Policeman (An Unearthly Child): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|individual name= Policeman
|image        = <gallery>Police man.jpg|Cranfield
|image=
Policeman (DW 50Y).jpg|Paxton
|alias=  
</gallery>
|species= [[Human]]  
|species      =  
|home planet=[[Earth]]  
|origin      = [[Earth]]
|home era= [[20th century]]
|affiliation  = Reg Cranfield{{!}}PC Cranfield
|appearances = ''[[The Pilot Episode]] (non-canon)''<BR>[[DW]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child]]''
|affiliation2 = Clough (Shroud of Sorrow){{!}}Sergeant Clough
|actor= [[Fred Rawlings]]<br>[[Reg Cranfield]]
|affiliation3 = The Doctor's TARDIS
}}
|job          = Police officer
|job2        = Constable
|mother      = Margery Whittam
|father      = Arthur Whittam
|partner      = Emma Clarke
|first        = An Unearthly Child (TV story)
|appearances  = {{Il|[[PROSE]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (short story)|An Unearthly Child]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[Shada (novelisation)|Shada]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who: 50 Years (trailer)|Doctor Who: 50 Years]]''|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Last Day at Work (audio story)|The Last Day at Work]]''}}
|actor       = Reg Cranfield (actor)
|other actor  = Fred Rawlings
|other actor2 = Joseph Paxton
}}{{you may|Reg Cranfield}}
On [[22 November]], [[1963]], a '''[[police officer|policeman]]''' walked past [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] stationed inside [[76 Totter's Lane]] in [[Shoreditch]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (short story)}}, {{cs|Who Killed Kennedy (novel)}})


A '''Policeman''' was patrolling the [[Shoreditch|Coal Hill]] area carrying a torch and was seen on [[Totter's Lane]] on a foggy night or pre-dawn morning. As he passed the [[76 Totter's Lane|junkyard]], he shone his torch on its wooden gate, which read "[[I.M. Foreman]] - Scrap Merchant - Totters Lane". He paused for a moment, then quickly moved on to continue his patrol. He did not notice or bother about the odd humming sound coming from inside. ([[DW]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child]]'')
== Identity ==
Various conflicting accounts existed regarding the policeman's identity. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)}}, {{cs|Shroud of Sorrow (novel)}}, [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Last Day at Work (audio story)}})


==Behind the scenes==
According to one account, this policeman was [[PC]] Fred Rawlings, a human policeman. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Shroud of Sorrow (novel)}})
*The policeman has the honor of being first character to appear on-screen in ''Doctor Who''.
 
*Reg Cranfield played the policeman seen during the opening credits of "[[The Pilot Episode]]" and "[[An Unearthly Child]]" according to the BBC Production Paperwork [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pasb/pilotepisode.pdf 1] and [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pasb/unearthlychild.pdf 2].
According to another account, he was [[Constable]] [[Bernard Whittam]], a projection of the TARDIS's [[chameleon circuit]] designed to accompany its [[police box]] exterior, however this projection went on to live a life for five years afterwards. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Last Day at Work (audio story)}})
*Some sources credit the role in the Pilot Episode to [[Fred Rawlings]] [http://www.tnelson.demon.co.uk/cult/a07/a007578.htm 1], [http://nzdwfc.tetrap.com/archive/tsv36/pilotepisode.html 2], [http://www.eofftv.com/episodes/d/doctor_who/1st_doctor/unearthly_child_pilot_main.htm 3] and [http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/a.html 4]. Either these sources are mistaken or Rawlings played the part in one of the unused versions and the BBC Production Paperwork is mistaken.
 
[[Category:humans with unknown names]]
== Biography ==
[[Category:human police officers]]
The policeman patrolled the [[Shoreditch]] area through [[Totter's Lane]] on a foggy night on [[22 November]] [[1963]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Who Killed Kennedy (novel)}}) As he passed [[76 Totter's Lane]], he shone his [[torch]] on its [[wood]]en [[gate]], which read "[[I.M. Foreman]] — Scrap Merchant — 76 Totters Lane". He paused for a moment, then moved on to continue his patrol, ([[TV]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (TV story)|namedep=An Unearthly Child (1)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (short story)|namedpart=Prologue}}) failing to notice one of the gates swing open. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (short story)|namedpart=Prologue}})
 
The policeman did not notice nor bother about the humming sound coming from [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] that was hidden inside the junkyard. ([[TV]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (TV story)|namedep=An Unearthly Child (1)}}, etc.)
 
