For those of you who remember Paul, I done my first Knock Knock today.
This isn't something I would normally do but a friend who had met him previously gave me the heads up that he is really receptive to it.
Patrick Jordan will be 95 years old next week (as he took great pride in telling me) and doesn't really get out of his cottage hence doesn't reply to TTM requests.
Initially I was having trouble finding his cottage but saw an old man walking his dog about to enter a cottage that I thought might be the right one. I asked if it was him, it wasn't but he was on his way to see him so told me to follow, he asked why I was there and when I told him he laughed, saying that Paddy will be thrilled to see me.
As we entered the cottage he told Paddy he had a fan here to see him and he immediately seemed to perk up, turned his radio off and stood up to shake my hand. The other Gentleman left us alone and I spent just over half an hour with him.
It was a small cottage and a tiny living space, made smaller by having his bed in the front room. The room was half full of VHS tapes and he had an old fashioned TV and Video recorder which I am guessing get a lot of use.
He seemed to really enjoy seeing and signing my photos, commenting on the other people in the photos and saying he shocked he is that he has out lived most of them. He went on to tell me some stories about his brother in the army, proudly showed me a photo of his Great Granddaughter and then got out a folder of stills from various films he had been in, again taking the time to tell me he had out lived most of his co stars. He also talked a little about his time with the Old Vic Theatre group.
Upon leaving he wished me well and told me to have a nice life. After being apprehensive about going I'm really glad that I did as I genuinely feel that he loved telling his stories and having some company, albeit for a short while. It truly was an honor to meet him.
I didn't ask for a photo with him as I felt it would have been inappropriate as he was in his dressing gown. I was glad I didn't take too many photos as it wasn't easy for him to sign and he kept apologising for his handwriting.
I think I'm going to send him a Birthday card, also thanking him for his time and sharing his memories.
Sorry for the long story, here are the photos he signed:
