ARTS

A FILM MAKER’S POINT OF VIEW

In early July I was given permission by the Lincolnshire Heritage Aviation Centre in East Kirkby to photograph its Lancaster aircraft called ‘Just Jane’ for a scene in my Llandow Air Disaster production. The Lancaster, which played a prominent role in the RAF’s Bomber Command offensive against Germany between 1942 and 1945, was designed by Avro’s Roy Chadwick, and is undoubtedly one of the classic aircraft of all time. Chadwick’s civilian Tudor aircraft was designed in the later years of the Second World War, and used the same wings as the Lincoln bomber, which was itself derived from the Lancaster. It was a Tudor 5 airliner that crashed at Sigingstone near Llandow in 1950 with the loss of 80 lives. So it was important for my film to show the Lancaster as being the forerunner of the Tudor. At East Kirkby I photographed ‘Just Jane’ doing engine start-ups and taxiing runs, shooting the scenes in black & white to give a wartime look. I thoroughly recommend anyone with an interest in aviation to visit the museum at East Kirkby and not only look at this wonderful old aircraft but also listen to its four powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.

Anthony Hontoir Downwood Films 07510 934299

Picture: Anthony Hontoir filming Lancaster aircraft (photo courtesy of Louise Jones)

STAG’S WORLD OF ROCK

By the time you’re reading this, we should all be out of lockdown and free again! For how long, who knows? I see Planet Rockstock, the music festival held at Trecco Bay in November, is sold out already. They have had some top bands there, including Thunder, Magnum, Uriah Heep and Dead Daisies. This year, The Darkness tops the bill. They are not one of my favourites. If they played in my garden, I’d close the curtains! However, a few groups worth seeing are Gun, Massive Wagons and my buddies Those Damn Crows, so it should be fun. Nice to see that Chartered Hurricane’s C.D., which I recently featured, is selling well. Guitarist and songwriter Mark Jones told me they’ve had orders from all over the world, including Japan, Belgium, Australia and U.S.A. for copies, so that’s great news. Let’s hope live music can get back up and running again fully, it makes my job so much easier with plenty of news coming in. Thanks for the invites to the local jam nights – I will venture down soon, I promise. In the meantime, keep me up to speed with your music news.

Stag Marks 07549 728356

Photo: Stag Marks

PYLE & PORTHCAWL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

We’re a very friendly camera club with a mix of male & female members and welcome new members of all ages and skill levels, it’s all very informal so if you have an interest in photography why not join us, we usually meet on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm at St Clare’s School, Newton CF36 5NR but our meetings are currently suspended due to the Coronavirus situation so we’re currently holding competitions etc. online instead. Our program is available at www.pyle-porthcawl-ps.co.uk

Geoff Baker