Welcome to The DW Archive

David Watkin – Oscar-winning Cinematographer and avid collector of books and music – intended his personal papers and miscellany to be archived after his death, entrusting friends to help with this task. There were a few hurdles to clear, not least the immeasurably upsetting loss of most of the archive, along with the destruction of the remaining stock of his second autobiography ‘Was Clara Schumann a Fag Hag?’ In light of these set-backs, this online archive continues to grow.

If you can contribute any further stories, anecdotes or records of David Watkin’s life and talent, the editors would be thrilled to hear from you.

Was Clara Schumann a Fag Hag?

BTF Clapper Boy

The Second Volume

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The story of David Watkin and his Persian rugs

David Watkin Sussex Mews

Clive Rogers

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The Southern Railway Unit, from 1948 to 1952

Southern Railway

Early Career

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The Watkin Account Book: from 1962 to 1976

David Watkin

Films & Commercials

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The Long Night Haul, British Transport Films

David Watkin

An ambitious film

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The Travolators, 1961 for British Transport Films

British Transport Films

Nine minute film

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The England of Elizabeth, 1957 for BTF

England of Elizabeth

With John Taylor

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Care of St.Christophers, 1959 for BTF

St Christophers Care Home

A gift to the spirit

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Mademoiselle, made in 1966 for Woodfall Films

Woodfall Films

With Tony Richardson

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Snowdrift at Bleath Gill, 1955 for British Transport Films

Snowdrift Film

Snowdrift at Bleak Gill

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Blue Pullman, 1960 for British Transport Films

Blue Pullman

With Jimmie Ritchie

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Memories of David by the late Betty Mulcahy

Betty

My helpful neighbour

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David Watkin’s thoughts on Light and Vermeer

vermeer

John Legard & Alan Lawson

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Using Reflected Light rather than Direct Light

All That Mighty Heart

For the first time

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The Pianos at the Mews (from David’s autobiography)

David Watkin

Mr Roguski

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The Story of the Pigeon in the Library

David Watkin

Chris & Oriole Mullen

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Hello, I am Jurgen from Graz…, Exercises in Style.

David Watkin

Words

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Holleyman and Treacher, and how I met Mister Watkin

Holleyman and Treacher

A bookshop

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A Dedicated Collector of Beautiful Books

Maggs Books

Biblioteca Wendiana

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David Watkin’s Book Collection and Library

David Watkin

A Reader’s Library

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David Watkin and his Three Musical Heroes

Barenboim

Interesting question...

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Musical Heroes and the 4th Conductor: Sir Henry Wood

Henry Wood

Barry Coward

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Keith and Vivienne, the Classical Longplayer

Music Room

Brighton life

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Favourite Conductors, both Great and Small

Glyndebourne

His Gods were his Gods.

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The Art of Listening to Music with David Watkin

David Watkin

Sharing Music

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On the Set of Mike Nichol’s Film: Catch-22

Mike Nichols

1970 film of the book

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The Auction of David’s Cherished Belongings in 2009

Spode

Gorringes Auction House

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The Cameraman’s Habit of Sleeping on Set

Tea with Mussolini

Interview 1994

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Some Anxiety on Set, in the Early Days of Features

David Watkin

With thanks

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The hilarious ‘Sindy’ otherwise known as Andrew

Andrew and David on Set

One of David's Companions

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A significant relationship: Iain Somers

iain somers holiday

Boy with a Hoop

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Sussex Mews, Kemptown, Brighton

brighton seafront

A much loved home

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Letters to David’s Companion, Mindaugas

Letter to Mindaugas

2004

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The Maggs Bookshop of Berkeley Square

Antiquarian Books

A rare book treat!

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The Academy Award-winning ‘Out of Africa’, 1985

outofafrica

Academy Award

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The ‘In Search of Mozart’ documentary

Frank Adams-Brown

Phil Grabsky, Seventh Art

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The Boyfriend, directed by the late Ken Russell

Boyfriend

Filmed in Portsmouth

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Hugh Hudson’s ‘Chariots of Fire’, 1981

Chariots of Fire

1924 Summer Olympics

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Barbra Streisand’s ‘Yentl’, directed in 1983

Yentl

Cinematography

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It started at a party at Franco Zeffirelli’s home…

Tea with Mussolini

Marget Wallace

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David Watkin at British Transport Films

Clara Schumann Cover

Clapper Boy

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Movietech at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Pinewood Corridor

John Venables

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Lifetime Achievement Award, Camerimage

camerimage tshirt

One tries not to fuck it up

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Tea with Mussolini, directed by Franco Zeffirelli

TWM_Tuscany

1999

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David Watkin’s Innovative ‘Wendy’ Light

wendylight03

Spaced Fay lights

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More British Transport Images of David

btf109

Documentary Films

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David’s Companions, Scott and Jozef

Scott and Jozef

Positano

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Interview with Peter Handford, Sound Recordist

Peter Handford

October 2002

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David Watkin and his Tendency to Sleep

Sleep02

Taking a nap

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David Working at British Transport Films

David Watkin

Photographic glimpses

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How Renato Bertha met David Watkin in 2004

award ceremony

Cameraimage, Lodz

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The Commissioning of St.David

Saint David

Duncan Lustig-Prean

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David Watkin as Luther & Frank’s Grandfather

Luther and Frank

A grandfather figure...

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Glyndebourne Opera, Near Lewes, East Sussex

Glyndebourne

David Watkin's treats

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David Garfath Remembers David Watkin…

camera

David Garfath

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An Unusual Fondness for the colour Green

greensocks

David's taste...

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The Editors, Rachael Adams & Chris Mullen

Chris Mullen

The Archive and Website

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David Watkin at British Transport Films

FDWdemolis

by Barry Coward

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The Sleeve Notes on Beulah’s Visions of Elgar

visions of elgar

Barry Coward

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David’s ancestors built The Watkin Path

Watkin Path

Snowdon

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Snapshots of the late David Watkin at Home

David Watkin at Home

40 years in Brighton

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Catch 22, Nominated for a BAFTA Award

catch22film

Directed by Mike Nichols

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Tony Richardson’s Charge of the Light Brigade

Charge of the light brigade

1968

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Spode: Eating off antique blue and white china

spode

A nice cup of tea

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Oscar, Lifetime Achievement, BAFTA…

bafta

Awards, awards, awards

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‘Why is there only one word for Thesaurus?’

Why is there only one word for thesaurus?

Comments

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The Obituary written by Chris Mullen

David watkin

David Watkin died in 2008

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