A day with COUNTRYFILE by Jane Griffiths, Tewkesbury Village Agent

The plan for filming with John Craven and Countryfile was to meet him and be interviewed in Ashleworth, and then he would join us on a minibus trip to Over Farm Market, where my passengers would be interviewed and filmed shopping.

Before the actual day, I had to meet the director and researcher who wanted a quick look around Ashleworth and to meet everyone involved. The great British weather was as variable as ever, with the ground still covered in snow on Friday but by Monday, not a flake in sight! When Monday came, I was introduced to John Craven, along with the cameraman and sound lady. We all walked down to the village green where John was going to interview me. I was wired up with a radio mic, and I was interviewed about the Village Agent scheme.

Then we were off on the bus, still being filmed chatting to John. We had six passengers to pick up from their homes. This wasn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Every time we arrived, the crew would jump out and want to film us arriving, so we had to drive off and arrive again – several times! Likewise, our passengers had to leave their homes more than once! When we finally hit the road, the cameraman was filming us all the time, and to emphasise the jolly and friendly atmosphere, someone had the bright idea of a sing-song!! Suffice to say there are no green bottles left standing on the wall!

At Over Farm Market, it was the passengers turn to be filmed shopping and interviewed individually. Star of the show was 97 year Mrs M, who had John and the film crew in stitches with her anecdotes. When we’d all finished, John and the crew spent another ten minutes filming John talking to camera, and then it was back on the bus, and home. The whole filming session had taken nearly six hours, and it was dark as we dropped our passengers off and returned to Ashleworth. A thoroughly enjoyable day. We even got paid, in fairy cakes from the Farm Shop!