I Believe in Agels

[The Marmite Kid]

Hi Friends.
I thought I might pull away from film making as it is Christmas and tell
you a little story about the Marmite Kid. Some of you will know of him but
a lot of you wont. He lived in a small jam buttie town up north. Life was
not too bad for him, except for the frequent leatherings he received from
his stepfather. Things were not too bad as he knew as time went by he was
growing bigger and stronger and was only waiting for the day to come when
the worm would turn. That day arrived when he was 14yrs old, armed with a
cricket bat and fired up with anger; the dog had its day. His mother knew
the family was finished so it split. Mother took the Marmite Kid and fled
leaving behind two younger mites. At 15yr the kid got a job at a fruit and
potato merchants delivering to the local shops from the back of a wagon.
It was during this time that an innocent sweet little school girl appeared
on the scene. She was 13yr old. For 2yrs they went everywhere together, pictures
coffee-pot, fishing. The kid had itchy feet and went south to Colchester
where he met his biological father. Things did not work out right well for
him as he yearned for the mill chimneys and the coughing sparrows. So it
was back into the saddle of his trusty Norton 350 and up north he went, work
and lodgings was easy to find in those days, welder, salesman, engineer,
paint sprayer, you name it he did it. He was a very adaptable sort of lad;
he could set his mind and do anything. His only let down was marriages; he
was too fond of wedding cake and saw inside to many registrars. After every
failure and the wheal fell off, he would turn to his childhood friend and
she would dry his eyes and put his wheal back on. Ready for his next downfall.
And of coarse there was another one, he was now 42yr old and had been living
over the brush for 2yrs (as they say up north) age was now creeping up on
him and he was living life at 100mph, out in the pub 7 nights a week including
Fri, Sat, and Sunday afternoon. His partner was also with him. I must say
he was one terrific darts player, as he was captain of 2 local darts teams,
a town team player and was also on the brink of playing for his County. But
one day the inevitable happened, when he returned from work one evening he
found his house empty, what a relief as he knew life could not carry on at
that pace much longer.
Yes you have guessed it, who did he turn to. Now his friend is 40yrs old,
never been married and always lived with her parents said right. Meet me
at the little café up town and I will sort you out for the very last time.
So as he sat with his friend in the café listening to the earache he was
getting realised there was only one way out. He asked her to marry him. She
never even bat an eyelid and replied “Okay, let’s go and tell my Dad”
The next 12months flew by as she set to and had the house decorated, new
furniture, and a brand new wardrobe for the Kid. That was 18yrs ago and there
is not a happier couple up north. One day the Kid was talking to his father-in-law,
they got on well together as his father-in-law Joe, served in the fire brigade
during the war and was a local hero; the Kid had also served in fire brigade
for 6yrs. He asked Joe. “Why was it his daughter had never got married and
had always helped him through”? He replied, “His daughter told him when
she was 12 she loved you, and someday she would marry you.” So when you
think about it, them shepherd guys hadn’t a lot going for them. They only
got one visit from an angel, the Marmite Kid he is luckier, he has had an
angel walking with him for 48yrs, and I should know. I am the Marmite Kid.

[Dave Watterson]

"The Marmite Kid" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote ... about his life and his
love.

He might have been writing a script. He is, after all, a multiple award-winning
movie maker as well as a darts champ. But he was just telling us a set of
simple truths to help us understand how much he values, cherishes and loves
his wife.

The rest of the world knows him as Malcolm Whiteley whose most recent award
came from the British Sound Recording Association for his video 'Bell Woven'
a fast-moving study of the company which weaves logos and labels for garments.
(How many of us even knew there was a video section in the BSRA?)

You may also know him as the reluctant star of 'One Day at a Time' and 'Second
Time Around' about his battle with cancer. Those films were made with the
help of fellow Colne moviemakers, especially Peter Copestake. Emotionally
harrowing these movies bring us all face to face with a disease which stills
terrifies us - even though the prospects of recovery are good.

Throughout his ordeal Mal has depended on the practical and emotional support
of his devoted wife, Rita. It is typical of him to pay her such a tribute.

This Christmas I am aware of two other wonderful amateur film makers - one
in Austria and one in Belgium - who are also fighting cancer. They are both
making movies despite all they are going through. The Austrian, inspired
by Marmite Kid's example, has been filming his own battle ... even including
shots of the operation where a large part of one lung was removed. The Belgian
is preparing charming fantasies. Each to his own.

One of the values of this sort of forum is that we sometimes get to know
a little about the people behind the credits on screen.

Those people are just a few more reasons to rejoice at Christmas - a world
with such folk in it is a world with hope.

And raise a glass to Rita (Mrs. Marmite) - she deserves it.

Dave

[Michael Slowe]

And raise a glass to Rita (Mrs. Marmite) - she deserves it.

Dave

I will join you Dave. When I was reading the 'Marmite' story, I like you,
knew very well who it was all about and it brought tears to my eyes. What
a man, what a girl - if this was a fiction film it would be thought unrealistic.
Let these two inspire us all to be more tolerant of each other and be thankful
for what ever life brings us.

Happy Christmas everyone and let's hope for a good 2006.

[Cinema For Thurso Group]

Wonderful, romantic, so many youngsters could learn from this. Make it into
a movie. true love knows no boundaries and clearly you found someone who
could appreciate you for everything that you are and by god it took you long
enough to see where you should have been all this time.
Merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous new year!

[Ned C]

Thanks to the Marmite Kid for that story of life and love, what a script!
Best wishes to you and Rita for the New year. Here's to a great 2006 for
everyone and we look forward to seeing your films,

Ned C