22nd February 2006
NewsWales
Two ex-police officers have made a breakthrough into the movie world after a rainy day in Snowdonia led to a change of career.
Now Mal Beer, 51, and John McMahon, 52, are looking forward to the premiere of a film to be staged in Wrexham this summer.
And the two former school friends say that Hawk The Movie has boosted their Llay-based business, Smart But Casual.
The film, starring one of Wales’ best known actors, Philip Madoc, is a fantasy based on Celtic folklore. It tells the tale of a young boy, Rowan, who retreats into the world of fantasy when his grandfather dies. Philip Madoc plays the part of Gawain, who leads Rowan to new experiences in the mystical world.
Behind the scenes, wet weather gear supplied by Smart But Casual kept the cast and crew snug and dry. The company is now well established but they were given a leg up the ladder to success when they attended the Ideal Home and Lifestyle Exhibition Wales in Wrexham last September.
And they’re so pleased with how they got on, that they were the first to put their names down for the second exhibition which is having to move to a bigger venue. It is being held at the pavilion at the International Musical Eisteddfod ground in Llangollen on Saturday and Sunday, April 8 and 9.
John said: "The 2005 Ideal Home Exhibition was a perfect opportunity for us, as a new venture, to make new contacts. We hope to build on that this year. It's also very convenient for us, Llangollen being so close to home."
On show will be their promotional items such as T-shirts, sweatshirts and fleeces, as well their range of technical garments including waterproofs and underwear suitable for sport and other activities.
The two were pupils together at the Blessed Edward Jones High School in Rhyl, Mel having lived in Denbigh and John in Rhyl.
They lost touch with each other when John joined Lincolnshire Police and Mel joined the army. Eventually both joined North Wales Police and they met up again in the canteen at Wrexham police station.
Having completed his 30-years' service John retired, and Mel left the Force on health grounds. A firearms officer, he suffered damage to his ears when a grenade exploded close to him during a training exercise, and he now suffers from tinnitus.
One day, they were asked by John's son Michael, a film producer, to look for suitable locations for a film to be made in the Capel Curig area.
"Thinking there would be some important people there, we wondered what to wear, and decided on smart but casual, but as it happened we had to climb trees and do all kinds of things," said Mel.
"One of the people there joked that if we ever went into business we should call it Smart But Casual, and that is what we did," he said.
They noticed that few of the people involved in the film, which stars the Welsh actor Philip Madoc, had inadequate wet-weather gear, and so they agreed to supply them.
That set the ball rolling, and they haven't looked back since.
The partners are delighted with the progress, and are attracting a lot of interest with their Under Armour clothing.
It is already worn by several world-famous sportsmen and sportswomen England cricket hero Kevin Pieterson, tennis legend Martina Navratilova and Blackburn Rovers American goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Exhibition organiser Chris Edwards, from Company Wise Promotions, said: “ We’re absolutely delighted that Smart But Casual will once more be taking a stand at the exhibition.”
“I’m glad that we have helped play a small part in the evolution of the company and their presence at the event in Llangollen will provide us with a touch of movie glitz and glamour.”
According to Chris, there are just a few exhibition stands still available for local companies who would like to be part of the event and more details are available on the website: www.idealhomewales.co.uk
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