Holding Your Ground

Description

The film visits three locations where people have been inspired by the environmental organisation 'Common Ground' and the book 'Holding Your Ground' by Angela King and Sue Clifford to list and record all the things that they value in their local community. The details are recorded in the form of a 'parish map'.

First we see the village of Calverton in Nottinghamshire. At a village meeting local people discuss their surroundings which is dominated by the influence of the colliery. Interviewed are: the local artist Sheila Wood; miner Paul Prior; and Kathleen Burrows and Eileen Cupid (?) of the local history group who have both successfully campaigned against a new housing development. We also see the turning pit head wheel and miners leaving their cage.

Next, at Leamington Spa the artist Simon Lewty is seen at work on one of his distinctive maps which show areas around the town in which he enjoys walking. We see Lewty on one of his walks and he is influenced about his maps and his environment.

At Redlynch in Wiltshire local people are seen working on a map which is being made in the form of a quilt. The project's organiser Jane Whittle is interviewed about their influences. We also see the Redlynch group interviewing local people for an oral history project which is being carried out in conjunction with pupils from a school in nearby Morgan's Vale. We see countryside in the area and the villages of Redlynch and Morgan's Vale.

Credits

Commentary - James Bellini
Acknowledgments - Common Ground, Cartographia Limited
Cameramen - Julian White, Bob Bolt
Sound - Phil Middleham, Barry Pritchard
Production Secretary - Annie Clarke
Production Assistants - Pat Radford, Annette Cunningham
Graphics - Stuart Kettle
Film Editor - Andy Chandler
Researcher - Victoria Stable
Producer - Vivica Parsons
Writer and Director - Lawrence Moore

Notes

Central Television production number 8002/87. Calverton Colliery closed in 1999.