Mr Mansfield, Tommy and Me.
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"And then the Ö÷²¥´óÐã rang ..." Following his death, Mr Mansfield's work on the life of Tommy Cooper is sent to the local library.
Transcript
"A Fez. Close fitting, dull, red hat. Shaped like a flower pot, with black tassel, mainly worn in Turkey.
Mr Mansfield was short apparently. Maybe he was the same height as me. 5 foot 1 and a half. We're in good company ... Napoleon was the same height and look how powerful he became.
I'm a librarian and, no, I haven't got a twin set and I definitely don't wear pearls. I have got my belly button pierced though and am seriously thinking about getting a tattoo.
Mr Mansfield was a local historian. He's dead now. I never met him but he's become really important to me. He collected information on Tommy Cooper. Tommy's from Caerphilly you know ... well, even if you didn't, Mr Mansfield sure did.
When he died - Mr Mansfield I mean, not Tommy - all his work got sent to the library, my library. The files just sat there for a long time; no one looked at them. Then one day I decided that I'd take a peek. What I discovered amazed and humbled me. Pages and pages of photographs; Christmas cards that Tommy had sent to his aunt in Caerphilly; birth certificates; death certificates; descriptions of magic tricks ... in fact, anything in this world that has a Tommy connection, I could pretty much guarantee you'll find it in Mr Mansfield's files.
I began to think what would have driven Mr Mansfield to create this homage to a man he obviously admired very much. And also I'd feel very sad, that no one, except for me and my boss, knew about it.
Suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, Channel Four rang. "Have you got anything on Tommy Cooper," I was asked. I could almost hear the Hallelujahs. "I certainly have," I replied "I've probably got the best Tommy resource in the whole wide world."
In my head, I spoke to Mr Mansfield. "Do you know what Jim," because over the years we've reached first name terms, "they're prepared to pay £150 to send Tommy to London and then another £150 to bring him back again."
Then the Ö÷²¥´óÐã rang.(Sound effect - choir singing 'Hallelujah') "Have you got anything on Tommy Cooper?"
"Jim, we're on a roll here," I thought. At some point, Mr Mansfield and I had become a team. In fact I add to his collection from time to time.
They're talking about putting a statue of Tommy in Caerphilly town now. And if they do, I'll take a picture and put it in Mr Mansfield's files ... and I'll avoid the temptation to say "Just like that!" "
An interview with the author
Please tell us a little about yourself
My name is Nicola Pitman - known as Nic (definitely NOT Nicky) and I'm a librarian and youth worker employed by Caerphilly Council. Socially, I salsa, smoke and have been known to sing karaoke (when enough vodka has been consumed) - preferably Elvis.
What's your story about?
A local historian called Mr Mansfield and his work on Tommy Cooper. I chose to tell this story because it's one of my obsessions (there are many!)
What did you find most rewarding about the workshop?
I enjoyed the whole thing!
Your comments
"I too knew Mr Mansfield (Jim) well and had the privilege of penning his tribute.He was quite a character himself and pursued his many interests,from vintage motor bikes,old cameras, Historical buildings/homes to Tommy Cooper with great vigour. His memory lives on at the White Cross Inn along with other characters from this unique hostelry."
Tim Arnold, Caerphilly, Wales.
