It is said that Ivan Straker, Seagram's UK chairman, became interested in the potential opportunity after reading a passionate newspaper article written by journalist Lord Oaksey, who, in his riding days, had come within three-quarters of a length of winning the 1963 National.

Barlow is an apparent recluse ; only his business partner, Richard Straker, is seen in public.

Operating behind the cover of the Harlington-Straker Studios movie studio in England, SHADO is headed by Commander Edward Straker ( played by Ed Bishop ), a former United States Air Force Colonel and astronaut who poses as the studio's chief executive.

Pinewood's studio buildings and streetscapes were used extensively in later episodes, particularly " Timelash " and " Mindbender ," the latter featuring scenes that actually showed the behind-the-scenes workings of the UFO sets when Straker briefly finds himself hallucinating that he is an actor on a TV series and all his SHADO colleagues are likewise actors.

Commander Edward Straker ( portrayed by Ed Bishop ) is a former American Air Force pilot and astronaut originally from Boston, Massachusetts who organized SHADO following a series of UFO attacks in 1970.

However, Straker is fond of cigars, and he can be seen smoking in some episodes.

Freeman is Canadian – Straker sometimes calls him amicably " The Canadian " ( in the French-dubbed version ).

He appears to have overseen the training of Paul Foster following his recruitment to SHADO ( in the episode ; ' Exposed ') and formed a friendship with the new officer, they are seen out at dinner in ' The Dalotek Affair ', Freeman is a key figure for scenes with Straker in the MGM Borehamwood episodes but besides episodes ; ' Identified ', ' Computer Affair ', ' Flight Path ', ' E. S. P.

' & ' Court Martial ' he is largely a SHADO control based senior figure unlike Foster (& later Straker himself ), having no further background character development.

It can be inferred that Straker and Henderson, once close friends, became somewhat estranged after Henderson is injured in the car crash following a UFO attack in the pilot ' Identified '.

# A Word in your Ear-a DJ is plagued by calls from those he has wronged until he cannot bear to go on listening ... It featured Kerry Shale as DJ Rick O ' Shea, Jane Whittenshaw as Tracey, Adjoa Andoh as Donna, Mark Straker as Keith and Clarence Smith as Sparks.

Sir Louis Hilton Straker, KCMG ( was born in Layou on February 23, 1944 ) is the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Sky 1 is barely able to launch, allowing Captain Waterman to notify SHADO of the vessel's location, but several crewmembers, including SHADO Commander Ed Straker, Paul Foster, and Nina Barry, are trapped below the surface.

His roles include Brutus in Julius Caesar ( 1953 ), Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel and The Desert Rats, the amoral valet turned spy in Joseph Mankiewicz's 5 Fingers, the declining actor in the first remake of A Star Is Born ( 1954 ), Captain Nemo in 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea ( also 1954 ), a small town school teacher driven insane by the effects of cortisone in Bigger Than Life ( 1956 ), a suave master spy in North by Northwest ( 1959 ), a determined explorer in Journey to the Center of the Earth ( also 1959 ), Humbert Humbert in Stanley Kubrick's Lolita ( 1962 ), a river pirate who betrays Peter O ' Toole's character in Lord Jim ( 1965 ), the evil Doctor Polidori in Frankenstein: The True Story ( 1973 ), the vampire's servant, Richard Straker, in Salem's Lot, and surreal Royal Navy Captain Hughes in Yellowbeard ( 1983 ).

Straker's closest friend and best man at his wedding, Freeman was the very first operative recruited into SHADO by Straker ( as seen in " Confetti Check A-OK "), Freeman finds standing in for Straker difficult in ' The Responsibility Seat ' but in other episodes such as ; ' Close Up ' has become confident at handling control in Straker's absence.

Les Straker was the first Venezuelan to pitch in the World Series.

The Cardinals drew first blood off Les Straker on a Tommy Herr home run in the first, and the Twins countered with two in their half of the first on RBI singles by Kirby Puckett and Don Baylor.

The aeronautical industry first came to Fishponds in 1914 when Brazil Straker on Lodge Causeway began building Rolls Royce aircraft engines for the RFC in World War I. Cosmos Engineering bought the firm and designed and produced the famous Roy Fedden-penned Mercury engine before it was subsequently taken over by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1920.

