Hello and welcome to these private pages devoted (initially) to the Rayboulds and their depiction in some home movies.

These films were taken by my father, Herbert Whorwood on a mid 1930’s second hand Pathescope H 9.5mm cine camera. The films are a family record and whilst some scenes are of obvious interest to our wider family, other scenes are a personal record of holidays taken and other events. The films are largely from before the War and since and my Father, who lost an eye in that event, was not trained to take the films, the result is sometimes halting and unsteady, and, as he could not see in 3D, lack a certain depth.

The films are black and white, except for the colour of the VE parade through central Birmingham and this film stock was very expensive at the time as colour film had only just been released for sale. The films were shown at various family meetings on an old Pathescope H projector which again was second hand and the more they were played, the more the sprocket holes became incapable of effectively pushing the film through the projector. That, coupled with the natural deterioration of the film stock means that I took 7 reels of assorted film into the processors to put onto video. The result is a jumble of places, dates, people and events. I will attempt to draw these elements together for the viewer, based on the many times I have seen the films, and hearing Mother’s commentary (subject to my own deteriorating memory (happy to be corrected everyone!)).

I have also discovered new Standard and Super 8mm colour films which I have added to the DVD. These were taken in the early 60’s through to the 70’s.

On these pages I have grouped the content into likely interested families; the Ottons, Espins, Rayboulds and Whorwoods. The only sister missing is Adeline. Mother and Father went on holiday with them to The New Forest in the mid 70’s with Mother driving. Something happened on the trip which my Mother reacted to and she drove back to Tamworth (where they lived) to deposit them there, and then returned to the Forest. It is inconceivable that no films were taken, so I can only assume that they were destroyed by my Mother.

Another interesting thing is the behaviour of the participants. They were used to standing still to be photographed, so they were encouraged by my Father and Mother to bring some action into it. It sometimes looked very forced and unnatural, at times comical. These days with DVD cameras it is all so natural and easy; no film processing and no waiting for them to return.

If as you view these films, you can add detail then please email me on harry@whorwood.net and I will incorporate your commentaries. There will be more material published here when I can find it, and have it converted into this new medium.

The opening scene is of two people in hats, I think one of them is Edna as a bridesmaid. The scenes changes at 0.16 to a church – St. Margarets in Olton, and it’s Harry’s christening, in the Spring 1946. Somebody (?) holds a baby (?) and walks towards the camera, followed by Gladys in black alongside (?), and beside her is Bert’s Mother. Laurance is enthusiastically waving at the camera followed by Arthur Short at the back and Reuben and Dorothy. Arthur turns to chat the Aunt Annie (?) with Arthur Otton in a Mac (always). 0.23 and Ivy holds Harry, whilst Bert’s Mother fusses, whilst Arthur Short looks on. Somebody other than Bert holds the camera and aims the camera slightly wrongly and focuses on the church wall adjacent to Bert and Ivy holds Harry.

0.35 and the front garden at Pearce Avenue, Olton, Ivy and Bert’s house, and the newly married Cecil Espin and Edna are in the front garden (1949). They stayed there for their honeymoon. The scene shifts at 0.43 to the front garden of 10 Station Road, Branston, as l to r Ivy, Edith (Cecil’s sister) and Edna try to get Cecil wet under the pump. The house had only just been converted to mains water, and the pump had been disconnected! Probably early 50’s. At 1.00 we are in a field of corn adjacent to The Prefabs, Hillside Way, Branston where Cecil and Edna lived. Ivy carries Harry, and Cecil’s disabled friend (name forgotten), wife and daughter and then Cecil. 1.18 and we’re at Lincoln Cathedral and at 1.29 Harry and David play on the beach at Skegness – date about 1954. Again early 50’s and the scene at 2.56 or so is the back garden at the prefab and the players change as Arthur Short appears and silliness erupts.

At 3.47 or so, the scene is the front garden at Kineton Green Road, Ivy’s new house in Olton. Edith and her “friend” John Speed (amazing man) are visiting probably delivering or collecting Edna after/before a holiday there – date about 1964 or so. At 4.34 we are at Wallasey where Winnie (Cecil’s sister lives) and the film shows Liverpool on board the ferry. Ivy, Edna and Bert wash their feet.

The date is the early 60’s and Agnes and Charles are in the garden at Ivy and Bert’s house in Kineton Green Road, Olton. They are joined by son Ian and his new wife Wilhelmina (Wilma). They are then joined by Geoffrey in baby mode whilst Ian shows off his ball catching skills. Hidcote Manor hosts Agnes, Charles and Ivy and Bert at 1.28 or so in 1963. At 2.10 we are back in Ivy’s garden, then back to Hidcote and then to Coventry Cathedral. Still in the back garden at 3.34 and Ian displays why he has never played for England in showing off to Geoff.

