8mm Forum: DFS Picture

This is topic DFS Picture in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 30, 2014, 10:19 PM:

I came across this pic of the Derann shop in Dudley UK, that I took on a visit in 1993. At this time Derann were in their hay day.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 01, 2014, 12:48 PM:

Now I'm feeling all wistful and nolstalgic! Thanks for the photo.

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on December 02, 2014, 02:03 AM:

Thanks Paul ,

This is great - I used to teach in Birmingham and occasionally when I had an early finish - I would get across to Dudley and pick up a few bits and pieces and chat to Duncan , Gary and Ged - great guys and happy memories - such a shame the shop had to go - I was there on the last day - it was so sad .

Dave

Posted by Jonathan Trevithick (Member # 3066) on December 02, 2014, 02:17 AM:

Great photo, Paul. Brings back great memories of my visits there during the 90s.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on December 04, 2014, 07:40 AM:

Photo of Derann's old shop at 99 High St Dudley, taken last Friday.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 04, 2014, 10:58 AM:

probably one of the last photographed. I will store this pic before it quickly all turns to landfill sadly!

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on December 04, 2014, 03:57 PM:

Dudley High Street is still under occupied, especially that end of it. It may take quite a bit longer to sell. It doesn't cost me much to go there and I want to go to the Black Country Living Museum again so I'll post an update on the building in the New Year.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 04, 2014, 04:21 PM:

Thanks Brian [Wink]

Posted by Kevin Wardle (Member # 1680) on December 16, 2014, 11:46 AM:

I wish I had enough cash to buy the Derann building! [Frown]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on December 16, 2014, 12:26 PM:

Is it completly empty or is there any chance to find remaining films or material in the basement ?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 28, 2014, 07:10 AM:

I really doubt there is anything worthwhile left at all: the guys knew there was still a market for this stuff and wouldn't have left anything sellable behind.

Just imagine an e-bay auction: "This is from the last remaining Derann inventory and includes a signed certificate of authenticity".

-a warped reel....some soiled scraps of film on the floor...a water damaged box of brochures they never got around to throwing away...probably nothing better than these.

(What a wonderful opportunity to start an urban legend: "In the last few hours before they closed up that final day, they plastered a mint set of all THREE Wallace and Gromits into the wall inside Derek's old office...They're behind this big "W", I tell you!....SHHHH!!! Don't tell anyone!")

It's possible that things will be changing there soon. There are plans to redevelop the site. If you Google "PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER: P12/0974" you will see the proposal to the local council including some drawings at the very end.

Can you imagine the demolition crew? "Hey Boss! We found these three huge rolls of scotch tape in the wall, but they aren't even sticky anymore!"

"AGAIN???!!! If you guys don't stop finding this stuff I'll have to hire another skip to haul it all away!"

"Well...we think we found a couple of the machines that apply it, too."

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on December 29, 2014, 06:06 AM:

As for what sold on the last day, I saw someone paying for Derann sign off the wall.
Also I'm sure Ged and Gary would have known where everything was in the film department.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on December 29, 2014, 07:50 AM:

Brian, one of the DFS signs was bought by my better half, Sarah.

As I'm sure you know, despite rumours of "vultures" descending upon Derann for the last day of trading, trying to buy everything up at cheap prices, just the opposite was true.

There were indeed a lot of collectors there, but most had come to say goodbye, and everyone was very dignified in chatting to the Derann team for one last time in the shop, and buying films as souvenirs. It was of course all very sad, but such a nice way to send Derann on her way...

Many great tales were told that day, albeit with somewhat heavy hearts and I will always treasure being there.

Several signs were sold from the walls; I remember one chap asking Ged about the large golden "Rank Gong" on the wall. He replied that he used to clean it, but it belonged to Derek...best to ask Adrian (Derek's son and MD at the time)...I wonder was it someone here who has it?

Sarah asked if I would like one of the big framed DFS signs and I said, "Best ask Adrian if it's appropriate".

Anyway, he was more than happy to go and take it down and give it to Sarah. She insisted on paying for it, but he just gave her a kiss and said, "just enjoy it."

She paid anyway; more a way of saying, "go and have a drink on us!"

Of course I still have it and will always treasure it.

Sad times, but nice memories of lovely people.

Posted by Simon McConway (Member # 219) on December 29, 2014, 08:12 AM:

I caught that last day on Super 8 100D and this was shown at Blackpool this year. This footage could be included in a DVD, but it's not me who is producing it and so further details are not mine to give. Further details will be released here as and when.

Posted by Kevin Hassall (Member # 2352) on December 29, 2014, 08:14 AM:

I was there was sad i had a great talk to adriane he was upset and said he will miss his friends so much he said a lot of people there saw him grow up

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on December 29, 2014, 08:16 AM:

I think I saw you filming as we arrived, Simon.

I took some 100D for myself as well...seemed appropriate.

