This week’s meeting sees us handing over the reigns to someone else as we welcome a guest speaker to share their wisdom and knowledge of filmmaking.
Stepping up to the plate is Tim Jones, who will be familiar to some of the longer tenured club members as he was once one of us.
Tim Jones
Tim, son of Colin Jones, nephew of Thorvald Nlodvisson, the son of Gudleif, half brother of Thorgier, the priest of Ljosa water, who took to wife Thurunn, the mother of Thorkel Braggart, the slayer of Cudround the powerful, who knew Howal, son of Geernon, son of Erik from Valdalesc, son of Arval Gristlebeard, son of Harken, who killed Bjortguaard in Sochnadale in Norway over Cudreed, daughter of Thorkel Long, the son of Kettle-Trout, the half son of Harviyoun Half-troll, father of Ingbare the Brave, who with Isenbert of Gottenberg the daughter of Hangbard the Fierce, first joined OVFM when he was just a foetus and was making films before he could even walk. After graduating from nappies Tim won his first SERIAC award and became the one of the youngest members ever of the IAC to become a Fellow. Now able to walk by himself and earn his own pocket money, Tim is a senior lecturer at Christ Church College Canterbury in the Film and TV department, which is located round the back of the main building next to the dustbins.
Tim will be sharing with us memories of his time as an OVFM club member along with an illustrated talk on the origins of amateur film making. And if there is time perhaps we could encourage father and son to recreate their famous fan dance that won them second place in the “All Comers Humiliate Yourself For A Plastic Trophy Worth About 2 Pence” contest at Butlins in 1974 (narrowly beaten by Pinky the flatulent hamster).
With ingredients like that the dish de jour must be the OVFM Ramble!
The gang gathered early and there was a palpable enthusiasm to get on and conquer what we would later call ‘The North Face of Shoreham Hill’. But for now we were blissully ignorant of the trial ahead and we set off with a spring in our step and a wag of our collective tails…energetically led away by Teddy the dog.
The weather was lovely and the company lovelier as we strolled through glade and cross meadow with the picturesque vista of the downs before us. Deborah led the naturalists (no! I don’t mean those who undress in public!) in a hunt for butterflies while the rest of us put the world to rights and enjoyed the entertaining antics of our four legged companion.
Just SOME of the butterflies spotted and photographed by Deborah
But then the hill struck! With the first flight of rough and steep steps stretching out before us, seemingly into the sky, the ramble claimed it first victims and we reluctantly bid farewell to two of our party.
Our Four Legged Friend Andy
Be Careful You Don’t Step on any Nature!
A Real Teddy Boy
As for the rest of us we soldiered on. Clamp-ons were not needed…but only just, and by hook and by crook we muscled our way to the top. The climb was worth it (yes it was!) as the view from the top of the Darenth Valley was breathtaking (or was it that I was still out of breath!)
We dallied awhile at the chalk cross and took in the scenery. The chalk cross was created in 1920 as a memorial to the local men killed in action during the First World War. Naturally our thoughts turned to war and the conversation of those old enough to childhood memories of the Second World War, bombing raids, doodle-bugs, rationing, evacuation and all the experiences and feelings associated with that time of turmoil.
Rested and eager to reach our goal we set off downhill and into Shoreham Village, following the bank of the River Darent along by the old mill and behind the charming cottages with their tiny gardens that seem to dabble their toes in the cool water of the river. An angler we passed boasted proudly of the multitude of different fish he caught in that river but we spotted nothing but the odd leaf floating by.
Arrival at the pub meant time to break for refreshment. With a plan hatched to lunch and relax and then meet-up for afternoon tea in the Church we went our separate ways.
The churchyard offers a great place to sit and from certain angles you can spy the chalk cross on the hill where we had been just a short time before. It’s a lovely view even when the storm clouds gathered ominously overhead. Fortunately the downpour, the torrential downpour, occurred while we were safe and dry inside the church enjoying our cakes, scones and tea…thanks ladies of Shoreham Village!
Eventually we had to admit that we couldn’t eat anymore and that we must reluctantly take the bit between our teeth and begin the return journey. As we began the Shoreham Hill climb our ears pricked at the sound of an aeroplane, a very special aeroplane, and as we gazed up in wonder a beautiful Spitfire executed a turn in the blue sky above our heads! The sound was fabulous, and the sight of the sun glinting on it’s propeller a perfect picture. What a great climax to our ramble! The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight had been at an event at Biggin Hill over the weekend so it seems likely that this lone time traveller from seventy odd years ago was part of that party.
With our spirits lifted we were given wings of our own and practically flew up the hill with Brenda at the head of our formation. Even the sun shone down on us to speed our way. Actually it was hard work tramping back…the hill definitely seems steeper since the last time! But we did eventually make it. Well done all.
Our annual Top Ten competition continues at this week’s club meeting with round number three.
So far we’ve had a total of eight entries in the competition – four each for the first two rounds – which isn’t bad but could be better.
Can we add to the total with a higher number of entries in this round? Let’s look and see who has been chosen to participate in round three:
Reg Lancaster
Malcolm Goodwin
Lee Relph
Sylvia Snipp
Basil Doody
Cherie Hamlet-Smith
Frank Hyde
Ann and John Epton
Peter Mitchell
Chris Coulson
Please reply to this post if you will be providing a film at this week’s session, along with the running time, picture ratio (16:9 or 4:3) and media format (DVD, Mini DV, etc). This is a tremendous help in planning out the time allotment of the meeting.
If you don’t then have a film ready please let Brenda Wheatley know so that she can try to find someone else to fill the gap in the evening. If your film is ready early please feel free to bring it along to any Top Ten night and if there is time we will show it.
If you miss your given round you can bring your film along to a later one, but it will only be shown after those drawn for that round, if there is time.
The results from the previous round can be found HERE.
As always with Deborah and I the emphasis is on the social side of the ramble rather than the macho slog of it. This is not one for those wanting an iron man challenge, but if you do want nice views, nice company, a pub lunch and homemade cream teas and cakes for afters, than this IS for you!
2013 The Time– !0.15am for 10.30am The Place– Andrew’s Wood Carpark, Shacklands Road, TN14 7BD, off roundabout between Badgers Mount and Polhill. The Route– To Shoreham Village and back. Highlight– Cream teas in St. Peter & St. Pauls, Parish Church of Shoreham, 2pm – 5pm.
The round trip distance is only approximately 5 miles in total, but there is a hill and a couple of stiles to negotiate. If you can only manage half the distance transport can be organized to get you back. ALL are welcome!
