NEVER before seen film of Romaldkirk in the 1930s, which was saved from the skip, has been restored and will be screened at St Romald’s Church this weekend.
Charlie Goodall discovered three spools of 8mm film, left over from a 1972 documentary, Romaldkirk A Backward Glance, when sorting out his mother Dorothy’s effects following her death four years ago.
He said: “My family have lived in Romaldkirk at the rectory for a number of years. I grew up here as a teenager and I moved back with my wife Jeanette after my mum died 2018.”
The original 30-minute documentary was narrated by former Romaldkirk resident Dr Shallcross Dickinson, who lived in the village in the 1930s and was a keen cinematographer.
It featured interviews with various residents and footage taken by Dr Dickinson when he called Romaldkirk home.
Mr Goodall added: “My mum did charity work and she had a contact with Tyne Tees Television. They were trying to clear out and asked if she would be interested in the films as they were going to skip them.”
The films were in quite a poor state of repair. Some of it had dried out where it had been spliced”
He continued: “Earlier this year there was a black and white photographic exhibition at the church and I spoke to the Fitzhugh Library and they suggested we get in touch with the North East Film Archive (NEFA).
“I didn’t want the films just to be left to deteriorate in a dusty attic somewhere but wanted them keeping for posterity.”
The film archive, based at Teesside University, in Middlesbrough, were “excited” to learn of the films and agreed to restore and digitise them as part their Nature Matters project, funded by the National Lottery.
Mr Goodall said: “Part of the deal was the films are shown in the church as a premiere to anyone who is interested. The NEFA will host the films on their website so they are available for research and future generations.”
The matinee premiere of the previously unseen footage, titled The Way We Were, is to take place at St Romald’s Church, in Romaldkirk, on Saturday, November 26, starting at 2.30pm.
Music from the 1930s will accompany the silent 45-minute film and refreshments, including popcorn, will be served during an interval.
There will also be a display of black and white photographs and local maps.
Village vicar Revd Canon David Tomlinson said: “Having the film show in the church is fitting because it has seen generations of residents and it is about the history of the village.”
Entry is free but donations, which will be split between the NEFA and St Romald’s Church, are welcome.
