People from Broadstairs - Edward Heath, Thomas Russell Crampton, Richard Rodney Bennett, Bruce Robinson, Tom Pendry, Baron Pendry (Paperback)

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Edward Heath, Thomas Russell Crampton, Richard Rodney Bennett, Bruce Robinson, Tom Pendry, Baron Pendry, Jennifer Vyvyan, John Cockett, Ian Clarke, Lionel Johnson, Matt Corker, Ronald James Marsh. Excerpt: Bruce Robinson Bruce Robinson (born 2 May 1946(1946-05-02)) is an English director, screenwriter, novelist and actor. He is arguably most famous for his work on the cult classic Withnail and I, a film with comic and tragic elements, set in London during the 1960s. As an actor, he has worked with the likes of Franco Zeffirelli (on whom he based the character of Uncle Monty in Withnail and I ), Ken Russell and Franois Truffaut . In 1998, he returned to acting with a cameo in the 70s rock rival film Still Crazy . Robinson currently lives in Herefordshire with his wife, Sophie Windham, and their two children, Lily (b. 1986) and Willoughby (b. 1994). Career Bruce Robinson was born in Broadstairs in Kent . In his youth, Robinson dreamed of being an actor and was admitted to the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. His first film role was as Benvolio in Franco Zeffirelli 's film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet (1968). He eventually became disenchanted with acting after spending several years out of work and living on social security payments and began writing screenplays. He was soon commissioned by David Puttnam to write the screenplay for The Killing Fields (1984). Robinson was nominated for an Academy Award and won a BAFTA for his work. However, he is perhaps best known as the creative force behind the film Withnail and I (1987). Loosely autobiographical, he based the film on his time as a struggling out-of-work actor . For instance, the character 'Withnail' is reportedly based on his friend, Vivian MacKerrell, whilst the character 'I' (Marwood), on himself. Though u...