My School 1963

Some hate their school days; others love them. I belong in the latter camp. I loved my years at the Friends’ School, Saffron Walden so much that, during my final term in Spring 1963, I made a film about the place. It was my first-ever film — shot on an 8mm camera bought at a jumble sale for £15. Despite the Headmaster’s go-ahead, making it was far from easy. Film-making rarely is. The problems, obstacles and disasters are described in the day-by-day diary I kept while shooting. The diary can be read here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TyyS8T8oSHKjYz_MUOtFjvZUueoJKI6m/view?usp=drive_link Unexpected at the time, the film has enjoyed a long shelf-life, remaining popular at Old Scholars’ events for many years afterwards. Sound effects were enhanced in 1991 by the late Sam Muir, audio producer on Byker Grove, when the film was transferred to video. No prizes for guessing whose voice improvises the commentary. A certain 18-year old film-maker!