Fans want car park renamed after celebrated writer (From Watford Observer)
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Fans want car park renamed after celebrated writer
2:14pm Saturday 25th April 2009 in
Fans of the late author JG Ballard are proposing to rename a Watford town centre car park in his honour.
The science-fiction writer, who died on April 19, was famed for his dystopian fiction and two of his best known works – Crash and Empire of the Sun – were brought to the big screen by directors David Cronenberg and Steven Spielberg respectively.
Ballard was reputedly a fan of Church car park because of its distinctive design with swirling ramp and criss-cross facade, and he once referred to Watford as “the Mecca of multi-storey car parks”. Scenes in Crash were also filmed in car parks across the town.
Steve Bowbrick, a blogger for BBC Radio 4, is now campaigning to rename the building after the writer.
The father-of-three, from Park Road, Radlett, said: “He's such an important figure and he's grown more so over the years. There's presently little literary interest in Watford. It doesn't come up very often. I just really enjoy the fact I have parked in that car park hundreds of times and I quite like it as well.
“I have always enjoyed JG Ballard and his off-beat take on suburban life. Car parks always have such boring names and it would be a prime reminder of the fella's importance.
“As a writer, he was really interested in not the mainstream but the edges of life. Wouldn't it be a brilliant way to remember him? There's a real cult around him.
“He would have loved the joke about naming somewhere like a car park about a famous author.”
Do you think the car park should be renamed after JG Ballard? Leave a comment below.
Comments(22)
Roy Stockdill
says...
7:19pm Sat 25 Apr 09
As Steve Bowbrick says, Watford is not exactly noted for its famous literati or for the literary appreciation of its inhabitants. In fact, I cannot offhand think of a single writer who came from this town, unless you count Michael Bentine who was far better-known as a comedian and actor, but who did also write several books.
I wonder, though, whether many people would want a multi-storey car park named after them? Not exactly romantic, is it?
DavidF
says...
8:18pm Sat 25 Apr 09
Mike Ribble
says...
9:34am Sun 26 Apr 09
Many Watford streets are named after people significant to the town but they are soon forgotten. It was only about 25 years ago that Ted Amey died and how many remember him now?
Roy Stockdill
says...
10:26am Sun 26 Apr 09
Mike Ribble wrote:Lots of criminals have written their memoirs but I cannot think of any that would be called a great work of literature, least of all Nick Leeson's!
Nick Leeson's auto biography, Rogue Trader, was quite widely read and made into a film but perhaps was not a great work of literature. Many Watford streets are named after people significant to the town but they are soon forgotten. It was only about 25 years ago that Ted Amey died and how many remember him now?
As for Ted Amey, I expect the residents of Edward Amey Close, just off Cow Lane, Garston, cannot help but be reminded of him, though how many actually knew who he was I could not say.
Shall we just give thanks that at least no-one has yet suggested naming a road after those other Watford "luminaries", Terry Scott and Geri Halliwell?
Chris40
says...
4:09pm Sun 26 Apr 09
Roy Stockdill
says...
5:24pm Sun 26 Apr 09
Chris40 wrote:It had nothing to do with me. I assume the moderator deleted it because it was offensive and obscene.
Thanks for getting my comment deleted Stockdill. If you can't take it, don't give it out!
When you grow up and learn to understand the difference between robust debate and gratuitous personal insults, then I am sure your posts will be allowed to remain.
Unfortunately, they are frequently too juvenile and objectionable. You seem utterly incapable of differentiating between conducting a civilised debate and making personal and offensive attacks on someone with whom you disagree.
I would draw your attention to the statement immediately below the security word box about not posting anything false, abusive or malicious. It really could not be clearer.
Sweet Dreams
says...
8:05am Mon 27 Apr 09
Vinnie Jones has an autobiography.
And i remember Councillor Amey he live in Maytree Crescent.
Sweet Dreams
says...
8:08am Mon 27 Apr 09
Chris40
says...
8:33am Mon 27 Apr 09
Roy Stockdill wrote:You want to read that statement yourself sometime, you bigoted hypocrit. We all know how tolerant you are of anyone of a different race, religion or culture.Its people like you that make this country a disgrace.
Chris40 wrote: Thanks for getting my comment deleted Stockdill. If you can't take it, don't give it out!It had nothing to do with me. I assume the moderator deleted it because it was offensive and obscene. When you grow up and learn to understand the difference between robust debate and gratuitous personal insults, then I am sure your posts will be allowed to remain. Unfortunately, they are frequently too juvenile and objectionable. You seem utterly incapable of differentiating between conducting a civilised debate and making personal and offensive attacks on someone with whom you disagree. I would draw your attention to the statement immediately below the security word box about not posting anything false, abusive or malicious. It really could not be clearer.
Paradise Watford
says...
8:34am Mon 27 Apr 09
Watford i'm sure has as much 'literary appreciation' as any other town in the country and just because someone may not know who JG Ballard was does not make them ignorant. There are so many authors out there and so many subjects that it is very possible to go through life without having read many a good authors works, i'm sure you yourself have missed out on quite a few good writers.
curly62
says...
