Music

The Fourth Conductor – Sir Henry Wood

The Fourth Conductor – Sir Henry Wood

There is a fourth conductor that David would have added to this list that of Sir Henry J. Wood. In his teens and until he was called up to serve in the British Army David joined the audience at London’s Queens Hall for the Henry Wood Promenade concerts each summer. It was a musical... »

Pianos at the Mews (from “Clara”)

Pianos at the Mews (from “Clara”)

“A friend had bought a square piano in Bonham’s saleroom with the intention of having it restored as a present for me. Nothing had ever been done and I decided to see to it. Morleys came, looked, and went away to quote. Then by a happy chance there was a commercial at a house... »

Keith and Vivienne, the Classical Longplayer

Keith and Vivienne, the Classical Longplayer

David’s regular perambulations through the streets of Brighton were clearly ritualistic. 1. Walking into town. 2. Specialist newsagent for Gay Magazine. 3. Packets of Coffee and Tea from Robert’s shop. 4. Cds at Keith and Vivienne’s – The Classical Longplayer 5. Books at Colin Page, then Holleyman and Treacher, both in Duke Street. Over the years, his favourite shops were... »

Conductors Great and Small

Conductors Great and Small

His Gods were his Gods. No arguments allowed. His Villains, either through imagined incompetence or banality, were to be universally condemned by me, my family, and by any friends I could ask. Any photographs of the Villains going about their legitimate business on the podium were to be held aloft for general merriment. Herbert von... »

Listening to Music with David

Listening to Music with David

He got the greatest pleasure having you share a new piece of music, a recently discovered interpretation, a revived antique recording. As a listening companion,  it was made clear from the beginning that my responses could only run parallel to his, that I was there to share, and not to ask for further explanation... »

Camerimage 2004

Camerimage 2004

David received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. The T-Shirt that year quoted David on its front: One tries not to fuck it up. Below are snaps of David’s friends, Peter Macdonald and Madelyn Most at Lodz. Daniel Barenboim “Shortterm thinking, or even worse, thoughtlessness, makes many people think that culture, education and the arts are there... »

Glyndebourne

Glyndebourne

Keen to share his love of opera… David treated many of his chums to a trip to Glyndebourne… Share/Save »

Visions of Elgar

Visions of Elgar

As an amateur musician and loyal Beulah supporter, David Watkin wrote the following notes for the Visions of Elgar CD booklet: “Poor old Elgar was, like Kipling, enmeshed with the British Empire. Both men deserved better, the two symphonies and the violin concerto may rightly stand besides Brahms: and I have a soft spot for... »

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Welcome

We welcome you to the David Watkin website that celebrates the work and life of that remarkable cinematographer. We trace his contributions to documentary, commercial and feature film-making, relating his achievements and innovations to the very character of the man, complex and perverse, innocent yet knowing at the same time. He wore his learning lightly but with much seriousness.

Find out what it was to work with David Watkin on sound stage and beyond, to keep him supplied with jokes, food, music, books, pictures and all sorts of other intriguing information. Read within the memories of friends, critics, colleagues and other amused observers.

We invite you to add your own impressions to our interactive database.

Invitation to Contribute…

The website was initiated as a response to the hundreds of friends of David Watkin who wished to contribute to an archive of memories of this remarkable man. The editors are the designer Rachael Adams and the historian Chris Mullen who were in contact with him in Brighton on a weekly, often daily, basis.

Copyright of the words and images to be found here is held by the editors from their personal collection, and by contributing friends and colleagues who have answered the appeal.

DW’s Autobiographies

Sadly, the remaining stock of the two volumes of David Watkin's autobiography has been destroyed.

However limited numbers remain, which will become available for sale shortly.