Local DJ remembers Dallas great

Dallas fans all across the midlands were no doubt saddened to hear of the passing of actor Larry Hagman, who played JR Ewing in the hit show, on Friday last, November 23. One midland man was perhaps touched more by the news than most. Presenter of the afternoon show on Midlands 103 Roy Jennings co-runs the popular website dallasfanzine.com and has been a Dallas fan since the age of twelve. "I was a sad day for me last Saturday when I learned of the passing of Larry Hagman," Roy said this week. "I have been a huge Dallas fan since the age of twelve. I grew up watching JR Ewing and Larry's performance as the ultimate tv villain was the reason I got hooked on the show." Roy hasn't just seen Larry Hagman on screen; he's also met him in the flesh. "In real life Larry was quite the opposite of his alter ego," Roy described. Roy first met his screen idol at the launch of his authbiography in Eason's in Dublin in 2001. Some seven years later he met him again alongside his co-star Linda Gray at Punchestown Races, and in November 2008 he was invited to the 30th reunion of Dallas at Southfork Ranch in Texas. "It was an amazing experience," he said. "I got the VIP treatment that day. After a cocktail hour with the cast of the show in the famous Ewing mansion, I joined Larry on stage for a special charity auction." Back in February 2011 radio DJ Roy did an hour long interview with Larry, where he spoke of his excitement at reviving the roll of JR again in the new series of Dallas. That interview is still available in full on dallasfanzine.com. Though his hero is gone, Roy still has mementos, including items signed by Larry, a Dallas script that had been owned by the actor, and the licence plate of JR's car. Roy Jennings can be heard presenting the afternoon show on Midlands 103 from noon until 4pm every weekday.