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A number of videos (currently about 23 in all) relating to Hungerford are available via YouTube, including (in approximate date order):
- King George V's visit to Hungerford, Oct 1912.
- "Kissing Day in Hungerford", 1913.
- London to Bath in Mk II Jaguar with George Isles, 1963.
- "Hungerford - the Traditional Town with a Heart for Industry", c1990.
- "Hocktide in Hungerford - The Story of the Ancient Traditions", 1991.
- PC Ron Hoyes and the garden at the Police Station, 1992.
- Bellman Robin Tubb summoning commoners to the Court, Hocktide, 2009.
- Hungerford Gives Thanks, 2020.
- The working scale model of the 1910 Fire King fire engine.
King George V's visit to Hungerford, Oct 1912.
A short film [3 min 30s] showing crowd scenes when the King came to the train station to return to London after his visit Oct 1912. It was raining very heavily!
The film was among a collection of items kindly given to the HHA by Garry Tubb in 2016. The HHA arranged for it to be digitised, and sound has been added to the silent film by Hugh Pihlens.
Until recently, we had no idea who had actually carried out the filming. We assumed it was probably the local photographer, Albert Parsons. However, a series of articles in the Newbury Weekly News about life in Hungerford between 1900-1920, written by "Jimmy" in 1963, recently came to light (Apr 2021) - and interestingly, the making of the film is actually mentioned:
"I suppose the really ”Big gun" of all the local gentry was Col. Ward, of Chilton House. I remember when King George V paid a visit there in 1912 soon after he had been crowned. What an event for Hungerford, and how the residents really “went to town" with the tasteful decorations, both private and public, Needless to say the weather was shocking, from the time His Majesty arrived and for practically all the week he was in residence at Chilton House. We boys and all the other local organisations were duly lined up at the station to salute the royal guest and how it rained. Needless to say the great event was filmed for posterity by none other than Newbury's Jimmy Tufnail. Enterprising as he always was, and I still have a cutting from the film after all these years."
Jimmy Tufnail showed films in the Corn Exchange from 1910-1934, and was also responsible for running the roller-skating events there from 1910.
"Kissing Day in Hungerford", 1913.
A short film [2 min 40s] showing some of the events on Tutti-Day 1 Apr 1913. The film was made by "Topical Film Co Ltd" who were film manufacturers trading early in the 20th Century. They were later bought out by (or changed name to) Brent Laboratories. The London Trades Directory of 1915 shows their registered office was at 76 Wardour Street, London.
The film was among a collection of items kindly given to the HHA by Garry Tubb in 2016. The HHA arranged for it to be digitised, and sound has been added to the silent film by Hugh Pihlens.
Hocktide 1922:
A British Pathé video [1m 40s] entitled: "As in Saxon Days - At Hock-tide the Tutti-men claim their toll of a kiss or a penny - forfeit from every woman"
Hocktide 19??:
A British Movietone video [0m 55s] including: "Shot of town crier at Hungerford. Tutty men going through the town kissing the women. Presenting lemons to same. CU kiss. Woman gives views of same."
Hocktide 1926:
Follow this link for "The Tutti Day Celebrations at Hungerford in 1926" on the British Pathé website (2m 45s).
Hocktide 1927:
Follow this link for a BFI archive film "Kiss of Give a Penny" (1m 17s).
Hocktide 1929:
A British Pathé video [0m 59s] entitled: "Pennies from the townsmen, kisses from the girls! Hungerford's "Tutti men" claim centuries old privileges at historic Hocktide Festival. Berkshire."
Hocktide 1934:
A British Pathé video [1m 40s] entitled: "Hungerford "FREE KISSING" DAY - as in Saxon days at "Hocktide" the "Tutti-men" claim their toll of a kiss or a penny forfeit from every women."
Hocktide 1930s:
A Huntley Film Archive film [1m 09s] of "Hocktide festivities at Hungerford in Berkshire 1930s. This is evidently a fun occasion and young ladies are targeted for kissing. Men with bouquets attached to a stick go around the town looking for young ladies to kiss. Those girls who are kissed also receive an apple.
Hocktide 1937:
A British Pathé "News in a nutshell" newsreel [11m 21s] including a section near the middle of Hocktide.
Hocktide 1952:
A British Pathé video [1m 21s] of Hocktide 1952.
London to Bath in Mk II Jaguar with George Isles, 1963:
The one minute section of the film covering Hungerford is shown on this link, but by going to YouTube you can see the full 23 minute video covering the entire journey. (Kindly suggested by Duncan Webb, May 2023).
"Hungerford - the Traditional Town with a Heart for Industry", c.1990:
A promotional film [16mins] about the town made c1990 by students and teachers at the John of Gaunt School.
"Hocktide in Hungerford - The Story of the Ancient Traditions", 1991
An excellent video [41 mins] made in 1991 about Hocktide and Tutti-Day, narrated by Johnny Morris. (By kind permission of ECPVideo of Newbury)
PC Ron Hoyes and the garden at the Police Station, 1992
PC Ron Hoyes and his colleagues became famous for the wonderful display they created decorating the Hungerfrod Police Station. This is a video clip [5mins] from Gardeners' World in August 1992 which tells the story.
Hungerford Alive! 1997:
A short video [11 mins] made 12 Jul 1997 showing the wide variety of activities in Hungerford on one day in 1997.
HADCAF 2000:
A video [42 mins] showcasing the wide variety of activities forming HADCAF 2000 - the Hungerford and District Community Arts Festival - 4 weeks of events through July 2000. Produced by Brian Davis.
Bellman Robin Tubb summoning commoners to the Court, Hocktide, 2009:
A short [1 minute] video of Robin Tubb summoning commoners to the Hocktide Court, Hocktide, 2009 [recorded by Hugh Pihlens].
Jack Williams, 2009:
A video [15 mins] of Jack's speech given at the Hocktide Lunch on 21 Apr 2009, when he proposed the Toast to the Town and Manor of Hungerford and the Liberty of Sanden Fee. [Recorded by Andrew Macey, 6 Jul 2011]
Hocktide 2017:
A Penny Post video [7m 58s] of the modern celebrations. "Hungerford is the only town remaining in the UK that celebrates Hocktide each year with a fortnight of festivities after Easter. Tutti Day re-enacts the medieval tradition of rent collection by the Tithing Men or Tutti Men."
Hocktide 2019:
A Penny Post video [1m 29s] of the modern celebrations. "Hocktide is an annual festival held after Easter which dates back to medieval times. It was an important time of the year when rents were collected, judgements made and the rights of a town asserted. At one time, it was held in almost every town in the country. Today it survives in only one – Hungerford, because the tradition has been maintained by the Town and Manor of Hungerford charity. This annual tradition is one of the things that makes Hungerford a special place to visit. Join us next year on the second Tuesday after Easter."
Hungerford Gives Thanks, 2020:
A short community video [6 mins] made 17 May 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic, to say thank-you to all the wonderful key workers and volunteers in Hungerford during the difficult times. Local musician James C. Johnson is donating all profits from his World Anthem CD to the brilliant Hungerford Isolation Support Network. [With thanks to Penny Post and Stuart March]
The working scale model of the Fire King:
Through 2016-17, Werner Schleidt (in Germany) built a scale model of the Merryweather Fire King. This amazing piece of work reached fruition with the initial steaming and successful operation in May 2017. Werner put together three videos recording the project:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Update Apr 2018:
The Canal Wharf, 2011