Garry Halliday

Having just seen Elwyn Brook-Jones in 'Odd Man Out' it took my mind back to Gary Halliday, the first UK TV series to make a real impression on my young mind. I've never seen any repeats or articles on the series but the fact that it had an aviation basis and the mysterious 'Voice' was enough to hook me. Perhaps it's best that it remains a vivid, if slightly scary, memory as its production values may not stand up today? Of course Terence Alexander went on to be a television staple whereas Terence Longden and Elwyn Brook-Jones became rarer commodities. Anyway it remains stronger in my memory than all its contemporaries like Ivanhoe, Robin Hood and William Tell.

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.

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.

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.

I had no idea anyone other than my brother or myself even remembered Garry Halliday or the Voice.. We were avid fans during 1959 ,1960 and 1961 I was 6-8 and my brother was 10-12 years old. Our family went to Cyprus for 18 months and by the time we came home in Aug 1962 it was no longer on air. However we continued our love for the show by writing little illustrated stories of the adventures of Garry, Bill and of course The Voice. I still have these crude but very funny stories written in pencil . I would like to know if there is any way I would be able to get hold of a copy of the only episode available? I now live in Australia, but my brother is in the UK. We had a favourite saying from the show, that is from "The Voice" "Its not only the end of THAT Mr Dodds.. but the end of you" August 08 : Wow guys, it seems that Garry, Bill and The Voice are well remembered. That's great.