62 Years and Counting
RON PRIME'S prowess as a film-maker was much in evidence at this year's
festival, where three beautifully constructed and evocative films featuring the
restoration of the village windmills, the restoration St Cyriac's bells and
the events of the millennium year were greatly appreciated by a near-full-house
audience, as too was the exhibition of black-and-white photographs of historic
village events.
Ron started his film career with a spell with Rediffusion (some of us will remember this!) and, as well as his professional involvement, further sharpened his skills with a London film club. For villagers who had not had the opportunity to see these films before, it was quite a shock to see themselves and their neighbours take starring roles in BBC quality documentaries; but Ron's work always is of this standard.
As the editors guzzled their pop-corn in the second row, they couldn't help but reflect on the historical importance of work such as this. Although daily inundated by media reconstruction of anything and everything, this honest record of English village life as it was actually lived here in the latter part of the 20th century and early 21st is nevertheless extremely rare.
However, one black-and-white photo was noticeable by its absence: Ron and Betty Prime themselves, getting married on June 9th 1945. CONGRATULATIONS, Ron and Betty, on your sixty-second wedding anniversary!