Ray Harryhausen & Me

As a kid, I was a big fan of dinosaurs. But back in those days, access to the beasts was much more limited. My dad bought me a book and I learnt what they looked like and all the names, but I don't remember much in the way of dino toys or, indeed, films.
Then my Dad took me to see a film called 'Dinosaurus'. It was a dreadful film. The SFX are risible. But I was seven and I loved it. The film also scared the hell out of me and that was cool. too.
A few years later, at my Aunt's house, I saw the original 1933 version of 'King Kong'. The big ape was great, but the dinosaurs were even better. By then I was old enough to understand how the creatures 'moved' in the film. I had discovered stop-motion animation and wanted to know more.
There used to be a magazine called 'Famous Monsters of Filmland' which I often bought. One day as I flicked through the pages I found a drawing by some bloke called Ray Harryhausen. It was a picture of cowboys lassoing cattle in a narrow gorge. And peering around the corner of the gorge was a bloody great Allosaurus!! And his name was Gwangi.
So I learned about Ray Harryhausen, saw all his films and bought and devoured his book; 'Movie Monster Maker'. I was a big fan. And when 'The Valley of Gwangi' finally came out in 1969 it became my firm favourite.
1975. I was at Leeds Poly studying film. For my dissertation I was writing about the history of SFX in the movies. We used to have occasional visiting lecturers on Friday afternoons, and - on a whim - I asked my tutor if we could invite Ray to give a lecture. After all, it would help my dissertation and I was sure he'd be popular.
Adrian York, my tutor, said that if I could find a way to contact Ray, he would invite him.
Now, this being 1975, I hadn't a clue how to find Ray's contact details. I assumed I would have to write lots of letters to the studios, the BFI etc.
Now, it so happened that my fellow students and I were going to London on a field trip. I really can't remember why we went, but we had a bit of spare time before we returned. And I had an idea.
 Ray, though an American, was living in London. There was an old, red telephone box. In that box was a London telephone directory...
Oddly, there was only one listing for 'Harryhausen R.'. I can still remember the address was in Holland Park. I wrote down the phone number and gave it to Adrian on my return.
And Ray, bless him, said yes.
I designed and made the posters, and then worried in case no-one attended the lecture. I shouldn't have been concerned. On the day, the place was packed.
Ray arrived with a big cardboard box and, for the next two hours held us spellbound. He showed lots of clips and, amazingly, pulled a few of the actual models out of the cardboard box.
The lecture ran over quite a bit and, at the end, there was a rush to the bar. I and a few die-hards hung around however, for a chat with the great man. He was delightful. Even after a long lecture, he was happy to answer all our questions. And then...
He took out the models and handed them round. And of course it was only coincidence, but he handed me Gwangi. Less than a foot tall, but one of the biggest moments in my life.
Bless you, Ray. RIP.