Alan Lawson 0:02
The copyright of this recording is vested in the actt history project. Ron Hill technicolour technician, interviewer Alf Cooper, with Alan Lawson recorded on the 26th of January 1989. side, one . Ron when and where were you born?
Ron Hill 0:39
Born in Hackney Yes. in Hartford road Hackney. Yes.
Alan Lawson 0:44
What was in 1910 1910? Yes. And what kinds of schooling did you have?
Ron Hill 0:51
elementary? Yeah. Ordinary straightforward elementary job.
Alan Lawson 0:54
Yes. Where was the school?
Ron Hill 0:57
schools Cottenham road?
Alan Lawson 1:02
And did you have Did you get after the schooling? Do you have any training for anything at all?
Ron Hill 1:08
When I left school I got fixed up. Dad fixed me up with a job working with a plumber. Yes. Now working with` that plumber did really good.
Alan Lawson 1:24
Yes.
Ron Hill 1:26
And I worked with him until the three estates he was working on ran out. That was good. I would do you know North London at all. Yes. Oh, you know,
Alan Lawson 1:42
what was it Wood green in that area?
Ron Hill 1:46
Yes. But do you know Moontide? Park? Yes. That was one big estate. Yes. That was built by Smertens. And there was another one just nearby built by Ernie Kendrick. There was a they were owned all new places. Normally we use a woman's featured plumbing. Ha. He prepaired a lavatory kind of. Yeah, but now this was how
Alan Lawson 2:19
installation. proper installation worked. Absolutely. Yeah.
Ron Hill 2:23
And that in itself did me a whole load of good in mind I have hard drugs.
Alan Lawson 2:31
What? You started what at 14
Ron Hill 2:34
Then did you 14 yes What What did they pay you? Oh, I think my I think I was payed ten shillings a week
Alan Lawson 2:45
where you were an apprentice or just a mate No, just a mate. And what happened after that? After the plumbing job, what did you do then?
Ron Hill 2:59
Well, you chasing around trying to get another job with plumbers was not easy. Because you had to have a city of London guild to get in with a firm of West end plumbers. And new is no way neither by hand. Because I hadn't passed the test at the Polytechnic. I used to go to the northern polytechnic in Prince of Wales road. No high road Holloway road. Then, from then on. I had a job when I was short term. Because firms were packing up. Yeah. Firms used to last for 10 minutes. And then everybody would be out.
Alan Lawson 3:56
This was what this was beginning of the slump, wasn't it? This was the beginning of the slump
Ron Hill 4:02
that's right.
Unknown Speaker 4:06
And 26 28
Alan Lawson 4:08
Yes. What was it? What happened then? What What did you know? After your your part time jobs, freelancing? What did you do then?
Ron Hill 4:18
Well, I got into Moyes Camden town.
Alan Lawson 4:23
Yes. Now how did you get that job?
Ron Hill 4:26
That was picked for me by a friend of Sammy Newman. You've heard of Newmans Sammy Newman he was the boss. Oh, dad had worked for him. Oh, goodness, knows how many ` years old together was in about six years. Yes. But that time had elapsed as part of this premium.
Alan Lawson 5:02
What did you do at Moyes then? What work did you do at Moyes
Ron Hill 5:10
all kinds of things when I go back saying hard to do jobs. That show as general engineering you knew.
Alan Lawson 5:29
Just going back a second talking about your father. He was he was working at Newman Sinclair. What what actually did he do at Newman? Sinclair?
Ron Hill 5:39
Who's his timekeeper? Yes, that was his main, his main job. Yes,
Alan Lawson 5:44
I see.
How many.
How many brothers do you have? I know you had George and Ted
Ron Hill 5:51
five brothers George. Ted Alf Ted and Gerald? I see a brothers all Oh, yes.
Alan Lawson 6:01
Yes. Did did they all go into ?
Ron Hill 6:05
No George is the eldest. He went to Newmans he went to Newmans` when he was 14 years. The next one, which forget if Alf or Bob was next eldest, that Bob went to Newman for a short time, but he couldn't stand the pressure put it that way. Knowing his his father worked there. He probably worked there. He he, he did a good cyber. So I'll turn it in. Eventually when the Air Force but he was a very, very good engineer. And he finished up as works manager for the our fellows who were bottle filling machine manufactures I have a patents about the first people to do business. My motion? Yes. And anyways, brother Tate. Hey, he started work at Plessy overv at Ilford, later on he went from Plessy to at night money firms. Engineers should be measured repeatedly This is just off of Oxford Street.
Alan Lawson 8:23
They hadn't come into being then just off Oxford Street. Now, he wasn't it wasn't Newman and Kingston on the line
Ron Hill 8:36
Newman Allaria? then he went on from there two years in there and then took over the reins when George left went down to the Bush. Yes, he became foreman.
Alan Lawson 9:00
Then the other brother,
Ron Hill 9:02
and it was Charlie. Oh, Charlie was the only one in the family. That didn't take anything mechanical. He worked for Shell Mex & BP. And he worked himself to a very good position. Very good job. I knew you'd have to treat it very well. Importantly, after you've been retired for about four, four years, five years. He'd bought a house at a restaurant, not just his side and walked across in front of us. That was that
Alan Lawson 9:57
now we come back to you. But then You know, whichever way we look, we see a hill in the business I think Coming back to you. You worked for Mo0yes and then but then after Moyes Where did you go?
Ron Hill 10:19
After Moyes George was busy on a sound rig Yes. Now when he perfect he called me up shares in the same house he called me up CG Roy. He says the jobs waiting for you.
Hush. Oh, yeah. He said, Are you interested? He said he working in the film industry? Yes. Well, he said I can pick you up with a dog. We've lived in Edmonton.
There you should set up a dish that I will be making the sound head that with John Marlowe and everything tied up together is John Marlowe, Ted. And George.
He said I've got stop and think all right. Oh, shit, if you want to start working. He said I can fit you up with a dope. So the job was with
people at Edmonton. And they will not they were known as Harli brothers, Isiah was Harry. Li he was Charlie. So the two the two friends set up in business but Previous to that they had worked for Houghton and Butcher When they started this other business, it was very successful. And then they made a mint of money and I went over there is the idea of working on the sound on the channel disk. Yes. I would do in sound just the turntables ever hear out Yes. And
That didn't last very long. Did it
no that lasted for a period about proximately six months of course by that time. I got my tips. they got rid of everybody pretty well. Now only` kept on with about three girls. And they were on call one he did other moulds making moulds.
Alan Lawson 13:50
Yes whatwere they for you Can you remember,
Ron Hill 13:54
Camden Town but that was nothing nothing on my side.
Alan Lawson 14:05
Then Then what what happened when you got the chips when What happened? Then? Where do you go?
