by Neil Baldwin
NEIL
Michelle and her family also came to see me as ‘Nello’ in Gandey’s Circus, where they met Malcolm, and Michelle and her friends also came to see me and Malcolm at St Mark’s church in Birkenhead. They are lovely people.
MALCOLM
Brian Jeeves took up writing about football late in life:
I, like millions of other TV viewers, have been completely transfixed by Peter Bowker’s portrayal of Neil in the wonderful film Marvellous. I analysed the film several times and on each occasion I saw something that had passed me by during previous viewings. Nevertheless, one line stood out above all others: ‘I wanted to be happy, so I decided to be.’
Could it really be that simple? This is quite an inspirational man we are dealing with and a ninety-minute film wasn’t going to be enough. I needed more. I simply had to meet him, so on a wing and a prayer I wrote to Nello c/o Stoke City Football Club, and within a week I had a reply waiting for me. So it was that I travelled up to Stoke on 1 November 2014, reporting on Stoke City versus West Ham United but, more important than that, meeting the famous Nello, who was sitting on the wall opposite the ticket office. I am not generally affected by nervousness, but as I approached I felt slightly in awe of this man before me.
Neil held court with almost every Potters fan that came our way. Perhaps it was blind faith, but each of them seemed lifted by his words of wisdom. Blimey, how I could have done with a Nello pep talk each week before watching my beloved but enormously frustrating Southend United, I thought.
Nello has led an enriched life which has taken many varied pathways. Sure, doors have opened along the way, but then again you make your own luck – from circus clown to film star via Stoke City kit man, of course. But rather than wallow in his own accomplishments Neil positively encourages folk to share in his optimistic aura, giving advice and unquestionably wanting people to find happiness, even if it means sharing his own with them.
Do things just happen for Neil or does he make them happen? Maybe if we could be all be a bit more like Neil life would be enhanced, we’d be happy and all get along better. But then again, could anyone else be like him? After all, there’s only one Neil Baldwin!
Brian’s visit to meet Neil had a further spin-off. He told Neil about a friend of his, Rev. Alex Summers, who had been undergoing hospital treatment for heart problems. Neil tried to contact Alex, having told Brian, ‘I’ll go to visit him.’ Alex takes up the story:
I was so touched that he was willing to travel to visit someone who he had never met and who was unwell that I decided I should honour him by visiting him. I was moved by him showing concern and keeping me in his prayers. It was one of the most poignant films I have ever seen, so lovely, but also so ordinary. Neil is the kind of person who could have been discarded by society, but has touched so many lives.
When I went to see him to say thank you for his concern, it almost felt like a pilgrimage. I felt like I had known Neil all my life. And I think there is a real sense in which everyone who watches the film feels they know him. I’ll never be as selfless as he is and I find him to be a wonderfully inspiring person.
When I visited him at Keele he took me to the Vice-Chancellor’s office. When I visit hospitals, the dog collar almost gives you permission to go where I want to. It felt like that with Neil at Keele – by being Neil he could go anywhere and everyone knew him.
‘Pilgrimage’ seems an appropriate word to describe these journeys to meet Neil.
NEIL
Brian and Alex are lovely people. Brian has written some good books about football which he kindly sent to me. It is always great to meet a fellow minister of God.
Did you know I was treated to £25 worth of Wrights pie vouchers after being randomly photographed tucking in to one of their lovely pies at the Britannia Stadium, during our exciting 2–2 draw with West Ham? That was a real piece of luck, although my mum wouldn’t have thought much of it. She probably wouldn’t have let me eat them.
And another thing. When the general election came round, our local MPs were really glad I was a Labour man. Paul Farrelly in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Tristram Hunt in Stoke Central both asked me to endorse them for their election leaflets. I’ve seen Tristram’s leaflet – very good it was too. I was glad, after all my time at Keele, to be able to help Labour’s education spokesman.
MALCOLM
Everything’s changed, yet nothing’s changed. Neil Baldwin is the same man I met all those years ago in 1964 who said ‘Welcome to Keele. I’m Neil Baldwin.’ He goes to the same places, talks to the same people, works in the same way. More people know about it, that’s all.
Jonathan Hughes, whom we last met in the late 1990s, when he was rather hoping Neil could fix him a trial with Stoke City, sees that very clearly. He says:
After leaving Keele in 2000, I didn’t give Neil a huge amount of thought until I watched Marvellous with my wife.
It was probably three months after watching the film that a Norwegian friend of mine visited with his partner and as part of the itinerary we arranged to go down to Keele with a few of our old mates to have a bit of a reminisce. Having parked up in the car park outside the Union we walked straight through the doors to an almost unrecognisable building. With one exception… Neil sat at one of the tables having his lunch. I couldn’t believe it.
NEIL
Pete Bowker and I went to Lambeth Palace for the Sandford St Martin religious broadcasting awards ceremony. Marvellous didn’t win this one, but we came a very good second, and I got lots of autographs and pictures from people like the Bishop of Leeds.
