The court was told, that whilst shopping at the Fine Fare self-service supermarket in Warwick Road, a 58-year-old Kenilworth spinster stole a pound of butter and some gammon. Housekeeper, Lilly Watts of Stoneleigh Ave, pleaded guilty to the thefts. Remarking about supermarkets, Inspector Albert Cox said; “These are places which display their goods to all and sundry, and there is a temptation for people just to take stuff”.
He said that Watts was shopping in the supermarket on 3rd September and was putting several articules into a basket. But the manager saw her slip the butter and gammon into her own basket. He told the cashier about the incident. After paying for the goods in the store’s basket, the cashier asked if she had anything else on her. Watts said she had not. But when the manager approached her, Watts admitted the thefts. She was fined £2.
CIGS COST HER NEARLY £1 EACH
At court, a 48-year-old Kenilworth woman alleged to be earning £9-a-week, stole 30 cigarettes from the self-service supermarket, Fine Fare in Warwick Road. Winifred Ellen Bucknill of Mortimer Road, pleaded guilty to the theft.
Inspector Albert Cox said that Bucknill was shopping in the supermarket at around 12.45p.m. on October 8th. The store’s assistant manager saw her take the cigarettes and place them in a basket provided by the store. When she went to pay she did not declare them to the cashier. When the manager questioned her, she said, she had not taken them. But later, when the police were called, she admitted all.
The bench was told she had previous convictions of a similar nature. The court showed no sympathy, and fined her a right packet – £25.
NOT SO CLEVER ‘LITTER LOUT’
Norman Parkinson of Coventry was not so clever as he ought to have been, when he set out to dump a pile of junk which included: three tin cans, a pedal operated bin, cardboard boxes, paper, bricks, a cement bag, a car battery and a box of rubbish. The place he chose to convert into a wayside tip was a country lane, Cryfield Grange Road, which connects the Coventry Road to Crackley Lane.
To the defendant’s dismay, he was traced by the painstaking work of a policeman, who discovered amongst the junk a bit of paper bearing his name and address. Which proved very useful.
The magistrates dumped a fine of £5 on Mr. Parkinson for ‘depositing litter’.
A Kenilworth man, Russell Carpenter of Warwick Road, appeared before the court on charges of being “drunk in charge of a motor-car”. Inspector Albert Cox said that at 10.50pm on Monday 11th November, P. C. Angus Dick saw Carpenter ‘staggering’ along Warwick Road and later watched him get into the driving seat of a car at the rear of the Bear and Ragged Staff public house. When questioned by the constable, Carpenter did not say anything. He was then taken to Kenilworth Police Station where a doctor stated that he was not fit to drive. (In other words, he was drunk as a judge). Mr W. H. Hibbs, defending, said that whilst in a pub, Carpenter surrendered the key of his car to a friend. Later, the defendant left the pub and as he walked along Warwick Road, the person to whom he had given the key, pulled up along side him and gave it back to him. He went to his car not to drive it but to lock it up, said Mr Hibbs. But the trouble was, he was inside the car. The magistrates did not believe a single word, and fined him a staggering £20 – more than a weeks-wages for a lot of people at the time.
