British Pathe

"A British Travel & Holidays Association Film" Commentary by John Glen. Produced by Associated British-Pathe Ltd.

Continued. Hungerford, Berkshire. C/U of a man in a top hat blowing a 17th Century horn. This signals a "kissing custom". Men who carry poles with bunches of flowers on top are...

"A British Travel & Holidays Association Film" Commentary by John Glen. Produced by Associated British-Pathe Ltd.

Continued. Hungerford, Berkshire. C/U of a man in a top hat blowing a 17th Century horn. This signals a "kissing custom". Men who carry poles with bunches of flowers on top are Hungerford "Totty Men". They knock at doors and demand kisses or coins! When a woman answers the door, the Totty Man grabs her and gives her a big smacker. C/U of another of the Totty Men kissing a woman who leans out of her window. She looks a lot younger and prettier than him and it is quite a long kiss! An orange is given in return for the coin or kiss. I'd want a bit more than that to kiss either of those two blokes! M/S of one of the Totty Men throwing coins to the waiting children. They scramble for the money. "A proper show of coyness is always expected from the ladies" says the narrator as a Totty Man climbs up a ladder where a woman looks out of a window. One woman slams her window so she doesn't have to do it. A rather reluctant woman grapples with her pursuer. C/U of young girl counting her pennies.

Tichborne, Hampshire. C/U of the sign above the Post Office door. L/S of a postman coming through a house gate. Flour - blessed by the church - is handed out to the locals. Various shots of local people queuing up for a gallon of flower from Sir Anthony Tichborne to avert a curse. They hold out flour sacks and they are filled with flour. Various shots of young women and children carrying bags of flour.

Mead ceremony in Cornwall. The brew is blessed by the church. Various shots of the mead being blessed and drunk. Interior of the "Mead House of G***" - name indecipherable. Various shots of dignitaries and religious folk downing glasses of mead. Continued.

Note - "Short Mute Version" which is mute neg ends here and does not have Vintners, Beating the Bounds or Easter Parade section which are described in record d. Is also 16mm print.