10:57am Mon 27 Apr 09
Roy Stockdill wrote:Roy,
I fear the vast majority of Watford people probably think J G Ballard was a footballer, snooker player, criminal or singer in a boy band. As Steve Bowbrick says, Watford is not exactly noted for its famous literati or for the literary appreciation of its inhabitants. In fact, I cannot offhand think of a single writer who came from this town, unless you count Michael Bentine who was far better-known as a comedian and actor, but who did also write several books. I wonder, though, whether many people would want a multi-storey car park named after them? Not exactly romantic, is it?
Did you wilfully misread the article in order to once again cast aspersions on the intellect of the population of Watford? What Mr Bowbrick actually said was 'There's presently little literary interest in Watford. It doesn't come up very often'. I believe that by that he meant that there have not been many great works that mention the place. However. I think you will find that Watford has many book clubs, 2 fine and well-used libraries and 2 large and busy major bookstores. I think you will find that the residents of Watford are as well-read as any other town of a similar size. J G Ballard was not exactly a mainstream writer, so may not have been read by the majority, but I expect a lot more people have seen one of the films based on his books such as Empire of the Sun. Having said that, I don't think that the car park name should be changed - after all with the plethora of multi-stories around the town, Church at least describes where it is. Perhaps a nice plaque would do instead.
Chris40
says...
11:29pm Mon 27 Apr 09
Roy Stockdill
says...
10:59am Tue 28 Apr 09
Chris40 wrote:Why must you persist in turning everything into a personal vendetta? Do you have no critical facilities of your own that allow you to contribute to a debate in a civilised manner and in a neutral fashion?
Has he gone quiet, what a surprise. As Paradise says, **** off back up North.
At least, as I have repeatedly pointed out, I am one of only three people who have the courage to put their names to comments (the others being Chris Ribble and John Howard Norfolk). You are simply a foul-mouthed, semi-literate gutless coward.
I hereby give notice that this is the very last time I shall respond to your pathic insults.
Sweet Dreams
says...
1:07pm Tue 28 Apr 09
Roy Stockdill
says...
1:46am Wed 29 Apr 09
Sweet Dreams wrote:Probably! Sometimes my keyboard has a mind of its own.
Do you mean pathetic?
Thank you for pointing that out. You are, of course, quite right. When I am myself a stickler for good spelling, it ill behoves me to make mistakes of my own.
Once again, thank you for spotting it.
Paradise Watford
says...
12:17pm Wed 29 Apr 09
Isn't that rather similar to everytime anything to do with religion or foreign aid to name but two subjects come up you immediately jump on your own little bandwagon and belittle everyone (and more) associated with the story?
Chris40
says...
1:11pm Thu 30 Apr 09
Roy Stockdill wrote:Boo hoo, Grow up Stockdill, you idiot.
Chris40 wrote: Has he gone quiet, what a surprise. As Paradise says, **** off back up North.Why must you persist in turning everything into a personal vendetta? Do you have no critical facilities of your own that allow you to contribute to a debate in a civilised manner and in a neutral fashion? At least, as I have repeatedly pointed out, I am one of only three people who have the courage to put their names to comments (the others being Chris Ribble and John Howard Norfolk). You are simply a foul-mouthed, semi-literate gutless coward. I hereby give notice that this is the very last time I shall respond to your pathic insults.
Roy Stockdill
says...
10:12pm Thu 30 Apr 09
Paradise Watford wrote:You miss the point. I do not make personal comments about other posters, whatever their views. Sometimes, for instance, you and I appear to be on the same side and have similar views.
Roy said something along the lines of 'why must you turn everything into a personal vendetta'? Isn't that rather similar to everytime anything to do with religion or foreign aid to name but two subjects come up you immediately jump on your own little bandwagon and belittle everyone (and more) associated with the story?
However, Chris40 of Mill End, seems totally uninterested in a civilised debate but is interested only in spewing personal abuse. His message immediately above is typical. He has no interest in, or intellectual facility for, a literate discussion.
He is gutless because, like most people here, he refuses to tell us his real name. I suspect he is probably Mr T in another incarnation.
Whatever you think of my views, you cannot deny that I am one of the very, very few here who not only has the guts to stick my head above the parapet with my real name but who can also be found quite easily in the phone book.
When others can say the same I will start respecting them more. Until then I think the great majority here are cowardly. Why are so many so frightened of identifying themselves in their real names? That is why I call them gutless.
Chris40
says...
8:39am Fri 1 May 09
And don't give us all that about not making personal comments you liar, we've all seen plenty from you, you hatefilled, exclusive, intolerant, bigoted, pompous hypocrit. (Fact, not false or malicious, the evidence is amply displayed throughout this website)
Sweet Dreams
says...
11:28am Fri 1 May 09
Roy Stockdill
says...
1:17am Sat 2 May 09
With a bit of luck there'll be a psychiatrist along in a minute.
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The Rover says...
7:05pm Sat 25 Apr 09
We could have the "Claire Ward Landfill Site" or rename Bushey Arches to Dorothy Arches amongst others.
Ayy other suggestions?