Malcolm and I went to Gresley FC for their end-of-season awards dinner. I had to present a new award called the ‘Clown of the Dressing Room’ to the player who had contributed most to dressing room spirit. They made us both honorary vice-presidents, and gave us a club badge and tie.
I also went to the official Stoke City end-of-season awards dinner and got ‘Fan of the Season.’
MALCOLM
I didn’t go to that one, and neither did most of Neil’s friends, because the tickets cost £300 pus VAT – it’s targeted at corporate sponsors, not ordinary fans. Stoke City must be the only club where you can buy a season ticket for a lot less than a ticket to the awards dinner.
NEIL
Lots of good things are happening. The Stoke City Old Boys Association, the organisation of former players of Stoke City, has made me its president. Leek Ladies FC has also made me its president. I’m off to another concert by Beatie Wolf in Liverpool and the Bishop of Birkenhead is coming too. I’ve been asked to appear as a vicar in the TV programme Granchester. In September 2015 I’ll be filming Songs of Praise for BBC TV with Aled Jones. I’m sure he will be looking forward to meeting me.
And I’m working on plans for my seventieth birthday party next year. I haven’t decided what they’ll be yet. But it’ll be a very good party. You can be sure of that.
AFTERWORD
By Francis Beckett
I usually avoid watching the BAFTAs on television. There’s something smug and patronising about the film industry congratulating itself in public. And you always know that what you’re allowed to watch, glittering and expensive though it is, is only a foretaste of the real party to come, when we sans culottes have been sent to our suburban beds.
But I made an exception on 10 May 2015, when the film about Neil Baldwin, Marvellous, was up for three awards: Best Single Drama, Best Leading Actor (Toby Jones as Neil) and Best Supporting Actress (Gemma Jones as Mary Baldwin, Neil’s mother). I knew that Neil, Malcolm and Lou Macari were to be there with the cast and crew, and there was always the chance of getting a glimpse of Neil hovering near the camera, just as there is every year when you watch the Boat Race on television.
And I felt I had a stake in it. If I hadn’t profiled Neil in The Guardian, the film would never have been made. A lifetime of writing and journalism, seventeen books, more newspaper features than I can count, and I don’t think I’ve ever written anythin
g that had such far-reaching results.
That afternoon, Neil and Malcolm travelled down to London and went to the ‘boutique hotel’ that the film company had booked them into, looked around the luxuriously quirky book-lined bedrooms, and wondered what was in the ‘Love Box’ they could buy for £25. ‘Is it cigars in there?’ asked Neil, but it turned out only to be fair-trade condoms, massage lotion, lubricant and vibe couples rings, so they passed on it.
Malcolm, Neil and Lou went on to the Drury Lane Theatre and joined the cast and crew. Watching at home, I cheered spontaneously when Gemma Jones won. If anyone ever deserved an acting award, she did. She had got inside the skin of her character.
Toby Jones just missed out on Best Actor – he was up against some very strong competition. And then there was the big one: Best Single Drama. The tension was unbearable. Malcolm told me, ‘It’s worse than a penalty shootout in a football final.’ Then they heard the words ‘…and the winner is absolutely…’ and they thought something else had won, but then they heard, ‘…Marvellous.’ The leading members of the cast and the production and creative team, and Neil and Malcolm and Lou, walked onto the platform.
Writer Peter Bowker made a short, graceful speech. ‘The film is a celebration about the positive contribution everyone can make. It’s a celebration of diversity and community and the spirit of optimism. These are values worth fighting for, more so now than ever.’ Peter was as horrified by the general election result three days earlier as I was, and as I know Neil was, and he was determined to say so: ‘Thank you, BAFTA. At least one vote went the right way this week.’
But, towards the end of his speech, I could see what was about to happen – and the rising panic Peter must be feeling. Most viewers would not have realised, but everyone who has known Neil over the years could tell the signs. Neil was making it clear to Peter that he wanted to speak; and Peter was thinking, ‘This is live television, we have to be really disciplined and keep it short – what’s going to happen if I let Neil get to the microphone?’
But he had to make an instant decision. He said, ‘And it won’t surprise anyone that Neil would like to say a word.’ Not for the first time, everyone underestimated Neil. He was as tight and disciplined as any professional, and less self-indulgent than most.
He said, ‘I would like to thank everyone in Marvellous for how great it was. I would also like to thank my friends at Keele University, my football team, and Phil Bruce. It’s been great to be here and I thank the Lord. And, I’m very pleased that the queen is still going strong.’
And, somehow, that legitimised the whole tinselly show, for hundreds of people. Stoke City supporters, Keele University graduates and staff, Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race enthusiasts (especially Cambridge ones), circus clowns and performers, curates and vicars and bishops – they all felt for the first time that they owned a piece of the BAFTAs.
The television coverage ended and the stars and presenter Graham Norton went on to their real celebration: dinner and a party at the splendid Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. Neil told everyone he met, ‘We won – I always said we would’ – which is true, he did, and he had his picture taken with the award and got everyone to sign his menu.
