Fan Tales
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The Equine Avenger
by Martin Richmond

In 1998 I had the good fortune to win a competition run by a nation wide, UK cable company that was promoting their showing of all The Avengers episodes. The prize was an all expenses paid trip to Los Angeles to meet the man himself, Patrick Macnee! Having been an avid fan of the series for many years, this was an exceptional prize to win; my wife and I enjoyed the usual tourist trek around Hollywood, staying at the Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard.

But the culmination and highpoint of the visit was being taken to a suite at the Beverly Hilton. There we were met with a champagne buffet and, while making ourselves comfortable, I heard an unmistakable voice coming from the balcony outside. Plucking up courage I ventured outside and found myself shaking hands with "John Steed" himself! We stood chatting for some time, with the occasional glance at the awesome vista of the Los Angeles stretching out around us. He was very friendly, very warm and so appreciative that we had come all the way from Scotland just to see him!

We watched the sun go down over LA and the planes stacking up in the sky to take their turns in landing at LAX, but this view was a minor happening when compared to our socialising with the Avenger himself. He took time to sign photographs and pose for our own cameras, as well as give us signed copies of his new book.

I am a writer and poet and, having created a poem dedicated to Patrick, I presented him with a copy, which he enjoyed immensely and was very emotional about. The time went by very quickly and we didn't seem to ask all the questions we intended to, but this trip around the world seeing sights some people only dream about was dwarfed by meeting Mr Macnee!

The Equine Avenger

With suave, enigmatic turn of lip,
an umbrella propped neatly at the hip,
suggests a force one shouldn't tangle.
From red carnation in buttonhole,
to Saville Row crease cutting dash to stroll,
this latter-day Union Jack of all trades
strides deep sarcasms in his escapades.
His taste in ladies are like his wine,
superior, full bodied, mature, refined.
This sartorially suited, pin-striped St George
of good British stock, finely forged,
enunciates in rich, red, sherry tones,
as Mrs Gale and Peel, Miss King or Purdey groans,
of the evil that men often do,
(practised keenly by the gentle sex too),
being soundly thrashed by this dapper chap
with thrusting brolly or a steely slap,
his ice cool nerves a faith engenders,
shouldering high a banner of the AVENGERS!
In closing we exit down a country lane,
in a vintage Bentley to a catchy refrain
and one wonders where John Steed would be
without the charismatic Mr Macnee?

"The Equine Avenger" is Copyright © 1998 Martin Richmond. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Page last modified: 5 May 2017.

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