'Declan Smith' - beware

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gate1
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'Declan Smith' - beware

Post by gate1 »

Some months ago I was contacted via someone else, by a 'Declan Smith' (declansmith14@hotmail.com) , who asked if he could have a scan of a photograph or two I had allowed to be used in a book about 617 Squadron, claiming that he was working on a project with the Gulf War veteran John Nichol.

I duly allowed scans and specified a credit to the family via me. However, no acknowledgement was forthcoming, and even after several emails I heard nothing more, so wrote again withdrawing permission.

Coincidentally, John emailed me this morning to ask for my help for a Channel 5 Documentary he is working on about 617 after the dams raid, and confirmed what I suspected anyway, that he has never heard of 'Declan Smith'. So it seems this person, if that is his name, is contacting people, using John's name, to get material, I presume either for a private collection, or to reproduce to sell.

Keep 'em peeled as Shaw Taylor used to say...
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ME453
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Re: 'Declan Smith' - beware

Post by ME453 »

Forewarned is fore armed Alex!
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Charles
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Re: 'Declan Smith' - beware

Post by Charles »

Alex --
You've also posted something similar on the RAF Commands site.
It was me that put Declan Smith in contact with you. He said that he was working for TVT, the production company making the John Nichol documentary. His email signature gave TVT's website and his own membership of an organisation called Focalint, which appears to consist of freelance picture researchers. So he would seem to be perfectly kosher.
Thea Wroebbel of TVT later confirmed that he had been working for them for "a few days", so I don't think he was there very long.
It doesn't seem to me to be at all unusual that John Nichol does not know his name. There must be quite a few people who pass through production companies for a few days. This particular documentary has been in production for the best part of two years.
I do agree with you, however, that it was rude of him not to acknowledge receipt of the material.
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Re: 'Declan Smith' - beware

Post by Charles »

Well, in the light of recent developments (see my blog https://dambustersblog.com/2017/02/10/a ... ll-report/ ) Alex had a bit of a nerve putting up this post. Declan Smith would seem to be a bona fide professional film researcher. Alex, on the other hand, has been found guilty, according to the judge in his case, of a despicable theft.
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