Handing it down

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Chris, haven’t seen it all yet but it is very good to see and hear those CMP household names: Sid Swallow, Peter Ford, Bill Gregg, Bart Vanderveen, and then some.

I am sure audiovisual experts could improve the quality of the recording. I am sadly not that person. But I am very happy you got that footage online!

Hanno

[David Dunlop]

Hello Chris.

Thanks for doing this amazing work for us. Took a quick look at the first reel and was gob smacked to see and hear your Dad’s opening speech. I roomed with him during that event and recall him fine tuning what he wanted to say at the motel the night before.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I think we got a list of attendees while we were there. I met Phil Waterman from the USA there and I am sure Australia was represented as well.

A bit of a long shot perhaps, but it might be worth checking with your local CBC TV Station about the UCA 60 tapes. Everything is digital now, but I cannot imagine they have converted all of their tape archives, so they may be able to point you in the right direction for assistance.

I cannot recall if your Dad was still smoking a pipe at the time of the conference, but do recall the plumes of smoke he was capable of producing were directly proportional to his level of excitement over CMPs!

David

[Chris Ford]

Thanks David. The images from your descriptions bring me a large smile.

That's a good idea about checking with CBC... their markings are on the cassette!

Reel #3 is now up. https://youtu.be/je2FeuUCSBE
Reel #4 is also now up. https://youtu.be/dtDhnMqkBIY - the first time I watched any of reel 4 - it's great! The sound doesn't seem to be a problem, and the stories are not just informative, but fascinating.

[Mike Cecil]

"I am sure Australia was represented as well."

Sure was: reel 2, 12 minutes in: the late Dave Brown, from Aust Military Collectors Society in Sydney, NSW.

I had my first 'tour' in a Ferret Mk2 with Dave at the helm - through Sydney traffic. A memorable experience!

Interesting film. Thanks for putting it up.

Mike

[Chris Ford]

Thanks for sharing that info Mike. I'm really glad that connections to the people and events of the past are brought to life by these videos.

Reel #5 is up - https://youtu.be/fDQR7IW2LD4 and includes the last 20 minutes of the seminar plus a couple news items regarding the Bill Gregg's collection made by Bill Trbovich - series narrator and producer.

I would also like to thank the Zenith corporation for making a Beta machine that outlasted even my Sony (whose sound won't work - anyone know how to solve that?) The tracking on the Zenith doesn't work, but very fortunately, the tape needed no tracking adjustment and worked well.

I hope you all enjoy seeing these videos on their 35th anniversary and that the stories live on for another 35 and beyond.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

"I am sure Australia was represented as well."

Sure was: reel 2, 12 minutes in: the late Dave Brown, from Aust Military Collectors Society in Sydney, NSW.

I had my first 'tour' in a Ferret Mk2 with Dave at the helm - through Sydney traffic. A memorable experience!

Interesting film. Thanks for putting it up.

Mike

Mike,
I remember Dave telling me about the meeting when I first met him in 1992. Dave had been on the 1984 MVCG Normandy Tour prior to going to Canada as I recall.

regards, Richard

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here is Phil Waterman’s writeup plus photos of the CMP Seminar:

https://www.canadianmilitarypattern.com/CMP84.htm

H.

[Bob Phillips]

Hi Chris;
Just wanted to thank you for posting these video clips. I attended the seminar and remember it very well. These videos provide the icing on the cake by filling in so many of the lost details! I remember seeing a couple of the news clips (end of reel 5) at the time. Thanks for sharing!
BP