“THERE’S NOTHING TO DO IN KENILWORTH“
There is a degree of truth in the often levelled criticism that there is ‘nothing to do in Kenilworth’. But it does not cut much ice when used as an excuse by the ‘nothing-to-doers’ to get mixed up with mischief and crime. Seven boys had an appointment at the juvenile court, where they got a frosty reception from the bench. All were Kenilworth lads between the ages of 13 and 16. They were either connected individually or jointly with a whole string of offences. They included break-ins and thefts from local cricket and football clubs. Namely, Kenilworth Cricket Club, Thomas Bates Cricket Club and Rangers Football Club. They were also involved in driving away motor-cars without the owners consent, driving without insurance, stealing car ignition keys and driving while under age, etc, etc. The case of the pilfering from the Thomas Bates pavillion which concerned three of the ‘magnificant seven’, aged 13, 14 and 16 was adjourned for three weeks, pending further inquires. Guilty pleads were entered on all the other charges. Penalties included, fines, probation, and disqualification from obtaining driving licences. In court, one of the older boys advanced the ‘nothing-to-do’ theme by stating to the bench; “This was not hooliganism, there is nothing to do in Kenilworth, we did it once and then we thought it was easy”. (Well, that’s alright then)
CHAT WITH HER PAL COST HER A FEW BOB
At court was Marion McMaster of Randall road, who, when she saw a former work colleague along Warwick Road decided to stop her car and have a natter. Trouble was, where she decided to park, only feet from a pedestrian crossing, was contrary to the highway-code, let alone dangerous and obstructive. A police officer booked her on the spot and the magistrates fined her £2 and endorsed her licence.
BEATLE FANS DAFT DANCE
“Although we appreciate that the Beatle’s music does do things to these young lads, I think this was going a bit too far, it was dangerous” said Inspector Albert Cox at the juvenile court. He was speaking during a case in which two 16-year-old boys were charged with wilfully obstructing the free passage of traffic. The bench heard that traffic was held up in Rosemary Hill because the two boys felt it was a good idea to start ‘Jiving and waving their arms about’ in the middle of the road with Beatle’s music blaring from a transistor radio held by friends on the pavement. Amongst the audience was by P. C. Victor Terry, who quickly stopped the boys performance. And for the record, their jiving on a ‘Long and winding road’, cost them fines of £1 each.
This ‘casual vacancy’ was caused by the resignation of Liberal Democrat, Jack Worrall, who was elected to the council in 2019.
Enough voters in St. John’s called for an election to fill the vacancy (rather than co-option) and as such, an election had to be held. The poll took place on the same day as the elections for the Warwickshire County Council, as well as the Warwickshire Police & Crime Commissioner.
By-election’s, by their very nature are difficult to call, but people would probably have expected a Liberal Democrat to be re-elected, but it didn’t turn out that way. Tory, Rik Spencer winning by a majority of 231 votes over Alison Insley, who was standing for the first time in a town election – but she would be back.
In the 2019 election, all four seats at St. John’s were taken by the Lib-Dems. But two-years-on, voters were starting to have a change of heart, especially the traditional Tory voters. Many of whom, may well have been shocked by the previous election result, when 13 Tory councillors lost their seats.
Kenilworth Town Councillors (17 seats)
8 Green Party (P. Jones, A. Firth, T. Drew, A. Kennedy, A. Dearing, J. Dearing, P. Austin, P. Barry)
6 Liberal Democrats (K. Dickson, R. Dickson, G. Hyde, S. Cooke, A. Chalmers, A. Milton)
3 ConservativeParty (J. Cooke, M. Coker, R. Spencer)
For the past four years the Tories had been leading a minority administration, along with the Whitnash Residents Association. But in the election, they lost 10 seats, and were left with only 6 remaining members.
In Kenilworth, the Lib-Dems easily retained their three seats in St. John’s. In the other two wards, five seats went to the Greens, which included four new faces. The remaining seat went to surviving Tory member, Richard Hales, who retained his seat in Abbey & Arden by just 17 votes. John Cooke, lost his seat in the same ward, which he had held for the last eight years.
Tory, George Illingworth (pictured) who was first elected to the WDC in 2007, did not seek re-election this year due to retirement from local government. He was elected chairman in 2019/20.
The Greens are Growing
The Greens were the biggest winners, gaining 6 seats to become the largest party with 14 members. But there was no overall control. So the parties had to come to an agreement that would suit everyone.
Voter ID Arrives – with success
99.95% of electors who came to vote in Warwick District Council polling stations brought photo ID, which met the newly introduced voter ID requirements.
