[Afamilyatwar-list] John Finch and a final family photo

[Gert Bak Pedersen]

And so this is the last email with signed phots etc.

Before I was in contact with any of the actors from AFAW I corresponded
with author John Finch (starting in 2002). The aim was to get some
information about two things:
I am a historian and since University in the 1970s one of my main interests
has been life on the homefront in England 1939 to 1945. So in connection
with writing about the subject I was interested in knowing what litterature
John Finch might had used while researching for AFAW. That's why there are
some references to history books in his emails/letters.
The other thing I asked him about was related to his AFAW writing proces,
if the actors had any influence on the development of the character, the
Vaughan Williams theme etc. I hope you will find some interesting
information in his answers attached below.
As he writes he surprisingly had a copy of a Danish edition of one of the
books ghosted from the scripts (and which he really did not like). He
signed the book and sent it to me together with some photocopies of
newspaper articles about AFAW from 1970-72.

I have also included one last photo signed by six of the actors. It's an
Ashton family photo and that is why it actually crossed the North Sea from
Denmark to England six times (and back again, of course). I must admit that
the more signatures that were added to the photo the more difficult it was
for me to send it again. I was afraid it would disappear somewhere on its
'journey' but luckily it arrived 'safe and sound' all six times😊.

I am not interested in actors' autographs in general and I have never asked
any actor for a signature - except for those starring in "A Family At War".
The series had a huge impact on me when I watched it in the early
seventies. It made me interested in life in England during WW2 - not
military history but everyday life. And years later I brought this
fascination into my professional life. So this is why I found it funny to
try and get in touch with the Ashtons about twenty years ago. It might seem
silly but it was a cosy little activity.

All the best,

Gert
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