'A Canterbury Tale'
60th anniversary location walk
Sunday, August 31, 2003
Meet at 12.15 pm* at Chilham Railway Station
Your guides will be Steve Crook, founder of the Powell & Pressburger Appreciation Society and Paul Tritton, author of 'A Canterbury Tale - Memories of a Classic Wartime Movie'
Our 2003 reunion for veterans and admirers of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 'haunting and heartfelt' film of a wartime pilgrimage to Canterbury will be held 60 years after the last Sunday in August 1943. This was the day on which the memorable 'scene in the long grass' was made and Sgt John Sweet of the US Army joined the film unit.
- Walk to the hill where the scene was filmed
- Admire the views of the Stour Valley that were captured so vividly by Michael Powell's cinematographer, Erwin Hillier, as Alison Smith, Thomas Colpeper, JP, Sgt Bob Johnson and Sgt Peter Gibbs gathered on the hill
- Find the locations near Chilham Mill where the Chillingbourne boys enjoyed a battle on the river and had their 'pow-wow' with Sgt Bob Johnson
- See where Peter Gibbs and his 'beastly Carriers' ambushed Alison as she drove on her horse and cart to Prudence Honeywood's hop farm
- Explore Chilham village, where Bob and Peter played Catch! and Alison met the bus conductress, Polly Finn
- Visit St Mary's Church and The Pilgrims' Way - and listen again to Thomas Colpeper's lecture about 'The Old Road'
- Discover the street that was recreated at Denham Studio for the 'cut to the chase' in which Alison, Bob and Peter pursue the Glueman through blacked-out Chillingbourne
There is no charge for attending this event, nor do you need to book - but please give generously to our
collection for Kent Kids Miles of Smiles Holiday Respite Home.
The walk will end at between 4 and 5pm, hopefully at one of Chilham's teashops or pubs.
* The 11.44 from Canterbury West and the 11.58 from Ashford International arrive at Chilham at 11.53 and 12.10 respectively, but please confirm these times with National Rail before your journey. If travelling by car, use the free car park at Chilham Station or the one near Chilham Square, or find a kerbside space in the village .Be prepared for a long but leisurely ramble (at the speed of the slowest walker) and bring your own refreshments.
