If you see men walking down the street with a telephone box it is probably an indication that there is a film crew nearby.
This was a distinctive director with red hair called John Prowse filming a drama serial called The Changes on location in Bristol in back 1975 when wooden tripods were used with 16mm cameras and portable monitors hadn’t been developed.
The Changes was a BBC adaptation of the books by Peter Dickinson written and produced by Anna Home. It starred Victoria Williams, Keith Ashton and Rafiq Anwar. Jack Watson was in four episodes and my mother had what one might call a cameo role as a villager. She can be seen in the photo above in the pink headscarf.
Sonia Graham appeared in this scene wearing a long red cloak. I later worked with her on the vet series One by One.
The story explored the concept of a time when machines ground to a halt and all cars became useless. Vehicles still seemed to be used as camera mounts. John Prowes is standing on top of a doramobile in this photograph.
Does anyone remember seeing the outcome of all this toil?
This is lovely. Do know what became of John Prowse?
I think John might have retired.
What a fascinating set of photographs. I have never heard of ‘The Changes’ but would now like to learn more.
I found one more photo! but would need to ask my mother about it. The book is quite fun, so so I thought aged 12.
I shall have to look for it.
I can’t find it listed on Amazon. My parents may have a copy. It might have been published by Puffin.
I will ask my bookdealer friends when I am down in Somerset, from tomorrow.
I remember there being a series of books, stories set around the River Severn, I think.
Thank you, that might be very useful.
I have discovered that ‘The Changes’ is a trilogy written by Peter Dickinson consisting of ‘The Weathermonger’, ‘Heartsease’ and ‘The Devil’s Children’. I shall look out for them.
Yes, that’s right! I loved them as a child.