Wales-Japan
Connections as a tribute to Robert Hollingsworth
A recent post by Yuri Minamide reminded me of my own Wales-Japan connection. Years ago, around 1984, I wrote and directed a theatrical show to launch the (then) new Nissan Laurel.
The whole event was based at the St Pierre Country Club near Chepstow as the Japanese managers were very keen to play golf on their visit to the UK. The show also celebrated the name change from Datsun to Nissan. The show was principally aimed at UK dealers now supplied direct from the parent company rather than through the UK concessionary company owned by Octav Botnar1, that was based in Worthing. It was also around the time that Nissan committed the Thatcher government to open a factory in Sunderland, now the biggest car production plant in Britain.
It was also around the time I was acting as a communications consultant to British Shipbuilders, making films and communications materials. Sadly the Thatcher government in its wisdom decided to close the Austin & Pickersgill yard – one of Europe’s most modern and efficient shipyards in, you’ve guessed it, Sunderland.
The show was great fun to write and develop with a series of scenes: a visit to a gallery where a young couple admired the modern designs of Nissan’s cars; a Welsh male voice choir; a solo performance by a Welsh harpist; an interview with key executives; and the obligatory ‘reveal’ of the new car and brand logo as the climax of the show.2
Minutes before the car was due to be revealed - arriving on stage as if by magic carried on a hidden turntable trolley on rails – one of the wheels of the trolley seized. Backstage my producer Robert Hollingsworth, a proficient technician himself who drove a Lotus Elan he cared for lovingly, dived down beside the trolley. Seconds before the cue for the car to arrive on stage and pirouette to the audience, Robert managed to unfreeze the guilty wheel and it all went very smoothly. No one was aware of how close to disaster we had come except for an older Nissan director who was waiting in the wings to come on to deliver the keynote speech. I noticed he was a bit sweaty when he appeared. Afterwards he explained how concerned he had been and how impressed he was that Robert3 saved the day.
‘Mr Horringworth,’ he said. ‘Very cool.’
Didn’t he do well? The £3.75 billion foundation bearing his name was set up by his wife in memory of their disabled daughter. It now supports young people around the world.
Years later again, I worked for a different agency on the launch of the bubble-car-shaped new Nissan Micra in Barcelona presented by Tiff Needel.
Sadly Robert died in December 2005. I miss him.
Hi John. Learning about your collaboration with Nissan put a smile on my face. Troubles are curious things. We remember those moments vividly long afterwards, and they become fun topics😉