In this YTV documentary, Michael Clegg recounts the work of two well-known writers, Leo Walmsley and Bram Stoker, as he visits Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby, the places which inspired their work.  As Clegg unearths the stories behind their work, the documentary shows excerpts from two films, ‘Turn of the Tide (1935), based on Walmsley’s novel ‘Three Fevers’, and ‘Scars of Dracula’ (1970). Michael Clegg is standing on the roof of the Ravenhall Hotel at Ravenscar.  He gives a brief history of...

In this YTV documentary, Michael Clegg recounts the work of two well-known writers, Leo Walmsley and Bram Stoker, as he visits Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby, the places which inspired their work.  As Clegg unearths the stories behind their work, the documentary shows excerpts from two films, ‘Turn of the Tide (1935), based on Walmsley’s novel ‘Three Fevers’, and ‘Scars of Dracula’ (1970). Michael Clegg is standing on the roof of the Ravenhall Hotel at Ravenscar.  He gives a brief history of the coast in that region which was invaded by the Romans and then the Vikings as well as a history of the eighteenth-century Hotel.  Moving down the hill at Robin Hood’s Bay, Clegg states that the author Leo Walmsley (who lived there) wrote his book ‘So Many Loves’ from the point of view of his father who was an artist.  Walking through the village, Clegg describes his work as “faction,” mixing fact and fiction, and mentions Leo Walmsley was coy about his fictional place of Bramblewick being really Robin Hood’s Bay.  Clegg wanders along the bay and up King Street to where Leo Walmsley used to live.  There is a plaque marking the house.  He gives a brief biography of Leo Walmsley and an overview of the books he wrote, noting that his major interest were marine life and geology, both of which he could study at Robin Hood’s Bay.   This is followed by an excerpt from the film ‘Turn of the Tide’ which was adapted from Leo Walmsley’s book, ‘Three Fevers’.  From the back of the houses where Leo Walmsley lived, Clegg then points to the view over the Bay.  He walks along the beach, with the tide coming in, looking out for the kinds of things that Walmsley would look for – fossils and for marine creatures among the rocks – near the Leeds University Marine Laboratory where Walmsley worked for a while.   As a segue to the next segment, Clegg appears eating a crab sandwich on the balcony of the Bay Hotel.  The programme moves to Whitby where Clegg explains that Bram Stoker was inspired to write the novel Dracula having, “eaten too much dressed crab.”  Overlooking Whitby Harbour, Clegg explains the background to the novel.  There is then an excerpt from the film ‘Scars of Dracula’, in which Christopher Lee bites into the neck of Jenny Hanley.  Clegg gives a brief account of the vampire legend.   Standing underneath the whalebone in Whitby, Clegg gives a brief account of whaling in the area.  He moves onto the statue of Captain Cooke where he again provides a brief background.  In the graveyard of St Mary’s Church, Clegg runs through the plot of Stoker’s novel, Dracula.  This is followed by more extensive footage from the film ‘Scars of Dracula.’ Next inside St Mary’s Church, Clegg talks about the furnishings.  From there he walks around the ruins of the Abbey, again providing a history, and rhetorically asking where the graves are of the famous people who are buried there.  Finally, Clegg is back on the beach as he concludes the episode and overview of the two well-known writers.  The show ends as a frogman emerges from the waves. Clegg’s People is introduced by Michael Clegg Title Music – Robert Hartley Graphics – Trevor Hodgson Production assistant – Christine Sharman Camera – Mostafa Hammuri Sound – Chris Clarkson, Alan Bedwood Film Editor – Brian Tomkins Executive producer – Frank Smith