Ron Hill 14:10
After? half day I went down to Moyes to ` do camera cover rows or can bail engineers and ear? cam Yes. l camera girl and their speciality was near the` Wembley head projector. Yes, of course. We noticed I used at that time that everything was just going on nicely. Yes. Filming she was friendly loads of money and it was attracted by certain people. Buisness very good. About my about When
Alan Lawson 15:10
was this? What
Ron Hill 15:11
What about what you haven't been written about 19 in 28 29
Alan Lawson 15:17
so sound was coming in really
Ron Hill 15:20
just coming in. Yes, yeah, of course. George was working with his heads yes. And he paid me the very early stage
Alan Lawson 15:33
and where were those heads been fitted to the cam cameras? or projector or not?
Ron Hill 15:39
Oh no, no, no. No tying up at all between George
Alan Lawson 15:48
now, how long did you stay at Cam
Ron Hill 15:50
Stayed at Cam's I think it was about 18 months in that period and that was when nine uncommonly they used to be at Kingston or they shut down and engineering places all over the country shutting down tight
. It was only about nine in 29 time.
Alan Lawson 16:29
What were you earning by then? How much were you earning by then? Some about a tenner I think
Ron Hill 16:48
pretty good. Really?
Alan Lawson 16:49
Yes. Yes.
Ron Hill 16:50
Yes. For those days Yes.
Alan Lawson 16:53
Yes.
And why did you leave Cam
Ron Hill 16:57
I had to got cards?
Alan Lawson 16:59
I see
Ron Hill 17:00
what the person is last in first out Yes.
Alan Lawson 17:05
I see a
Ron Hill 17:06
ghost with the within the scene to self being not in a happy position.
Alan Lawson 17:15
What What did you do after that after Cams?
Ron Hill 17:18
After Cams I had been off work for about a fortnight and I have a letter from Ravensbourne? and in it. Just stated he would like to see me. He put a note behind underneath it. It is with regard to a job. So kept me guessing all the time when I went to see him I'd got my tools only. Oh, he said you got it. Got it. Got your toolkit with you. Oh, he saw I beg your pardon. He said I could be explained. Whitmore's has nothing to do with this. But he said this to do with Lawley appraisers. Now, I had worked on this Lawley appraisers business for some considerable time.
Alan Lawson 18:22
Where does that thing where did you work on the Lawley then before this?
Ron Hill 18:28
No.
Alan Lawson 18:29
I will see later I interrupted you. Sorry.
Ron Hill 18:34
Let me just let me he stated he would pick me up yet. He didn't go any further. But what he would what he did was he picked me up with the Lawley appraiser because they wanted to instal the stuff down at Shepherds Bush. I've got photographs of it.
Unknown Speaker 19:09
how
Ron Hill 19:23
so I went down to see Lawley. Always Mr. Lawley, but we preferred to the Dawley. And he was quite pleased to take me on. But there may be time he said there may be a wait of doing wait I can't guarantee He said because we're waiting for the opportunity with work on the building. You'd be unfinished. Then we'd get in. Usually, if you're willing to wait for me And take a chance on it all the way to the point and then got a note from . Mr Lawley. And we started work started work on the on the Monday it there was one other chap you working with him. But he was more than just working because He designed or not not not design. But he was a draughtsman on the whole job. So he you get bits and pieces of a one. I was very useful that in my time of plumbing and that type of work. I just fell into job. quite natural
Alf Cooper 21:05
processing machines. So that was a wet quick way to put it. But they did make some mechanical stuff inside. Yes. I'm a bit confused there because I've never imagined you'd worked on the wetside with with Lawley developers. Nothing. I thought you know, we've been under. Yeah.
Alan Lawson 21:26
Well, we'll have a look at those again.
Ron Hill 21:30
Yeah. To
Alan Lawson 21:35
then you must have while you were there, did you did you have any contact with the Bush people at all? Hitchcock and and Bill? Yes. Not old man, Hitchcock. And Bill, Bill Girdlestone. Did you
Unknown Speaker 21:51
go there was it? Yes. Yes.
Unknown Speaker 21:53
Yes.
Ron Hill 21:55
Yes, I use Mr. Hitchcock himself was a type of man. If you if you go to it. You could actually get something back. You could put up as it Yes,
Unknown Speaker 22:21
yes.
Ron Hill 22:21
But personally, I go. He always used to come around the place every morning and holding all the walls. Never, never said this. Because I always say that. Mistakes happen hoping that he would come along and take note of the work of going on. Because he and Lawley were bosom pals and they were very crafty engineers as well to such an extent that they wanted to devise depth gauge because they will develop a one to two on the three machines.
Alan Lawson 23:31
I remember them I was I was at the Bush at that. That period actually in the studio. That's why I asked you about Hitchcock.
Alf Cooper 23:45
his company's had his Sunday, Tiffany Cochran. Oh, yeah, yeah, he's been confusing in the manager.
Ron Hill 23:54
Oh, hold on. Can I use a B and D as working out the boot time? Can you remember? Okay. No, big engineer's ramp No,
Alan Lawson 24:06
I really now I don't
remember them.
How long were you at the Bush then we're working on that.
Ron Hill 24:16
It's hard to I can't remember that time but I would say it was about nine months just trying to get through in finished Yes.
Alan Lawson 24:28
Then what happened after Lawley's is or did over after that Job did you stay with Lawley's?
Ron Hill 24:35
No. I spoke to Hitchcock about a job down there. So he says I can't make any promises at all. He said we've got our own people here he said. I have a vote this way. If I don't work out between them. I'll get rid of them Anyway, there's no need for that.
Alf Cooper 25:17
Where do you go after that Ron?
Ron Hill 25:21
After that, I went to Yes. Cams head world members and director Angle? can remember, you know, again a very curious shaped head but a very clever bloke. Again, I had a letter from Leonard Corm? in so he was pleased as well going on. And they were offering me a job at the new firm they were starting up. So I went down and see them Simon. I see. The point is he said, we are out to smash Cams. I said, look I am, not interested. I said if you want to give me a job I am only too pleased to work for you but I don't want to know politics. Now, fair enough. Lawrence came, he was a young boy. But he was a stepbrother. to them. He been an awesome family and the old chap died he took the youngsters schools and then he left and came to work at Cam's after time things got so bad that they fell out between them all I knew was with Willie. Willie a worker and Fred and Cam and Lawrence Lawrence came Leonard came as l came and co, yes. So the decision was made available Lawrence would take over the business and naturally, they will pull out between the hole and then each Leonard Cam put down an awful sum of money well it was in those days anyway to get this other firm going. Tuv? Trailers. Yes. Can you remember them? I remember the name is now they started and the first thing they did was to draw them in the fall with a machine shop Okay. That was the first move to finish Cams off on of course he did a lot of damage to them. But this particular individual and I couldn't see either way. I just couldn't be no good I suppose. Oh six months and Leonard Cam went on holiday. And of course by this time Leonard Cam and Eleanor then came and Erica were a unit. Fred, Fred, not with Fred and Walker. And they paired up leaving the other two Woody and Lawrence Payne to look after Camden Co well in the meantime, forget what happened now oh no came up on the holiday and Pinky in retirement he cottoned on to me he got a totally outside of your damn job because I hadn't done any turning over months and months
he gave it a drawing and this particular Job got interrupted cut he was overseas as a partial time and i had got a tip tool on loan on how to use a tip tool on a job with interrupted cuts is not a good plan to go to and of course the tool broke came rarely is charged off is no good no we don't mean to say because you know i boarded up on that back i said
is no turn up on the friday night paying out of av he paid me and my cards that was very nice of him only says I know your father I said that's right said i know your sister because my sister used to be secretary duroing the war the first world war.
