THE BIG FIVE 'O' by Sylvia Bull

On the 3rd October 2002, to celebrate both H.M. the Queen and our own Golden Jubilee and in collaboration with Jeremey Hart curator of Bourne Hall museum our chairman Ken Kendal presented a programme of our films in the presence of Epsom's Mayor and Lady Mayoress Councillor and Mrs Keith Mann and some 60 members of the public.

The first half of the programme consisted of newsreel films made on film and transferred by Norman onto video. In some cases Norman had to add sound effects -i.e. horses galloping and jumping at a fete and spot welding at bridge works on the Ewell by Pass. One of the early films had a very descriptive commentary by an unknown narrator- who, regretably, hesitated and stammered a little in his delivery - Norman with his wonderful editing bag of tricks was able to practically eliminate all of these glitches so that the film and commentary ran very smoothly. We saw old newsreel films showing extremely youthful members of the Royal Family - H.M. the Queen, Prince Philip, The Queen Mother and Pricess Margaret arriving at Epsom Downs station for the Derby. Another film starred Princess Margaret opening a new wing at Epsom General Hospital. In yet another film the t.v. personality Katie Boyle was the star attraction at the opening of a fete - she came complete with a shopping basket containing her tiny dog! We saw footage of the demolition of the two cinemas that used to be in Epsom - they were demolished some years apart but Epsom Cine Society was there to record their sad demise. One of my favourite newsreel films is the one that Diggy and John Ellis put together about the closing down of Epsom Indoor Market and I was particularly pleased that this was also included in the programme. The first half was rounded off by showing the Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Epsom - and we were treated to the sight of the Mayor being "wired for sound" with John Ellis craftily concealing the microphone and cable beneath his mayoral finery.

Who do you turn to when you want a coffee break at E.C. & V.S. ? - Eve Mottram of course. Reliable Eve was once again at hand at Bourne Hall and had overseen the filling and heating of a vast cauldron of water, had purchased the disposable beakers, milk, coffee, tea, sugar and biscuits and had arranged tables with it all set out ready for the inevitable onslaught. Ella Dennison very kindly leant a hand and I was a poor third but I am sure everyone had as much tea, coffee and bikkies as they could have wanted.

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