[merligo]

Hi Erika,

Thanks very much for the info re MOT.

I have to admit that when Onedin was first broadcast in England, I
didn't know Peter had been a singer previously and had had the lead
role in several London musicals. It was quite a bit later that I
found out. I think this was true for a lot of people.

Marianne has already answered your question re Peter's origins. I
read somewhere that his father was a travelling salesman or something
of that nature but whether this is true I really don't know.

I have seen in the Registry of Marriages that for each of his
marriages, Peter's surname is listed as Gilmore so this is his real
name and not a stage name (unless he changed his name by deed poll in
his early 20s).

Thanks again – any info always welcome!

Diana

[merligo]

Further to Bill's message, Woman magazine published a nice interview
with Cyril Abraham in summer 1973 prior to the stories he wrote for
them.

I can't remember all the details off hand but I do know that the name
Onedin came from the sea creature Ondine. Cyril originally had a
different name for the series – The Shipmaster I think which later
became the title of the first book – but the BBC didn't like the
title and wanted another name. He was playing around with the word
Ondine and came up with Onedin.

And yes Cyril did originally envisage the story of the family up to
the then present day.

Diana

[Author]

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