Thats right you know my father you knew my sister but apparently him you don't know me as that appointment as messiness i said what you're doing you're listening to one side of a discussion and one time only you shut your ears to what you don't want to hear i should never get to where you want to go on i said and you're not a man i thought i was out about for couple of weeks and Dad put me up at Newman's so i served my apprentice here at Newmans because i've carried over now i was indeed George rescuers in 1930 after in 31 and i stayed here for about seven years
Alan Lawson 33:41
what year did you actually go to newman's was about the same time that george went
Ron Hill 33:47
oh yes
Alan Lawson 33:50
no no i did when george left did you go yes
Alf Cooper 33:54
I see after George went when i see so you never actually worked we'd go get newman not would go much no
i thought you know this talk for that in about i thought connecting work with you
Ron Hill 34:09
i work with ted ted took over to the show
Alan Lawson 34:15
what was it like working with your brother
Ron Hill 34:22
hydrogen
Alan Lawson 34:27
he got all right
Unknown Speaker 34:29
yes
Ron Hill 34:31
but you couldn't you couldn't call your face your own no
Alan Lawson 34:48
yes well yes i'd like to talk a little bit about old man Newman what was he what was your impression
Ron Hill 34:58
of him and Very, very clever chap. Yes. You can't You can't say that he was number?.
Unknown Speaker 35:23
Yes.
Ron Hill 35:25
And what he said went and he would not brook any interference any ideas
Alf Cooper 35:39
was the place opposite where you live in Granville
Ron Hill 35:45
Highgate
Alf Cooper 35:47
have a place in your outlet
Ron Hill 35:50
yes eventually because obviously almost That's right. That that was when they were moved by the war office a they came from what they called a cowshed which was either you replace the word literally one time it was a cowshed. There is a right next right next to the Woodentonstone public house. Very convenient.
Alf Cooper 36:21
Well, if God ain't he and I could have found a cowshed at a few years before we retired before he died. We were trying to salvage 16 million developing business improvement in find a place big enough to rent
Alan Lawson 36:33
good I can remember when I was with Baird television, old man Newman was making us a 17.5 camera today split split 35 I remember going to going down to him and him demonstrating to us how he cut sprockets a used a piece of string and a loop on the pencil made various arcs all the way around. He said well that's the template was it was that true?
Ron Hill 37:14
Did he do we didn't do for the smart thing What were you to do when I was the there? We turn up the sprocket on a barrier to maintenance and you're left a ridge all the way round yes and then that you report on the drum machine the 80s which was a knock up job part of a naive and borrow some of the wishful thinking and there was a fire cover
Unknown Speaker 37:54
yes
Ron Hill 37:55
500 would be on a spindle here will be a part of itself and it would revolve quite fast and he used to cut 2040s and there used to be accurate
Alan Lawson 38:19
I mean the the the Newman was the Rolls Royce of the hand camera.
Unknown Speaker 38:24
beautiful Are you an engineer
Alan Lawson 38:28
but he was a beautiful job but they were very slow to make them right they well they're all handmade
Ron Hill 38:37
oh that was bright easy. We used to make I would say sixty cameras a year.
Alan Lawson 38:51
Did you do any of the wood work on the magazine.
Ron Hill 38:53
No not the wood work no that was a crafty job that was done by another class of people all together that I will say are today going on German job
Alan Lawson 39:13
Yes. Which was made up from all made up from sheet yes all handmade incredible quite incredible
Ron Hill 39:23
I've got a little booklet
Unknown Speaker 39:32
yes he's
Ron Hill 39:33
It was quite quite a masterley job.
Alan Lawson 39:39
The one thing that people probably don't know about the the patent that was always put on the Newman. Did you ever have any? Did you do any of that making the clip the diamond power? Yes.
Well, how was that done?
Ron Hill 39:55
Well now first of all, you got all the plates of your camera. Yes. You got it. Right get bottom plate, packing plate plate inside. Right now you'd have to fit all your cases up first. When you came up and finish all holes, linedm up. Yes. Out roll retightened pieces. Everyone will be numbered. And then the boys in the back will have the job have sand paper and stripe green. All the plates.
Unknown Speaker 40:34
Yes.
Ron Hill 40:35
And when I say straight grain, there are no curtains up to there then come back. Right over over the top. So you've got no curl at all. Having got there is they had a little g which was lines. Yes. Yes. Come across. Yeah. Did you what type of page and shift under the two arrows new double cross circular cross section. One section would be polished. Now that was done with a piece of cork and emery powder. Now on the second one one would be polished, and the other would be matte. Yes. You got the two. Clear lines
Unknown Speaker 42:04
What did I do
Alan Lawson 42:07
on that? Oh,
Ron Hill 42:07
no, no, no, no, no, no, it's
Alan Lawson 42:09
it was a it was a very it was very elegant.
Ron Hill 42:13
Very nice. Very,
Alan Lawson 42:15
very distinctive, very distinctive. But they didn't Unfortunately, they didn't make them quick enough. You're 60 and he's about 60 a year. That's
Ron Hill 42:31
60. I don't know about because there was the fourth, maybe three. Maybe straight after magazine.
Alan Lawson 42:51
Because there was a 400 footer.
Ron Hill 42:53
That was a big girl. Yes. Yeah. It used to
Alan Lawson 42:57
that was only made presumably made to order was it at all? Yes. We go. We answer but 200 foots using the spring motor was a very good motor. Pre war days. It wasn't so good during the war because of the springs.
Ron Hill 43:20
Couldn't get the springs. I say no, of course during the wartime. Tech. You say yes.
Alan Lawson 43:28
Yes.
Alf Cooper 43:29
Did you leave New Mexico?
