A Cool Find

Don't feel neglected RA Fan Blog readers.

It isn't you... it's me and my busy life. :)

The good news is tomorrow is November 4th, which means the premier of Spooks 8! 
(I'm counting on you, YouTube. Don't let us non-Brits down.)

Also, I have a fun surprise for everyone to enjoy!

Ever wondered what Richard Armitage looked like as a kid?

Well, see if you can spot School Boy Richard here:

Any luck?

I'll give you a hint... second row, 4th from the left.

I came across this picture thanks to a friend giving me a heads up about it
being posted on Facebook by one of RA's former classmates, Julie Miles.

Here is the un-cropped picture, with Julie's and Richard's names left visible:

I don't know how well you'll be able to read this, but Julie is in the first row,
furthest to the left.  Wasn't Richard such a cute youngster? 
(If I were in his class, I would've been writing little love letters to him,
complete with hearts and stick-figure drawings of us holding hands.)

Curiosity always gets the better of me.

I contacted Ms. Miles, who granted permission to post this picture,
and even answered several questions!  (I always feel like such a pest when asking favors
but most of the time am pleasantly surprised at how kind and generous
people are in return.  So thank you, J!) 

Julie discussing the class picture and going to school with Richard:

"The picture was taken in our last year at Brockington College, Enderby, Leicester - so we were about 14. We were in Mrs Chambers Tutor Group for 3 years from when we were 11 to 14.

He definitely wasnt a brooding loner!  He was very smart but not a swot & got on with mostly everybody - he wasnt a "rolling in mud fighting & footie-mad" lad - might have been a bit musical if I remember rightly. I was a giggler at school, especially at that age and in Mrs Fanthorpe's French Class, Richard was one of us making faces and jokes at each other to start us off laughing and not being able to stop - happy days :-)"

Julie realizing Richard was famous and thoughts on his work:

"I completely missed him until Robin Hood - riding out on a Sunday morning, my friend and I, two thirty-somethings discussing the previous evenings viewing - phew did we see Sir Guy in those leather trousers blah blah blah - he's called Richard Armitage - I was at school with a Richard Armitage says I - then it dawned on me - Guy of Gisbourne was in my Class, how cool was that?!  I watched The Vicar of Dibley (cos he was in it) . . . . to be honest had to hide behind a cushion - think because the character was more like him it made it a bit cringeworthy - cheesy, but in a good way if you know what I mean.  Came across North & South, loved it.  Dont watch Spooks - not for any reason its just not on my timetable.  Favourite Role - oooh - got be Sir Guy - leather trousers, riding horses, twinkle in the eye!"

Again, thank you Julie for sharing this picture!

I'm sure you've put a smile on the faces of many RA fans. :)

Happy "Spooks" watching, everyone!