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Welcome to the world of 'Peter Pan'

I became a devoted slave to Peter Pan long before I had the unprecedented luck of actually working with Louis Marks on a biographical adaptation for television of the lives of primarily, J M Barrie, and his involvement with the 5 Llewellyn Davis Boys. I remain a devotee and fan of the original work and even have a (5th) First Edition of the book. I watch our for all the new versions and read biographies and even sequels which have appeared since I worked on 'The Lost Boys' and have opinions on them all which, will become apparent as the dedicated page evolves!

The Original

Michael as Peter Pan in 1907

Keeping the Faith in 'The Lost Boys'

The quintessentially iconic image taken in 1907 that persuaded Barrie that Michael would forever be 'Peter Pan' - image and annotation from my private collection

Louis Marks (left) and author Andrew Birkin (right in profile) in Kensington Gardens during the filming of some of the exterior shots when Barrie first met the elder Llewelyn boys George, Jack and Peter with the curious dedication from Louis that the picture should be kept facing the wall - so why give it to me in the first place? - From my private collection.

Finally the trilogy was to be previewed at our usual haunt, BAFTA at 195 Picadilly - it was unusual to have all three episodes on one date, we previewed 'Eleanor Marx' separately on three occasions - possibly this was to preserve the content secrecy - from my private collection

My colleagues kindly kept in touch as I had left the BBC before the actual broadcasting of the trilogy, it looks as if 'William Wilson' (a ghost story) and 'Eleanor Marx' were to be repeated in addition to 'Wingate' which was one of Louis' collaborations with Innes Lloyd before he broke loose to become a producer in his own right. I'm guessing that Mark's Mouldy Oldies will have been Mark Shivas' 'Glittering Prizes' which seems to have bagged every accolade time and again! - From my private collection

'The Lost Boys' first edition, I bought my own copy and Louis kindly dedicated it to me :
"For Anna In memory of this & other shows of which your contribution was incalculable. Good luck in everything Louis"

I was sorry to leave Louis and the many friends I had made at the BBC but not the BBC itself which at times had caused me much grief!

Not many people will have seen, let alone retained the Press Release Booklet that accompanied the invitation to the Previews so here it is in its entirety - from my personal collection complete with exposure marks - enjoy. (Ooops! Looks like I lost out on a credit as I had already left and been replaced by the time this leaflet was printed - ho hum!)

2021 - What a way to start the Year! And not in a good way!

Disney+ blocks under-sevens from watching 'racist' Peter Pan, Dumbo and The Aristocats for breaching 'content advisories'

- Dumbo and The Aristocats among those removed from the children's section
- They were found to have breached 'content advisories' recently installed
- Parents are shocked after trying to watch films on the £5.99-per-month service

By Katie Hind Showbusiness Editor For The Mail On Sunday | Published: 23rd January 2021 | Updated: 25th January 2021

Well I suppose if they could find a still of Peter Pan leering I suppose this would be it! - 'Children will need an adult with them to watch Peter Pan's adventure in Neverland' - image and strapline as used in the Mail on Sunday

2020 - More 50p Coins!

All images shown are from The Westminster Collection

The 2020 Peter Pan 50p Coins

Marking the 90th anniversary since Peter Pan author, JM Barrie, gifted his rights in Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital, the second (and final) collection of Peter Pan 50p Coins have been issued by The Isle of Man. Developed in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, last year's Peter Pan 50ps saw unprecedented demand, with tens of thousands of people queuing to get their hands on them. In fact, in just a matter of months, through the sales of these Peter Pan coins, collectors have raised over £250,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

SIX Brand New 50p Designs

Each coin has been struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality - a superior finish sought-after by collectors - and feature one of six specially commissioned designs:

Peter Pan and Tinker Bell
The Mermaid
Smee
The Jolly Roger
Peter Pan at the window
Tinker Bell

Importantly, this collection is one of the only ways you can own all six coins as a complete set.

