PROJECT BLOG
July 2026
21/7/2026
Diane and Yvette to feature on BBC Radio Lancs radio: Weds. 22nd July at 7:50am. Live from Maxwell's in Clitheroe.
You can listen here.
8/7/2026
Next Downham location walk date agreed:
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4TH
Check back, or socials, for ticket link soon.
TOWNELEY HALL tickets now on sale:
June 2026
28/6/26
DOWNHAM WALK DAY
Well, a wonderful day was had full of memories and community spirit. We also raised some money for Marie Curie.
We walked the locations of Downham and then assembled again in the village hall for lots of memory sharing and a lovely poem recital from Andrew Collinson, over tea and biscuits.
More pics on our socials - don't forget to follow our walk leader Nick Burton's Instagram/Facebook pages 'This Northern Life' for some really lovely content.
Keep your eyes peeled for more events coming imminently.
22/6/26
A lovely day in Downham preparing for the walk with Diane and Pam.
We also had a little ride over to see Keith Clement at work! It was great to meet another cast member.
18/6/26
Towneley Hall events: dates for the diary
Now confirmed, two screening and fundraising dates for 8th and 9th of August at Towneley Hall.
More information and ticket links to be posted soon.
Keep an eye on our socials and be sure to move fast as these will sell out!
15/6/26
Diane and Alan signed posters
Crista and I had a lovely time with Diane and Alan who were signing a few posters in the Clitheroe tourist information office, so that you can pick one up as part of our fundraising!
Keep your eyes peeled for more info on how you can grab one and help support our documentary crowdfunder!
Downham Memorial Walk: 28/6/26
As part of our legacy project, we are running a special ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ walk around the Downham film locations, by experienced walk leader, Nick Burton.
The walk will be attended by many of the local cast members who will be sharing their anecdotes as we go, and it will also be filmed as part of our up-and-coming documentary film.
The cost is a suggested donation fee of £10 to Marie Curie, a very worthy charity close to Diane ‘Nan’ Poole’s heart.
We expect a LOT of interest in this event and will probably schedule another for anyone on the list who we can’t fit on the first walk. You are also welcome to meet us at the Village Hall at noon even if you can’t make the walk, for tea and biscuits and some fun with us all.
To express interest, contact us via the contact form on here, or on this email address: [email protected]
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.
October - December 2025
Crista introduced me to Diane and Pam and we began our planning.
I spent a number of days at Pam's house digitally archiving some of her memorabilia... of which she has so much!
There is still a good bit yet to go through.
Film script, from Pam's collection.
Here's a pic of us enjoying a really lovely lunch that Pam so kindly laid on around the time of my 'big' birthday. She was kind enough to even bring out a cake for me.
Yvette and Diane in Pam's kitchen.
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 without the help and support of Diane Poole and Pam Dyson, both of whom have welcomed us into their homes, shared their precious artefacts, shown us around the local areas relevant to the film and introduced us to lots of the other cast members and locals.
This project is very much co-designed with everyone involved and we would be happy to hear from you if you think you may have something to contribute!