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on December 29, 2014, 09:40 AM:

I was there as well - had a long chat with Ged and Garry - lovely people who always went the distance to look for a print for you and when I worked in Birmingham I often popped across to Dudley when I was free - to pick up a few bits and pieces and have a chat with everyone - not been back to Dudley since.

David

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on December 29, 2014, 12:38 PM:

Rob, well before Derann closed, I was there to pick up 2 gs xenons Adrian had put on Ebay for sale. I was mystified by the add because I recognised the phone number, and the next day I was there securing a deal with Adrian. I remember asking him about the Rank Gong sign then, and was told it was already sold. I remember even then the phone constantly ringing, and there being an almost complete set of Disney features on the shelves behind where the super 8 projectors were displayed. I wonder if it could have been an internet based company, perhaps now we'll never know.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on December 29, 2014, 12:57 PM:

Paul, it's so sad when a long established company has to fold.

I've employed myself for almost entire working life, so I have nothing but respect for smaller companies that persist.

I remember those Disney features, although I suspect they were mostly empty boxes at that stage.

I dearly wish that Adrian or Ged would join us here on the forum to discuss Derann. I bet they would have some great stories.

I know Gary is here with us, but he is still trading, so it would be unfair to question him about previous employment.

So much great history...someone needs to research a book. [Smile]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 29, 2014, 03:32 PM:

Fabulous story regarding the DFS sign Rob. It is heart warming to someone like me to know it is in the hands of a sincere collector and a true gent who will no doubt treasure it.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on December 29, 2014, 03:46 PM:

Is Gary trading in Cine?

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 29, 2014, 03:51 PM:

Now and again Tom. I purchased The Small One and Once Upon A Mouse from him earlier this year via e bay.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on January 22, 2015, 03:08 PM:

Nothing to do directly with the shop site but I have just read about the Danilo cinema which became the Pulse nightclub has been stripped of its licence due to being a haven for gangs, 2 stabbings last year. I believe this is where Derek worked as a projectionist as his Demon Internet email was derek@danilo.demon.co.uk. As the Cinema Theatre Association Bulletin put it "Another very sad state of affairs".

I'll try to get a new photo of the shop site early next month as an update on it.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on February 04, 2015, 05:08 PM:

I took some pictures today and will add when I download them, but nothing has changed and with 20 odd shops seemingly vacant on Dudley High Street I doubt if it will sell soon.

Also I was in the area to visit the Black Country Living Museum and watched a Walton Films 16mm print of a Chaplin film in their 1920's cinema. I couldn't see the projector well but it was an auto-threading B&H, possibly a 652. Good to see film publicly shown daily in 2015.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on February 04, 2015, 05:43 PM:

No doubt it will become an Aldi or Lidl soon enough , sadly Brian.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on February 05, 2015, 08:42 AM:

Well, it is opposite the Dudley ASDA, ex-site of the Julia Hanson brewery - no wonder Wolverhampton & Dudley breweries Ltd took on the Marstons name when they bought that company, as they had no Dudley brewery

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on February 05, 2015, 03:32 PM:

Oh, and here is the picture taken yesterday, some light cloud had come over just before I took it otherwise it was a sunny day in the West Midlands.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on December 17, 2015, 05:44 PM:

Almost the same today (I haven't downloaded a picture yet) only change is that it is now for sale by a different estate agent. I have their reference number and will look it up on line tomorrow. There isn't much happening that end of the High Street except for the ASDA opposite on the site of the old brewery, lots of empty shops.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on December 17, 2015, 06:44 PM:

I only know about Derann from what I've read in this forum. They closed just as I was getting into the hobby. I really feel I missed out on a lot of good films and fun.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 17, 2015, 11:44 PM:

They were the very epitome of this hobby for many Janice.
I doubt I would be in this hobby now had it not have been for all their activity within the 80's to 2005 period.

Their later releases and the catalogue in general was something you could have only ever dreamed of in my growing up days.

How I wish I'd taken full advantage at the time they were here!

Still, I'm doing my best to make up for lost time now I suppose. [Big Grin]

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on December 18, 2015, 06:18 AM:

Update from Facebook on Ged Jones of Derann can't find dedicated thread :-

Ernest Marsh
December 17 at 11:56pm

Had a chat with Ged Jones from his hospital bed and although he is improving he will not be home before Christmas. He sends Seasons Greetings to everyone for Christmas & the New Year. Also my best wishes to everyone for Christmas and 2016.

Also update on the shop site from the agent selling it they describe it as :-
Freehold £399,950
Reduced from an asking price of £450,000
Town Centre Development Site
Planning permission granted
20 flats and 3 retail units
Planing ref. P12/0974
25% to be affordable housing. Energy Rating C

I am assuming that this includes the entire car parking area to the side of the shop.

[ December 18, 2015, 07:33 AM: Message edited by: Brian Fretwell ]

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