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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Yorkshire Dales & Moors => Topic started by: Innominate Man on 00:49:25, 25/01/15

Title: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 00:49:25, 25/01/15


Well here is a real challenge for those of you of a certain age.




During the early to mid 70s, in the heyday of PIF, there was one broadcast during school holidays or Saturday mornings which must have been for the National Park to drum up tourism.




I think it was in colour and it was based around images from the Yorkshire Dales showing Aysgarth Falls, a Land Rover going through a ford and I seem to remember a scene with two blokes in period costume having a sword fight in front of somewhere like Castle Bolton, plenty of other images also.
The other stand-out thing was the voice-over which was by Frank Windsor (of Softly, Softly fame) trying to do his best Yorkshire accent - ha, ha. He was waxing lyrically about place names that were old/ancient.




But here's the rub :- what I can remember but cannot find anything (and I mean anything) about, was the background/incidental music. It was the music that really ' haunted ' me and brought the whole film to life.
It worked for me, I began walking and haven't stopped since (not quite in that Forrest Gump sort of way).




It had that pastoral feel to it which suggests Vaughan-Williams or Britten, but was it from something classical or was it a piece composed specifically for the film ?




I am hoping that all you good people will at least know what film I am talking about as nearly everyone I dare mention this to (of my age and from the Region) don't even remember the film. So that would be a start, but if we have any real music officianados out there - even better.




So the question is what is the music that went with the film ?




And before I get an avalanche of quick - win suggestions - you wouldn't believe the lengths I have gone to for an answer - I do know about Oliver Slaney and one suggestion on another forum that it was his piece of music called 'Kidlington Green', and yes - I know you can now get all the PIF in CD sets. But not this film. There are clips on YouTube for the similar ' Cleveland Way ' film that was running at about the same time.






So come on walkers - thinking caps on.

Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Peter on 11:15:31, 25/01/15
There was me thinking 'wonder why I don't recall this?'..  :-\
It seems I'm older  :(  , I wasn't sat watching TV at this period.  :'(
I found the 'Cleveland Way' too.. but it isn't what you are looking for.
It is very lovely to look at the Dales on lovely summer days in these films.. little has changed apart from the 'kit' worn by hikers.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 23:23:30, 25/01/15
There was me thinking 'wonder why I don't recall this?'..  :-\
It seems I'm older  :(  , I wasn't sat watching TV at this period.  :'(
I found the 'Cleveland Way' too.. but it isn't what you are looking for.
It is very lovely to look at the Dales on lovely summer days in these films.. little has changed apart from the 'kit' worn by hikers.
What's that, isn't that the kind of clothing I should be wearing ?
Thanks Peter, seems I am still alone in the memory of this film or perhaps I wasn't actually sat watching the TV at all. Maybe my Mothers corned beef hash was less beef and more ......
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Dessie on 19:49:39, 04/02/15
Sadly I might have to confess to very vaguely remembering this when I was a bairn. Well at least remember my Dad (very keen on the dales) getting excited and making me watch. Did it have Ribblehead somewhere on it? Was there a guy in a red sweater?

But cant remember it much and certainly cant help with the music. (Am I getting confused with All Creatures Great and Small?) :-\



Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 00:03:09, 05/02/15


But cant remember it much and certainly cant help with the music. (Am I getting confused with All Creatures Great and Small?) :-\







You very well could be, but you are right - some of the scenes were similar to the opening credits on ACG&S. I think the PIF was on air before the vet thing happened.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: simon rea on 16:22:13, 24/07/15
I remember the programme. Ive been trying to find it for years myself. The two gents fighting with swords in large white shirts used to scare the pants off me.  :D :D :D
I thought I was the only one who remembered it.!!   
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 09:39:48, 25/07/15
I remember the programme. Ive been trying to find it for years myself. The two gents fighting with swords in large white shirts used to scare the pants off me.  :D :D :D
I thought I was the only one who remembered it.!!
That's the one Simon - you remember it well.
Years ago I corresponded with the National Park office in Hawes who said they were to run an evening showing old films about the park and that one of them could be what I was looking for. All set for the trip up there one evening when mid-afternoon I got a call to say my son had been in an accident. Spent the next few days around a hospital so never got the opportunity.
It could be worth following up.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: kitestu on 22:43:46, 17/10/15
Just found this thread and can't help with the music, sorry, but can give some anecdotal stuff about the film (if we are on the same one..) I grew up in Airton and a close friend, Wilf Proctor, was a National park warden in the 60s and 70s. I spent some time one summer with him whilst he was involved in helping to make an information film. I can remember filming by the bridge at Austwick and also doing a clip walking over the packhorse bridge at Stainforth. Two blokes with small blond child walking between them - and this bit was actually used in the film. The small blond child was me! i think we spent some time at Kettlewell also but its all a bit hazy beyond that.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 23:51:00, 25/11/15
Just found this thread and can't help with the music, sorry, but can give some anecdotal stuff about the film (if we are on the same one..) I grew up in Airton and a close friend, Wilf Proctor, was a National park warden in the 60s and 70s. I spent some time one summer with him whilst he was involved in helping to make an information film. I can remember filming by the bridge at Austwick and also doing a clip walking over the packhorse bridge at Stainforth. Two blokes with small blond child walking between them - and this bit was actually used in the film. The small blond child was me! i think we spent some time at Kettlewell also but its all a bit hazy beyond that.
Darn ... so I know the name of someone who starred in the film but no nearer finding out about the music. Thanks for the info though - very interesting and it confirms it wasn't a figment of my imagination.
Now, you/your parents didn't manage to get a copy of the film by any chance ?
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: kinkyboots on 21:02:20, 26/11/15
I think it was in colour and it was based around images from the Yorkshire Dales showing Aysgarth Falls, a Land Rover going through a ford and I seem to remember a scene with two blokes in period costume having a sword fight in front of somewhere like Castle Bolton, plenty of other images also.