Alan Lawson 43:35
Yes, ma'am. So you stayed at Newman's until What? 38 set t
Ron Hill 43:42
38. And
Alan Lawson 43:45
what why did you leave? Or did they leave? You
Ron Hill 43:48
No I had the opportunity offer another job? From John Marhead. Yes. Now, John Marhead? was working at Bush when he was offered the job of Chief maintenance technical camera department camera
Unknown Speaker 44:12
for my eggs.
Ron Hill 44:13
I shortly afterwards. He contacted me about Yes. just moved in Sanford run. not changing job. Just as easy as that. We'll call the job I was in within your job. Nothing new is wrong. Jamie Joby on initially that was to work in the in the camera department at technicolour servicing all the cameras.
Alan Lawson 44:56
Yes, but I'm going to stop now and I'm going to Change sides.
Alan Lawson 0:02
Ron Hill side two. Before before I hand you back over to Alf going back to Newman's Did you come into contact with no any of Newman's customers at all while you were there?
Alf Cooper 0:15
Yes, quite a lot. Can you remember them?
Alan Lawson 0:20
Do you remember Syd Bonnet at all,
Ron Hill 0:22
Sid Bonnet was ever ever is he had an Austin seven that's right? And he came down a one day outside here to get can in some parts for his Austin. So I went across to the PRC over the dam. And that was parts of it. And he came down with data. And his phone was ringing his camera? was in the sound was well, 14 or so. And he was playing around with my son who was about four and he was giving him rides on his shoulders. And as he came running around the Austin seven show Tony slipped Tony's face hit the straw. And he was grazed all fine old mess. And he talks about Sid Bonnet managing.
Alan Lawson 1:32
Did you did you meet Sid at all down in Salisbury road when? When you were Newman's Did Syd ever did it ever come down to him?
Alf Cooper 1:43
No, I never saw him Yes, I did dream. I can't think of when this was but 1933 or 34 there was an expedition to India to Everest.
Alan Lawson 2:07
That was it. That was the one yes said flew over Everest.
Alf Cooper 2:13
And he took he took with him. John Marners nine five camera. Yes. Which he couldn't use because it was too cold.
Unknown Speaker 2:28
Yes.
Alf Cooper 2:33
I've got the camera. I've got that camera upstairs now Really?
Never ever said that. But I've never.
Alan Lawson 2:45
Did you meet any of the other customers at all? Can you remember?
Alf Cooper 2:49
Well, I met one two of them. But the point was you know the Benjamins used to be at Technicolour Newman DS. Yes, it was the first first section is the governor's office. Yes, right there. Then there was a space Yes. With the machine. Very Okay. Now the first bench Ted & Bob Hune
Alan Lawson 3:19
Yes, I remember Bob yes as well. Yes.
Alf Cooper 3:21
I used to work on the on that bench. The second one had Tony Matthews on that. Third one. Jack Cotterell?. Now, Jeff, when they get in, I worked on the next one. So there was a space Yes. Twice. You will
Alan Lawson 3:57
you learn way from the customer. Yeah. Well, I think what we'll do now is we'll we'll we'll, we'll go over to Technicolour now. I'm going to hand you over to Alf right. Right.
Alf Cooper 4:22
When you when you left when you left the Newmans and came to Tech you were not a member of ACT then were you?
Ron Hill 4:29
No
Alf Cooper 4:30
who pulled you in to ACT you did her work. Okay, Ron. So when you first came down to Tech, the the actual department starting up it wasn't really well going Was it because of we've only been going what since 37.
Yeah, it was a it wasn't fully staffed by any means You see all the handling was For five cameras, D one, D, two, D, three, D, four, my roll three strip out three strip, and D, five, D, five D was a type of camera that was originally paid for purposes. And E was English. So that we had four cameras of the E. And one
Alan Lawson 5:40
of the D
Alf Cooper 5:47
Those four cameras did us very well, right through the years is until all the new ones are made by people of Pittsburgh. Yes. Newells yes.
Alan Lawson 6:17
Did you did Ron? Did you help make those E's? Did you help make those E cameras?
Alf Cooper 6:25
No No It's a specialised job to such an extent. First of all, there was no part on the camera, which really needed many factors. Again, I chose a remaining factor. But the only time when things were manufactured was when Newells? accepted the contract to build us I think it was 15 cameras. And they also build a load for the states Yeah, that was the only time that technicolour parts were manufactured because each part was a lifetime job yeah, I'm saying we put on no need to worry. How he gets his general service in it we used to carry out religious
You used to make room for a lens mount` and thing for addition to that for
Lens mount. Yeah, that was that was later to, I started making lens mounts when the cameras came down from Newells? without any lenses. When we got the lenses as the raw lens itself from
Alan Lawson 8:02
Cooks,
Alf Cooper 8:03
Cooks, TG & H. And we used to I used to fit them. I would build a mount. right way through to each camera. 75 50 35 some had a 40. But there's a minimum number of lenses per camera. But
Alan Lawson 8:35
actually we've jumped we've jumped to after the war. I haven't been because news didn't start until after the war.
Alf Cooper 8:43
No. You started at your day job. I couldn't start until the war commitments are here.
Alan Lawson 8:52
So I think we we also I think we let's hold off on Newell at the moment. Let's let's try and go in and progress actually.
Ron Hill 9:01
So
Alf Cooper 9:02
when you actually came to tech, which was 3738 that what cameras you got there then they were made in a room? All started off. We got to tell Yes.
Yeah. Yes. Technical.
Technicolour sent over a minimum number of camera.
Alan Lawson 9:27
Everything you said was four . Yeah,
Alf Cooper 9:29
that's right. And we had to make do with those. Right guys who did all yours. The only other addition was a D type. which went backwards and forwards until
the blue were the blips I call that put out in my role in case I came with and they work.
