B.B.C. ‘INSIDE OUT’ LONDON.

The B.B.C. television producer, Ray Hough, recently sent a camera crew to the B.H.W. Blackpool Show to film me judging, which was planned to be linked up with a filming session at my loft in Claygate. The eight minute film, which also features an in depth interview with our good friend Peter Bryant, general manager of the R.P.R.A., is for the popular B.B.C. 1 show ‘Inside Out’ London. The programme goes out at prime time, 7.30 p.m. on a Friday and features many items of interest from the London and South East of England area.

Ray Hough and I had two meetings at my home in Claygate and Monday, 5th. February was the day set for the film crew to visit and I must say we were very lucky with the weather; it was brilliant, but a bit cold. The programme presenter, Mirander Sawyer, turned up about 30 minuets before the crew, as her taxi had had a good clear run from her home in South London, which was great, as it gave us a chance to have a cup of tea and get acquainted before our days work together. We were soon looking at photos and video of her loverly two year old son on her mobile phone! She originally came from Manchester, moving to London about 15 years ago and is a regular writer for the ‘Observer’ newspaper. Ray Hough, his assistant, Jane Brookes and the crew knocked on my front door at 9.30 a.m. and my house was very soon full with their equipment. The lighting seemed to fill the back garden, which must have impressed my next door neighbours and I was amazed at the time and effort the lads put into getting the light right for different shots. The cameraman, Mark, was a big lad and he informed me that his shoulder mounted camera cost well over £20,000 and weighed nearly 30lbs. Like all the T.V. cameramen who have visited my garden in the past, big Mark was soon the loft kicking over all the water fountains. I must remember to leave them empty next time!

We knocked off at mid morning, to give Betty’s baking a bit of a bashing and when we went in to the house, Peter Bryant had arrived for his inclusion in the film. Peter had made to long journey up the M4 motorway from Gloustershire and told me he knew my neck of the woods, as he had family living in Surrey. Peter is a keen Bowls player and Ray Hough put two and two together, Bryant, Bowls, and West Country and asked him if he was related to the very famous pipe smoking Bowls champion by the name of Bryant. Peter said he was a close relation, but had never played the 80 year old champion. The crew blocked off the windows in my living and turned it into a studio for Peter’s interview, which included talk on the Royal Lofts and Pigeons in the Second World War. Peter answered several questions on the ‘hot’ topic of bird flu as I had too in my filming at the loft, but really all you can do is stay optimistic and hope there is no more out breaks before we start racing in April. I watched them film Peter’s entire interview and as I’ve previously stated many times, he is great ambassador for our sport and is really good at putting over our case to D.E.F.R.A. and the media.

My filming lasted all day and was light hearted, being more about the racing and showing side of the sport. Miranda started by asking me about the time I got my first pair of birds in the 1950’s and it finished at past 5 o’clock that evening with them filming me photographing pigeons in the ‘factory’, my spare bedroom where I do all my pigeon work. In those many hours filming we talked about most of what I’ve done in my 38 years in pigeon racing, writing, pigeon photography, video production, convoying and the normal racing and showing things. Ray wanted to leave out the Band years, Pigeon Lung and the ‘rabbit hutch’ loft system, as he thought they were big subjects and could not be fitted into the eight minute slot properly, and would keep for another day. I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished programme, when Ray brings the Blackpool Show and Claygate loft films together. It will be great!    

Ray Hough is at the very top of his profession and is a great Director, who knows exactly what he wants. I found Ray a very friendly and down to earth guy, but was a perfectionist when it came to his film work. He has been in the industry for many years and has won many Royal Television Society Awards for his films, with one of his most bizarre works being shot in a mental hospital, where he had to stay for three months to complete it. Ray was in directing for 20 years and was film editor for the famous B.B.C. ‘Arena’ series. When I was talking to him on our first meet he told me he had happy years producing ‘Gardeners World’ with the late, great Geoff Hamilton and also produced ‘Paradise Gardens’. Ray has invited me to go to the studios at Boreham Wood to see them edit some of the programme, which I must say I’m really looking forward too. Ray’s assistant, Jane Brookes, has informed me that the programme could be on television within the next couple of weeks, so when I know the date of screening, I will put it in the Elimar website.

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.

I’ve received a phone call from Ray Hough this morning (Friday) and he informs me the pigeon film will be screened on Friday 16th. February 2007 at 7.30 pm ‘Inside Out’ London B.B.C. 1. – Keith.

9/2/07