What's more, these 50p coins are legal tender on the Isle of Man and 25,000 of each design will be issued into circulation. British Isles 50p coins like this however rarely turn up in your change in the UK, making these 50p's some of the most sought-after circulating coins around. Donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity

This wonderful coin set has been developed in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSH Charity). For every coin set sold a donation will go directly to GOSH Charity to help support the hospital and the seriously ill children from across the UK who are cared for there. As the FINAL Peter Pan 50p coins to be issued, there is no doubt these 50ps will be incredibly popular with collectors looking to complete their collection. This is your chance to get ahead of the crowds and secure your 2020 Complete Peter Pan 50p Set in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality. Source : The Westminster Collection

2020 - 'Never Never Land' Phrase Explained

A lot happened on this date there is reference to the Navy Lark referencing Heather Chasen's (Wren Chasen) date of birth, a quote from Sci-Fi 's writer Brian Aldiss who worked with Irene Shubik on a sci-fi themed play although not her compendium entitled 'The Mind Beyond'. There was also a mention of the late Natalie Wood who's biopic I had just seen on television and it was quite an eye-opener!

The Mail also provided this little known snippet but let themselves down using the Disney 'Hook' image!

2019 - The Ultimate Accolade - the Peter Pan 50p piece

This year marks the 90th anniversary since Peter Pan author, JM Barrie, gifted his rights in Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital. To commemorate this generous gift, which continues to benefit the hospital to this day, a brand new British Isles Peter Pan 50p series has been released by the Isle of Man

Six Brand New 50p Designs

Each coin has been struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality, a superior finish sought-after by collectors. This means that they will be free of any marks and scratches that you would find on circulated coins. The coins feature one of six specially commissioned designs:

Flying | Peter Pan| Hook | Wendy & Nana | Tinkerbell | Crocodile

Flying | Peter Pan| Hook | Wendy & Nana | Tinkerbell | Crocodile

Importantly, this set is one of the only ways you can own all six coins. Other than the Peter Pan 'Flying' 50p, none of the designs will be available to purchase individually. These stunning new designs have been developed in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSH Charity).For every coin set sold a donation will be made to GOSH Charity to help support the hospital and the seriously ill children from across the UK who are cared for there.

The coins come housed in bespoke Peter Pan packaging ensuring they are protected for years to come. - All images used courtesy & © of The Westminster Collection as seen on their website.

ALL COINS:
Country of Issue: Isle of Man |Year of Issue: 2019
Coin Diameter: 27.3mm |Coin Weight: 8g
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark |Reverse: David Wyatt/Matt Tindall
Metal: Cupro-Nickel |Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
For every coin set sold, a donation of £3.75 will be donated to Great Ormand Street Hospital Children's Charity. Registered charity no. 1160024. To learn more visit https://www.gosh.org/

2010 - Scotland in Trust showcases Barrie and his 'Peter Pan.'

1978 - The BBC's 'Lost Boys'

Luckily a DVD of our 'Lost Boys' exists and it is interesting some of the diverse quotes from television critics as part of the selling point!

Peter Pan in Scarlet (the official & commissioned sequel)

Commissioned by GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital) l to r British Edition and US Edition - images courtesy of Neverpedia

Source : Great Ormond Street Hospital "Specially commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital as the official sequel to Peter Pan, this is a thrilling adventure that you will never forget. Neverland is calling again... Something is wrong in Neverland.  Dreams are leaking out - strangely real dreams, of pirates and mermaids, of warpaint and crocodiles.  For Wendy and the Lost Boys it is a clear signal - Peter Pan needs their help, and so it is time to do the unthinkable and fly to Neverland again.

In 2006, Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean was published after Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity launched the search for a sequel to JM Barrie's timeless classic, Peter Pan.

Peter Pan in Scarlet facts 

Publishers and literary agents worldwide were invited to put forward the names of up to two authors to be considered for the project.

Geraldine McCaughrean was the author chosen from a field of nearly 200 entries from around the world. It is published by Oxford University Press in the UK and McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster) in the US. It has been published in 40 editions worldwide and translated in 37 languages – to date. A fully illustrated edition, abridged for younger children, was published in October 2008 by Oxford University Press with stunning artwork by David Wyatt.

