Garry Halliday

Here's a name from the past. Given a seven-year-old's preference for aeroplanes over football any day (and 48 years later, nothing's changed) 'Garry Halliday' was the most important part of my week and a blessed antidote to the endless combovers, long shorts and sheepskin coats of its immediate Saturday evening predecessor.

Favourite moment? Pretty much the only one I can remember, actually: the one where The Voice's gofer Traumann, presumably having failed yet again to deal with the accursed Halliday, was finally offed by his exasperated guv'nor. "It won't happen next time, Voice", stammered Traumann to The Unseen One; "There isn't going to be a next time, Traumann", came the dismembered, mittel-European reply, followed by the silenced automatic pistol nosing shakily in from screen right and dispatching the hapless bagman to join the great supporting cast in the sky. (You could tell Traumann was the bad guy because of the shades - but I swear he reappeared a few years later playing lead with Adam Faith & The Roulettes).

Other than The Voice the true star, of course, was the DC3: an aircraft just made for Boys' Own adventures and a design triumph, with more personality in its tail-fin than could ever be mustered by a dozen Wolverines or Men-in-Black. 'Garry Halliday' was a pop-cultural milestone that should have been preserved in perpetuity; it remains yet another good reason for consigning the wipe-happy pygmies of 60s/70s broadcasting to the same nether regions as Sgt Traumann.

The focal point of the week for me and my friends. Bored with Captain Pugwash, we wanted some real drama and Gary delivered. A testament to the impact of this series is that not only do I remember it, more than half a century later I also recall how I took over the family's Saturday routine to ensure I watched it. In 2015 I can still whistle the theme tune. Stellar television. This series represented the first real quality drama written for children and broadcast nationally. Whilst its replacement in Dr Who has developed to cover a generation of televisión, I would compare it to perhaps 'Blakes Seven' in the audience gap it filled.

Like the other contributors I eagerly sat waiting for Gary Halliday to start on a Saturday evening - the spot later occupied by Dr Who.

At the time, very few young children ever had an opportunity to fly and therefore Gary Halliday seemed to have such an exciting and glamorous life.

During the series I had an opportunity to fly to Guernsey in a Douglas DC3 (the ubiquitous Douglas Dakota) from a grass field in Portsmouth. I remember getting on the plane imagining the two Terences were up front in the cockpit.

It's very sad that only one episode survives and I would certainly like to see it.

It's good to see that the two Terences are still around - I wish them well and hope they are enjoying retirement.

Anyone who remembers Gary Halliday would enjoy the late Gavin Lyall's early flying novels such as The Wrong Side of the Sky, The Most Dangerous Game, Shooting Script and Judas Country. They were set in the same era and everything to do with the aircraft and flying is meticulously described. It would be well worth seeking out copies.

This series was (I believe) broadcast live during the late 50s and early 60s. It featured a "Biggles" type character who flew into all kinds of excitement with his faithful co pilot played by Terence Alexander. Their sinister adversary "The Voice" was only ever seen from the mouth to the chin and seemed to be in constant radio contact with the flight deck of Halliday's aircraft. As a ten year old watching childrens tv, I found it deeply disturbing but unmissable! I hope some tapes remain so future generations can enjoy this series.

Over dinner several years ago , I had an argument with some friends that this great boys own adventure ever existed! Well I'm glad to see there are some people like me who never forgot it ! I too remember it starting after Grandstand, but the bit from the start which sticks in my mind was the big radar scanner revolving round and round. Happymemories indeed ! I just wish somebody could find some recordings in the archives so we could relive the memories! I think 'Dodds' the copilot was the guy who played Jim Bergerac's father in law, if I'm not mistaken. I think I read somewhere that an old episode had been found locked away in some vault in Honkong.