Well done Gwyneth Hughes!
My mother was a sub postmistress in the 1970’s in a delightful seaside town in Sussex. She had retired and needed a small income because she hadn’t enough NI contributions to survive. Don’t get me wrong she was delighted to take on this opportunity after her recent divorce. I fondly remember visiting her and it was made quite clear that profits were low and we were not allowed anything from the adjoining sweet shop without paying for it. She was fastidious in her book-keeping. In her mid-60’s she decided to sell up and travel the world which she did before she died.
So what’s this got to do with anything.
Yes, you guessed! Mr Bates versus the Post Office. What an amazing 4-part
serial and yes, I wish I’d written the screen play. After three Panorama
documentaries and over one thousand newspaper stories, it was the TV serial
which caught the public’s imagination and we demanded action. And we got it.
So what was it that made the serial so
good? Gwyneth Hughes brought the miscarriages of justice to light by focusing
on a few personal stories of victims. I found myself imagining what if it had
been my mum? The desperation of the sub postmasters and mistresses was palpable
– trying to make things right by putting in all their savings, saying they were
guilty when they weren’t.
Great actors portrayed the victims. You
could understand the weight of the system against these people. The authorities
ignored the pleas of the victims. It destroyed. Yes, the real-life hero, Alan
Bates was so steadfast and willing to help others.
Well
done, Gwyneth Hughes for using your writing to highlight a serious wrong in our
society.
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Lovely post, Rosalie,thanks. Your post reminded me of the word 'Satire' which I teach my students when we treat texts that highlight the serious wrongs in society like, Priestly's 'An Inspector Calls', where there is a domino effect of how one wrong led to so many disastrous effects. I also think it's great for writers to continue to use their writing talent to right the wrongs in society, educate, evangelise, or be that voice in the wilderness of ignorance to warn and enlighten people like John the Baptist did. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteYes thank you Sophia
DeleteI totally agree. This story convinced me of the power of stories to engage imaginations and stir action. Maybe some political cynicism there - one of the characters made a sarcastic comment about Tory MPs! - but if it engenders justice then it's all good!
ReplyDeleteYes as a screenwriter you would appreciate the power of the film as opposed to words on their own.
DeleteTotally agree. I think it's brilliant that she used her skills to stand up for justice and expose wrongdoing. I read an interview with her where she'd been told the series would probably be eclipsed by alternative viewing on the BBC over Christmas. How wrong that was! I find it fascinating and comforting that there is a such a widespread thirst for justice. And it shows the incredible impact good writing can have in our world.
ReplyDeleteYes, such an example for us to follow
DeleteThank you for reminding us! Such an important thing to have in mind when writing.
ReplyDeleteYes, on those hard to write days it's a good spur!
ReplyDeleteHi Rosalie, it was lovely to see you on Thursday at our Zoom meeting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. This is something on my “To Do” list, to watch. God bless.