I refer to my Feb 2023 blog in which I described the slow progress I was making with my latest project to rescue, repair and restore my father’s collection of 70 vintage cine films and 5 vintage cine projectors of different gauges.

It is 17 years since father, Raymond Hill, died and this project had been awaiting my attention ever since. I started the rescue last Sept (2022)…..

……and phew! What a journey! Emotional because I watched scenes long forgotten, frustrating because the projectors often malfunctioned and rewarding because about 50 films are now in the hands of appreciative careful new owners.

I am delighted having just returned from a visit to Exmouth Museum in Devon. Father lived for 57 years in Exmouth taking still photographs and cine film where ever he travelled. Twenty two films with Exmouth content from Dad’s collection have now been assigned to the museum. The museum team were most enthusiastic about their new acquisition and had already successful attained a local grant from Tescos to digitalise professionally father’s films for the local community. (see below Exmouth Journal press cutting 6 Sept 2023)

Exmouth Museum’s chairman and curator have ambitious plans. They hope to install an AV system and build up a collection of old Exmouth films and slides/photographs for a public display. A local gentleman who has considerable cine know-how has been found and is happy to work alongside the museum in the tasks ahead. It was so exciting to talk with this enthusiastic creative team and to imagine just how pleased Dad would be to know many people in the future will watch his Exmouth films – a collection covering 30 years from the 1950’s – the majority being his own work. I can see him smiling.

Other films from his collection have been donated as appropriate. For instance the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) now hold two Super 8 films 1978 and 1984 Tulip Parade Spalding filmed by Raymond Hill and Bristol Archives hold three 1980’s 8mm reels of Bristol Balloon Festival and Bristol Zoo by Raymond Hill.

These donations left me with 18 private family films and 15 vintage 16 mm films – the latter mostly commercially produced in 1930’s and 40’s. Finally I also have 6 amusing ‘shorts’ acted, filmed and edited by father and his Exmouth Cine Group. Half the family films, which are most pertinent to my sister, have gone to her with a projector and she is hoping her family will enjoy perusing and preserving these.

My family set of 10 films and the vintage 16mm have been posted to 8mm2digital in Yorkshire for digitalisation. Andrew is working through the old 16mm films and putting them on Youtube for all to see. This is painstaking work and he has made a brilliant job bringing scenes such as Royal Coronations and 1930’s London back to life. Do check out his website. https://8mm2digital.com

My set of family films are also being meticulously scanned and made available to me. I cannot praise 8mm2digital enough. Throughout this project Andrew has been a source of advice, both for my projector repairs and film resuscitation. A delight to find someone so dedicated, enthusiastic and generous.

This leaves me with the 6 Super 8mm film ‘shorts’ s made by Exmouth Cine Group in 1970/80s – a group Dad formed and for which I have the minutes of every meeting and every outing from 1969 to 1999. A poignant last entry in Dad’s weak hand writing sais…. ‘Ray unable to attend many meetings, regrets no reliable records of meetings in 1999’ . He was age 87.

These films are priceless examples of Dad’s love of life, film and silly games! I have retained an 8mm and a 16mm projector and intend to take time to revel in these remaining vestiges of his gift to future generations. May be I shall share these with you sometime soon!

Project Contacts – email addresses:

films@8mm2digital.com

exmouthmuseum@gmail.com