At 3 a.m. he went to bed, and at 7.15 a.m. Lou Macari’s mobile rang. It was BBC Radio Stoke. Would Lou please go along the corridor of his hotel and wake Neil, so that the radio station could interview him? No, said Lou understandably grumpily, and went back to sleep. A while later, Neil rose, ready to deal with the media, and ITN turned up to interview him while he was having breakfast.
On the way back to Stoke, Malcolm told him that, with the last game of the season coming up at Stoke, they might want him to go on the pitch and be cheered by the fans. ‘I won’t be there,’ said Neil. ‘I’ve promised to preach at Crick.’ And he wasn’t, despite the fact that Toby Jones was there as a guest of honour and was interviewed on the pitch. That’s Neil. Yes, he loves glittering occasions, he loves celebrity and glamour, but he keeps them in proportion. If he has promised to do something, then it doesn’t matter how glittering the subsequent invitation may be, he won’t let people down.
Wearing a replica 1972 Stoke City League Cup winner’s shirt signed by members of the winning team.
Enjoying a sunny day in Neil’s grandparents’ garden with Uncle Morris and his cousin Brenda.
Mary and Aunt Iris with Neil and Brenda in one of Neil’s favourite spots: outside a circus in New Brighton.
A young Neil with his family at Aunt Iris’s wedding.
Neil almost takes centre-stage at another happy family event – cousin Denise’s wedding.
Mary, wearing a Keele scarf, with Helen Trigg on the boat race launch in 1977.
Mary with close friends Helen, Irene and Vic in 1975.
Mary with Neil, wearing Malcolm’s PhD robes in 1977. Nowadays, Neil can wear his own Keele robes.
Mary with her beloved dog, Jessie.
Neil with Jessie outside Mary’s caravan.
A reflective Nello between performances.
Nello and Malcolm in 1981, with daughters Zara and Zoe, outside Neil’s caravan.
Neil visiting Swiss circus KNIE in 2006.
Antics in the dressing room, years before Neil was the kit man: Nello tries to cheer up manager Alan Durban and the players (Jeff Cook, Ray Evans, Peter Hampton and Paul Bracewell).
Inset: The business card says it all!
‘Lord Baldwin’ with Lou (front right), Winnie and Chic Bates (at rear), and players (left to right) Tony Kelly, Vince Overson, Lee Sandford, Dave Regis, Carl Beeston and Kevin Russell.
Neil and Winnie kidnap George Andrews, who was meant to be on air.
Neil at home in the laundry at the Victoria Ground.
Neil and the party enjoy a drink in Venice before the Anglo-Italian cup game.
Neil – wearing Lou’s top – with the Stoke City youth team in France.
Neil in his Ninja Turtle outfit at Leyton with his friend the late Jonathan Macari.
The ‘chicken’ at Bournemouth with a bemused Malcolm and Zara in the background.
NBFC away at Rocester in 2014. Brad is in the back row, third from right.
The match programme from Neil’s testimonial match in March 2000. Kevin Keegan’s letter to Neil was printed inside.
Another unstoppable penalty from the inspirational player-manager.
Gordon Banks leads out his All-Stars team at Newcastle Town for the game against NBFC.
Famous footballers Joey Barton, Robbie Fowler, David James and Steve McManaman join Neil on an official NBFC Christmas card.
Neil greets England and Stoke City legend Peter Shilton in his Derby County days.
Winnie and footballer Simon Sturridge give Neil his leaving present on the pitch at the Britannia Stadium.
Captain Neil with referee Uriah Rennie, officials and opposing captain Chic Bates.
Neil and Uriah at the post-match presentation with Chic Bates looking on.
Neil and the Bishop in the procession in Keele chapel for Neil’s forty years’ thanksgiving service. Malcolm is in shot bottom left.
The Bishop of Leeds adds his signature to Neil’s Bible in 2015.
Malcolm applauds Neil and Mike Sheron on the naming of ‘Baldwin’s Bar’.
Malcolm compères ‘This Is Your Life Neil Baldwin’ for a modest Neil.
John Easom makes a telling contribution at a celebration for Neil, with Malcolm looking on.
Neil’s order of service, signed by innumerable bishops, all of whom are ‘very good friends’.
Peter Coates, Stoke City FC Chairman, joins Neil in endorsing local Labour candidate Tristram Hunt in the 2015 General Election.
Neil, Malcolm and Lesley celebrating on Neil’s honorary degree day.
A proud day for Neil as Professor Nick Foskett, Keele Vice-Chancellor, awards Neil his honorary degree.
Neil sings a duet with Beatie Wolfe at Hayfield.
Midlands Today film part of the ‘Neil Baldwin choir�
�� from Marvellous in Fenton Community Centre, Stoke.
Neil shares a joke with Peter Bowker during the filming of Marvellous.
Neil prepares the flock of sheep which, as a Freeman of Stoke-on-Trent, he is now entitled to drive through the city.