PROJECT UPDATE BLOG
What's been happening?
May 2026
Towneley Hall
Diane and I had a fabulous meeting at Towneley Hall on the 28th and started making plans for some production fundraising events which we will keep you informed of as soon as we have dates! Don't forget to follow our social media accounts which you can find on the tab here.
Beautiful Towneley Hall looking resplendent in the glorious May sunshine.
Clitheroe meet up
On the 20th May, we had a rather wonderful / informal group production meeting in Clitheroe! It was the first time so many of us managed to get together.
Here are some lovely photographs of us all...
Diane Poole (Nan) and Alan Barnes (Charles)
Lois, Diane and Alan
Andrew Collinson (local poet) in the middle, Nick Burton (walk leader) on the end.
Diane Poole, Yvette/ me (Producer) and Alan Barnes
Crista Hammond (producer) and Alan Barnes
Alan and Nick Burton (walk leader/ This Northern Life)
March
PROJECT FUNDING
A crowdfunder has been launched to help with getting our documentary completed to the highest standard possible.
You can donate here.
We also have a 'Buy Me A Coffee' link to help with the costs of keeping this website active. It costs approx. £12 per month to keep the website active, plus the annual .com fee.
You can donate to help support those fees here.
I attended a meeting with the Heritage Fund to find out more about the process of applying for a larger sum of money to cover all of the costs and roles in the project. Everyone involved, including myself, at the moment is giving their time and expertise free of charge, but as the project moves forward this will become more difficult.
One of the most expensive aspects of the production will without a doubt be the licensing cost for use of the archive footage for film, which would be from ITV as they now own the Rank archive.
Anyone who would like to get behind any aspect of the project through partnering, sponsorship, or donation, please drop us a message.
We would be delighted and most grateful to hear from you.
THE TEAM BEHIND THE PROJECT:
Yvette and Crista: Producers
Crista (left) previously staged an event at Towneley Hall, alongside Diane Poole and Pam Dyson, a couple of years ago. There was a screening, some memorabilia, and a lovely Q&A with some of the cast. Hayley Mills even sent a wonderful recording to Crista to show in lieu of her being unable to attend in person. You can find it here.
Yvette (right) - that's myself usually writing here and updating the socials - is a Creative Producer specialising in legacy and heritage projects and I was so honoured to be welcomed by Diane and Pam last October and entrusted with this so special of projects. You can see some of my previous work here and here.
Collectively, 'Whistle Down the Wind' is one of both mine and Crista's all-time favourite films (Crista even has a black cat named Spider!) and we will go to every measure to ensure the project is co-designed with all involved, and treated with the care and attention it so deserves.
We are also delighted to welcome on board Nick Burton who does the walking tours around the area and Andrew Collinson, who has written some very special poems about the film which we hope to feature in the film.
None of our work thus far would have been possible with the help and support of Diane and Pam, who have both welcomed us into their homes, shared their precious artefacts, and shown us around the local areas relevant to the film.