Two short films from 50 years ago, featuring characters from farming communities in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
All of them were keen to keep alive centuries-old local food and cooking traditions. In Andrew Snell’s films there is fishing for lamperns on the river Severn in Worcester down to the spectacular trapping of salmon with lave nets in Awre. On the land, there is everything from a pioneering attempt to make real Gloucester cheese from Gloucester cows to asparagus growing in Evesham and making farmhouse scrumpy for a genuine old cider house.
Severnside (Andrew Snell, UK, 1973) 25 minutes
The Heart of England (Andrew Snell, UK, 1975) 25 minutes
Andrew Snell - Film Director
Andrew Snell is an award-winning film director who began his career at the BBC in the late 1960s. Concerned by the growing industrialisation of British food, he wanted to make films supporting local food producers. The BBC told him British TV viewers were not interested in food. Andrew persisted and travelling across Gloucestershire, he uncovered remarkable characters and traditions, shaping them into a screenplay that led, eventually, to the commissioning of the original Taste of Britain by the Controller of BBC2.
Vernon Amor
Vernon is the son of Peter Amor who founded Wye Valley Brewery in 1985 and is now its managing director. The brewery is known for the quality of its beers using the highest quality ingredients, including local hops. It is also respected for its commitment to local community values.
Simon Cooper
Simon is a world expert in all kinds of fishing boats made from natural materials and is pioneering the use of flax from his Gloucestershire farm to make environmentally friendly fishing tackle.
Denis Gwatkin
Was first filmed for a BBC Christmas film as a five-year-old when his family farmed at Minsterworth in Gloucestershire. Since then, he has moved back to Abbey Dore in Hereford , where his family traditionally came from and where he now makes cider, keeps Hereford cattle and pioneers new ways to keep agriculture viable.
Charles Martell
Charles is a Gloucestershire farmer known for his herd of Gloucester cattle and his commitment to keeping county traditions alive. The high-quality Gloucestershire cheeses made on his farm are renowned throughout the country and he has written books detailing all the native species of apple and pear in Gloucestershire.
Tom Oliver
Tom is a local Herefordshire farmer, rock band manager and maker of fine cider. He has pioneered the use of wild yeasts to make cider a match for great wines and top class beers.
