IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

Monday 9th October 2006 - I have just heard that Mal Whiteley died a few hours
ago, shortly after 6am.

Mal was a regular contributor to this forum and a fine film maker. His documentaries,
such as 'Bell Woven', 'The Haworth Experience' and 'Shrewsbury' were regulars
in the awards lists. When a routine visit to the doctor revealed cancer,
Malcolm - with the help of his colleagues at Pendle Moviemaker - made a film
about it 'One Day at a Time'. He followed that up with 'Second Time Around'which
paid tribute to the support of his much-loved wife, Rita.

His last few months were not easy. When he grew to ill to be treated at home
he went to the local hospice where he was given some ease and dignity, though
he was not fully himself in that period. Rita was with him at the end.

The funeral will be some time next week. Rita has asked that there be no
flowers but that anyone who wishes to remember Mal make a donation to the
hospice.

You can make a contribution by mail with a cheque or postal order, which
should be made out to:
"Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle"
and posted to:
Pendleside Hospice,
Colne Road,
Reedley,
Burnley BB10 2LW

or give online at http://www.justgiving.com/charity/donat ... RSId=13415
- justgiving.com is a secure national charities support website.

He was one of life's great characters, a very good film maker and someone
we will all miss. His films, of course, go on. "Second Time Around" will
be awarded a Highly Commended at the Guernsey Lily this weekend.

When I know more about the funeral arrangements I will let you know in case
anyone wishes to attend.

Dave Watterson

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Monday 9th October 2006 - I have just heard that Mal Whiteley died a few
hours
ago, shortly after 6am.

For those who may be able to attend:

The funeral service will be 10.30 on Monday 16th at St John's Methodist Church
in Colne followed by crematorium at Burnley at 11.30.

Unfortunately this coincides with when Jan and I plus many other film people
will be on Guernsey for the Guernsey Lily Festival weekend.

A reminder: Rita has asked that you do not send flowers, but donations to
the local hospice - for details see my previous posting.

Dave Watterson

Peter Rouillard opened the Guernsey Lily Festival last weekend with a tribute
to Malcolm Whiteley, a fine film maker who died a week ago.

On the Monday after the festival Malcolm's funeral took place. Peter Copestake,
his friend colleague from Pendle Moviemakers is having computer problems
so he asked me to post this report:

"Malcolm's funeral (except for appalling acoustics and sound system in the
modern Methodist church) was good. His coffin was carried by former
colleagues from the Fire Service, the address by the Minister was very
positive and highlighted Malcolm's competitiveness, his striving for the
best and his appreciation of his friends and the one by the hospice chaplain
put as positive a light as anyone could on Malcolm's last months. He had
evidently got to understand M. and spoke of finding him in the out-of-bounds
office one day, smiling at his situation, with real warmth. He paid tribute
to Rita's loving devotion to what there was of Malcolm left by his illness
and her feeding him so tenderly as we have witnessed for ourselves.

"I guess there might have been as many as fifty people in the church and
only
a few less at the crematorium where, again, the Minister did just enough
and
let us listen to the chosen music and think our own thoughts.

"As we rose to leave, Rita went up the steps to the coffin, with the two
wreaths of red, yellow and gold chrysanths glowing in the lights and midday
sun, paid her last respects and touched it with her kissed hand. It was
a
moment of pure cinema that Malcolm would certainly have appreciated and he
would have been so proud of Rita."

Peter Copestake.