Figures across the district shows that 28,432 electors voted at 126 polling stations. 106 electors that were initially turned away, 92 returned with a valid ID and voted. But 14 electors (0.05%) did not return. This means 86.79% of those initially turned away returned later in the day and voted.
State of the parties at the council (44 seats): 14 Green Party, 11 Labour Party, 10 Liberal Democrats, 6 Conservative Party, 3 Whitnash Residents Association.
Kenilworth District Councillors
5 Green Party (D. Armstrong, K. Aizlewood, A. Kennedy, L. Cron, L. Williams)
3 Liberal Democrats (K. Dickson, R. Dickson, A. Milton)
Despite five of their members, Firth, Austin, J. Dearing, Barry and Drew not putting themselves forward for re-election, this did not seem to make any difference to the electorate – Kenilworth is gradually turning green. In the 2019 poll, eight of their candidates were elected, but this year, that was increased to ten, thus gaining overall control of the council.
The trend of wards being dominated by one party or another continued just like in previous years. Abbey ward, which historically has been a mixture of Lib-Dems and Tories, is now Green (2 seats), as is Dalehouse (4 seats) and Park Hill (4 seats). The remaining two wards are held by the Liberal Democrats, Borrowell (3 seats) and St John’s (4 seats).
Due to many members not seeking re-election or others losing their seats, ten new members were elected.
Green Councillors – Peter Jones, Mark Stevens and Zoe Leventhal
Same Again For Liberal Democrats
The Lib-Dems retained seven seats on the council, the same as in 2019 election, but were down to just six members by the end of the term after losing a seat at the St John’s by-election in 2021. Two of their members did not seek re-election, out-going Mayor, Samantha Louden-Cooke and Graham Hyde.
Alison Insley who has lived in the town for over 30 years, joins the council for the first time. She was un-successful in the 2021 by-election at St. John’s but came second in the ward this time around. Her 1,134 votes was the third highest in the overall poll. In her spare time she plays squash and is a level-3 coach, no less. She is also a cycling instructor with the Warwickshire County Council.
Josh PayneAlan ChalmersRichard & Kate Dickson
The highest poll of the day of any candidate was Richard Dickson who topped the tree in St John’s with 1,251 votes. His wife Kate headed the poll in Borrowell with 1,077 votes. Alan Chalmers, who was elected to Borrowell in 2019, easliy retained his seat again. He was elected deputy Mayor for the forthcoming year.
No Tories Left on Council
For the first time since the town council was created in 1974, no Conservatives were left on the council. John Cooke lost his seat in Abbey, while Richard Spencer failed to retain his seat in St John’s.
Long standing member, Michael Coker M.B.E. aged 88, (pictured) did not put himself forward for re-election. He had been a district councillor since 1976 and then two lengthy stints as a town councillor from 1983 to 1995, then from 1996 to 2023. He has been Mayor three times. The 37-years he served on the town council is never likely to be beaten!
Voter ID Arrives
This was the first ever election when Voter ID was required to cast your vote.
This did not go down too well with everybody. But it’s here to stay!
Polling Stations
12 polling stations used thoughout the town for this years election.
6 x Churches, 3 x communtity centres/halls, 2 x Pubs (not enough) and 1 x School.
Polling Station in the car park of the Queen & Castle pub (Abbey Ward)
Fancy an Election Job?
Warwick District Council advertised for people to help during the election. The jobs available were:
At the Count – Count Clerk £146.43. Count Assistant £105.75
Postal Votes – Postal Vote Clerk £35.24 per session
The count took place at Stoneleigh Park on Friday 5th May.
The total cost of the election to the Town Council was just under £46,000 (up from £32,000 in 2019). At a later Town Council meeting, Cllr Richard Dickson commented; “Democracy is a costly business”.
