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PIFs

(July 2012)

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A6
Aylett 67
Just been watching the Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water with the excellent Donald Pleasence as the narrator and must admit this is one of the scariest PIFs ever made, with close competition from The Apaches. However, does anyone remember a particularly scary one about a girl whose mother is sewing with a countdown clock counting down the last minute of the girl's life before she is hit by an Austin 1800? This was a very unsettling PIF and I'm sure it was withdrawn early because it was too harrowing, Tyne Tees used to always show it after Junior Television.
SO
Steven O
One PIF I remember vividly highlighted the dangers of country roads, and featured a Mini driving down a country lane before crashing into a fallen tree that had blocked the road. That was one of the many PIFs which Border used to show during Saturday morning children's programmes in the seventies and early eighties.
ST
Stuart


I've no idea how dangerous 'Vera & Dave' were, or the matches, water and any other every day objects: but I remember the 'mysterious man in black' scaring the living daylights out of me. Shocked

Miiaawowwooui!!!!!!!!!

Charlie was clever! Wink
NT
NorthTonight
I remember a PIF done in the style of a black and white silent film featuring Derek Griffiths which was about learning to swim.
A6
Aylett 67
One PIF I remember vividly highlighted the dangers of country roads, and featured a Mini driving down a country lane before crashing into a fallen tree that had blocked the road. That was one of the many PIFs which Border used to show during Saturday morning children's programmes in the seventies and early eighties.


They seemed to want to scare kids for some reason. You had all the hilarity of Tiswas and then the joys of these in between. I think a lot of it was Border had this paternalistic conservative outlook and they must have thought this was a way of keeping kids safe.
MI
Michael


I like it because it accurately features Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Arms Park and the Angel Hotel. And Superted.

Incidentally this is the second road safety video featuring Jon Pertwee (voice of Spotty) after the more obscure Splink campaign.

Incidentally, this is the real life location: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cardiff+castle&hl=en&ll=51.480982,-3.183718&spn=0.015448,0.038581&safe=off&hq=cardiff+castle&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=51.480999,-3.183934&panoid=v_MTjg16G43a5VtVTzF8Cg&cbp=12,186.43,,0,5.84
SO
Steven O
One PIF I remember vividly highlighted the dangers of country roads, and featured a Mini driving down a country lane before crashing into a fallen tree that had blocked the road. That was one of the many PIFs which Border used to show during Saturday morning children's programmes in the seventies and early eighties.


They seemed to want to scare kids for some reason. You had all the hilarity of Tiswas and then the joys of these in between. I think a lot of it was Border had this paternalistic conservative outlook and they must have thought this was a way of keeping kids safe.


The 'electricity substation' one, where the kid gets zapped trying to retrieve his frisbee, was a particular favourite of Border - barely a week went by without that one being shown on Saturday mornings, sometimes more than once. What often used to intrigue me was the inclusion of PIFs such as the Mini one I mentioned amongst those aimed at kids. Obviously Border must have thought that any parents watching needed educated too.
:-(
A former member
One PIF I remember vividly highlighted the dangers of country roads, and featured a Mini driving down a country lane before crashing into a fallen tree that had blocked the road. That was one of the many PIFs which Border used to show during Saturday morning children's programmes in the seventies and early eighties.


They seemed to want to scare kids for some reason. You had all the hilarity of Tiswas and then the joys of these in between. I think a lot of it was Border had this paternalistic conservative outlook and they must have thought this was a way of keeping kids safe.


The 'electricity substation' one, where the kid gets zapped trying to retrieve his frisbee, was a particular favourite of Border - barely a week went by without that one being shown on Saturday mornings, sometimes more than once. What often used to intrigue me was the inclusion of PIFs such as the Mini one I mentioned amongst those aimed at kids. Obviously Border must have thought that any parents watching needed educated too.


What was this mini one?
SO
Steven O
One PIF I remember vividly highlighted the dangers of country roads, and featured a Mini driving down a country lane before crashing into a fallen tree that had blocked the road. That was one of the many PIFs which Border used to show during Saturday morning children's programmes in the seventies and early eighties.


They seemed to want to scare kids for some reason. You had all the hilarity of Tiswas and then the joys of these in between. I think a lot of it was Border had this paternalistic conservative outlook and they must have thought this was a way of keeping kids safe.


The 'electricity substation' one, where the kid gets zapped trying to retrieve his frisbee, was a particular favourite of Border - barely a week went by without that one being shown on Saturday mornings, sometimes more than once. What often used to intrigue me was the inclusion of PIFs such as the Mini one I mentioned amongst those aimed at kids. Obviously Border must have thought that any parents watching needed educated too.


What was this mini one?


Bearing in mind it's been over 30 years since I last saw it, I'm having to rely on memory, so here goes...

It featured a Mini Clubman being driven down a country lane, with a mother and kids on board. Unknown to them, a tree had fallen down across the lane. You saw the mother and kids chatting and laughing, then the Mini heading around a bend - followed by the sound of brakes screeching and glass shattering as the Mini crashed into the tree, out of shot. The advert ended with the sound of the Mini's jammed horn and a voiceover telling you to take care when driving on country roads.
RE
remlap
I like it because it accurately features Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Arms Park and the Angel Hotel. And Superted.
Also the double decker is clearly the old livery Cardiff Bus.

I just had a vivid memory flashback of watching this as a toddler so thanks for that.
MI
Michael
I like it because it accurately features Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Arms Park and the Angel Hotel. And Superted.
Also the double decker is clearly the old livery Cardiff Bus.

I just had a vivid memory flashback of watching this as a toddler so thanks for that.


Aye, before all this Capital City Red bendy bus bull.
PC
Paul Clark
Few I vividly remember, but I do recall seeing this PIF on the odd occasion in particular.



Also I think a few of the PIFs that I find to actually be the most difficult to watch are in the smoke alarm / fire hazard category...

On the flipside, they don't have to use shock tactics to be memorable, IMO - upbeat and catchy can work just as well :

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