This site is meant as a brief overview of his life and career. For those of us lucky enough to have enjoyed his talents throughout the years, this may remind you of some of the lesser known roles you may have forgotten; while for those of you who are only just discovering his work, welcome! Feel free to sign our
guestbook, join our
mailing list to keep informed on the latest additions to this site, and don't forget to vote on your favorite John Thaw movie or miniseries in our new interactive poll. We also have a quick and easy site search to help you locate a specific reference (see below). Or join in discussing all things related to John's life and career at our new COMMUNITY FORUM by CLICKING HERE. Use it to meet and get to know one another, exchange ideas, or post announcements or questions for others to see! Take advantage of the opportunity to meet others around the world who share our interests in keeping John's legacy alive!
THE JOHN THAW FOUNDATION NEEDS YOUR HELP! -
The John Thaw Foundation is a relatively small charity that John Thaw set up before he died and aims to help disadvantaged and underprivileged youth with a particular emphasis on doing so through the arts – broadening their experiences and giving them opportunities they might not otherwise have. This may mean helping individual students to get through drama and music training or by financing projects for larger groups run by other charities. We try to give to smaller charities where the money will make a real difference.
To give you an idea of some of the projects and groups we have supported:
· Ongoing support to a drama group linked to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester which is for local disadvantaged children and has included work in John’s old school.
· A Charity in London which does a similar thing, using the facilities of public schools. It not only gets seriously delinquent or deprived kids off the streets in the holidays, butt can effect wonderful changes in their outlooks and attitudes.
· A large play area for a small school for children with Down’s Syndrome.
· A Charity that takes disadvantaged kids on holiday to a camp in England.
· A small community in the Cotswolds that deals with disturbed kids that have suffered some trauma in the past and has fantastic results.
· Helping to finance a half term drama project run by the Young Vic Theatre for local schoolchildren, mostly from underprivileged families.
· Paying for the South West Youth Theatre Group to take part in the National Theatre’s ‘Connections’ programme in the Spring as well as enabling them to offer places on their weekly drama workshops for a reduced or fully waived fee.
· Helping to finance an out-reach worker for the Daneford Trust in East London who will work on their Overseas Volunteer Scheme in which young people for inner London do work voluntary overseas from anything from three to twelve months. The Trust also supports school to school links and youth club exchanges.
· The Foundation is currently helping students through LAMDA, the Guildhall school of music and drama, The Royal Academy of Music, Mountview, E15 School of and Arts Education, Tring.
As you can see from this small selection the scope is wide but basically the criteria is to give a kick start, and offer a helping hand, to young people in the way that kindly people did for both John and Sheila when they were young.
We know that the foundation has made a huge difference to children’s lives and any donations of whatever size, are very welcome and make a huge difference to the work the Foundation can do.
Information from The John Thaw Foundation. Address – The John Thaw Foundation, PO BOX 38848, London, W3 6WT
IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED OF THE PASSING OF RAY THAW - Like everyone, I am stunned by the news of Ray's recent passing on June 9, 2004. I knew Ray long-distance for about two years. When this site was first getting started, he was kind enough to review everything for accuracy, and also made corrections and suggestions when necessary, contributing a few family photos along the way. Ray was also instrumental in correcting a few misconceptions that were being reported as fact in the press and tabloids at the time about John's life and career. Ray was an avid reader of our forum, and checked in at least a couple times a month to see what was being discussed. As you are all aware, he even took the time to answer directly some of the questions you would ask about various topics. We never spoke, but stayed in touch on a regular basis via email. He often shared with me his thoughts on seeing John's work on TV, how proud he was of John, and how the family was coping when John's birthday or the anniversary of his passing came around. He also shared more mundane things, such as how his retirement was going, how his or John's children were, what latest family vacations were being planned, etc. Over the last two years we exchanged Christmas cards and best wishes between our families for the New Year.
The last time I heard from Ray was in March, just before his treatment began, and as we all did with John's struggle with cancer, I was hoping that he would soon return to this site with news that he had conquered the dreaded disease. It was not to be. This site has lost perhaps its greatest friend, and the Thaw family has once more lost a kind and decent man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them in their time of grief, and I share their sadness at his loss. I shall miss him a lot. He left us at the much too young age of 59.