They had problems. They didn't they weren't mean to us as it is for cameras and for lots of sound equipment which meant it was dolly or gold again self head and everything else that went with
Alan Lawson 10:22
the tripod head do you mean no
that's right yes
now
while you were
right this is before the war can you remember the first film that even though you've got involved with with technicolour at all was it wings of the morning when did you have anything to do with that that
Alf Cooper 10:46
i think that was wings the morning yes no no that was that was done just before I got to Tecnicolour
Alan Lawson 11:01
can you remember the first film
Alf Cooper 11:05
as it were your sidekick one your workmates in the camera department he was there before you and he
told me i started as the easter bring him along when did you need to
did you find did you find any peculiar about the american method of running departments when you got into that camera department as a guest either in good english engineering
the whole thing was that this department was wrong and happened as soon as someone who nines does that it goes in the system working very nicely and there was no point in altering that's a system right usually energy equipment is identical to yours i really we hadn't made far
so maintaining the cameras back and forth during that period life went on no but roll of normal headaches and go on with problems when did you start in point of fact going out with the cameras on locations
first was 1950 again yes
Alan Lawson 12:30
i see
Alf Cooper 12:35
Quo Vadis
Alan Lawson 12:37
totally
Alf Cooper 12:38
i think i i think i had the biggest unit that one man ever had on his own
run i think of duct tape because i suddenly realised before before that day i thought it was earlier than that before that that were all the problems of the war when the war broke out and that is when we came into the downtrend as well you're involved you were involved in the progression of the dome train around you ish you said you're gonna talk about your contribution to that if
you wouldn't mind or the first part of the trailer was the device which we perfected and wiring up or making a hole disappear on the screen and it wasn't very easy but eventually we've we've worked on a stable air air compressor and a needle on the end of this plunger phone pole poland and it would make a hole in paper hat now eventually we had two paper hats view the new member of the hat about that diameter
Alan Lawson 14:17
about about four inches more than that
667 inches yeah
Alf Cooper 14:24
something about that this other one knew to print open selfie yes but not tight now on the system i had a light he was constantly on that willbe shining thrugh opposite where the autosave the bullet yes i've gone through yes now one of those hats was made to revolve Yes, it will make you laugh to treat using a 12 volt windscreen wiper motor driving a large gear so you didn't have some idea of the speed that the hat was being turned that is extremely slow he punches two punches a hole through both the hat comes out and this one is well mis????????? but it hasn't come out this has one test got it still evolving and or you may see about four or five holes and then suddenly it is disappearing because where it's turning so slowly this hole has been punched and
Alan Lawson 16:27
what it is it's acting as a shutter really isn't it is acting as a shutter that's right yes is acting as a shutter very
Alf Cooper 16:36
very strategy.
Alan Lawson 16:38
Yes
Alf Cooper 16:39
they will object to this this will take me three years to try and teach me where my dream in front of them moving aircraft yes so the bullet would reach the position when the aircraft got there and it was playing the feel that it
Alan Lawson 17:01
said that you were working out where you were working on the working on that was the that was this the word it was not a chicken and egg situation it was the chicken came first and laid the egg you laid the egg
Alf Cooper 17:14
Did you Did we make the did you make the technical itself? Might the cams that move the cameras? They did they made down the design and happier they
went to an outside service?
did you have to assemble any of the stuff out you know ultimately we're making big eaps and stuff and sending it out to the various parts of the world? Well, we've written that in China.
Whatever happened to the camera on the train was completely isolated from what we were doing in the camera department. Oh,
I wasn't sure I know. I know I was involved in producing the film but I never knew who actually who the paperwork and working on the unit through a sent out now and they were going out on technical omens. Okay, Ron, what was the next big incident in the technical camera life? Apart from losing people let me write most people.
When I say Quo Vadis was the first trips I made.
That was
Alan Lawson 18:33
I was Italy wasn't it
Alf Cooper 18:36
Italy 1950 The second time? 1951.
Alan Lawson 19:02
Talking about quovadis
who was the camera man on that.
Remember?
Bob Hume?
you probably would have had more to do with the operator wouldn't you? Probably than the camera man.
Alf Cooper 19:46
He didn't usually unless they're in trouble. Yes, you are.
Alan Lawson 19:53
You weren't in love or did what you wanted often where you want Often
Alf Cooper 20:00
well not often in the first place they send us out to multi duty motors they were always suspect why they were suspect I don't know but we had lot of complaints from a cameraman and the operator we should do what was doing is that as I told him as nothing I can do about it because I got no indication as to where the trouble might be.
However, it transpired that one of the questions came from me he stated that there's one particular part hadn't been fitted a technician may know multiple learners quite a nice thing to hold?
oh you told me about the camera he wasn;t one of technicolour cameraman that he was trying to think of who was
Alan Lawson 21:43
Jeff and wasn't Jeff Unsworth was it
Alf Cooper 21:49
Not Jasck Cardiff might explain a treated black Narcissus remembering that they're about a fortnight out there trying to take crowds and got nothing on the side of Bowers road God Blimey. Never mind.
Alan Lawson 22:08
Anyway but what other what other film did you go out on? Your
Alf Cooper 22:20
next film was cimson pirate
they go 70 go Ron. go seventy mill
no
Alan Lawson 22:56
Crimson Pirate that was Errol Flynn wasn't it? Was it Errol
Flynn
Alf Cooper 23:02
on my quite likely did some shots at Elstree
Alan Lawson 23:24
we'el stop. now after Crimson priate it did did you can you remember any other films you
Unknown Speaker 23:34
worked on?
Alf Cooper 23:50
I did three locations
Alan Lawson 23:55
Quo Vadis, Crimson Pirate one other
Alf Cooper 24:03
studio name oh
Alan Lawson 24:16
man unique again to
Italy then we're doing Oh yes.
Alf Cooper 24:22
Studio name in the Bronx new era
Alan Lawson 24:25
cinecitta
Alf Cooper 24:26
Cinecitta. The studio was called
Alan Lawson 24:30
cinecitta wasn't it? Clearly
Alf Cooper 24:35
a different one. Yeah. Anyway, that was tied out with Monson and the chemical people with a
DuPont DuPont
Alan Lawson 24:48
anyway want to
Alf Cooper 24:56
remember did you work with Freddy Young.
Ron Hill 24:59
No
Alf Cooper 25:06
So you weren't you weren't on Lawrence?
Alan Lawson 25:11
You didn't work on Lawrence or Zhivago? No,
obviously not.
Alf Cooper 25:21
Navy. We had every camera back to the plant for servicing. Yes. But unless there was some trouble on the floor as remunerated and this was in trouble on the floor. We never went out from Technicolour
He was one of the big one that you went out. We wanted a big production. I'm trying to think. Anyway, you were on Barrabas.
But you
didn't get it. You weren't on film Barabbas.
Alan Lawson 26:21
Anyway, nevermind. Don't worry.
Alf Cooper 26:27
You probably Liz Taylor in it.
Liz Taylor
was she in the production.
Liz Taylor was on the
Ceasar and Cleo.
Quo Vadis. She married her husband, and she came out and you just go as an extra not as an extra that she was given a job. Just
special guests.
Alan Lawson 27:08
That was Todd wasn't it Todd wasn't it? That was her husband could have been . Todd
Alf Cooper 27:15
Yeah, we had a lot of trouble. We had a lot of trouble in. In Caesar and Cleopatra. They started off somewhere they started in America, they came over to England and started shooting and they went for a Burton and they went out to Italy for it didn't go to your mother and a lot of trouble with her. She was very temperamental in that lot.
