Andy The Furniture Maker

[@julianfelipeavilaaguilar4295]

What a delightful, extraordinary piece. From the first sight of Andy one can tell there's more than meets the eye behind his smile and the documentary certainly finds a way of unwrapping those many layers of complexity that make up Andy's whole persona. Such a pity to find out that he died. As Mr. Oremland said in the caption to the video, what a powerful testament to his life. Congrats, Mr. Oremland, for such a brilliant piece of work.

[@marshall372]

Andy is my late brother. Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to get to know him well, but every time I watch this, I know I'd love to have a drink with him! ❤️

[@mickallan8929]

Hi @marshall372, I was a friend of Andy's since around 1984. I visited him a few times in hospital and a couple of times at the care home in borehamwood. And then one day around 2010 I rocked up and - not being next of kin - they refused to tell me where he was or what had happened to him. I miss the old bastard terribly and I never really got any closure Can you confirm what date he passed away? I'm planning to write my story of how I met Andy and our friendship. Don't know what I'll do with it, maybe ask other friends to contribute too. All the best, Mick Allan

[@adonaiyah2196]

He seemed very cool, what was he like

[@hyperballadbradx6486]

Really interesting contrast between the beginning of the end of Andy's position in society..... From the fishing East Angian Coast, flitting from the Navy and from the coppers.... to a fine luncheon with some coarse, artistic types fron the cities..... It lends to the fragility, pure chance but also the grit and tenacity of him. Theres a line between Andys agency, and people around him propping him up or preying on him, Jarman included. I think it's clever of him to be conscious of that and place himself into the narrative.

[@dr.tracieokeefe970]

I knew Andy since he left the navy. He was bi and we had a fling for a couple of years. He was an unfiltered rough diamond fire cracker, enormous fun, so loving and kind. I am sitting next to a lamp he made me and there is a chair on the balcony he made for my wife. Brought them 12,000 miles because they just say Andy. Loved him to pieces :)

[@JJ62]

That’s actually made me choke up a bit. I knew Andy from Covent Garden Cycles, he was a mad keen cyclist too, the first time I met him he jumped on my trike and cornered it like a pro, so I knew he was the real deal. I’ve got so, so many tales to tell of him. He drove me mad, he could be a massive pain in the arse but utterly loveable at the same time. RIP you wonderful mad bastard, you. Miss you, mate. Ian.

[@dr.tracieokeefe970]

He came round to my house and tried to get me to go on a mountain bike up a Welsh mountain in winter and stay overnight. Yeah love ya Andy - but not that much LOL :)

[@coutnatalia]

I love this doc , I'm aways coming to watch again and again ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@zeddeka]

I wonder perhaps if Andy had something like ADHD or perhaps bi polar. Sadly so many young lads who get killed from motorbike accidents have ADHD. In any event, this is a beautiful documentary. A vivid look back at a lost world. I hope at some point that the other episodes from this series are made available. *EDIT* one of my friends who teaches neurodivergent kids watched this and said that within 30 seconds of watching it became quite obvious to him that Andy had a lot of autistic traits. I asked him why and he said 'Everything. The way he talks, the way he looks at the camera. The way he moves."

[@adamatanothervacantspace3033]

it was derek who introduced me to andy at pheonix house and we'd hang out at asylum, + heaven and harpoon louies in earls court- i never kew what happened to andy- so sad to read of his leaving so tragically- a beautiful soul, so much talent- both him and derek- thanks so much for the upload- means allot

[@RC-hc8lp]

I just stumbled upon this by looking for interviews with Derek Jarma. So glad I did, it's great, a lot of fun and insight.

[@mikededmon]

Wow, what a flashback for an 80's kid. My experience wasn't anything like his, but I can so relate to this. Thanks for sharing.

[@adonaiyah2196]

this guy definitely had some of the greatest legs in British history

[@dubiousname5904]

How are bisexual boys thriving this much?

[@classicalbanksy4908]

I remember watching this at the time, and being overawed by Andy's audacity and confidence. Looked it up in one of those "whatever happened to... moods - so sad to read he suffered a motorbike accident and died not long after this was made... RIP, God Bless xx

[@mickallan8929]

It wasn't a motorbike accident. He was jumped and beaten up, jumped up and down on and left for dead by a gang who stole the bike he was riding, a Brompton folding bike he'd borrowed from me. It left him in a coma, he had swelling on the brain and moved from hospital to hospital until he ended up in a care home in Borehamwood where he later died.

[@zeddeka]

​@@mickallan8929Jesus! Where did that happen, and when? I'm trying to work out how old Andy was, too. Hard to tell as he's very boyish

[@mickallan8929]

@@zeddeka He'd be 65 now

[@charlesrae3793]

I saw this years ago, had forgotten all about it; wonderful to re-live my youth!

[@markwardel6751]

wow great to see Johnny Stuart, Peter Fischer and the biker boys too! We lost so many of these amazing characters but this is super-evocative of those times.

[@Stuart-z3q]

I came across this whilst looking up Derek Jarman. Brilliant little documentary. Andy seemed like an absolute character. So, I need some help in something here. I think I have a bed made by him. When I bought it around 12 years ago, I was told it was originally Derek Jarman’s made by Andy the carpenter, however I’ve never had any proof. It is signed/carved on one of the sleepers ‘Andy’. Also, after watching the video, I think it’s the bed that Christopher Hobbs shows as his…can anybody help or has contacts that could help in me trying to find out exactly! I’d be so interested to know. Many thanks

[@1blanchedubois]

Was great to see Andy's face again, that wonderful cheeky smile he had, wish I had met up with again, lost contact with him back in the 80's

[@jameswalters9151]

Lovely to watch this. It perfectly captures the Andy I knew all that time ago. Thank you for sharing.

[@AntPDC]

So sad to learn of Andy's tragic early death. Lovely film; I remember it well, and it is a real pleasure - if bittersweet - to see it again. Many thanks Paul.

[@pauloremland346]

He was someone special. I couldn't imagine Andy as an old man. Thanks for the comment.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Love this!

[@splinterbyrd]

What a pity such a gifted youth died so young.

[@MsNooneinparticular]

Loving "Summertime" by Fun Boy Three in the opening!

[@carolinesimpson9400]

Wonderful!

[@Brion800]

Hello Paul. Thank you so much for uploading this. I saw it when it was first broadcast and have been trying to obtain a recording of it ever since. Accessing it via YT is great, but is there any way you could share a digital file? Thank you.

[@tmunn.youtube]

Hello Brion800, Free KZbin to MP3 Converter is a great piece of free software for ripping audio/video

[@JacksonPolyp]

Who sings the Rent Boy song? That's not listed in the credits

[@pauloremland346]

Hi JP - Jude Alderson who wrote the song for the doco and is an accomplished writer, composer, performer and director with an amazing CV

[@ohwowlovely8733]

@@pauloremland346 Hey, do you know its name or if it is available anywhere?

[@pauloremland346]

@@ohwowlovely8733 Hi - was done for the film so only exists in this form.

[@alexcalledsimon]

brilliant

[@Yonder-Bognie]

❤️

[@richardumfreville6914]

What a load of bollocks

[@aitog7sixnyne]

Fool

[@mickallan8929]

To which Andy would have replied; "Keeping your ears apart".