Darren Connor was one of those teachers/ friends that always made you smile, no matter what. He taught me all i needed to know about films, explained in great detail pieces of work that needed done, so nothing was missed.
Sadly...... 'Darren Connor, 40, who taught film and TV at the University of Cumbria’s Brampton Road campus in Carlisle, was a leading light in the campaign to save Carlisle’s last independent cinema.
He collapsed at the weekend as he competed in the 50-mile Lockerbie Loop cycle event.
A spokesman for Dumfries & Galloway Police said that he suddenly became ill as he neared the end of the event at around 1pm on Sunday.
Despite efforts to revive him as he was taken to hospital in Dumfries by ambulance, he was later confirmed dead. Police believe he died from natural causes.'
It has been said on the blog 'Movie Ramble' that he died of a massive heart attack..... 'Darren died on Sunday whilst riding his bike to raise money for a charity, he had a massive heart attack and I’m told he died instantly and without pain.'
Claire, Darren's partner posted a beautiful message on his facebook page, thanking others for sharing their stories, which she said 'brought a smile to my face on a day when I never thought I'd smile again.'
The post also said 'Darren died whilst raising money for charity on the bike that he loved after one of the best fortnights he'd ever had; turning 40, holidaying in London to see his hero Jerry Seinfeld, got a new computer, got a new bike, saw his other great hero Morrissey, went out biking to a pub with his great friends and had "the best veggie lasagne" he'd ever tasted....!
He wouldn't have had it any other way.'
I didn't realise he had a blog until now and i would like to share with you a post he published on Sunday 14th March 2010
At last – Toy Story 1 and 2 has been released on blu ray.
I know there are people who will tell you that blu ray doesn’t make that much difference – well, frankly, those people are loons. Visually, blu ray is as good a step up as DVD was from VHS. I’m not a techie geek – I don’t feel the need to rave about textures and shadows – I will, but only if they add something to the film’s narrative.
Toy Story 2 is a rare thing – a sequel that is better than its predecessor. That’s right – not as good or on par. Toy Story 2 is streets ahead of the first one. But let’s be clear here, Toy Story 1 is a classic. It’s not like they knocked out a rubbishy first one to make the second one stand out. Oh no, the first one is full of warmth and derring do – alongside groundbreaking animation and a story that zips along at a fair old pace.
But Toy Story 2 is better! Like Godfather 2 and Aliens, it’s a film that outweighs the might of the original – not an allegation you could ever aim at Smokey and the Bandit 2 or Death Wish 3 . . .
Why do I insist on this? The film is one is one of the few sequels to have more story in the sequel! Well, look at the evidence – the story is a nice reappraisal of the original where Buzz fully accepts his toy role but where a toy store full of Buzz’s don’t! The animation outranks the original in depth, warmth and charm. Woody’s nightmare sequence of being dropped in the bin along with abandoned arms from other toys would not have been out of place in Hitchcock’s Vertigo. The characters age in real time! Not the toys, but Andy, his sister, his mum – even the dog have aged since the original six years earlier. Name me another animation that credits the audience with so much intelligence? Even the smartest animation of its generation, The Simpsons, doesn’t have characters ageing in real time.
Finally, and for any gentlemen of my age, (and this is closing ‘your witness’ statement) it has Jessie singing that song! I can only excuse myself from the room at this point in time during every screening before it becomes suspicious! I cry at movies anyway – I break my bloody heart over this one.
So, like the other two greats mentioned above - Godfather 2 and Aliens, Toy Story is attempting to enter the ring one more time. The odds are stacked against it – has anyone ever praised George Hamilton’s gritty performance or, honestly, stated that Alien3 is the best of the bunch? And I know it was Fincher but it’s still rubbish compared to the rest.
But, right now, everything looks good for Toy Story 3. Andy continues to grow older (he’s off to university) and there is bound to be a song or two along the way. True, ‘Pain in the’ Jessie is back and Buzz looks like a copy of Puss in Boots from Shrek but, whatever happens, due to the brilliance of the first two they will always have a friend in me . . .
This is how i will remember you Darren, as the Lecturer who always had time for his students, who made everyone around around him smile, and most importantly enjoyed every single minute of everything he done
Much Love to friends and family of Darren at this sad time
A True Legend who will always have a friend in me. xxx
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