Berwick set to shine on the silver screen
Peter Waite, promoter of the Andersons Quality Butchers Bandits of Berwick will go to any lengths to get good solid positive publicity for his beloved speedway team, and indeed the town in which they are based on the English Scottish borders, but breaking a leg?
To be fair when the leg was broken, Waite hadn’t got a clue of the damaged limb’s significance, as it happened in the middle 1970s during a speedway race, yet more than 30 years later his clash with former Bandit, Lex Milloy, who collided with Waite from behind, sending the then rider Peter Waite over the safety fence and into hospital with a career ending break, has provided both men with an unbelievable opportunity to get Speedway, the Berwick Bandits and the town of Berwick upon Tweed starring rolls in a brand new motion picture, soon to go into production on the banks of the River Tweed.
The World class team behind the venture is highly impressive as Lex Milloy has joined forces with Trinity Pictures and director Rod Woodruff, along with the experienced Bollywood producer, Manu Kumaran of Medient Entertainment ably assisted by Waite, are to begin filming of a new full-length motion picture entitled 3,4,5,6, a story which traces the real life adventures of Lex Milloy, a rider who rode for Berwick, amongst other teams before moving on to the world of film stunt work, on and off motor-powered machinery.
The biopic will follow Milloy from his earliest memories as a kid growing up in the world of bikes, through his discovery of Speedway, his development in the sport right up to the horrendous crash that ended his own career on the shale.
The filming will take place from July at Berwick Speedway meetings, and the town and district, with several period pieces being planned including a reconstruction of the old Meadowbank pits from the 1960s with authentic clothing, and bikes of the era.
Waite never saw Milloy after that career-ending crash in the 70s, not until 3 months ago when Milloy and Trintiy Pictures contacted Waite with the idea, an idea thoroughly embraced by Waite who never shirks a chance of getting the Bandits branding into the public eye, although he had to fight long and hard to make sure that entire shoot would be taking place at Shielfield Park and the town of Berwick upon Tweed in order to maximise the benefits for “his” own part of the World.
‘I instantly saw this as a chance far to good to be overlooked as the exposure this new movie should give Berwick and the Bandits could not be bought for any amount of money!’ said a thrilled Waite. ‘Once things came to me there was no way I could let this one escape from Berwick and I think Trinity will only agree when they view the final cut that there was no better place to set this thrilling story of one man’s passion for motorbikes and racing.
‘Filming will start at Berwick meetings and in the town at the start of July and is expected to run for 5 or 6 weeks including in our speedway pub, The Grove, just up the road a well as in the entire district.
‘This has got to be the absolute most exciting venture I or the club have been involved with in this 40th season, or any of the previous 39! It’s going to be a fantastic experience and a load of fun for all concerned, but the most important thing is the boost the Speedway club and the district will get once this movie hits the big silver screens globally!’
Casting has now been completed, and it’s expected in the next week or two, the cast-list will be revealed so shooting of the new picture can start on schedule right at the start of July