The story of Peter Pan in Scarlet

Set in the 1920s, the new story of Peter Pan in Scarlet offers readers high adventure, dramatic tension and all the swashbuckling, danger and derring-do they can handle. Neverland is calling again… Something is wrong in Neverland. Dreams are leaking out – strangely real dreams of pirates and mermaids, of warpaint and crocodiles. 

For Wendy and the Lost Boys it is a clear signal – Peter Pan needs their help, and so it is time to do the unthinkable and fly to Neverland again. But back in Neverland, everything has changed and the dangers they find there are far beyond their dreams..."

The Guardian Arts Review : Peter Pan in Scarlet
by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by David Wyatt 275pp, Oxford, £12.99

The official sequel to Peter Pan needs to be an exceptional book, and that's exactly what we have in Peter Pan in Scarlet. From the very first page, only the most stony-hearted, dyed-in-the-wool Peter Pan fan could fail to be charmed by Geraldine McCaughrean's lightness of touch, sureness of writing and sparkling imagination. When a proof copy of Peter Pan in Scarlet landed on my desk, I intended to have a quick peek before knuckling down to some writing of my own. As it was, I ended up reading the story from beginning to end.

JM Barrie's original 1904 Peter Pan was a play, which took a further seven years to appear in its definitive book form, Peter and Wendy. McCaughrean was chosen to write the sequel from around 200 submissions of sample chapters and synopses, in a competition devised both for publicity and financial reasons. In the UK, Peter Pan goes out of copyright in 2007 and the royalties that Barrie's creation has generated for the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children will cease overnight. By splitting the royalties for Peter Pan in Scarlet between author and hospital, it's hoped that Pan will continue to help sick children. For this reason alone, it would be understandable if Great Ormond Street had gone for glitzy, mass-market appeal. Instead, they have chosen a more sophisticated and subtle approach: a book of timeless charm. This truly commendable decision was probably made easier by the fact that McCaughrean's submission must have blown even its closest rival out of the water. Books such as this are as rare as fairy dust.

McCaughrean has been quoted as saying that she had to undo a few knots that Barrie had "cast off so very absolutely", but they have been undone very nimbly by a consummate professional. The play originally ended with the Darling children returning from Neverland to their nursery and to bed. Then, one February evening in 1908, an epilogue was performed: "An Afterthought". In it, Wendy has grown up and has a daughter of her own, named Jane. It is Jane, not Wendy, who then flies to Neverland. The epilogue also reveals the fate of the Lost Boys who came back to England with the Darlings, the men they came to be. These adult episodes later made their way into Peter and Wendy, the novel. McCaughrean could have chosen to disregard this afterthought, but instead, she has embraced it, making the Lost Boys the Old Boys and sticking to the careers Barrie gave them ... but she then has to make them boys again, and find a way of returning them to Neverland with Wendy. Judge Tootles somehow ends up a girl in the process, and it movingly transpires that Michael Darling was killed in the first world war (as was the real-life George Llewellyn Davies, the eldest of the brothers to whom Barrie told the original stories). Then there is the matter of Captain Hook, who - as a requirement of the Great Ormond Street competition - is not quite so dead after all.

The book is exciting and funny, with some very dark corners, though less casually violent than its predecessor, and it is all wrapped up in McCaughrean's wonderfully inventive language. The main themes involve clothes making the man - or in this case the boy - and in a very dangerous manner (in a story strand expanded from a paragraph near the close of Barrie's novel); and the fact that, like Holmes and Moriarty, Pan needs Hook and vice versa. Without there being even the faintest whiff of pastiche, McCaughrean has created a sequel so similar in tone and flavour to the original that they make a perfect matching pair. This is an extraordinary achievement.

A question which will, inevitably, be asked is whether this is more an adult than a children's book. The answer depends entirely on how you perceive the original Peter Pan, the two being so inexorably entwined. What McCaughrean has done is nothing short of miraculous. It's enough to make you believe in fairies."

I may have to re-read this to fully review it, but I think I found it tedious the first time around and did not empathise with the characters.

Neverpedia

Brilliant and very respectful website. Well worth a visit.

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Page reappraised : 26th January 2021 | Page refreshed & updated : 12th April 2021 (Page still under partial construction) (G)