Besides the great success of Chariots of Fire, Colin will be remembered for his realistic portrayal of Constable David Graham on the tv series Z Cars. But for those of us who connect with Billy Elliot, it has to be his role as the sympathetic Mr Farthing in the incredible film, Kes, which must be considered the nearest precursor to Billy Elliot the Film. (Had circumstances allowed, Colin would have made a great George in that film - if not Dad).
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He was also screenwriter for the 1995 film War of the Buttons.
He remained honest to his working class background: an honest Labour member who never forgot his roots:
But above all, he was a man of the people.He remained a solid Labour man even in the party’s darkest periods, when he scripted a series of stirring party political broadcasts for Neil Kinnock, designed to emphasise the leader’s strength of character. He was never slow to voice his political opinions, reserving particular spleen for “that clown” Margaret Thatcher and for the police, whom he considered Right-wing and racist.
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