Sounds like a very early episode of Emmerdale Farm to me.  ;D

So the question is what is the music that went with the film ?

And before I get an avalanche of quick - win suggestions - you wouldn't believe the lengths I have gone to for an answer - I do know about Oliver Slaney and one suggestion on another forum that it was his piece of music called 'Kidlington Green', and yes - I know you can now get all the PIF in CD sets. But not this film. There are clips on YouTube for the similar ' Cleveland Way ' film that was running at about the same time.

So come on walkers - thinking caps on.

Think you mean Ivor Slaney?

I assume you'll know it when you hear it so a wild stab in the dark.........is it anything on here http://www.dewolfemusic.com/search.php#!/?code=ezriCl&id=708020 (http://www.dewolfemusic.com/search.php#!/?code=ezriCl&id=708020)
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 12:39:59, 16/02/16
Think you mean Ivor Slaney?

I assume you'll know it when you hear it so a wild stab in the dark.........is it anything on here http://www.dewolfemusic.com/search.php#!/?code=ezriCl&id=708020 (http://www.dewolfemusic.com/search.php#!/?code=ezriCl&id=708020)
Thanks KB, quite right it should have been Ivor.
I trawled through these clips which was a great find & thank you for going to the trouble. Still no trace of the tune I'm searching for though. I suspect it was an incidental piece composed specifically for the film.
I had hoped to discover that it was by a known composer. I'll keep looking and eventually somebody will know something  O0
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Mel on 14:52:22, 27/02/16
I'm fairly certain this isn't the one you're talking about but it's of the same ilk :
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2NnrKXOiys (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2NnrKXOiys)
 
 :)
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Glyno on 15:29:08, 27/02/16
(ever so) slightly off-topic, who remembers Reginald Mole-Husband showing us how to reverse a car into a tight space?
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 15:30:42, 27/02/16
(ever so) slightly off-topic, who remembers Reginald Mole-Husband showing us how to reverse a car into a tight space?
I do  O0
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Glyno on 15:31:22, 27/02/16
Innominate Man... was the PIF that you're referring to narrated by Frank Windsor (of Z-Cars fame)?
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Glyno on 15:34:54, 27/02/16
If you go to this page and scroll down a bit there's a public info film that I remember, but it's to do with The Cleveland Way.


http://carlturner.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/witches-cast-their-spell-over-many.html
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 18:46:10, 27/02/16
Innominate Man... was the PIF that you're referring to narrated by Frank Windsor (of Z-Cars fame)?
That's the one  O0
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 18:55:38, 27/02/16
If you go to this page and scroll down a bit there's a public info film that I remember, but it's to do with The Cleveland Way.


http://carlturner.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/witches-cast-their-spell-over-many.html (http://carlturner.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/witches-cast-their-spell-over-many.html)
I think they were both out at the same time but luckily somebody kept a recording of this one. Unfortunately for me the one I'm looking for is a little more obscure.
I am glad other people recall it.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 18:57:42, 27/02/16
I'm fairly certain this isn't the one you're talking about but it's of the same ilk :
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2NnrKXOiys (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2NnrKXOiys)
 
 :)
Thanks Mel, it certainly is (of the same ilk)- and a very good film too. I read somewhere that the railways had a dept producing these - must have been before Beeching !
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Peter on 19:53:30, 28/02/16
(ever so) slightly off-topic, who remembers Reginald Mole-Husband showing us how to reverse a car into a tight space?


