behp0282-billy-jordan-summary
SIDE ONE
Born 1918, Peckham, London. Schooled locally. Went to Borough Polytechnic took photographic course, father a bookmaker, set him up with two others as a landscape gardener in Dunton Hill, Neasden. (The site is now occupied by Samuelson Lighting). Unfortunately, one of the partners had his hand in the till and the firm went bankrupt. For a time, he worked in his father’s betting shop, but as he says his spelling was bad and by the time he got it written down the race was over and the bet invalid. His father had a friend at Pinewood, probably one of his agents called Bill Street, who spoke to Bill Law, the Camera Department Manager at Pinewood and in 1937 he joined the Camera Department; he talks about his period at Pinewood and then about his freelance period; some interesting material about working at Pinewood and also at Elstree. With the outbreak of war, called up into the RASC. Sent to France 1940. Talks about his escape at Dunkirk and then finally being called for an interview at the Marylebone Hotel to meet David MacDonald, with whom he had worked on This Man is News. He is sent off to join AFPU No 1, [Army Film & Photographic Unit] and he talks about the poor quality of equipment and the difficulties of filming tank battles.
SIDE TWO
He arrives in Tunis and joins up with the AFPU No 2, is in on the invasion of Sicily, gets wounded also receives the MM [Military Medal]. He is then sent to [Monte] Cassino and joins up with Bill (Eric) McConville. Gets severely wounded again and finally is sent back to Pinewood to become an instructor but as Grade C2 is excused all kinds of duties. On demobilisation joins Pathé News along with John Rudkin, another AFPU cameraman. He talks about Ken Gordon and Jock Gemmell. Whilst he was with Pathé News he was sent to Korea, and then later to Malaya. He talks about making documentaries in Kenya and about equipment.
SIDE THREE
He talks about making documentaries and his problems with a director (Mike Furlong) with whom he settled his differences and they worked together a bit later. He also hints about his marital problems, and eventually making feature films as a Lighting Cameraman. Here is a technician who has enjoyed every minute of his career. [END]
