The 007 MAGAZINE
offices
Since 1979, 007 MAGAZINE
and its archive have been housed at a number of business locations.
Beginning life as ‘The James Bond British Fan Club’, the organisation in
its infancy was created and run by Ross Hendry in Harrow. In 1983 Graham
Rye took over the organisation with the assistance of Andrew Pilkington,
and its location moved to Addlestone in Surrey. In 1988 Graham Rye made
‘The James Bond 007 International Fan Club & Archive’ his full time
professional occupation, moving it into its first commercial office in
Woking. The rest, as they say, is history…
1. & 2. 1987 – working in
the kitchen of his parents’ bungalow was always a cramped business for
both Graham and Andrew in the early days, but necessary due to the huge
influx of mail received on a daily basis.
3. In 1988, 007 MAGAZINE
moved into its first commercial premises, renting one unit at The Mayford
Centre, on the outskirts of Woking, where it would remain for 24 years.
Here for the first time they were able to display many of the James Bond
film props in the archive, including Oddjob’s steel-rimmed bowler hat.
4. & 5. During the first
six years in their office many magazines, newspapers and TV programme
makers from around the world visited the premises to shoot stills,
interviews and other related projects.
6. In the lead up to
their 1990 Convention at Pinewood Studios, Graham Rye designs the artwork
for the events welcome banner.
7. Graham Rye with his
first full-time personal assistant, Jamie Beerman.
8. In 1997 the unit next
door to the claustrophobically cramped single office fell vacant, so it
was decided to expand, and subsequently a
new adjoining doorway was
knocked through into the second unit, where Jamie Beerman efficiently
looked after the day-to-day nuts and bolts of running the only ever
professionally organised James Bond fan-related organisation in the world.
9. Jamie would eventually leave the organisation, unfortunately due to
ill-health, but returned in 1998 after a full recovery. In the interim
period his position was filled by Carly Jones (below).
10. The 007 MAGAZINE
offices became a Mecca for anyone wanting to research their college
dissertations; the press; and the many 007 fans who wanted to purchase all
kinds of James Bond memorabilia. During this period much of our PR was
handled very successfully by Lancelot Narayan (below), who also
contributed regularly to 007 MAGAZINE and 007 MAGAZINE Newsletter (long
now superseded by the Internet) |