Ive met the Man in the White Suit - Britmovie

Mr Green · 18-06-2003, 08:53 AM

In 1993 I was in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and had the unexpected pleasure and surprise to meet the man who the story was based on-I would be happy to discuss further and wondered if anybody else had any info on this chap, or if it is possible to get in touch with Roger Macdougall.

cheers

Steve Crook · 18-06-2003, 01:18 PM

Roger MacDougall died in 1993.

Was The Man in the White Suit based on a true story? I always thought it was a fictional morality tale.

MacDougall wrote it as a play and then it was made into a film by his cousin Alexander Mackendrick. MacDougall was afflicted by Multiple Sclerosis. Diagnosed in 1953 he did very well, keeping it at bay with a special diet. See web page.

Mr Green · 18-06-2003, 05:21 PM

The story is TRUE!

whilst spending a day a beach in Corbyns Cove, in the Andaman Islands, I sat talking to an old yet very young couple(they were snorkling to be exact).
I started to discuss the many peculiarities of the islands( Its development, mineral exploration, and human rights abuses)he started reminising back to the war and post war years in India where he worked for ICI developing explosives.He told me of the issues then and now, and as he reminissed it began to dawn on me.

He worked for ICI in the UK before his posting to India, something to do with dying processes.
He carried round with him one of only two samples left from the trials-the other is in the vault of ICI.It was a place mat and knapkins for a dinner set, the colour.... Jade Green (from the film rem. Mr Green).The colours were still true and the material didnt fade or tarnish.It was as new as the day he made it.

I wish i could remember more but ididnt make any notes or take any pics, the meeting was very surreal-it didnt dawn on me till a few days later, too late.

The ref. in the film to Explosives further proof,and in meeting him his attitdes to life, work, society and human kind ring true of the character the film depicts-COINSIDENSE?
I just wish i could remember his name.
Any more info is greatly welcomed or futher details-

Hugo · 18-06-2003, 05:53 PM

In 1941 two chemists working at the British Calico Printers Association in Manchester, J.R.Whinfield and J.T.Dickson discovered a new synthetic fibre, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which was developed by ICI and maunufactured as 'terylene' in this country and by the DuPont company in America as 'dacron'. It was very strong and hardwearing and crease and dirt resistant, similar to the fabric in the film.

It was also impossible to dye by the traditional processes used for natural fibres and new dyeing processes were developed at ICI Fibres Research at Harrogate in Yorkshire.

In real life the textile industry were somewhat underwhelmed by this new discovery and it took many years for it to be accepted.

18-06-2003, 08:53 AM	#1
Mr Green has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 2 iTrader: (0)	Ive met the Man in the White Suit In 1993 I was in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and had the unexpected pleasure and surprise to meet the man who the story was based on-I would be happy to discuss further and wondered if anybody else had any info on this chap, or if it is possible to get in touch with Roger Macdougall. cheers __________________ The Man in the Jade Green Suit

18-06-2003, 01:18 PM	#2
Steve Crook is cheeky Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 9,820 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (1)	Roger MacDougall died in 1993. Was The Man in the White Suit based on a true story? I always thought it was a fictional morality tale. MacDougall wrote it as a play and then it was made into a film by his cousin Alexander Mackendrick. MacDougall was afflicted by Multiple Sclerosis. Diagnosed in 1953 he did very well, keeping it at bay with a special diet. See web page. __________________ Steve Crook PaPAS

18-06-2003, 05:21 PM	#3
Mr Green has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 2 iTrader: (0)	The story is TRUE! whilst spending a day a beach in Corbyns Cove, in the Andaman Islands, I sat talking to an old yet very young couple(they were snorkling to be exact). I started to discuss the many peculiarities of the islands( Its development, mineral exploration, and human rights abuses)he started reminising back to the war and post war years in India where he worked for ICI developing explosives.He told me of the issues then and now, and as he reminissed it began to dawn on me. He worked for ICI in the UK before his posting to India, something to do with dying processes. He carried round with him one of only two samples left from the trials-the other is in the vault of ICI.It was a place mat and knapkins for a dinner set, the colour.... Jade Green (from the film rem. Mr Green).The colours were still true and the material didnt fade or tarnish.It was as new as the day he made it. I wish i could remember more but ididnt make any notes or take any pics, the meeting was very surreal-it didnt dawn on me till a few days later, too late. The ref. in the film to Explosives further proof,and in meeting him his attitdes to life, work, society and human kind ring true of the character the film depicts-COINSIDENSE? I just wish i could remember his name. Any more info is greatly welcomed or futher details- __________________ The Man in the Jade Green Suit

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18-06-2003, 05:53 PM	#4
Hugo has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 389 Country: iTrader: (0)	In 1941 two chemists working at the British Calico Printers Association in Manchester, J.R.Whinfield and J.T.Dickson discovered a new synthetic fibre, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which was developed by ICI and maunufactured as 'terylene' in this country and by the DuPont company in America as 'dacron'. It was very strong and hardwearing and crease and dirt resistant, similar to the fabric in the film. It was also impossible to dye by the traditional processes used for natural fibres and new dyeing processes were developed at ICI Fibres Research at Harrogate in Yorkshire. In real life the textile industry were somewhat underwhelmed by this new discovery and it took many years for it to be accepted.