A new documentary film about Holmfirth - The Changing Face of Holmfirth-
Summer Wine Town- is about to receive the red carpet treatment. It is
being premiered at the Holmfith Film Festival on the 24th of May.
Mike Wade of Yorkshire Video Arts said, " 25 years ago I made a film
about Holmfirth and I thought it was about time I made another. In those
days Nigel Hinchliffe was campaigning for public toilets to meet the needs
of the tourists and Lodges was the only supermarket in town. Things are
different now.'' Mike uses archive footage from his films to point the
difference between the Holmfirth of today and as it was when Compo was
no-but a lad. The depressed old mill town has blossomed during this time
and the tourists have helped more than a little. Locals with long memories
tell it as it was before Summer Wine cameras began shooting in the streets
and on the hillsides. Talking of wine. As Last of the Summer Wine nears
its end the First Summer Wine is being grown in a vineyard above
Holmbridge. Ian Sheveling Holmfirth's first vineyard owner, says "The
locals were dubious at first but after the first couple of glasses they
become quite mellow and appreciative. After all the Romans grew vines here
so why shouldn't we ? '
Kirklees has a part to play in this film: Keith Gibson, Planning Officer
when Kirklees took over in '74 had the job of stopping builders using
brick. 'It wasn't easy' he recalled, 'But it needed doing!' Life followed
art - there are no brick houses in Summer Wine and none any longer in
Holmfirth. As for the future ? Well, as the film says 'Holmfirth is awash
with festivals and artists'. What more natural than becoming a Festival
town to fill the gap which is beginning to widen as Summer Wine nears its
end. The Changing Face of Holmfirth - Summer Wine Town is being premiered
at the Holmfirth Film Festival at 4.30pm on Monday 24th May at The Old
Bridge Hotel. The show is free and copies of the film on DVD can be bought
for a special Festival Price of £10 ( non Festival price £12.95 ) The DVD
can be bought at The Old Bridge Hotel, the Tourist Information Office,
Frank Platt's. Kaye's Ironmongers and The Picturedrome for the duration of
the Festival and at the Tourist Information Office and on line from
www.yorkshirevideoarts.co.uk when the Festival is over.
Summer Wine Town- is about to receive the red carpet treatment. It is
being premiered at the Holmfith Film Festival on the 24th of May.
Mike Wade of Yorkshire Video Arts said, " 25 years ago I made a film
about Holmfirth and I thought it was about time I made another. In those
days Nigel Hinchliffe was campaigning for public toilets to meet the needs
of the tourists and Lodges was the only supermarket in town. Things are
different now.'' Mike uses archive footage from his films to point the
difference between the Holmfirth of today and as it was when Compo was
no-but a lad. The depressed old mill town has blossomed during this time
and the tourists have helped more than a little. Locals with long memories
tell it as it was before Summer Wine cameras began shooting in the streets
and on the hillsides. Talking of wine. As Last of the Summer Wine nears
its end the First Summer Wine is being grown in a vineyard above
Holmbridge. Ian Sheveling Holmfirth's first vineyard owner, says "The
locals were dubious at first but after the first couple of glasses they
become quite mellow and appreciative. After all the Romans grew vines here
so why shouldn't we ? '
Kirklees has a part to play in this film: Keith Gibson, Planning Officer
when Kirklees took over in '74 had the job of stopping builders using
brick. 'It wasn't easy' he recalled, 'But it needed doing!' Life followed
art - there are no brick houses in Summer Wine and none any longer in
Holmfirth. As for the future ? Well, as the film says 'Holmfirth is awash
with festivals and artists'. What more natural than becoming a Festival
town to fill the gap which is beginning to widen as Summer Wine nears its
end. The Changing Face of Holmfirth - Summer Wine Town is being premiered
at the Holmfirth Film Festival at 4.30pm on Monday 24th May at The Old
Bridge Hotel. The show is free and copies of the film on DVD can be bought
for a special Festival Price of £10 ( non Festival price £12.95 ) The DVD
can be bought at The Old Bridge Hotel, the Tourist Information Office,
Frank Platt's. Kaye's Ironmongers and The Picturedrome for the duration of
the Festival and at the Tourist Information Office and on line from
www.yorkshirevideoarts.co.uk when the Festival is over.