jo’dp

(Dave. ‘Millward’ is spelt with two ‘L’s.)

John Webster was right Colin WAS the guvnor’. Even now, Alan Parker, David Puttnam and Charlie Saatchi still invoke his name when they talk about their successful careers. In my book he invented it all as far as London is concerned. Nearly all paths of good work in this town lead back to Colin one way or another.

Colin was a very good painter and I think that’s what he always wanted to do instead of being in advertising. I get the feeling he had no respect for it as it was in his opinion, full of fools.

I never worked under Colin, only John Salmon, but I am always told that he had impeccable taste and judgement. Colin set a standard for all to follow and even today old CDP press ads, posters and showreel still bare that out. (The reel is worth a watch Dave if you get a chance. It’ll make you weep but more out of frustration with today’s work rather than any sentimentality in the advertising.)

If you ever get to meet anyone who knew Colin they will always do the same impression of him. (Gordon must know it.) He spoke in a slow Yorkshire accent, (not unlike Brian Clough,) out the side of his mouth and always seemed to be biting a nail.

I found Colin more frightening than Frank. John Kelley and I met up with both Frank and Colin while in New York. (He had retired at this stage but was still a board member and was held in high esteem by the agency, especially by Frank.) We were doing voice-overs for Heineken with Victor Borge (I thought I would chuck that in to show how times have changed,) and Colin and Frank were on their way to Arizona to watch the filming of the Mike Cozens and Alan Waldie’s classic Benson and Hedges ‘Iguana’ commercial. We were all having a drink in the Twin Towers when Frank asked me a question about some casting we were doing on another job. I unfortunately gave a flippant answer like ‘I don’t know Frank?’ Colin jumped in and said “You should do young man, your paid enough” I thought he was joking but the look on his face said he wasn’t. Frank sniggered and turned his face away. (He loved it of course.) This was after spending a very convivial and entertaining lunch and afternoon with Colin. We had spent it wandering around the streets of Manhattan, visiting art galleries, discussing art and other highbrow things that I pretended to know about. I thought he was my mate. No way. Perhaps he saw through me and decided to give me a verbal slap. It worked. It kept me on my guard for the rest of the evening I can tell you. There is another story that Frank tells about how Colin would pretend not to remember your name. Apparently he always insisted on calling Judy Smith ‘Joyce’ even when he was by others and Judy.

One more. (There are loads.) Colin is also is reputedly to have responded to a client’s charge about an ad not being in good taste by pointing out “How can you talk about taste when you are wearing a tie like that!”

Despite the effect and influence Colin Millward had on advertising he never made a bean from the business. From what I know of the man he was quite a frugal and careful with the penny’s. (Remind you of anybody Dave?) I imagine that didn’t bother him much.

John O’D

(Dave. My Tim Delaney story I will tell when you write a blog that is relevant. I can assure it will be even longer than this one!)

(Anyway, you still haven’t told the Tim Delaney story.)