I found myself driving around a lot, searching for a parking spot that had a man with a ladder.. ::)
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 00:01:07, 01/03/16
Well, no luck I'm afraid - a few folks with decent memories do know what I am talking about but I think it will have to be consigned to the waste bin of my memory. Seems I am not going to find out who the music backing the PIF was by.


So, to change the tone a little (and I'll search for Reginald Mole-Husband shortly, possibly somewhere off to the side of 'Petunia')
Does anyone remember this cool dude ?     
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MshadyDLjnk


"Hey, I'd love a Babycham" ...... yes Mrs I did used to like a Babycham when I first knew her  ;D
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Lobbygobbler on 12:49:58, 21/10/16
I also remember this PIF and have been trying to find it myself. As you say it was very evocative and reminds me of my childhood when my family would go out for drives to the countryside every Sunday. I have a feeling that the haunting music which accompanied the film may be taken from Vivaldi's - The Four Seasons. I'm sure I've heard it on one of my CD's, so I'm going to go through them this weekend and try to find it. Everything you say about the film is correct and until now I haven't met anyone who remembers it. I'm 54 years of age .
Will let you know if I find the piece of music but if you or anyone else knows where I can get hold of a copy of the PIF, please would let me know.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 13:08:19, 21/10/16
I also remember this PIF and have been trying to find it myself. As you say it was very evocative and reminds me of my childhood when my family would go out for drives to the countryside every Sunday. I have a feeling that the haunting music which accompanied the film may be taken from Vivaldi's - The Four Seasons. I'm sure I've heard it on one of my CD's, so I'm going to go through them this weekend and try to find it. Everything you say about the film is correct and until now I haven't met anyone who remembers it. I'm 54 years of age .
Will let you know if I find the piece of music but if you or anyone else knows where I can get hold of a copy of the PIF, please would let me know.
Will do and good to hear from you. It must be just something our particular generation saw while on school holidays.
Every now and again I have another trawl through the web but still nothing ever comes up. I tried the Yorkshire film archive etc..etc ... still nothing.
At least I know I didn't imagine it  ;D
But while checking a few really good youtube things came up - like the music for Robinson Crusoe and White Horses - all of which were shown during school holiday periods and which I vaguely remembered.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE10msGsCn4


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtCNbERKvMs
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Lobbygobbler on 14:24:37, 21/10/16
That's uncanny! I was going to look for the music to these 2 programmes which always seemed to be on TV during the school holidays. Again, the music to these 2 programmes  has a real evocative quality and takes me back to my childhood. It must be an age thing, as I move further into my fifties I seem to recall a lot of things like this from childhood. I was always a big fan of Jack Hargreaves and have recently purchased the DVD collections of 'Out of Town.' These were great educational TV programmes before everything started to be 'dummed down'
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Innominate Man on 15:55:28, 21/10/16
I was always a big fan of Jack Hargreaves and have recently purchased the DVD collections of 'Out of Town.' These were great educational TV programmes before everything started to be 'dummed down'


How !!
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Old Alan on 19:02:19, 26/02/17
Hi, Just been searching the web for the TV advert myself and came across your thread. I've looked numerous times over recent years but never managed to find it :-\ . As for your question; the music used in the advert was Vaughan Williams 'Fantasia on Greensleeves' I think they may have also used part of 'The lark Ascending' Both very English and very evocative as you say.



It's strange how something like that can get under your skin and leave a lasting impression; I suppose it's due to the skill of the programme makers and also perhaps the age we are when we experience it.  Although only short, it was a perfect combination of film and music. I too am in my fifties and would love to see it again so I'll carry on the search.


Hope this has been of some help.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Fi25 on 02:50:01, 01/02/24
Hi, Just been searching the web for the TV advert myself and came across your thread. I've looked numerous times over recent years but never managed to find it :-\ . As for your question; the music used in the advert was Vaughan Williams 'Fantasia on Greensleeves' I think they may have also used part of 'The lark Ascending' Both very English and very evocative as you say.



It's strange how something like that can get under your skin and leave a lasting impression; I suppose it's due to the skill of the programme makers and also perhaps the age we are when we experience it.  Although only short, it was a perfect combination of film and music. I too am in my fifties and would love to see it again so I'll carry on the search.


Hope this has been of some help.
Title: Re: Yorkshire Dales NP - 1970s public information film (PIF) - Do you remember it ?
Post by: Fi25 on 02:52:13, 01/02/24
Re 'Old Alan's' quote - this is EXACTLY the film I am looking for now. The one with the Vaughan Williams music on it. I appreciate this is a really old thread, but if anyone has found that film, I'd love to know.