Back in 2011, I bumped into Michael Portillo on the train at Folkestone…he was filming one of his journeys…they’re all on Box of Broadcasts…and also the later ones around Europe, and also the ones around the USA.
Actually, that’s me suitting behind him and wearing my beret!
I’ve posted before about these television films, here
Michael Portillo isn’t doing anything new…it was all done brilliantly in the 1950s and 1960s by John Betjeman…and subsequently by many others. I just noticed that, at the bottom of the post below, I describe Michael’s US train trip. Grr!
John Betjeman was an important figure in the architectural conservation movement of the 1960s. He won the battle for St Pancras; but lost Euston…
The most interesting TV film made by Michael Portillo has been about his own family in Spain and the dramatic impact of the the bombing of Guernica, and the positive effect of Picasso’s great painting…all around the world.
I’ve posted about it, here
http://paulrennie.rennart.co.uk/post/47702448623/portillo-picasso
Michael’s mother, Cora, was instrumental in helping the Basque children refugees in Britain. That’s important.
BBCWalesTV made a special film about the Basque children who were found homes in wales. You can watch it on Box of Broadcasts.
Here are the details
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p64s4
I’ve posted elesewhere about the Spanish civil war, here
http://paulrennie.rennart.co.uk/post/159671468435/learning-from-history-the-spanish-civil-war