Getting scenes of heritage seen

11:32am Tuesday 14th August 2007

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A university graduate is making a film about the history of Hayes, the town in which he grew up, reporter WILLIAM DAVIES finds out how he's getting on.

AN AWARD-WINNING filmmaker is looking to have a public screening ofhis film when it is completed.

Simon James recently graduated with a first class degree in film, television and radio studies from Staffordshire University.

While on the course, the 21-year-old won the best undergraduate film award at the Stafford Film Festival.

Now he has undertaken a new project with his wife, Lucy Lu, about the history of Hayes.

Simon said: "Hayes is the town I grew up in, so it seemed like an interesting idea to find out its history and compare it to what I know today.

"Filming was crammed into a week. We shot a great deal of interviews with local farmers, a local historian, a vicar, a primary school teacher and other longstanding members of the community.

"The film follows the history of Hayes but also touches on Bromley, Keston and other areas, so hopefully there is something for everyone."

Mr James, of Kechill Gardens, Hayes, admits he knew nothing about the history of his town before he started the project a month ago.

He said: "It's been fascinating tracing the history of Hayes from the Bronze Age to now.

"We briefly look at the history of the town through Roman and Norman periods but the film focuses mainly on the history of the town from 1700 onwards.

"The change between the town in the 1700s and now is amazing. Until the railways came in 1882, the area was mostly farmland.

"Gradually, over the next 50 or so years, the area became an increasingly surburban area with developers seeing the benefit of building here.

"I also found out former Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder lived in Hayes until he died in 1778.

"I never knew Hayes had such a rich history."

Mr James, who married Lucy on July 28, is hoping to generate interest in the project and is looking to display his work at a public screening.

He said: "I know there are a lot of people around who are interested in the history of the area."

"I'm hoping to carry out a public screening but need to assess the level of interest first.

"I expect the film to be completed within the next few weeks, I'm just adding the finishing touches to it."

Mr James is set to move to China in the next few months with his wife in order to pursue his dream of becoming a professional filmmaker.

He said: "We're hoping to move out there and set up our own company to make films and distribute them in Europe and Asia.

"We've got a lot to get ready before then but it's certainly exciting."