Missing Lord
Heath's site
I just read the news about Dave Lord Heath having deleted his website on the Bowler Dessert Online. This comes to me as a complete shock.
His site was the most important source of information regarding the detailed contents of Laurel and Hardy films. For me, it had the same status in this regard as Randy Skretvedt's work has regarding the background of the films, as A.J. Marriot's work has regarding the tours, and as the Bowler Dessert Online has regarding current news.
Having been a frequent user of his site, I was not aware of Dave Lord Heath being in dire straits and of his site being a potential source of financial income for him. I think it might be worthwhile to get some discussion going on the Bowler Dessert Online with the aim of finding a solution for Dave's problem. I am not an expert on technical solutions in the internet, but perhaps some other reader is.
Maybe Dave can put up something like a subscription system, so that his work can be accessed in full by customers and with restricted possibilities by non-customers. Or maybe the simple admission of advertisements would do the trick. As his site always has been a work in progress, albeit a brilliant one, a paper version and e-book financed through a crowd funding platform probably would not be an alternative.
Of course I cannot know whether it is still possible for Dave to get his pages online again or whether he has really deleted everything for good. However, I have always been an optimistic person, and I just hope that someone in the world of Laurel and Hardy has a solution that will satisfy both Dave and those that have loved his website.
Fraternal greetings,
Roland Steinert
Two Tars Tent, Germany
We have caught up with a couple of updates, gleaned from Lord Heath on https://www.lordheath.com...
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 14, 2024
Since announcing the removal of the site, I have been overwhelmed with supportive messages and requests for it to return. In addition, and more importantly for me, I have received several donations from several people including people whom I have had no previous contact with. This has helped me a LOT and I want to express my gratitude for all of these. So I want to offer this: from now on, for every £5 donated to the site (per person) I will offer 1 digital download of any site-related film that I am able to share. This way you are helping me and I am offering something in return.
lordheath.com will return in due course and will look different, but it will remain off line for now. Thanks for your support and patience.
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 8, 2024
This website is currently suspended and all pages have been removed from the internet.
I need to clear my head, organize myself and remotivate my life for a short period.
The 13 years' worth of work I have put into building this site from scratch will not be completely erased.
Please bear with me whilst I work through my mental health and I will come back when I am feeling better. I need a break, a rest, a holiday, some mountains to climb and a refresh.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS I HAVE RECEIVED SINCE ANNOUNCING MY REMOVAL OF THE SITE, IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE WANT LORDHEATH.COM TO CONTINUE.
I cannot make the site members-only because that will just be a headache, so what I will say is this: Please, if you can spare it, help support my research, my hours, my time spent making screenshots, writing code, identifying actors and reviewing the films by donating a small amount as a monthly option to the site via the PayPal button on this page. All identities will remain confidential. This is my life. I do not have an income, I do not claim government benefits and often my groceries depend on the help I receive through donations from the work I do on this website.
Thank you.
https://www.lordheath.com/