Recollections from teacher, Pat Feather
Saturday, 16 December 1972 09:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arthur_of_the_britonsPat Feather wrote in response to a request posted on behalf of this archive in the Chew Valley Gazette.
Some of the children from her school performed as extras in "Arthur of the Britons." Children featured prominently in "The Wood People" and "The Treaty." Given that Pat recalls seeing Arthur riding his white horse, and Arthur did very little riding in "The Wood People", the episode in which her class appeared was probably "The Treaty."
At the time, I was a teacher at the village school at Compton Dando, near Woollard, (a very small school, now defunct) but with delightful children who entered into becoming ‘extras’ with what can only be called ‘over enthusiasm.’ I took about 10 children daily for, I think, a week or so, and well dirtied with mud, they ‘acted’ in the well-constructed village, by the river Chew. We also enjoyed the use of the canteen van.
It was useful to me, as a teacher, as much local and ancient history was woven into the experience – we made a little village using local materials, and much was done in writing experience. I am too old to remember much more, but it was a jolly good exercise for the children – and they were so absorbed in the actual filming. Our little school received some reward (can’t remember how much!) from the film unit, greatly appreciated.
I can also recall seeing that lovely white charger galloping up and down a field in Compton Dando, with a ‘knight’ on board – super!
One of Pat Feather's pupils, Nigel, also offered some recollections.
Some of the children from her school performed as extras in "Arthur of the Britons." Children featured prominently in "The Wood People" and "The Treaty." Given that Pat recalls seeing Arthur riding his white horse, and Arthur did very little riding in "The Wood People", the episode in which her class appeared was probably "The Treaty."
At the time, I was a teacher at the village school at Compton Dando, near Woollard, (a very small school, now defunct) but with delightful children who entered into becoming ‘extras’ with what can only be called ‘over enthusiasm.’ I took about 10 children daily for, I think, a week or so, and well dirtied with mud, they ‘acted’ in the well-constructed village, by the river Chew. We also enjoyed the use of the canteen van.
It was useful to me, as a teacher, as much local and ancient history was woven into the experience – we made a little village using local materials, and much was done in writing experience. I am too old to remember much more, but it was a jolly good exercise for the children – and they were so absorbed in the actual filming. Our little school received some reward (can’t remember how much!) from the film unit, greatly appreciated.
I can also recall seeing that lovely white charger galloping up and down a field in Compton Dando, with a ‘knight’ on board – super!
One of Pat Feather's pupils, Nigel, also offered some recollections.