Other titles:WEDDING OF GUY AND NORMA AT ST. MELYD CHURCH, AUGUST 11th 1945 [Main Title]
AMATEUR FILM BY GUY RECKIN [Alternative Title]
Summary: Amateur film with intertitles and commentary, shot by Guy Reckin, records the wartime evacuation from the City of London to Wrest Park (Bedfordshire) of the Sun Insurance Company, where he worked as a a clerk, and his wedding in August 1945 while stationed at Boughton prisoner of war camp (Nottinghamshire).
Description: Reel 1: Title of Film ‘The Sun at Wrest in Beds’. Filmed by Guy Reckin
Guy Reckin filmed this when his Company, The Sun Insurance Office, moved from 63 Threadneedle Street in the City of London to Wrest Park at Silsoe in Bedfordshire at the outbreak of the War in 1939. The Sun had bought the House and 260 acres of the surrounding Park in April 1939 for £25000, in anticipation of War, and had completed the purchase by June 1939. They built 12 huts and converted the Stables to House up to 300 staff. The majority of Staff lived in Wrest Park from Monday to Friday returning home at weekends. The film was made between September 1939 and 23rd January 1941 when Guy Reckin was called up.
Scene 1 - At the Break of dawn. Man leaving a hut to go to the washroom. Frightened by Cows and dashes back into Hut. Guy Reckin leaves Hut and they both go to the wash house.
Scene 2 - Morning. Leisure before work. Sawing Logs, Skipping, reading papers etc. Views of Silsoe Village, the Post Office and Church.
Scene 3 - The Arrival of the Daily Travellers . Coach bringing local staff in to work.
Scene 4 - The Joys of Insurance. Office Scenes taken in the House.
Scene 5 - Square Meal, Scenes of Pigs and then Dinner. View of the Folly
Scene 6 - The Putting Green.
Scene 7 - Wrest park - Autumn. Scenes of the Park and House; Ornamental Gardens; Orangery; Bridge and The Horseshoe Lake; Farm ; Park Gates Entrance, a quarter of a mile from the House. Staff enjoying the grounds.
Scene 8 - Winter. Snow scenes around the House and Park during the winter. Walking on the Lake.
Scene 9 - Leisure. Clearing snow; Skating on the Lake. Staff relaxing on the Winter Evenings in Wrest House. The film finishes with Guy Reckin. reading a paper and accepting chocolates. (Summary by Paul Reckin, son of Guy, Feb 2013.)
Reel 2: Title of Film ‘Wedding of Guy and Norma at St. Melyd Church, August 11th 1945.
(Guy Reckin filmed his Wartime Wedding Day to Norma Downes at St.Melyd Church in Meliden near Prestatyn and their subsequent Army posting to Boughton in Nottinghamshire.)
Scene 1 - Views of the North Wales Coast and Prestatyn and surrounding countryside.
Scene 2 - ‘Here we met our Doom'. Scenes of St. Melyd Church. Guy Reckin and Best man arrive. Bridesmaids arrive (Guy’s Sister Joyce and a Land Army friend of Norma). Norma arrives with her Mother Gwendolyn Downes who gave her away. Father Charles Downes was in America. The Happy Couple in the Church door after the ceremony.
Scene 3 - ‘The Reception at the Pavilion Lounge, Rhyl’.
Scene 4 - ‘Our First Home at Boughton Notts’. Norma and Guy Reckin went to Boughton, near Ollerton in Nottinghamshire as Guy had been posted to work in POW Camp 633 holding German Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Germany. These scenes are taken in and around their first ‘billet’ in Retford Road Boughton, and the young couple a Mr and Mrs Johnson who put them up.
Scene 5 - ‘The Village’. Views of the village and Church at Boughton.
Scene 6 - ‘Rations for two’ Norma Reckin returning from shopping and country scenes of ‘Sunday Afternoon Rambles in Nottinghamshire’.
Scene 7 - ‘Our Stay in Kirton 1945’. Second Billet at a smallholding in Kirton owned by Mr and Mrs Hutchinson also near the camp. Schoolboy is Lance Clayton who lived next door. Helping out on the Small Holding on the Hay Ricks. Mrs Hutchinson with horse and later holding a chicken. Chickens and farm yard scenes. Mr Hutchinson seen mending a roof at the Farm. A walk in the country with Norma and her Mother and two dachshunds. (Summary by Paul Reckin, son of Guy, Feb 2013.)
Alternative Title:WEDDING OF GUY AND NORMA AT ST. MELYD CHURCH, AUGUST 11th 1945 [Main Title]
AMATEUR FILM BY GUY RECKIN [Alternative Title]
Colour:B&W
Digitised:No
Object_Number:MGH 6773
Sound:Silent
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1939-09
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Reckin, Guy William (Production individual)