Raymond Stuart Thaw was born on November 15, 1944, at 48 Stowell Street, West Gorton, Manchester. He moved to Australia in the mid-1960s and had recently retired from his position as a senior manager at a Ford Automobile Manufacturing plant there, near his home in McDowell. He is survived by his wife Anne, two sons Jason and Jon, and Jason's wife Nicole. He was the proud grandfather of two boys, Timothy and Nicholas. Friends and family of Ray are invited to attend his Farewell Service on Tuesday, 15th June, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Lakeview Chapel, Albany Creek Crematorium, 400 Albany Creek
Road, Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane, Australia. The brothers are reunited once again, now both in God's care. We thank them for the time they spent among us.
MAJOR NEW INSPECTOR MORSE BOOK PUBLISHED! - A new publication “Endeavouring to Crack the Morse Code” by Paul & Jan Allens will be out soon. The authors have undertaken original research and interviews relating to the 33 Inspector Morse episodes and the new Inspector Lewis series, to provide a unique compilation of recollections, location and technical information on the making of the series.
The book will be out in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first telecast of the Inspector Morse series which went to air on 6th January 1987. More information on the book including ORDERING information is posted on our Book, TV & Gift Reviews page. Act now to get one of the first copies!
ATTENTION ALL AUSTRALIAN FANS!
Would you like to see a John Thaw Film and Television Retrospective organised and screened in Australian cinemas? If so, please leave a message to Theresa (an Australian Fan) on the John Thaw Forum which appears on this website (see link to ‘Community Forum’ above) and she will contact you.
Theresa has been writing to Film Festival and Events organisers in Australia with her ideas and information, asking them if they would like to support and host such a Retrospective.
She would like to hear from anyone you would like to help her in contacting these companies or who has other helpful ideas. Even if you just let Theresa know that you would like to attend such a Retrospective, that will help her demonstrate support to Events companies etc, for her idea.
John's Thaw's late brother, Ray Thaw, who lived in Australia, had kindly agreed to support this project and had also contacted film festival organisers to register his support.
Hopefully the more interest is shown, the more likely that we can find an organisation willing and able to host a John Thaw Retrospective. Please join in showing your support!
ATTENTION ALL JOHN THAW FANS! Our good friend Janet is trying to organize a Regional film festival concentrated on John's TV work to be held in John's hometown of Manchester. She has been in touch with Dick Fiddy of BFI who has indicated to her that he is happy to help in any way he can. He has contacted in this regard his colleague Veronica Taylor (who handles all UK TV clearances for the cinema) who, in turn, has passed it onto the programmes at Manchester's Chapterhouse. Janet needs as many people as possible to contact film festival organizers to support her efforts to have a John Thaw Retrospective shown in Manchester. Simply expressing your desires by writing to an appropriate organization, by e-mail or letter, stating "I would attend a John Thaw Retrospective if it is held in Manchester" & "I support the idea of a John Thaw Retrospective", can make all the difference. If you would also like to help (or know anyone in Manchester or the Region, that might want to help) please contact Janet at
regan59@supanet.com Please help her in getting this wonderful project off the ground!
GREAT NEW JOHN THAW BLOG! Janet has done it again, and has come up with one of the best John Thaw sites out there on the web, her personal blog devoted to everything related to John. Here you will find many rare photos, the latest news, upcoming releases, and Janet's thoughts and opinions on just about anything related to John, his family, and career. Please join us in supporting her latest "endeavour" by by clicking here and checking out her blog - you'll be glad you did. It's a labour of love from a truly devoted fan.
WHAT'S NEW FOR JANUARY 2010!
After a short absence, three new sections have been added to the site for fans of Inspector Lewis. First, our Inspector Lewis page will contain our library of articles, interviews and reviews devoted to the ongoing series, and hopefully will serve as a good reference source for fans around the world. Our second addition, Inspector Lewis Gallery and Episode Guide have also been added, both works in progress, which in coming weeks willl grow as new information and photos are added. We hope this will help honor the legacy of quality television begun with Inspector Morse and now being carried on by Lewis. More will be added in the coming weeks, so check back often! Two new articles have also been added to our Articles & Interviews Part 18 page - enjoy!
HELP MAKE JANUARY 3rd JOHN THAW DAY! This website is sponsoring a move to have January 3rd, John's birthday,
declared "John Thaw Day" in his hometown of Manchester. This annual observance will help keep John's memory alive, and the occasion may be used to help promote cultural activities such as a local film festival in John's memory, to show not only his films but other creations by aspiring actors and independent filmmakers. Send your thoughts and support to the Manchester city council by clicking city.council@notes.manchester.gov.uk and tell them this website sent you! Show your support and help us make this dream a reality!
For any comments or questions about this site, feel free to contact me directly simply by clicking here at HorodyskiJ@aol.com
Next: The Early Years