Kenilworth Town Councillors (17 seats)
10 Green Party (A. Dearing, Z. Leventhal, A. Kennedy, P. Jones, M. Stevens, D. Bailey, N. Eaton, R. Minto, A. Randall, A. Summers)
7 Liberal Democrats (R. Dickson, K. Dickson, A. Chalmers, J. Payne, A. Insley, A. Marsh, A. Milton)
Town Clerk – Maggie Field
Deputy Town Clerk – Gemma Honey
Admin – Miles Wyatt-Smith
Mayor for 2023-24 was Alix Dearing pictured at the Lions Show in the Abbey Fields, soon after the election.
Alison Firth, former Town councillor from 2019 to 2023, and Mayor (2019-2020), easily retained the seat for the Greens, with a huge majority of 419, capturing more than 40% of the vote. This by-election was called due the resignation of Lara Cron who was leaving the area.
The victor went on social media saying that it was not just a victory for me, but for everyone in our community who placed their trust in me with their vote. She added; I want to give special thanks to my fabulous Green team colleagues, who worked so hard – knocking on doors, making deliveries, and keeping the Green message strong. And I especially want to thank Lara Cron for her excellent work in this role; I’m proud to follow in her footsteps.
This result means the Green Party at the District Council are still the largest party with 16 councillors, but they do not have overall control. However, they have a coalition with the Labour Group of their seven councillors.
The turnout was on the low side, but not unusual for a mid-term by-election. At the full election in 2023, the turnout in Park Hill was 41.6%, when 3,232 ballot papers were issued.
Polling stations used fo the election were at the former school in Leyes lane, St. Barnabas church, St. Nicholas Church and the Wardens Cricket Club.
The old school in Leyes Lane was put to some use!
Kenilworth District Councillors
5 Green Party (D. Armstrong, K. Aizlewood, J. Kennedy, A. Firth, L. Williams)
3 Liberal Democrats (K. Dickson, R. Dickson, A. Milton)
Arthur Harrison, now 73 year-old, has run hardware shops for over 50 years has decided to hang up his overalls for good. Arthur has been well known on the DIY circuit, having run shops in his home city of Coventry, and a lot longer here in Kenilworth. He has run Buyrite in Kenilworth for over three decades, but he says he cannot actually remember the year he started (it was 1991 we are reliably informed) but says the time has come for him to retire, which has been forced upon him.
Shop to be Re-developed by Landlords
The landlords are apparently going to re-develop the site into flats and a shop below. Over the years Buyrite has had three premises, two in Talisman Square and the present one in Station Road.
One of Buyrite’s shops in Talisman Square 2006/7
“They have made up their minds, but I’m okay with that. I feel like it’s the right time for me to retire”. Arthur said he has decided to move on and so it’s come at just the right time for him. “I can’t say anything bad about the landlords because they have been good to me over the years I’ve been here”.
“It will be a sad day when I finally close because I really do like the customers here in Kenilworth. It’s a really nice place to have a shop”.
Like most businesses which are about to close, he expects a busy last few weeks before the shutters go-up, which was originally set for 25th March, but was extended by the landlords for a month. They even opened on Sundays to help get rid of the stock. “Takings are already up now they know I’m going!” he laughed.
He added, saying he had been really well supported by people of Kenilworth. Everyone, seemed to like me.
‘Arthur’s Food Store’, was his first shop in Stoney Stanton Road back in 1969. He then moved to Hexworthy Avenue in Styvechale, before coming to Kenilworth 30 odd-years ago.
Wilco Did Buyrite a Favour
The arrival of Wilkinson’s (now Wilco) dead opposite in 2011, actually helped his shop’s fortunes. It did him a great favour. If Wilco haven’t got something, people would just walk across the road and see if he had it in stock. If not, Arthur would always say “We’ll have it in by Monday”. Wilco, without doubt increased Buyrite’s footfall.
‘Wilco’s arrival did Arthur a favour
His wife Sue, four children and one grandchild will now be able to see more of him now he’s in retirement. The people of Kenilworth, however, reacted with sadness to news of the shop’s closure.
