dry dock. Remember that these craft were wooden so there was a fire main encircling the craft whilst she was out of the water. Said colleague regaled the story of swapping duties one evening and on his return from a night out finding the fire main had sprung a rather big leak. He was perhaps the first man to be responsible for ‘sinking’ a ship which was not afloat.
In 1969 a BBC OB crew he and I were on was onboard HMS Wakeful for a Spithead fleet review and we derigged our scanner on to it alongside at Portsmouth naval dockyard using a davit and some nets. This vessel was a floating showroom for the Royal Navy’s Radar equipment. Unfortunately one of their systems was not working. As an ex Navy man Derek offered to fix it for them. Testing cameras took a wee bit longer that day, but we were all well rewarded for his success in the wardroom later. After the review we had been to the petty officers mess before the wardroom, partly because our crew senior cameraman, Teddy Cocks, had served in WW2 on the previous vessel of the same name, which was well received by the ratings who opened their rum ration in his honour. This was sadly before we realised that we were not alongside the dock in reach of crane, but had to carry everything across two other ships via planks and decking. We managed rather unsteadily without, I am pleased to say, dropping anything. I have no recollection of reassembling the scanner, but a distinct memory of having the hood down on my MG to drive to my parents’ house near Lyndhurst and trying not to act too pissed when I got there.
Gary Critcher
Who produced the latest batch of VT Tea mugs?
Do we have any left?
Just had an enquiry from a former VT / TVC guy who would love one.
Peter Neill
‘Twas me.
Some time ago I threatened a second edition and there was a little interest. The carriage from the supplier made smallish runs prohibitive, and I’ve been working virtually full-time for the last 18 months and am very busy at the moment.
