60
minutes DVD / VHS Video60
minutes DVD / VHS Video
Emmer Green Remembered
Essential viewing for everyone who lives, or has links to, or is interested to learn about Emmer Green's history
For centuries Emmer Green was a close-knit village quite separate from Caversham. Since World War Two it has grown to become what is now a suburb of Reading situated on the high ground north of the River Thames.
Each day thousands of commuters pass through Emmer Green on their
way to and from Reading. Few may be aware, that once upon a time
the good people of Reading used to travel to Emmer Green for their
holidays just to enjoy the fresh air and pleasant surroundings!
We listened to the personal experiences of 'Emmer Greeners' like
Mrs Esme Ellingham a member of the important Fisher Family who
moved to Emmer Green in the 1880s and who built St Barnabas Church
in the 1920s
We filmed the late Bill Goodworth who told us how things were
in the early days. How his house was adapted for new fangled electricity
and how the only Emmer Green doctor used to use his front room
as a surgery plus some amusing wartime stories. We also learnt
how things changed dramatically for Emmer Green when the men came
back home in 1945.
Using old photographs we were able to re-film the same places
and see how much, or how little Emmer Green had changed.
We also visited the BBC Monitoring Station in the grade ll listed
building - Caversham Park House; the site of which is reputed
to be where King Charles 1st last met his children in 1647. Today
Caversham Park House is the home of the BBC Monitoring Station
and we learnt first hand from a Duty Editor about the important
work carried out by the BBC for the nation 24 hours a day 365
days a year.
Clayfield Copse Emmer Green is Reading Town's first Nature Reserve
and we joined a band of enthusiastic volunteers who give up their
spare time to manage and maintain the nature reserve for the benefit
of the Emmer Green Community. We learnt about the woodcraft skills
and the ways in which Clayfield Copse provides a centre of excellence
for the community and the country ways.
Finally we worked closely
with the Emmer Green Residents Association to film the launch
of their excellent book 'Emmer Green Past and Present' and it
is to them we give our kind acknowledgement for all the help they
gave us in creating this film.
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