HISTORY OF THE OFFICIAL PETER WYNGARDE APPRECIATION SOCIETY

Below are all 28 issues of the Official Peter Wyngarde Appreciation Society magazine.

Although the Official Peter Wyngarde Appreciation Society was formed in early 1990, the first of its magazines was only published in January 1992

The newsletters and their contents were issued as follows…

Above: The original ad in TV Zone for the newly-formed Appreciation Society – January 1992

Issue Number 1 – January 1993: Hellfire Club Introduction; Biography; Jason King profile; Video Listing; The Prisoner; Peter Wyngarde Fact File; Quiz; Film list; Television credits; ‘The Pied Piper of Hambledown’ (review).

Issue Number 2 – April 1993: Editorial; The Siege of Sidney Street (Review); Department S episode guide; Video news; Jason King novel (review); Competition; Peter Wyngarde facts; Klytus (Profile).

Issue Number 3 – July 1993: Editorial; ‘The Innocents’ (Review); Letters; Theatre list; Archive interview; ‘The Good Woman of Setzuan’ (Review); Noticeboard; ‘Tank Malling’ (Review); Jason King Episode Guide.

Issue Number 4 – October 1993: Editorial; ‘Epic’ (Reviewed); Archive Interview; Focus on… Jason King; Noticeboard; Portrait of a Superstar by David Bailey; Anne Sharpe Interview; Peter Wyngarde Album (Review); ‘A Fish Out Of Water’ (Review); Circus Krone; Shots In The Dark Festival.

Issue Number 5 – January 1994: Editorial: Number 2 (Profile); What The Papers Said;Night of the Eagle (Review); Jason King – First Viewing; Interview with Peter; Butley; Noticeboard; Archive interview; A Red, Red Rose Forever (Review).

Issue Number 6 – April 1994: Editorial; The Three Gables; The Man Who Liked Lions (Review); Plays and Players; Questionnaire; Editor (Interview); Noticeboard; A Touch of Brimstone (Review); Letters; Department S Press Release; The Constance Missal (Review); Fashion Profile; Archive Interview.

Issue Number 7 – Summer 1994: Editorial; The Invisible Man (Review); Archive interview; Alexander the Great; Questionnaire results; In Praise of a Genius; Duel of Angels; As Easy as A.B.C. (review);Noticeboard.

Issue Number 8 – Autumn 1994: Editorial; News and Reviews; And The Wall Came Tumbling Down (Review); Breadwinner; Joel Fabiani (Tribute); Soup Of The Day (Review); The Bones Of Byron Blaine (Fashion); Noticeboard.

Issue Number 9 – Winter 1995: Editorial; News and Reviews; Jason King quiz; A Story by Peter Wyngarde; Fashion profile; Why Peter?; ITC Home Video (Statement); Peter Wyngarde Album; Archive interview; Clothes For A Wonderful Author; Memorable Scenes; Noticeboard.

Issue Number 10 – Spring 1995: Editorial; News and Reviews; Archive interview; In On The Act (Profile); Checkmate; Quiz; Memorable Scenes; Members questions; Noticeboard.

Issue Number 11 – Summer 1995: Editorial; News and Reviews; The Three Gables (Review); The King and I; The Many Faces of Peter Wyngarde; Fiction; Memorable Scenes; Interview with Emma Peel; Interview with Stewart Kirby; Archive interview; Noticeboard.

Issue Number 12 – Autumn 1995: Editorial: News and Reviews; Interview with Sir John Cartney: Langdale Pike: Memorable Scenes: What The Papers Said; Who is Jason King?; Planet of Fire: Fiction; Bravo (Profile); Wyngarde Island; Noticeboard; Peter Wyngarde interview.

Issue Number 16 – Autumn 1996: Editorial; News and Reviews; Underground; Six Days – Script to Screen; The Super-fans (Part 1); Death on Arrival; Noticeboard.

Issue Number 17 – Winter 1997: Editorial; News and Reviews; The Two Ronnies Christmas Show; One of Our Aircraft is Empty (review); Archive interviews; The Super-fans (Part 2); Pebble Mill interview transcript; Meeting Peter; Death on Arrival.

Issue Number 18 – Spring 1997: Editorial; News and Reviews; Waxwork; The Illustrious Client; Cyril Frankel; Flash Gordon; Truth Game; Quiz; Photo’ Gallery; The Super-fans (Part 3); Fiction.