Kenilworth Vibes Goes ‘Viral’
Cyril Hobbins, a well-known Kenilworth resident wrote; “I shall pop in for ‘Four Candles’ before you shut the shop for good”
Ann Hunt – “So sad yesterday to see Arthur putting up ‘closing down’ posters in his window. He has been an absolute stalwart of the local retail landscape for so many years. I for one will miss him!”
David Ian Ball – “This is sad news, by far the best shop in Kenilworth!”
Bev Clifford – “The council moved him about due to ‘knocking’ down buildings but Arthur took it all in his stride and carried on. His humour and cheerful nature will be another great loss to Kenilworth. Good luck to retirement”
Trading was extended by a month
Melanie Lawrence – “That’s so sad to hear. I’ve lived in Kenilworth for over 30 years and he has always been there and always so friendly and cheerful. Will be so strange not to see him there”
Kath Shortley – “Happy retirement Arthur, you deserve it. You were a good neighbour to Alec and myself at Juteronomy. All the very best. You will be missed in the town”
Marianne Dawn – “Oh no! Love that shop and Arthur. In that Aladdin’s cave, he knows where everything is as well”
Michaela Franklin – “Sad news, grew up with his shop by my nan’s house in Styvechale. Was always nice to know, when he was in Kenilworth if you ever needed that ‘thing‘ you couldn’t get anywhere else”
James Fletcher – “The only person who can find a needle in a haystack”
Sare Scooby Tabor – “Ooh, Mr Arkwright we will miss the banter, you are a legend. Your two beautiful daughters have worked so god damn hard, credit to you”.
Bye-Bye Arthur
In the last few weeks before closure Arthur was literally selling everything, even the shelving and the till had to go. By the last day of trading the shop was virtually empty but his daughter Louise indicated that any leftover stock would be donated to charity.
Shutters Go Up
Due to illness, Arthur was unable to attend the shop for the last couple of weeks of trading. His daughters took charge of the shop during this period. But he was able to attend on the final day of trading, Saturday 29th April 2023. As usual he had a big smile on his face!
Photo courtesy of Cyril Hobbins
Empty (except for the till which they couldn’t sell)
Buyrite is not the only business closing in the town. Magenta Wallpapers, HSBC, Top Drawer, Kenilworth Carpets, Western Carpets and Estate Agents, Sheldon-Bosley-Knight have all gone. Sylvesters the Jewellers, in Talisman Square will also be going later this year.
How many more will close? But wait, we might be in luck – Wetherspoons are on their way……..
May 2023
Boarded up – July 2023
Sadly, Arthur died on 4th August 2023, and his funeral took place at Cannon Hill Chapel, Canley Crematorium on 21st August.
Back in the mid to late 1960’s, my mates and I, could be found fishing the Finham, and Inchford brooks that flowed behind the castle on a regular basis. Sometimes with nets, catching Sticklebacks, and Minnows or fishing with rod and line for the trout. The trout where discovered by accident when fishing a stretch close to the ford, which would lead to the ghostly encounter. (Tony is pictured far left)
Finham brook at the ford. Where many trout were caught, especially during floods periods
We fished this area over the next couple of years, and caught many trout. Then one day my friend and I were again fishing there, when we had an experience, that to this day, I have no explanation for………..
At that time, the entrance was at the front of the castle, opposite castle green, so it was generally quiet around this area of the castle, with mostly people hiking around the fields. Access to the tiltyard back then wasn’t as easy as it is today. On the ford side of the tiltyard, the embankment slopes steeply down to the brook. On the other side, steps lead down to the bridge, that spans the brook. I’m not sure if back in the 1960s, the steps even existed.