This video/cine film I think opens at Handsworth Park and a bridge across a stream. It must be late mid forties as Reuben Cecil and Edith Espin are there and the Shorts wouldn’t have known them until later in the war. On the bridge are from the left, Arthur Otton, ?, Edna, Reuben, (Big) Arthur Short, Edith.

0.16 – a Summer’s day rather than the winter appearance of the previous clip. From left; Dorothy, Unknown man, probably Harry and Pat as the young children. Gladys attending to Pat. 0.28 places change and Bert appears on the right (as Ivy taking the film). That might be (Young) Arthur Short next to Bert. 0.36 Cecil and Edna on their honeymoon.

0.43 The scene is Gerty’s house in Acocks Green in Hanbury Croft and leap frog is the game. Date? Leapfrog and Bert jumps over Gerty, Arthur’s Otton and Short follow suit, Arthur Otton does ditto, Fred and Hilda look on, Laurance (?) runs around killing Germans which dates it to the 1940’s. Agnes and Ian are there cuddling. 1.32 and Bert leads a procession of mobile toys, whilst Fred looks on. Arthur Short, Arthur Otton, Fred sists on the train. 1.46 and it’s Fred and Hilda’s wedding. See their video for explanations. 2.45 or so and it’s Edna’s wedding – see her video for more info. 3.10 and Pat is visiting Ivy’s house – see her video. 3.20 sees Ivy, Gerty and Laurance in the part with Bonzo – there’s more info on Harry’s video. A brief glimpse of Gerty and Arthur with Laurance on his trike, and a walk by the earlier three along the canal. 5.00 and it is Harry being held by Edna and her friend May Linney – date is 1946. 6.04 sees us in Branston – see the Espin video for more. The Snow of 1947 makes an appearance, and Pat then joins Harry for a walk up the garden path until at 7.21 Dorothy and Reuben appear with Pat. The remaining part of this video is of holidays in Skegness and Branston – see the Espin video for more.

Laurance is seen with his Mother – Father at war so the date is early 1940’s. Ivy and Gerty (on the right) together with Ivy’s dog Bonzo. Bert appears. Ivy and Gert then walk along the tow path of the Olton canal. Holiday at Weston Super Mare follows with Laurance driving the float. Bert, Harry and Laurance then attempt to swim he channel. Two people from “the digs” then join Ivy, Arthur, Laurance and Gerty for a wave. Harry rock-pools whilst Arthur imitates Neptune complete with seaweed and without teeth (if that makes sense).

Harry and Jennifer marry at Packwood Church in Warwickshire in January 1969.

It’s the wedding of the year, and Hilda tries to cut the cake – which is very pretty with the bride and groom in the middle of an arch. 0.18 or so and Fred and Hilda are with his Mother Emily Jane. 0.25 and it’s the obligatory line-up of guests; l to r: Ivy, ?, ?, Emily Jane, Hilda and Fred, best man ?, ?, Edna, ? ?

The wedding party have a bit of a relax at this point (0.56) and the man stood next to Ivy in the previous line-up performs a near perfect Charlie Chaplin impersonation. Once more the happy couple are with his Mother at 1.01.

The scene changes at 1.13 when colour filming takes over. It’s in Ivy’s garden at Kineton Green Road and a late afternoon as the sun is giving everything a reddish tint. Edna is in the front and Fred is on the right. Hazel is at the back and on the left soon to emerge is Lyndon’s first wife Mary. Tim emerges and he and Lyndon tussle. At 1.28 the line up is Tim, a very formal looking Lyndon, Mary, Hilda, a mini-skirted Hazel, Fred and then Edna. At 2.19 a Conga ensues and a dark coated figure is under the arch next to Cecil, who is now on crutches.

2.29 and a different occasion with Fred and Hilda seated in the same garden whilst Ivy fusses with the shade.

The film opens with my Christening – say early 1946, and I am seen being held by my parents. Reuben and Dorothy are there, him in his uniform, as is Arthur Otton, Gladys and (Big) Arthur Short. The scene switches to Reuben and Dorothy and baby Pat in the garden of Ivy and Bert’s House in Olton. Pat teases me and we go for a walk together. My paternal grandmother and her sister my great aunt are there and we play on toys that Bert made.

Harry and Jennifer marry at Packwood Church in Warwickshire in January 1969.