I don't even remember that picture. Apart from the fact that they were done a shot of playing with Syria. And they've got two cameras on the end of a plane where say goes doesn't broke stereo they own this back and add to his counterweight. And strangely enough to take the wrong somebody's rude whistle grub time. They stepped off camera went shwoo.
Alan Lawson 28:18
That's right. Yes.
Alf Cooper 28:20
Do you remember the current
Alan Lawson 28:22
the camera man on that was Jack Hilliard that? Yes. That's right in where was this? Pinewood Yeah. And his operator was badly hurt is jack. Jack's got a recollection of that? And he told us about it.
Alf Cooper 28:46
And that was a technicolour camera.
Yes. Because I
mean, they were big everything. Yeah.
Next door. She came colder say we want a Saturday afternoon. We be shopping he knows who she is. Miss Josie said I found you by rain and sun some of the others. She got the phone and somebody came down from Technicolour. They dropped a camera in the water. Of course john murray Wasn't he wasn't available to anyone on the phone at that time.
He done Rodeo? over the road didn't he
Ron Hill 29:45
had he not for the weekend to Prince's so I came I came here. Overtime I got there at five o'clock. See the assistant taken a bit good Lord enjoyed him while I was driving around with any mortgage off first the prism was what
Alf Cooper 30:23
was it that was the secret of the camera
is on the trouble of it
Don't wander there the light got through that guy reflected off that gold slip in the middle of the night that was a gold gold leaf in the middle of the prism.
I don't know whether a gold leaf or not no it wasn't
It was gold colour on it
Alan Lawson 31:06
yes that's quite different
Ron Hill 31:12
I can't really see what took place here because the only panel that didn't he had to do was a firm was john john here and he was in Australia
Alan Lawson 31:27
This is john Mahler
Alf Cooper 31:28
thing that staggered me Ron was every every time I brought it in in the finish you know i to be responsible for sensitising all three split negative it suddenly came down if they stopped shooting on a roll to get the camera to come back to me okay every bit for it were bringing the camera again and I don't ever recall it coming back with water must have junked it I suppose if the magazines went in the water must have done just ordinary level air tight they were light tight wonder if I were watertight
well they were fairly well water tight bear in mind
the atmosphere where they're going through coffee if you
had a camera in the water right that which is quite a while in itself oh wait they were 60 pounds 30 pounds and then magazine 50 pound the magazine because magazine was 20 and 310 pound a group A we are doing the magazine July
and then on top of that you got the head yes that was quite heavy used to go over
60 pound the cameras that include the blimp
Oh no. Totally different I've got the weight of everything every door is upstairs if I clear it on that
wall goes down that way boy I can't remember the chemicals I used to use the names won't even come to me so don't worry. Can you remember any industrial incidences in the camera department and in the firm? Can you remember any incidents industrial incidents in the camera department technicolour with the with the firm
No not really Alf
Alan Lawson 34:06
was the most was the was the camera department fairly happy unit to work in all the time. Really? Yeah.
Alf Cooper 34:16
They seem all to get on very well from my outside experience. So irrespective of their rank you know they were just one or two they've been a toughie knows there's no foot from the scene you know the camera types but the ordinary the older the department got very well when you think going back there was a chap you you mentioned a little while ago level Jimmy Wright when the junior high and Oh dear, dear. Can you remember the name of the I can't what was John's first name? Your mate your sidekick on the match Bryn Jones
Where'she live Ruislip
he used to be a motorbike maniac he is caught as they are called Scott he was yeah it was of course beautiful yeah beautiful tunes
and i can tell you that but he's not
he's not still got it
no
way leave the here are mine packed up for our driving down time that didn't matter he used to give me a lift down front and as i'm walking down the path he's terrorised for such as a free down the road here by the Railway Tavern
which one
Harlanden down the core what it used to be
the Wheatsheaf
past the Wheatsheaf
the red lion
no that's one down
the western great western great west
has really changed gear as they call it
that for
Alan Lawson 36:35
what what what once they started on monopack what did you do then
Alf Cooper 36:46
for monopack you're dealing with something of a different thing monopack was only used for the Olympic Games the Olympic Games I changed 19 18 cameras over to monopack that was all cameras we could get because
Alan Lawson 37:35
when you say you change them over what did you have to do then
Ron Hill 37:39
well first of all you had to check each plane and reposition them and they had to be repositioned because on monpack your shooting with both indices? together so if you got emultion to emultion yes whereas normally it was emotion forward
Alan Lawson 38:10
yes
Ron Hill 38:11
yes right now what happened immediately you got six thou of difference the past through six thou film to register its objective so in conjunction with every lens you had to work it out and to set them back by six thou mean point two on a short focus yes yes to about six or eight thou on a normal lens all right seems to be worked out my job was to get them all over it and tests were shot on each camera they were done the test shot by Sandy Powr?
Alf Cooper 39:41
yeah this was in tennessee
Ron Hill 39:50
then the ground glass quarter had to be adjusted yes christus as you've seen how Notice how he did have trouble with motors that we got over it eventually.
Alan Lawson 40:13
And why would Why would you have trouble with motors that are Because? Because extra load
Ron Hill 40:21
no these motors are coming down from Newell, untested. Yes,
yes, yes. Chris
Alf Cooper 40:33
what was it when I started to have fun and come in touch with you? When we went over to Vidtronics that was another big change. Camera department in both Ecuador used
Ron Hill 40:46
to come in to work and I knew
Alf Cooper 40:49
Yeah, well yeah, that was that was the last big change I wanted to Vidtronics. What Yeah, before I after I became plant liaison officer I used to have contact with you then then didn't I so the reason for that but
Alan Lawson 41:03
before before we get onto Vidtronics once Eastman colour came in what did you What were you? Oh, you see, what were you up to? When Eastman colour came in? What did you do that?
Alf Cooper 41:18
Well, first of all, we had to put new movements. Yes, complete new movements new cameras that was quite a job. And that were done in the camera department. But the movement itself was made by an outside concern.
Alan Lawson 41:41
Was that Newells Newells again? was it was it was it Newells again?
Alf Cooper 41:47
No, I don't have any it these days Kenny from Hollywood.
Alan Lawson 41:54
Oh, I see. I import it they came from the States
Alf Cooper 41:58
in eastmancolour when eastmancolour when they come in we weren't using technicolour cameras ffor them were they?
No Well the point was when Eastmancolour came in. We were on the point of changing all of our stuff.
because invariably the production companies are using their own gear that was one of the things they didn't like having to use all the technicolour equipment on flat funding one of the main other policies
Alan Lawson 42:34
I'm surely when when Eastman colour came in
Alf Cooper 42:41
what what cameras were you changing the three strip camera I see in the movement of the three strip camera and putting this other movement in. At that time, it was a ??? 8 Newman fitted in Yes, so, you got a picture of a better quality?