Far side of tiltyard down to the bridgeEcho Meadows viewed from the tilyardView of tiltyard from the present day visitor’s centreSteep slope on front of tiltyardThe approximate position of the ‘sighting‘Trees on the far side of tiltyard
We were happily fishing that day, when something caught my eye …… I turned to my left to see what it was, and to my utter amazement, there, on the tiltyard, about ten yards along from Mortimer’s Tower, stood a ‘crusader knight’, in all his glory, sword in hand, and a large red cross on his tunic. My fishing companion, Glenn Smith saw it too, so it wasn’t just me seeing things! We were in awe, but scared witless. It just stood there, motionless. We decided to hide behind the trees by the brook, and observe it. I can’t remember how long the knight stood there for, but he was facing in our direction, and that made hiding behind the trees seemed like a good idea at the time. After a while, he turned around and walked off into the trees behind him, and disappeared. Strange thing was …… as mentioned earlier, the far side of the tiltyard slopes steeply down to the bridge, but somehow he had walked straight across into the trees, seemingly in mid-air, and not down the slope! Not long after this strange event, we headed that way to have a look around for any clue as to who/what it was. But there was nothing about. The knight had literally vanished into thin air ………..?
‘The Saintlowe Tower Lady’
Saintlowe Tower – Built by John O’Gaunt in the late 1370s
My second encounter at the castle, was in September of 2005. I now live in Florida, and was on vacation, visiting my home town. So I decided to go into the castle as it holds such great memories for me. It was mid-week as I recall, a cold still day, and it seemed as if I was the only one in the grounds. It was dead quiet.
The Great Hall
The basement of the Great Hall, Saintlowe tower is in the right-hand corner
I walked around most of the castle then decided to go into the Great Hall, and then up the spiral staircase inside Saintlowe Tower. I exited the doorway at the top of the staircase into what was once a room. The vast windows on the left-hand side now look out over the echo meadows (or the mere as it would have been centuries ago), and there to my surprise was a lady, dressed in a long flowing blue dress, sat on the stone-seat (pictured) looking out of the window. But before I had the chance to gather my senses as to what I was seeing – she had vanished……….
Top of spiral staircaseSaintlowe Tower from the northWindow where the ‘lady’ appeared
View of Echo Meadows from Saintlowe Tower – Once part of the Great Mere
Ghostly goings on at the castle, who can say? But what I can say is this; I did witness these two unexplainable events. Both scary, but enlightening encounters in their own way. ‘Strange but True’.
We all know, that when even a small pebble is dropped or thrown into a pool, ripples expand outwards for quite a way, often until they reach a distant shore.
I have discovered that this can happen on what I refer to as the, ‘Pool of Life’, I speak of metaphorical pebbles obviously. It happened to me in late 2008, when, completely out of the blue, I received an email from the USA from a LA company called, J. West. They were representing Disney Home Entertainment Inc, and were inviting me to take part in the launch of the DVD/Blu-Ray platinum edition of the remastered cartoon film of Pinocchio. Yes, they wanted me!
Photo courtesy of Cyril Hobbins
I was so sceptical, thinking it was some sort of a scam, I took the time to research them to check on the company – they were genuine. After some transatlantic negotiation, I agreed to the whole thing. I will summarise my week-long Hollywood adventure later.
But it has puzzled me ever since who, somewhere in the world, knew of my one-man-band, toy research and wooden toy making business all in a small shed, here in Kenilworth. Exactly, WHO threw that pebble into my personal ‘pool of life’, for the ripples to expand outwards across the Atlantic to the USA? I have never found out and probably never will.
A Change of Career
I had given up my post as Deputy Manager/Social Worker after 15 years at a Warwick Day Centre for adults with severe learning disabilities, to set myself up as a researcher, then re-creator of historically accurate wooden toys, dolls and games.
After a very slow start, by making a few toys, selling at places like Kenilworth Market and even on Carnival day.
I expanded the business, by using my social work and teaching skills to create, then to validate, toy history and toy making courses, for Infant and Junior Schools. This as part of the then growing, National Curriculum.