Occasional other guest voice actors were also used, such as Ed Bishop ( Commander Straker on UFO ) who voiced the Megan Prosecutor in " The Magicks of Megas-tu ", and Ted Knight who voiced Carter Winston in " The Survivor ".

SHADO Commander Ed Straker also travelled aboard SkyDiver from time to time, despite his near-crippling claustrophobia.

She also appears to be attracted to Ed Straker, though nothing comes of this.

Though Straker and General James Henderson were once good friends, this presumably has the effect of straining their relationship and causing friction between the two men .</ br >

Straker and Henderson butt heads frequently over the needs of SHADO and economic realities.

Over time Henderson appears more and more resentful of Straker.

However, later episodes such as ' Destruction ' ( where they share a working breakfast in Straker's office ) and ' Timelash ' where Henderson refers to Straker as " SHADO's most important piece of manpower ..." suggests a remaining bond of friendship.

Two key images from " A Question Of Priorities " – Straker's son being struck down and his ex-wife declaring she never wants to see him again – are repeated in flashback in two subsequent episodes, " Sub Smash " and " Mindbender ," suggesting that Straker remains haunted by these unresolved emotional issues.

In contrast, the UFO series makes it clear that Ed Straker has had to completely sacrifice his personal life for the organisation, and that although he has learned to live with the fact, he has never forgotten the suffering it has caused to him and people he loved most.

His subsequent persistent investigation of the incident threatened to expose SHADO's existence and Straker considered having him killed, but instead was impressed enough with Foster to offer him a position with SHADO.

He managed to convince the local firm of Brazil Straker to hire him, and the design was produced as the successful Shamrock.

Timeframes are never given for events before the series, but it would be reasonable to presume that their marriage had ended by the end of the flashback presented in " Confetti Check A-OK ." As if perhaps to show her opinion of Straker and his cold attitude, Mary registered their son as John Rutland, after his new stepfather, played by Philip Madoc .</ br >

* George C. Straker 1921 – 30

The 1970 – 71 British TV series UFO, in the episode " Mindbender " has the lead character, Col. Ed Straker, briefly entering a dimension where he's an actor in a TV series called UFO.

Antioch historian Robert Straker wrote that Mann had been “ crucified by crusading sectarians .” Ralph Waldo Emerson lamented “ what seems the fatal waste of labor and life at Antioch .” Mann ’ s wife, who wrote in anguish that " the blood of martyrdom waters the spot ," later disinterred his body from Yellow Springs.

It becomes clear to the bumbling British diplomats assigned to find a solution, Gregg ( Basil Radford ) and Straker ( Naunton Wayne ), that defeating the Burgundians would be no easy task, so they negotiate.

Straker in the TV series, UFO.

The alien craft can survive for far longer underwater ; one episode, " Reflections In The Water ," deals with the discovery of a secret undersea alien base, which shows one UFO flying straight out of an extinct volcano, which Straker describes as " a back door to the Atlantic.

" A Question Of Priorities " takes this exploration further, and hinges on Straker having to make the life-or-death choice of whether to divert a SHADO aircraft to deliver life-saving medical supplies to his critically injured son, or allow the aircraft to continue on its mission to attempt a last-chance intercept against an incoming UFO.

Straker realises, however, that the drugs will not affect their basic motivation and, worse, he cannot reveal the truth to local legal authorities.

" But UFO adds a drama twist: Straker repeatedly injects a drug ( X 50 stimulant ) to remain awake during the time freeze, which results in Straker being hospitalised in SHADO's medical centre.

" sees Straker negotiating with SHADO's financial supporters for funding to build more moonbases within 10 years.

Straker masquerades as the head of Harlington-Straker Film Studios, SHADO Headquarters being located directly below the studio.

In " A Question Of Priorities ," John was later seriously injured when he was hit by a car and Straker, against his own rules, used a SHADO aircraft in order to fly in antibiotic drugs from America.

Straker suffers from claustrophobia, a fact known only to the SHADO doctors and Alec Freeman.