Alan Lawson 43:06
Yes So it really is it yes, it kind of CinemaScope or whatever. Vistavision? Yes, yes, that kind of thing. I see. I see what you mean. I see that's what we're doing. Right
Alf Cooper 43:22
now of course, a lot of a lot of the stuff we're using Samuelsson is using technicolour Can we say then the next thing was electronic Hamlet. And yes, I can understand what caught me when I'm involved with you was in those days we will be we're putting film to tape tape to film I will then put in film the tape tape to film how electronics this section was set up the camera was involved a bit in that can you were involved with that a bit the camera maintenance people?
Well
Ron Hill 44:07
first of all, camera department closed down in 1967 to age seven, now the BBC had got rid of a lot of equipment. And these other people bought a lot of it out. And they came down to technicolour and took over the camera dept. And I was the only one left in the camera department. So they said would you like the workflow? Yes. All over doing are you doing now? and maintenance or having suits me ``that show?
Alf Cooper 45:30
Are you 67 or 67?
Ron Hill 45:38
was it
Alf Cooper 45:38
was it as early as 67 when they came down?
Ron Hill 45:44
67 68
Alan Lawson 45:50
Yes, so it's about right. Yes. I got to stop now I'm going to change over to the reel................................................
Alan Lawson 0:01
Rron Hill side three right?
When they tried when technicolour started out with the tronic process to the camera department Were you involved in the in that particular period
Ron Hill 0:16
when we used to have this service camera every day
Alan Lawson 0:25
what camera was this was
Ron Hill 0:26
it the special 35 mil movie camera and it was a beautiful job and I didn't know that Moyes at that time had been building cameras I built these for BBC again there was no God to price type photograph was screen about that
Alf Cooper 1:05
folding
Ron Hill 1:07
camera would be rounded up and really fixed position cameras that was removed from one day no no now had put a filter in front of the the image yes yes to straightened out otherwise would have been all bent and twisted and when I got one those were working nicely as they will we want some of those made out one would you rather make them or have you been to drawings? I should have made them up from on my own Oh sorry. can't get any endorsed these a and they don't have any not even sketches. So it was through the whole rigmarole measure this measure check this check and then finish I made one up complete and they tried it out and fortunately worked quite okay. I was to Australia altogether that it was quite a job nothing that you get by ordinary maintenance and you're ready energy it was being cheeky. but it worked I often wonder what happened because along with it, some were drawn only made five and that was on cartridge paper it was all nice and tight put carefully on one bench go away check Rose insitute later on after pneumonia as we have a look around the department and I find this very bright was at a time as a parent or family to the drawing
felt I forget the series What is it should be on the main floor should be not never shown
Alf Cooper 4:18
anybody when
Ron Hill 4:23
I last loaded the tools it always made me very sad that we're no good the iPhone SE sellers her dance as you know prove that point was I got a bill is working in the time well, anything
Alf Cooper 4:51
because the other thing was was a trade offs are in technical policy was to keep everything for one department and actually that departmentpart was just secret one technicolour is a mad on secrecy
Ron Hill 5:05
well up to a point it was paid dividends
Alf Cooper 5:11
there's a problem or any shortcoming you know because people were in the early days we had a hell of a job breaking down his business if anybody got from one department to another that was that was a crime that we found in another person's department and camera department work the same way but in the dept itself as a even more had a number nobody was supposed to know what the number meant you know what it what it was the calls were numbered never named.
Ron Hill 5:54
it was an unfortunate thing in a respect because i know for a fact the camera department was always reckond the start and end of it in actual fact it wasn't so it was a policy not to mix with departments mix too much maybe it's time you know across a machine shop to jump over there and you could feel the hostility
until i finally broke the ice part down out of every nine months for with them?
Alf Cooper 6:56
courses it's amazing actually what that firm made itself apart from the stuff that brought in oh yeah it did add a capability engineering capability it could have actually made anything couldn't be in virtually i don't think it was a capable of producing its own lens
Ron Hill 7:14
outside of this they had the finest machine shop in the south of england
Alf Cooper 7:23
and the skills to go with it employed
Ron Hill 7:29
they had some very good chaps
Alan Lawson 7:32
but it was a lot of tom tiddlers there
Ron Hill 7:38
you will always get that yes
Alf Cooper 7:45
and yet when I went to technicolour i don't know whether Ron found this it was the only place where it was in your departments the only place where everybody tried their hardest to show the next guy what to do yes when i was at Kays it was different altogether 51 then dunno if you found that from an engineering point of view well you must have done because you must have found that that camaraderie and help who is working with john and then with Bryn an all that everybody out want to know that they show one another passed their skills around
Ron Hill 8:21
so they
Alf Cooper 8:26
might be successful
Ron Hill 8:31
but also there's a cost of tools now having the tools man has got he never mind and in consequence now i'm on Alfie Chain Bryn Jones he would be the one bench and I would be on the other if he wanted you or something he didn't carry a postcard until saturday or sunday notice in the drawing alternatively if i want to design it in which he presents how to design
Alf Cooper 9:22
did you get involved with anything else in making stuff of the mechanic process did you get involved in any other part for the train guy was a big tronics thinking we understand upon
Ron Hill 9:44
your refers to individual jobs and one of the things i wanted done for the set up the camera That in itself was quite nice job and they were working then on a floor which was a false floor which was nine inches higher than the ordinary concrete it was necessary to do that for the cables it was cables everywhere you got to whip out didn't didn't bother very much because the floor was so solid obviously two foot square steel plates yes I know covered tonight that Python lead Yeah. Underneath would be four jacks Yes. the jacks had a header has a head head who's available? Yes. So you see it here and the right handle tonight The to date the title Yes. A bit better at depth they would sit into these sections you have seen the flying pole? hold now very neatly done. said you get these four jacks And sitting tops real easy.
Alan Lawson 11:39
Clap your play.
Ron Hill 11:40
He's just sitting there quiet.
Alf Cooper 11:42
Could it be a rock? Yeah, we used to get another complaint he used to get another defect with that camera you see noise was interpreted on the screen like with reticulation I I come up against defects which were misleading to me when I was involved with that tronic business and it was moved movement and noise around the camera when it was working look the gave us the effect of reticulation on the screen which is very confusing.
Ron Hill 12:13
Let that franchisee either
Alf Cooper 12:19
get involved in clearing that alright I made a fool of myself because I thought I've got a chemical problem when I was involved and then later but so far your next your next thing then no matter the when we went over to starting in recording did you got involved you said with the heads yes when you were making the first
Ron Hill 12:54
half of them but the point was you say to the she jumped in Hello always too busy. But really as your most position can you make some of these heads up? I don't even know I observe I never got it all done let's have it on the shelf and often the right time to come supplier with a drawing. But if I've got to make a drawing you've got to take pot luck simple as that.