Every month I would make enough toys to sell at Craft Events locally, and in the Cotswolds. I would also produce enough of my little toy-kits for my practical toy-making workshops at schools, museums and historic sites. Eventually, I became Tudor Toymaker to English Heritage, and Victorian Toymaker for the National Trust and other museums.
My little toy-kits could be completed by almost any child within 40 minutes. I made a range of about 40 different toys, which meant I could spend a whole day with a single class.
I soon had a full order book, which kept me exceptionally busy, and exceedingly happy – all my hard work was finally paying off!
A further development was my historically accurate replicas of museum exhibits of wooden toys, dolls and games. These allowed children to have, hands-on experience during their visits.
Drawings by Cyril Hobbins
There are collections of these toys at places like Charlecote House, Wordsworth House, Compton Verney, Tattershall Castle plus many other museums.
Charlecote House, near Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire.
So, after around five years, I was becoming relatively well known in the Midlands, and especially the Cotswolds. But I say again, who told Disney? Which returns me to my ‘Pebbles in the Pool of Life’ ………….. theme
Out in the Streets
Folks around Kenilworth know me as, ‘The Man With a Camera’, I’m rarely seen without one.
I am what they call a ‘Street Photographer’, shooting anything or anyone of interest, it is a recognised photography genre, which began soon after the invention of portable cameras.
Out in the Streets – Cyril in Kenilworth town centre
The best of my edited shots, are submitted to an International Photography Forum for display, comment and criticism; my online portfolio is very large and varied now. See link below.
To summarise as promised earlier, in January 2009, my wife Glenys and I, were whisked off by a chauffeur driven car to Heathrow Airport to board a Boeing 777, heading for LAX International Airport; as VIP guests in business-class, no less! On arrival at LAX, and after a rather stressful introduction to US Border Control and Immigration, we were greeted by a driver, who took us to our accomodation.
The Famous Hollywood Sign – Photo by Tony Dilworth
As guests of Disney Home Entertainment, we spent a magical week in a luxury suite at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, (13 floors up), overlooking the city, with the famous Hollywood Sign in the distance hills. During our stay, we ate at the Hollywood Grill and used the roof-top swimming pool. The hotel breakfast’s, had to be seen to be believed, we were thoroughly spoiled. This was after a film-crew from Pinewood Studio’s, had filmed me at home in my workshop. This video was used as part of the second disc, that launched the re-mastered, Pinocchio.
View from Cyril’s hotelCyril relaxing in his plush hotel suite.
We were given two days to recover from our jet-lag which gave us time to explore places like; Hollywood Boulevard, Beverley Hills and Santa Monica. Then came two days of hard and intensive work at the Burbank Disney Studios, giving dozens of press interviews and toy making demonstrations. I was even given an official ‘Minder’ to keep an eye on me. She was wonderful, always ensuring that I was comfortable and at ease.
One task was to take part in what is known as a ‘B’ Roll movie, for Disney Records. For the first time (and hopefully the last) I was given the full works by a make-up artist. We had lighting and sound checks etc, I then demonstrated my large collection of wooden toys to the Chief Creative Officer, John Lasseter, whilst he interviewed me.
Cyril in his Typical Toy-Making Outfit – leather apron, neckerchief and Victorian stripy shirt – pictured with John Lasseter.
Afterwards, we were given a complete tour of the Walt Disney archive and museum, including the huge pre-war animation camera that Walt Disney used, for all his early work. We even met the man, Dickie Jones (pictured), a child actor back in the day, who did the original voice of Pinocchio, in the film’s production during 1938/9. He was 11-years-old at the time!
A truly amazing week at Disney, that remains an enduring memory.
The Platinum DVD/Blu Ray edition of Pinocchio is still about, (plenty to be found on ebay), but less and less people are using this format nowadays, so maybe the film can be found on the Disney+ streaming service? Have a look if you are a subscriber.
But, finally, I would truly love to discover who threw my pebble?? ………………..