According to one account, the policeman had stopped by before and had noticed the [[police box]], and found it curious that such a thing should be in a junkyard — reasoning to himself that the box was there because it had worn out and had been sold for scrap. He had heard a rumour that police boxes were eventually going to be phased out altogether in favour of every constable having a personal walkie-talkie radio but personally didn't believe such a thing would ever happen. The policeman returned to the junkyard the next night to find the police box gone and ended up thinking he must have imagined it. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)}})
 
According to another account, when PC Rawlings returned to his [[police station (Shroud of Sorrow)|police station]], [[Sergeant]] [[Clough (Shroud of Sorrow)|Clough]] observed that Rawlings was "as white as a [[sheet]] [and was] blabbering on about people in the mist who weren't really there". Rawlings then claimed to his fellow officer [[Reg Cranfield]] that he had come down with the [[flu]], leaving Cranfield to take Rawlings' shift on [[23 November]], though Reg suspected  that Rawlings had had one too many [[alcohol|drinks]] at the [[Rose and Crown]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Shroud of Sorrow (novel)}})
 
According to a third account, Bernard Whittam lived on for five years afterwards, unaware of his nature as a facet of the TARDIS's chameleon circuit. In his new life, he had a mother, [[Margery Whittam]], and a father, [[Arthur Whittam]]. He also had a wife, [[Emma Clarke]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Last Day at Work (audio story)}})
 
=== Legacy ===
After [[Skagra]] was captured by [[The Ship (Shada)|the Ship]], it played the first scan of [[the Doctor]]'s adventures it could find - the scratchy, [[monochrome]] opening sequence formed on the [[holo-screen]] of an Earth policeman walking down a foggy [[London]] street. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Shada (novelisation)}})
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* The policeman has the honour of being the first character to appear on-screen in ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]''.
* He was portrayed by [[Joseph Paxton]] for the [[Doctor Who: 50 Years (TV story)|50 Years]] trailer.
* Reg Cranfield played the policeman seen during the opening credits of "[[The Pilot Episode]]"<ref name = ep0script>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pasb/pilotepisode.pdf BBC Production Paperwork] of [[the Pilot Episode]]</ref> and "[[An Unearthly Child (episode)|An Unearthly Child]]"<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pasb/unearthlychild.pdf BBC Production Paperwork] of ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]''</ref> according to the BBC Production Paperwork, but the role in [[the Pilot Episode]] was actually played by [[Fred Rawlings]] which was the only casting change between it and the broadcast episode.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020327041401/http://www.tnelson.demon.co.uk/cult/a07/a007578.htm The 'Fred Rawlings' Page on tnelson.demon.co.uk via the Wayback Machine ]</ref><ref>[http://nzdwfc.tetrap.com/archive/tsv36/pilotepisode.html New Zealand fan club's essay] of the [[the Pilot Episode]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110514205956/http://www.eofftv.com/episodes/d/doctor_who/1st_doctor/unearthly_child_pilot_main.htm Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child - Pilot (1963) on eofftv.com via the Wayback Machine]</ref><ref>[[DWMS Summer 1994]]</ref> Either these sources are mistaken or Rawlings played the part in one of the unused versions and the BBC Production Paperwork is mistaken.
 
== External links ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:Metropolitan Police officers]]
[[fr:Policier (An Unearthly Child)]]
[[Category:Artificial beings]]
[[Category:Unique beings]]
[[Category:Individuals who have been inside the Doctor's TARDIS]]

Latest revision as of 03:47, 3 November 2024

You may be looking for Reg Cranfield.