Alf Cooper 13:33
same way with the guy was still When was the first flight we're doing the recording when Who? So women. I can't think of his name. He worked with me. I can't remember behind the industry quite a lot.
Companies
Alan Lawson 13:52
Tell me Ron Where did you Where did you learn to do machine drawing?
Or did you self taught
Alf Cooper 14:01
wasn't it
Alan Lawson 14:05
Yes, yes. Yes. Nothing like it keeping an eye out. Yes.
Alf Cooper 14:10
Ron was a very skilled man and hearing him talk about his his career coming through. Where did he when he actually learned a tool that engineering Ron you sort of went to all different phases. And you finished that highly skilled.
Ron Hill 14:32
Other people have had apprenticeships. I didn't have an apprentice life. I went out the hard way. Well, I will do my own thing when the board is on a totally different
I learnt what went on there and i went on there and in the finish you join all these things you can wait quite quite a thing out of what you done
Alf Cooper 15:19
i add that he's got to you got to get your ideas in my mind to co create your work one day on it
Ron Hill 15:31
no i did a jump of brain only a few weeks ago
Alan Lawson 15:36
radius still working on it marvellous
Alf Cooper 15:39
i used to do is like that and i'll tell you now my my my Source light camera they told me where is it Ealing they used to send some work sometimes you'd send me to the place at Ealing then the camera firm that does repairs you sent me over and what are they called i took my i took my my 8 mill and they said that it wasn't worth repairing because the cost of the repair would cost more than the camera was worth because electrics had packed up I can't even get the time think the piece is wrong what's the name of that firm you sent me to want to pay on it and chap at Ealing repair replace it with an Ealing camera when mechanic Boston Manor way
Ron Hill 16:42
Ealing studios
Alf Cooper 16:43
no now it's a shop near boston manor somewhere can't think where it was now` in front of epic yeah i used to do some odd jobs the technical i didn't play for you in touch with them anyway we were talking about the hedge is recording actually
Ron Hill 17:16
it was Harvey Harvey was hangers ready to push on the chevy as i pushed on me a push anywhere in the cloud mr carlo titling is not the point is it doing the wrong thing and on top of
Alan Lawson 17:41
it after after you know after after Victronics what what next
Ron Hill 17:52
After Victronics I retired in 1975 i continue to do the same job
Alf Cooper 18:34
What did you retire Ron 75 retired did you retire before me?
Ron Hill 18:46
i retired in 75 because then i was 65
Alf Cooper 18:56
yeah well i think you were involved like one or two i'm going to next to work sort of basically took him
Ron Hill 19:02
i did can travel maybe but number we got pneumonia page or pages where we bet barry surgery is wrong prezi or by origin come with now sorry we walked off going away how awesome was that first of all he said about like a six inch cvi eye it was a beautiful joy i've had it personally i've had it myself
too he 1948 i know i somebody might have done geography anyway he bought it from the quid pro in chuck alone was was that anyway he took when he showed me where the new workshop was here in the
Alf Cooper 20:45
in the main building
Ron Hill 20:46
yeah whenever you see a case on the first floor rather cars all relate to that lady i like to use usually has to do with what do i do as a fresher
i urge you to go after this do not give anybody up fresh air said from Technicolour as i say i couldn't work under those conditions is it not for you nor anybody else
you're gonna leave us as your main just referred to the air conditioning i see you seen it over the replaced is no use emile integrity the title of that speech as a black grey anyway i couldn't stomach when i did some work in the workup is right behind the timekeeper and around
Alf Cooper 22:19
yes i finished that in that lockdown they didn't do that all down the side of the driving that they put the stuff in an inlay so last time i talked to you that it was an eminent than the that i must have been in a day for a long time for that work because i was early in a place i pensioned me up because of sickness how long
Alan Lawson 22:43
did did you didn't stay there very long then after that
Ron Hill 22:49
i stayed there until it must be 1967 visits cottoned on to it all
Alan Lawson 23:09
looking looking back over you know a very varied career you've never had any regrets at all about
Ron Hill 23:17
it no not really I enjoyed my working life
Alan Lawson 23:25
was there anything you'd like to have done that you didn't do
Ron Hill 23:33
i can't honestly say there was 10 london edina i live in new london 63 and i went down i will definitely come back with another one
Unknown Speaker 24:10
yes
Alf Cooper 24:12
but definitely miranda she was
Ron Hill 24:14
is
Alan Lawson 24:21
you know in your in your long career who do you think has gave you the most help to stop you know get you going or
Ron Hill 24:29
i would say it was John mathers? because it may not be generally accepted to me john was a very very gifted chap he really was now on both hey george jean pierre for years paul George left on a one john for the left and about 31 somewhere. And Eileen. john was several years younger than George and George's would have been the former. JOHN and George had always got on extremely well. Shallow when it came to George tying down to shepherds, Bush the job was now open at paying for studios. And john took over the job at nine Studios on in George and no absent premises that is premises in nancys department and ask him to go do their show goes down went down their oil income went down then quite a few years. And he started work and he wanted someone when he contacted the likely lad and so I went.
Alf Cooper 26:38
ever they get addedJohn got involved with George because there was a bit of a connection there wasn't between John and go George Gunn.
Ron Hill 26:53
I think I'm not too sure. I think he was chief of sound. quite as good as John on the sound head
Alan Lawson 27:02
he'd been at the BBC actually go Ghana.
Alf Cooper 27:04
Yes,
I did.
Alan Lawson 27:06
I mean, the bush at the GDP. I
Alf Cooper 27:09
didn't know where agang came from. See because he came from the bush and he took over the camera department beginning in me. I thought that George Gunn was a production manager
Alan Lawson 27:19
or something like that. I made the wrong
Alf Cooper 27:24
George Gunn was a production guy beforehand.
Ron Hill 27:27
I think I think I don't know. I couldn't tell you thinking. I'm not sure maybe
Alf Cooper 27:39
there was certainly a connection between George and John wasn't there
Ron Hill 27:43
job joy enjoy. Yes. Because it got gone there one. Oh, well.
Yeah, because
I suppose that was the case.
Alf Cooper 27:54
Yeah. Gunn knew what he was taking on. Do you know Gunn Ron we come to the end anyway.
Alan Lawson 28:16
Well, thank you Ron.
Thanks very much.
Ron Hill 28:19
A local
Alan Lawson 28:22
has a postscript to that recording. Ron Hills has since phoned to say that he remembers the name of the camera man. On Quovadis. It was Bob Surtees. And the other big film, where he went as the technicolour camera maintenance man was Renoir's film The Golden Coach...................................................
