How to pass a variable from page.tpl.php into views_list_myfancyview.tpl.php

So I need to tell a view template about the $node->title of the page that called the view so I can pick a certain flavour of graphic for use in the view.

I've tried 'global'ising the value and picking it back up in views_list_myfancyview.tpl.php - but I guess the code isn't evaluated how I imagine it is and the variable is null.

I only want to tell the view template the single value of $buttColour - but I can't see how it's done.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Ian