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Clown and kit man: BBC film captures Neil 'Nello' Baldwin | Clown and kit man: BBC film captures Neil 'Nello' Baldwin |
(35 minutes later) | |
Speaking to Neil Baldwin, you would be forgiven for thinking him something of a Walter Mitty character. | Speaking to Neil Baldwin, you would be forgiven for thinking him something of a Walter Mitty character. |
His tales of joining the circus, becoming Stoke City FC's kit man, being awarded an honorary degree, and having a film made about him seem somewhat unlikely for a man who grew up with learning difficulties. | His tales of joining the circus, becoming Stoke City FC's kit man, being awarded an honorary degree, and having a film made about him seem somewhat unlikely for a man who grew up with learning difficulties. |
But there is one significant difference between Mr Mitty and Mr Baldwin. Mr Baldwin's stories are true. | But there is one significant difference between Mr Mitty and Mr Baldwin. Mr Baldwin's stories are true. |
The film - a BBC Two fact-based drama due to be released later this year called Marvellous - is itself the latest in a long line of the extraordinary events it documents. | |
It came about when the writer, Peter Bowker, best known for the BBC comedy Blackpool, read about Mr Baldwin in an article in the Guardian. | It came about when the writer, Peter Bowker, best known for the BBC comedy Blackpool, read about Mr Baldwin in an article in the Guardian. |
That piece was written by an alumnus of Keele University - where Mr Baldwin has been well-known on campus for the past 54 years. | That piece was written by an alumnus of Keele University - where Mr Baldwin has been well-known on campus for the past 54 years. |
"I immediately felt compelled to meet him," Mr Bowker said. | "I immediately felt compelled to meet him," Mr Bowker said. |
"I have long been interested in how we use labels to limit the people we are describing - even, at worse, to dehumanise them. | "I have long been interested in how we use labels to limit the people we are describing - even, at worse, to dehumanise them. |
"Neil - despite being labelled and to some extent written off as a young man - struck me as a man who defied those who wished to define him," said Mr Bowker after meeting him. | "Neil - despite being labelled and to some extent written off as a young man - struck me as a man who defied those who wished to define him," said Mr Bowker after meeting him. |
Mr Baldwin, from Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, has links to Keele University dating back to his early childhood when his mother worked there as a cleaner. | Mr Baldwin, from Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, has links to Keele University dating back to his early childhood when his mother worked there as a cleaner. |
First fascinated by the university chapel his mother cleaned, at the age of 14 he turned up unannounced in a college common room. | First fascinated by the university chapel his mother cleaned, at the age of 14 he turned up unannounced in a college common room. |
Now, at the age of 68, he visits nearly every day. | Now, at the age of 68, he visits nearly every day. |
He is the manager, coach, kit man and captain of the Neil Baldwin Football Club - not the official university team - and until now has won Player of the Year every season. | |
However, his playing days are now over as he has had one hip replacement and is awaiting another. | However, his playing days are now over as he has had one hip replacement and is awaiting another. |
Mr Baldwin even has an honorary degree for "offering advice and support to students and remaining steadfastly proud and loyal to Keele". | Mr Baldwin even has an honorary degree for "offering advice and support to students and remaining steadfastly proud and loyal to Keele". |
Now living on government benefits, as a young man Mr Baldwin had an unskilled job in the Staffordshire Potteries. | |
But when a circus came to town in the 1980s - in circumstances that are somewhat unclear - he joined up as "Nello the clown" - a nickname he retained. | |
"I used to do an act where I threw an egg up to the top of the tent and got it to land and break on my head, used to get a great laugh," he said. | "I used to do an act where I threw an egg up to the top of the tent and got it to land and break on my head, used to get a great laugh," he said. |
He parted from the circus when it was on tour in Scotland, and returned to Stoke-on-Trent. | He parted from the circus when it was on tour in Scotland, and returned to Stoke-on-Trent. |
The next stage of his career began when the then manager of Stoke City, Lou Macari, noticed Mr Baldwin waiting outside the club "pretty much every day". | |
The two became friendly, and Macari - who Mr Baldwin describes as "a very nice man" - thought he was so entertaining he would be good for morale in the locker room - so he moved him inside and gave him the job of kit man. | The two became friendly, and Macari - who Mr Baldwin describes as "a very nice man" - thought he was so entertaining he would be good for morale in the locker room - so he moved him inside and gave him the job of kit man. |