Issue Number 19 – Summer 1997: Editorial; News and Reviews; The Man Who Liked Lions; Peter Mania!; South; The Superfans (Part 4); Members Questions; Checkmate: Views on The illustrious Client; Archive interview; Fiction; Paisley Wheelchair Experience.

Issue Number 20 – Autumn 1997:  Editorial; News and Reviews; The Emperors New Clothes; Rosemary Nicols interview; The Jason King Story; Peter’s tour of Australia – 1970; Peter’s Greatest Roles; Saint Joan; Peter in his own words; Peter’s youngest fan?; Archive interview; Fiction.

Issue Number 21 – Winter 1998 (Department S Anniversary Issue): Editorial; News and Reviews; Foreword from Peter; Personnel Files; Episode Guide; The Cast; Happy Birthday Jason!; Archive interview; Department S Fashion; Let’s Hear It For The Boys!; Making of The Treasure Of The Costa Del Sol; The men behind Department S.

Issue Number 22 – Spring 1998:  Editorial; News and Reviews; Making of The Siege of Sidney Street; Members questions; Mother Adam; Peter’s favourite recipes; Wyngarde collectables; Letters; Locations; Fiction; Darkness at Noon.

Issue Number 23 – Summer 1998:  Editorial; News and Reviews; Peter – beauty competition judge; Love Her To Death; A Deadly Line in Digits (Review); members Soapbox; A Day in the Life of Peter Wyngarde; Archive interview; Letters; Austin Powers; Taming of the Shrew; The Legions of Ammak (Review).

Issue Number 24 – Autumn 1998:  Editorial; News and Reviews; The King and I – 30th Anniversary; Members questions; Making of Planet of Fire; The X Men; Peter’s tribute to Alan Meachan.

Issue Number 25 – Winter 1999: Editorial; News and Reviews; Night Conspirators (Review); Making of Alexander the Great; Present Laughter (Review); Fashion; Archive interview; Fiction; Members questions.

Issue Number 26 – Spring 1999: Editorial; News and Reviews; Wait Until Dark (Review); Archive interview; Making of Night of the Eagle; The Duel (Review); Peter in advertising; Members questions.

Issue Number 27 – Summer 1999: Editorial; News and Reviews; Archive interview; Number 2 (Profile); The Enchanted (Review); Members questions; Fashion gallery.

Issue Number 28 – Autumn 1999 (Final Issue): Editorial; News and Reviews; Farewell letter from Peter; Dracula; Story of Elstree Studios; The Salt Land; Esso World Theatre; Widows of Jaffa; Members letters and questions; All That Glisters (Review).

Special Issue: Biography; Fact File; Screen, Television and Stage Listings; Complete Department S and Jason King Episode Guide; Video Update; Trivia.

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Peter would often contribute to the Newsletter, either by writing articles, answering fans questions, or by sending ‘Thank You’ notes for birthday or Christmas cards and gifts (see below).

In October 1999, the Society transferred onto the Internet, where we opened the Hellfire Club website.

The move online was an instant success, as we began to attract Wyngarde fans from countries as far afield as Chile and Iran, Hong Kong and Turkey.

We soon became known as THE authority on all things Wyngardian, and through our letter/email campaigns, we managed to get many of Peter’s best-loved performances released on video and, latterly, DVD.

Over the years, several well-known personalities, including Dame Diana Rigg, Joel Fabiani, Ann Sharpe* and Anne Frost** (and many others) accepted Honorary Membership of the Society.

Peter was extremely proud of his Appreciation Society, and often spoke of it in interviews and to colleagues. In fact, he was quoted as saying in a magazine article in 2002: “Through my amazing appreciation society, Tina has become the guardian of my career and reputation.” [Also see ‘TV Zone’ ITC Special #13 – June 1994]

Over the years, several well-known personalities, including Dame Diana Rigg, Joel Fabiani, Ann Sharpe* and Anne Frost** (and many others) accepted Honorary Membership of the Society.

*Wife of producer, Monty Berman; played Nicola Harvester in ‘Jason King.

**Sister of producer and script writer, Dennis Spooner.

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Below: Two handwritten “Thank You” notes from Peter to his fans via the Appreciation Society newsletter for birthday and Christmas gifts.

Click below for more fan-related material…