On 22 November, 1963, a policeman walked past the TARDIS stationed inside 76 Totter's Lane in Shoreditch. (TV: An Unearthly Child [+]Loading...["An Unearthly Child (TV story)"], PROSE: An Unearthly Child [+]Loading...["An Unearthly Child (short story)"], Who Killed Kennedy [+]Loading...["Who Killed Kennedy (novel)"])

Identity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Various conflicting accounts existed regarding the policeman's identity. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)"], Shroud of Sorrow [+]Loading...["Shroud of Sorrow (novel)"], AUDIO: The Last Day at Work [+]Loading...["The Last Day at Work (audio story)"])

According to one account, this policeman was PC Fred Rawlings, a human policeman. (PROSE: Shroud of Sorrow [+]Loading...["Shroud of Sorrow (novel)"])

According to another account, he was Constable Bernard Whittam, a projection of the TARDIS's chameleon circuit designed to accompany its police box exterior, however this projection went on to live a life for five years afterwards. (AUDIO: The Last Day at Work [+]Loading...["The Last Day at Work (audio story)"])

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

The policeman patrolled the Shoreditch area through Totter's Lane on a foggy night on 22 November 1963. (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy [+]Loading...["Who Killed Kennedy (novel)"]) As he passed 76 Totter's Lane, he shone his torch on its wooden gate, which read "I.M. Foreman — Scrap Merchant — 76 Totters Lane". He paused for a moment, then moved on to continue his patrol, (TV: "An Unearthly Child" [+]Part of An Unearthly Child, Loading...{"namedep":"An Unearthly Child (1)","1":"An Unearthly Child (TV story)"}, PROSE: "Prologue" [+]Part of An Unearthly Child, Loading...{"namedpart":"Prologue","1":"An Unearthly Child (short story)"}) failing to notice one of the gates swing open. (PROSE: "Prologue" [+]Part of An Unearthly Child, Loading...{"namedpart":"Prologue","1":"An Unearthly Child (short story)"})

The policeman did not notice nor bother about the humming sound coming from the Doctor's TARDIS that was hidden inside the junkyard. (TV: "An Unearthly Child" [+]Part of An Unearthly Child, Loading...{"namedep":"An Unearthly Child (1)","1":"An Unearthly Child (TV story)"}, etc.)

According to one account, the policeman had stopped by before and had noticed the police box, and found it curious that such a thing should be in a junkyard — reasoning to himself that the box was there because it had worn out and had been sold for scrap. He had heard a rumour that police boxes were eventually going to be phased out altogether in favour of every constable having a personal walkie-talkie radio but personally didn't believe such a thing would ever happen. The policeman returned to the junkyard the next night to find the police box gone and ended up thinking he must have imagined it. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)"])

According to another account, when PC Rawlings returned to his police station, Sergeant Clough observed that Rawlings was "as white as a sheet [and was] blabbering on about people in the mist who weren't really there". Rawlings then claimed to his fellow officer Reg Cranfield that he had come down with the flu, leaving Cranfield to take Rawlings' shift on 23 November, though Reg suspected that Rawlings had had one too many drinks at the Rose and Crown. (PROSE: Shroud of Sorrow [+]Loading...["Shroud of Sorrow (novel)"])

According to a third account, Bernard Whittam lived on for five years afterwards, unaware of his nature as a facet of the TARDIS's chameleon circuit. In his new life, he had a mother, Margery Whittam, and a father, Arthur Whittam. He also had a wife, Emma Clarke. (AUDIO: The Last Day at Work [+]Loading...["The Last Day at Work (audio story)"])

Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

After Skagra was captured by the Ship, it played the first scan of the Doctor's adventures it could find - the scratchy, monochrome opening sequence formed on the holo-screen of an Earth policeman walking down a foggy London street. (PROSE: Shada [+]Loading...["Shada (novelisation)"])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The policeman has the honour of being the first character to appear on-screen in Doctor Who.
  • He was portrayed by Joseph Paxton for the 50 Years trailer.
  • Reg Cranfield played the policeman seen during the opening credits of "The Pilot Episode"[1] and "An Unearthly Child"[2] according to the BBC Production Paperwork, but the role in the Pilot Episode was actually played by Fred Rawlings which was the only casting change between it and the broadcast episode.[3][4][5][6] Either these sources are mistaken or Rawlings played the part in one of the unused versions and the BBC Production Paperwork is mistaken.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ BBC Production Paperwork of the Pilot Episode
  2. ↑ BBC Production Paperwork of An Unearthly Child
  3. ↑ The 'Fred Rawlings' Page on tnelson.demon.co.uk via the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ New Zealand fan club's essay of the the Pilot Episode
  5. ↑ Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child - Pilot (1963) on eofftv.com via the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ DWMS Summer 1994
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