Remembering David Reynolds

I am sad to report that Dave Reynolds passed away in September and our condolences go to Maralyn, his wife of nearly 50 years.

Dave was a very well-known character in Up Hatherley – a former traffic engineer, a parish councillor (joining Maralyn on the council in 1989), a bar tender at the Hillview Centre, a photographer and a film maker. In fact, he was so legendary for being behind the camera that he was rarely in a photograph.

Dave was a traffic engineer working for Cheltenham Borough Council and in his second stint on the Parish Council after he retired, his experience on the council’s newly established Highways group was invaluable. When the Hillview Centre bar opened, it turned out that Dave had previous experience so was the first landlord to pull pints.

Dave’s lifelong passion was photography and film making. He was behind the camera at every big occasion in Up Hatherley, recording the ordinary and the special occasions. He made a video of the Safeway Marathon and Fun Day that was held in 1989, back in the days before Sunday trading when the car park could be given over to a community event. If anyone has a working video player, you might enjoy taking a trip back in time as I have some spare copies.

Film making followed, notably Waters End, a short film that included Lord Nigel Jones playing the part of a chauffeur and in the following years many film projects were launched by Dave and Maralyn and, in typical style, the company was first called “Flat Broke films” later changing to “Great British Entertainment”.

Dave had a great sense of humour – for example, as a nod to the mortgage they took on when they moved to Up Hatherley, the house was named “Millstone”!

Dave (and Maralyn) had a long friendship with the late Dave Hall and trips to Porlock inspired Dave with the idea of making a film about the 1899 overland Lifeboat launch across Exmoor (Louisa, an Amazing Adventure) as well as many other films.

Dave has left an amazing legacy behind – and I like to think that if there is a heaven then the two Daves will be sharing a nice bottle of red wine.