| Michael Craze | Photos | Commentary | Telesnaps | Fun Stuff | Sounds | Links |
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Please e-mail Michael's son Ben a surprise birthday greeting, he is turning 18 on the 16th of August!
Michael Craze (1942-1998) |
Ben Craze (2001) |
Last Updated
5th August,
2001
A message from Ben Craze to Doctor Who fans
| "Hi, and welcome to the new-look website dedicated to
my Dad, Michael Craze.
I would like to thank Webmaster Chris Elliott for doing such a great job. I hope it brings back nice memories of my dad and the enormous fondness he had for 'Doctor Who'.
I know Dad always regarded 'Doctor Who' as one of the favourite moments of his career. He had such a brilliant time making the programme, in fact when he got the part he celebrated by painting the town red with my Uncle, the director Peter Craze, and after a few pints decided to tightrope walk on the edge of the kerb (sidewalk). Then, as one would expect, he fell off and as he went down he hit his nose on the edge of the kerb, subsequently breaking it! His nose was never the same again while mine is straight, like the rest of the families!!
Dad loved the fact that even after he left the series, he never lost touch with it. His fellow actors from the programme that became good friends, Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines and the lovely Anneke Wills, and others that are too numerous to mention. He also cherished the friends he made later, especially at all the conventions he went to. I also went to a couple with him too, and really enjoyed myself. In fact, early in 2001 I went to a convention in Coventry, UK, (which was held in his honour) to auction some of my Dad's personal items in aid of a special school that his granddaughter goes to, and it was really great to meet everyone again, and make new friends, as we all toasted Dad's memory.
Dad died in early December 1998 and it was decided by myself, my Mum, my Aunt and Uncles that half his ashes would be scattered on a stretch of the River Thames in Sunbury, Middlesex, where he used to sit and read while I fished. The rest was placed into an ornate flower pot that belonged to Mum, and now by my half-sister Karen. We planted a blue tinged rose bush into it, and every year on Dad's birthday (November 29th) Karen pours a glass of wine into it and wishes him a Happy Birthday! The rose bush is still flourishing!!
I'm at college now doing engineering, and hope to become a precision engineer. It would be nice if I could attend more 'Doctor Who' conventions in the future and meet everyone who made my Dad feel so special. In the meantime, enjoy the site, thanks for all your friendship and don't forget to raise a glass of your favourite tipple on his birthday, and keep your rosy cheeks blooming!!
Lots of love, Ben Craze July 2001" |
NEWS - This page has gone a long time without updates, but we are back
to celebrate the life of Michael Craze as well as talk about his best known
character, sailor Ben Jackson from Dr. Who. As most fans know, Michael passed
away in 1998, but this page hopes to keep his spirit alive. Things are really
picking up as audios of most of his missing stories are being released. His
son Ben has been attending some conventions to meet with fans of his father
as well as auction some of his father's items off for charity. Guess what?
The 16th of August 2001 is Ben's 18th birthday! As a surprise his mother
would like as many Doctor Who fans of his father as possible to
e-mail him a birthday greeting! Please
do so today!
Also check out the new Anneke Wills/Polly page!
READ MICHAEL'S RECOLLECTIONS OF "THE WAR MACHINES" !!!
TELESNAPS OF BEN FROM "THE SMUGGLERS", "THE TENTH PLANET", "POWER OF THE DALEKS" "THE HIGHLANDERS", "THE UNDERWATER MENACE" "THE MOONBASE", "THE MACRA TERROR", and "THE FACELESS ONES".
THE
MICHAEL CRAZE PHOTO GALLERY
YOUR GUIDE TO SPEAKING
COCKNEY: HEAR BEN SPEAK
COMMENTARY
OF THE BEN JACKSON STORIES
WHO THE HECK IS BEN
JACKSON?.
Ben along with Polly were the two
of the first Doctor's final companions
They were from Swinging Sixties London, and were part of the TARDIS crew
from June 1966 to April 1967. Both witnessed the regeneration from William
Hartnell to Patrick Troughon, the 2nd Doctor in the final episode of "The
Tenth Planet". Not suprisingly, they didn't buy into this "regeneration"
business at first. The dialogue between them and the new Doctor in "Power
of the Daleks" episode 1 is some of the finest of the series.
Ben was part of a general overhaul of the series
by producer Innes Lloyd.
When Innes Lloyd assumed the mantle of producer in 1966, he wanted to put
his mark on the series in attempt to boost its sagging ratings. One of these
was to replace the companions,
Steven and Dodo with more
contemporary and "with-it" companions. Although
Steven and Dodo were okay,
they were the innovations of the previous production team and he felt that
there was a need for a change. Peter Purves, who played
Steven, felt his character
had no direction and wanted to move on. To replace him, a character called
Rich was developed to accompany the Doctor and Dodo. Rich would be a streetwise
character from contemporary London. Later it was decided also to write out
Dodo, and Polly was created. Rich
was modified to the Cockney sailor named Ben and the rest is history!
Innes Lloyd successfully revived the series and it was able to continue into
over the next 23 year! In part thanks to Ben!
HERE IS THE OFFICIAL CHARACTER OUTLINE FOR
BEN:
24, Able Seaman (Radar), Cockney. Father, now dead, was
wartime sailor and peace-time dock-crane driver. Mother married again to
unsympathetic step-father. Ben trained at sea school from age 15, having
previously stowed away on cargo ship for adventure to get away from his unhappy
home. He enjoys the Navy and all it has to offer. Enjoys all sports, especially
boxing and athletics - interested in all things mechanical and electrical
and in true Navy fashion can turn his hand to most things, including basic
cooking and sewing. 
BEN'S DOCTOR WHO STORIES:
Click
WHY A BEN JACKSON PAGE? 
