Lincoln Leather Products, Lincoln -
Michael’s former employers. He worked here from 1982 until his dismissal in 1994, working his way up from administration work to the Marketing Department, and eventually becoming Head of Operations in 1989.
Little Wave Independent Television Productions -
Very successful independent production company, co-founded by Ellen. Now managed by Ellen’s close friend (and one of her bridesmaids) Ruby Montague.
Lucky Cloverleaf, The -
Now defunct night club in Ashton. Rodney Clambake worked here as a doorman between 1987 and 1989. Talking to his former colleagues I understand that Rodney was frequently late for work, if he turned in at all. He once caused a sensation by mistakenly excluding the Mayor’s wife from the premises during a civic ceremony for allegedly ‘stealing a small cabinet’.
Milford -
A small village on the A6, between Derby and Matlock. Home to Channel Z Television studios.
Monty's Field, Old -
Famous for the lucky find of treasure by some mill children from Belper in 1801. Patsy Wildish tells the story in her book 'Legends of the Derwent Valley':
'The story goes that there were two mill children, Dominic and Eliza. Both about ten years old they had lived and worked at the mill for as long as they could remember, for both were orphans. One day they hatched a plan to escape from the mill and go and start a new life in some caves. They slipped away while their overseer was busy attending to some damaged spindles in a scullery. They made it as far as Milford, running all the way, and finally collapsed breathless in Old Monty's Field (Old Monty being the father of the man who owned the deeds back in 1801).
So pleased were they that they had escaped they started to play games, and run and dance about in the long grass. Suddenly Eliza spotted something flashing in the sunlight. Calling to Dominic to come and look, she ran over to where the light was glinting upon what she assumed was a stone. It turned out to be a gold ducat. They dug the earth and soon discovered a hoard of them. According to legend the children then mysteriously vanished from the area. No one knows what became of them. Although in 1867 a man named Dominica Fabrazzi published an article about the legend in his periodical 'Historical Parlour', claiming that the children had escaped across the Channel to Italy, where they had been assimilated into high society as the orphaned children of a great Italian Count. The truth will now probably never be known.'
Moundy Plateau -
Where around $100,000 worth of stolen rare birds eggs are currently being stored. Hetty showed me the series of caves that runs like a honeycomb beneath the plateau, when I visited the Lake District in July. You'd need to be an experienced caver with a lot of courage to explore that network fully, I would think.
Ottersdale -
The Twitchers' Nest get all their supplies from the Ottersdale General Supplies store. I was particularly impressed with their prices on film processing. They offered to process 24 pictures for £1.99, although the processing time was a week and they told me that 'You may not get all the pictures back.' When I asked 'Why wouldn't I get all the pictures back' I was told bluntly, 'See, if Old Nelly take a shine to one of your photees, she'll be keepin it for her own.' When I tried to edge towards the door (because by this time I was worried that I had caused rather a stir among the assembled locals in this small village shop) my way was barred by a big curly haired man with a round face, who was cradling an enormous marrow in his arms. 'This be Betty. She win firs' prize in village show, she be,' he said. He was drooling as he spoke. I then had to endure a fifteen minute monologue about 'vegetables and such' before I could distract the crowd and make good my escape. I never did return to take up their film processing offer.
PGF Creatives & Associates Ltd, Norwich -
Ellen worked here from just after she married Michael in 1984 to 1987 when she left to become Creative Director of Polished Advertising Inc. The Macintyre’s lived near Norwich during this period, with Michael commuting every day to Lincoln. Ellen has very fond memories of her time in Norwich, calling it her ‘lemon period’.
Plum Plum and Corvell Investment House - The investment house to which Michael has turned in a (desperate?) bid to secure funding to enable the station to complete the production of ‘CHRIS’. Bjorn Plum is an old ally of Michael’s from his meat production days in Lincoln.
Raymondo McLachlan -
He's quite a new stylist, from London. A young chap, with poodle-like shoulder-length hair, he opened his exclusive salon in Shepherdsfield about eighteen months ago. I know Olivia Destiny is a regular customer as I often see her in the window, moodily sipping her tiny cup of coffee. She'd probably look good whoever did her hair.
Robinson's Farm, Mr. -
A notoriously overgrown farm. Small children can often be seen lining up to shout insults at Mr.Robinson, while he's out sunbathing. Remarks such as: 'Why don't you cut the grass?' and 'It's no bother with a hover!' are bandied about freely as the children laugh and point.
River Derwent, The -
Derbyshire's premier river. It rises on Howden Moors in the north and runs for about fifty miles before joining the River Trent. It flows right past Channel Z Television studios. It was really nice to watch it from the mailroom on a slack summer afternoon.
