Thursday, August 03, 2017

Story of Uckfield man’s friendship with Rat Pack legend Dean Martin

Hey pallies, likes we are deeply delighted to share a third helpin' of Dino-devotion accentin' the August 1 primo posthumous publication of  Mr. Bernard Thorpe's (founder/president of "The Dean Martin Association") book, "JUST DINO: A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION OF DEAN MARTIN."
Mr. Thorpe resided in Lime Close, near the town of Uckfield, England and the pallies at the local online news pad, "UckfieldNews.com" have picked up the story and yesterday published the proud piece of prose, "Story of Uckfield man’s friendship with Rat Pack legend Dean Martin.

It's a remarkable read featurin' how Mr. Thorpe and our most beloved Dino teamed up and how Thorpe devoted decades of his life to helping promote our Dino's career.  The local news, of course, shares news of the recent publication of Bernard's volume on his relationship with our Dino by Bernard's son Elliot, himself a published author in his own right.  Likes, as you will note below, this fantastic feature includes  a picture of Bernard as well of one of himself, his wife, and his children.

Likes we find it fantastic that the local newspaper has picked up the story and lettin' their corner of the world know of Mr. Bernard's deep devotion to our Dino, as well as encouragin' their readership to gets them a copy of this terrific tome.  Thanks to the pallies at "UckfieldNews.com" for their immense interest in Mr. Thorpe and his awesome association with our one and only Dino, and for sharin' it via print media.  To checks this out in it's original source, likes simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-report.

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters




Rat Pack legend Dean Martin who valued the friendship of Uckfield man Bernard Thorpe. Picture courtesy Warner-Pathe.



Story of Uckfield man’s friendship with Rat Pack legend Dean Martin


A book about the friendship between an Uckfield man and the American actor, singer and Rat Pack legend Dean Martin was published this week.
The late Bernard Thorpe, who lived in Lime Close, started out watching Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movies when he lived in South London in the 50s, launched a world-wide fan club, with the singer’s blessing, in 1960, and was asked by ‘Dino’ to be its president.
Bernard H Thorpe
Bernard Thorpe, from Uckfield, who set up a worldwide fan club for Dean Martin and was invited by the star to become its president.
The two men were in close contact over the years with Bernard being instrumental in many of Dino’s albums releases in the UK and choosing the tracks to be included on ‘Best of” albums, one of which garnered a Gold Award for being a best seller.
Bernard, who died in 2015 aged 76, was a regular in Uckfield Post Office sending parcels of LPs and merchandise around the world on the star’s behalf.
Just Dino book cover
Just Dino, the new book about Dean Martin and his friendship with fan club president Bernard Thorpe of Uckfield.
Now those years, and the friendship between the star, who died in 1995, and the loyal Uckfield fan are recalled in a book by Elliot Thorpe, son of Bernard, based on a manuscript given to him by his father.
It is called Just Dino, A Personal Recollection of Dean Martin, and is published in Dino’s centenary year by Chinbeard Books.
It includes never-before-seen photos and letters of correspondence, as well as a comprehensive list of recordings and radio/film/television appearances.
Sadly Bernard’s widow Irene died last November and didn’t see the book published but she knew it would be and was pleased to know the memories were being preserved for posterity.
The whole family, including Elliot’s older sister Carole, who still lives in Uckfield, saw Dino in concert in 1983. The star performed in a run of ten shows at the Apollo and Bernard went to all of them spending time with Dino after each of them.
bernard-thorpe-family
Irene, Carole, Elliot and Bernard Thorpe pictured about five years ago. Bernard and Irene have since died.
Elliot said meeting the star was surreal. He was 12 at the time and was growing up with the singer always in the background of his life. Dino would phone up and speak to Bernard in the evenings about upcoming projects and new albums or films.
Elliot told Uckfield News: “We knew how famous he was, though he wasn’t as famous in the UK then as he is now. During the concert I mouthed the words all the way through, I knew them backwards. I knew what the introductions would be, and where the jokes would come.”
Elliot has published other books including short story anthologies, and horror stories. He also edits film scripts for productions.
Dr Who
He wrote a Dr Who episode for audio back in 2005 starring Colin Baker as the doctor and has been asked to potentially write another in 2018-19.
Elliot said that after his father died, he, his mum and his sister looked around at the Dean Martin memorabilia that had been amassed by Bernard over the years, and asked who would know the story if the book was never published.
Elliot added that If only the grandchildren could learn about it, and their grandfather, through the book then that was a good thing, but there are bound to be many Dino fans around the world who will find the story, and lists of recordings and appearances, of interest.

4 comments:

Always On Watch said...

Wow! Cool find DMP!

dino martin peters said...

Hey pallie, likes thanks youse very much Miss AOW..very cool indeed. Keeps lovin' our most beloved Dino!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for adding the article! Take a look here, too, http://deanmartinassociat.wixsite.com/officialdmasite/just-dino-book for radio interview and a promo video for the book!

dino martin peters said...

Mr. Thorpe, thanks so much for sendin' the link...as you knows, we have shared the promo vid here at ilovedinomartin, but we will work on sharin' your radio interviews as well. Right now, as you might expect, we are in the midst of many posts we hope to offer on the passin' of our most beloved Dino's most beloved partner Mr. Jerry Lewis. Keeps lovin' and sharin' our most beloved Dino!