THRILLS and Spills of My Life in Television was the title of an entertaining talk given to Huddersfield Group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists by Nicola Down.
Nicola left school in 1963 and worked for free as an assistant stage manager before being set on. At 17 she moved to Southampton as a PA for Southern TV.
She described how, later in her career, she worked at Elstree studios with Des O’Connor and Tom Jones and how to make the film set pay, two shows a day would be filmed for seven days.
Due to low budgets, out-takes were used as publicity in America. Des’s agent was not happy, especially with the 13 takes to hit the right note in his new song.
On another occasion, Nicola had to organise filming at Osborn House, Isle of Wight, at a time when all ferries were full – so she got the army to help out by taking them across on their landing crafts. Towards the end of her career, she helped with a BBC documentary about YTV, – this after spending seven years working with Richard Dimbleby.
This month saw James Michael Francis Hieatt, Andy Rowlands, Calum Mackay, Linden Phillips, Shane Anthony Beeby, and Ian James Foster pass their Advanced Driving Test with guidance from Alan Pavier, Lionel Holmes, William Meeham, John Gray, John Whiteley and Ian Starkey.
At the next meeting at The Royal British Legion Club, Scar Lane, Golcar; James Macaskie will speak on A Search for Family History.
CONTACT: Anyone interested in advanced driving can call Lionel Holmes on 01484-655068.
