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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
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THE GOLDEN DOLPHIN
Copyright Valerie Martin 2005
Originally published in the Findon News in July 2005
In July 1985, sleepy Findon village experienced Hollywood-style glitz and yet hardly any of the inhabitants realised what was going on.
A film unit arrived to shoot scenes for an American children's movie. The company filmed mostly on Sundays and Wednesday afternoons when the shops were shut and fewer people were around. Many villagers didn't even notice the actors, cameramen, sound and lighting technicians and production staff.
The film, based on a book entitled The Golden Dolphin, was being filmed for an American film company for release to organisations in the States. It was about an American family who inherited an English stately home but their claim was opposed by a wicked uncle figure. There is a secret panel, an underground passage, lost title deeds, rumours of buried treasure..... and a legendary golden dolphin. Other ingredients of the story are a kidnap attempt and a helicopter chase.
Dr. Geoffrey Lehman, an eye surgeon and missionary, wrote the original storyline. The locations in his book were based around Findon Place. The manor house, at the time the home of his daughter Peta Young and her husband John, came into the limelight. During the filming in and around Findon Place, the unit "borrowed" a few local homesteads for "shots". The Findon Newsagency and Post Office featured in two scenes — the interior as well as outside.
Much to my pleasure and surprise, one of the budding young stars turned up in my Inbox twenty years later.....
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3rd July 2004 Ms. Martin,
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| 4th June 2005 Dear Ms. Martin . My name is Peter Fullard myself and friend David Knott took part in the making of The golden Dolpin We supplied and flew the helicoptor used in the filming,
I have attached photo's that I took on the first day of filming and one of
the cast with the helicoptor ,Jeremy Culumber is the 2nd from left.
The planning stage.
The cast.
Getting the sound right.
The front of Dolphin House (alias Findon Place).
One of the scenes. |
Super pictures, Pete. Thank you for sharing them with us in Findon twenty years after the event.
 One of the scenes from the cover of the video. |
Continue if you wish to read about The Margesson Family of Findon Place.
This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.
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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
