First and foremost I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Matt for making this dvd possible. For well over a decade the man who I have great pleasure in having as a very good friend has too long been an unsung hero of the Knightmare community. Right from his enthusiastic filming of the RPG through to his technical expertise being put to use on Aegis Quest and now making tangible a unique experience that could have been left to memory and some autographs alone. He has now the further distinction to add of being the producer of the first ever LEGAL Knightmare dvd. Aside from this, he is always on hand with a warm anecdote and through his presence a infectious sense of "let's have fun chaps and chappesses - that's what we're here for after all!" Matt of Richings, I and the dungeon salute you and your spin-nack!
They say never meet your heroes. Whoever said so must have been bitterly disapointed with their encounter. I personally could not disagree more with this statement. For me it was an absolute pleasure to not only meet but with with those from my childhood alongside strong friends from the last decade or so. For that opportunity Alan, David, Forester and Keith I thank you also most profusely. Hugo was a delight sharing a wealth of experience on a 1 to 1 level with his wife helping to occasionally fill in any gaps or additional information. Cliff, Tim and Iona were fully professional and fun in equal measure. David Rowe was the first to share a discussion after Knightmare Live and it felt totally natural and refreshingly honest.
Natrually the pinnacle for myself came with my collaberation with Mark on the Late Night segment. I can only apologise to viewers for the number of times I was bellowed at, hollared and referred to. Visually I seem to come as an idiotic lovechild of Kirk from Coronation Street and Sam Dingle from Emmerdale. Hopefully the ineptness was my acting and not genuine!
The 'comedy gold' from not being able to work the laptop was as unplanned as the banter! When it came to the production of that he was truly generous in his ideas and accepting of mine to use and followed what we had down brilliantly. It was so much fun to make and do and great to watch back in it's entirity.
The Q and As finally gave the chance to hear the thoughts and answers to long held thoughts. Each of the particpants gave their own spin on things and made for great entertainment whilst sharing a wealth of joy and laughter of the glory days of Anglia nd beyond. [Spoiler alert] Horsepoo being a particularly fond off kilter reference revealed!
The art session natrually gave Mr Rowe his chance to shine and deservedly so. In a bonus we got some more thoughts from Tim coupled with what felt in a way like Art Attack meets Knightmare. All in all greating viewing material.
In October 1999 I first discovered this site and like most dungeoneers I have never turned back even whilst as far away as Shanghai! There are so many people I have met, worked and most importantly laughed with. All this because of a programme about a kid being guided by three of their mates because they couldn't see!
Knightmare may be a distant memory for some but it reamins deep in my psyche and friendships sprung out from out of it have remained ever since. Helen and Max, thankyou both also for entering fully into the spirit of things and I hope your birthday was as enjoyable as deserved. To Tim Child, I reserve my final thankyou for making all of this and much more possible.
p.s the Cup that Heals is really gathering mildew in Epic studios in a long forgotten cupboard which explains why nobody can still win the bally thing after all these years!
(Viscount in waiting!) Robin John Barlow, Ba, Hons. Wallasey 19.08.2014