A filmed interview with Macari at the end of the 1992-93 season shows Mr Baldwin wandering on to the pitch, and in front of the camera, dressed as a Scotsman. Neither Macari nor the journalist can control their laughter. | |
"Neil was the best signing I ever made, worth his weight in gold," says Macari. | "Neil was the best signing I ever made, worth his weight in gold," says Macari. |
"All the players bounced off him and a lot of our success was down to the atmosphere he created in the dressing room." | "All the players bounced off him and a lot of our success was down to the atmosphere he created in the dressing room." |
Mr Baldwin even played for the club in ex-England player Gordon Cowan's testimonial match at Villa Park - in a plan cooked up by Macari, the players and the referee. He was sent on five minutes before the end of the game as a 12th player. | Mr Baldwin even played for the club in ex-England player Gordon Cowan's testimonial match at Villa Park - in a plan cooked up by Macari, the players and the referee. He was sent on five minutes before the end of the game as a 12th player. |
He once dined at the House of Commons after turning up unannounced and putting a card through to Labour left-winger Tony Benn, simply saying that he was a friend of his son Stephen Benn, who was studying at Keele University at the time. | |
Mr Baldwin's friend, Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, said Mr Baldwin had "absolutely no self-consciousness". | Mr Baldwin's friend, Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, said Mr Baldwin had "absolutely no self-consciousness". |
He added: "It means that whatever Neil wants to do, he will. | He added: "It means that whatever Neil wants to do, he will. |
"He has turned up at the houses of members of the clergy and they have invited him in for tea; if he saw David Cameron across the street he would have no hesitation in going to talk to him." | "He has turned up at the houses of members of the clergy and they have invited him in for tea; if he saw David Cameron across the street he would have no hesitation in going to talk to him." |
Mr Baldwin said his favourite meeting was with Prince Edward. | Mr Baldwin said his favourite meeting was with Prince Edward. |
"I went to his room at Cambridge [University] and knocked on his door. I thought there would be policemen on the other side, but there wasn't. | "I went to his room at Cambridge [University] and knocked on his door. I thought there would be policemen on the other side, but there wasn't. |
"He invited me in and we drank sherry." | "He invited me in and we drank sherry." |
The film is described by producers as "the beautiful, funny, true story of Neil Baldwin, a man who confounds our expectations". | |
There are, though, painful scenes, showing Mr Baldwin's mother Mary trying to prepare her son for her death, making sure he would be able to look after himself. | There are, though, painful scenes, showing Mr Baldwin's mother Mary trying to prepare her son for her death, making sure he would be able to look after himself. |
His mother made him move into his own flat and taught him how to go shopping. | His mother made him move into his own flat and taught him how to go shopping. |
Mr Bowker added: "It struck me if there was going to be a drama about Neil then it had to reflect his fluid and eccentric story. | Mr Bowker added: "It struck me if there was going to be a drama about Neil then it had to reflect his fluid and eccentric story. |
"It is, therefore, part-biopic, part-musical, part-fantasy. | "It is, therefore, part-biopic, part-musical, part-fantasy. |
"It isn't always an easy story. It isn't sugar-coated, but I think it is ultimately optimistic and celebratory." | |
Mr Clarke recalls how Mr Baldwin once told a group of friends he was "really good mates" with former England manager Kevin Keegan. | Mr Clarke recalls how Mr Baldwin once told a group of friends he was "really good mates" with former England manager Kevin Keegan. |
"They humoured him but didn't really believe him," said Mr Clarke. | "They humoured him but didn't really believe him," said Mr Clarke. |
"But when we got to the ground there was Kevin Keegan with his arm round Neil chatting away to him like a long-lost relative." | "But when we got to the ground there was Kevin Keegan with his arm round Neil chatting away to him like a long-lost relative." |
He added: "People think he's a fantasist but he actually turns his fantasies into reality." | He added: "People think he's a fantasist but he actually turns his fantasies into reality." |
There can be a very fine line between telling amusing stories about someone and making fun of them. | There can be a very fine line between telling amusing stories about someone and making fun of them. |
But Mr Clarke said that when it comes to Mr Baldwin, that line is difficult to cross. | |
"Whatever happens, Neil triumphs," he said. | "Whatever happens, Neil triumphs," he said. |
"And you can see it in this film, too - there is no doubt that Neil emerges as the winner. | |
"Everyone goes on about how Neil gets everywhere," Mr Baldwin concludes of himself. | "Everyone goes on about how Neil gets everywhere," Mr Baldwin concludes of himself. |
"And he does. And I'm glad I do because it is a fantastic life." | "And he does. And I'm glad I do because it is a fantastic life." |