Extras - Info about them and their memories

Info, pics and memories of extras in the movie. Also includes some of the crew...

## Other crew

### Simon (last name withheld for now)

(Edited. Listing relevant WM content from many e-mails... Newest info at the bottom.)

The idea of celebrating the Wicker Man I think is a good one and having been involved along with the making of it, was the from day 1. attending the 1st meeting in Gatehouse Of Fleet on the 6th October 1972 at Christopher Lees invitation.

These I met the lovely cast with whom I lived & worked for 7 weeks assisting Robert Hardy, (driving the land rover etc.) as well as appearing in some minor ‘ scenes , including the opening one on a chestnut mare.

There was another scene shot, of me riding bareback across Kirkcudbright beach on the same horse at a gallop we bore a flag pole . Many scenes were cut from the original, hey ho, it would be good to meet some of the old cast and crew. I went to the book launch and met Robin & Ingrid & her husband there several years ago in Dunfrees & Galloway.

PS. I remember Tony Schaffer explaining to me , at his Kensington flat, that it’s skylight was ‘so big’ because that was where the statue of ‘Eros’ in Piccadilly Circus was modelled.

am very interested regarding the marking of a, soon past, one half century since of the making of my friends and colleagues Wicker Man film.

I spent 1st two weeks filming with Ed. In Birmingham and the rest In Newton Stuart our base, filming all around there.

But I must say it is absolutely possible that that horseman is a local and not me as I presumed.

my late buddy Bless him, Ed. Woodward...

(I was employed in yet another ‘gofer’ roll, having rolled up there with a junk movie prop, a techno-(flashing lights) console which had been used in the filming of Stanley Kubrick’s Clockwork movie upon which I worked then being an employee of Ellestree Studios. 2001 a Space Odyssey I’d worked very closely with Kubrick on , Stanley I had known a long time worked at Shepperton doing Carry-on’s etc.)

We were in a pub at the other end of Cheyney Walk during shooting SRD. Somebody told me to go there and meet some people... at the end of our long lunch Chris Lee said to me ‘write it’ since we had joked about a sketchy film scenario involving a straighlaced copper coming a cropper, I vaguely recall.

Christopher introduced me to both Tony Schaffer as mentioned and Peter Snell.

There were a few meetings in and around London in 1972.

Mother said , ‘Chris Lee on the phone’ I couldn’t think who this was, anyway...so it was that Chris said, ‘Be at Gatehouse Of Fleet Dumfries and Galloway on the 6th of October. Chis was dismissive of my memory loss which was real, never one to beat about the bush, he said ‘just make sure you’re there’.  Mum ran me to this destination at the proscribed time.

This new film job was the same money as the Dad’s Army job @ £500 a week and my job title was the same ‘Continuity’, (ideas man) might have been nearer the truth, since many of my concepts have been realised in a few British and foreign films.

Yes there were some wonderful scenes cut: my bareback flagpole gallop, I played in a musical band as the procession passed by a Carnegie library with rose petals scattered all about, another of me and others in kilts with claymore sword drawn in a pine forest. These recollections are coming to me. I wanted to give you the facts re.this production  as I remember them

I know there was a book used in the writing by Tony Schaffer and our producer Peter Snell . I only saw the cover pretty much and alot of the script was like many films, added material. (Ritual, I presume)

When Mother stopped in Gatehouse, the first thing I saw at the church there was the most beautiful woman in the world, at least when Brit Marie Eklund  was 18 that is what the Swede’s said about her, and at the time I believed them implicitly. Marie was wearing a royal blue velvet hooded velvet cloak\* that’s when our eyes met. (\* There are pictures of her in that.)

Then of all things I was packed off 1st to Birmingham(?) with Ed. I think or was it Plockton? and it was a few weeks before I got back to our Base and company in Newton Stewart.

As Robin's assistant for me as such they were long days and we worked hard and drank a fair bit to.

David Bowie and a few others all came and stayed in NS, to look at the shoot it was fun we did a load of David designs with a gestener machine (copying machine) and felt tips, on rainy days (many) cherry pickers everywhere on  this shoot.

It is lovely to read some of Brit's comments, thanks. We became bonded together cast and crew, most of the production shots were taken by me this is why I ain't in em'. There's one or two where I look like I'm pulling focus on the 35mm camera but I'm scarcely visible. there's one prod. still of me ascending the WM stair with a cherry-picker backdrop.

It is of course a bit awesome reaching 50 years as per the rule! Chris Lee said to me that he had had an inter-neg.  copy of the un-cut film (as Robin called it 'My' Masterpiece) made costing either £2 or £4 k.

he let me film the ducks in that opening shot in 35mm of course.

Both he and Marie loved my bb. beach ride, I was in Plockton the time,  when I spoke with Brit who said that she had seen the rushes and they were fantastic, Harry I remember saying to me ‘I liked the way you ‘tripped down those steps Simon’ jokingly I said ‘Oh shall I do it again’ Harry smiled and said ‘no that was fine’ .

(this was at the back stairs of lord Stair’s Culzean castle I think that shot was taken.) The prod. still I took of Chris Lee and Lord Staire smiling , was fun &  prompted by my comment previous to them :- ‘That’s perfect hold it, don’t stare!’. Chris said ‘don’t be cheeky’ (See pic in Brown book)

One of my daily tasks along with being Robin's gofer, was delivering the rushes to I think Kirkcudbright for dispatch to London labs, though as you know we had our own film processing suite on wheels.

The black dog I think belonged to Harry's fellow cameraman, we had two teams filming simultaneously much of the time, I think. (This is the black dog briefly seen running across the bottom of the screen as the geese scramble into the water as Howie walks into town. Close to this shot.)

When filming the ‘Howie’s becoming toast scene ‘ on the Wicker Man, the director Robin said, ‘buck them up a bit’ (about the crowd watching’  Howie’s end’)’ they look half-dead'. Being his 1st assistant, I did so with this charming little ditty’ which I’m sure you know:-

When the sun in the sky’s

Like a big pizza pie

That’s Amore.

When an eel in the lock

Bites a hole in your sock

Thant’s a Moray!

Aye that’s a Morey too, a wee Moray eel.

When writing WM ‘in our cups in the ‘Thames Estuary, I said to my fellow writers Peter and Tony, ‘why don’t we name the islanders after tress ?’ when quizzed about this I said in justification, ‘ Well my relations are called Trees, there’s my uncle Oak and auntie willow ‘ which tickled them. In point of fact my dear late uncle was called Trees. Lesley Trees and he went through the desert with feild marshal Montgomery’s 8th army, as well a Italy, Norway & Berlin.

Lindsay Kemp was a good cast member, he carried a handbag and I do remember David’s knowing him.

David’s friends came and went, he was around for a while, some of Chris Lee’s friends also but I’d have a job remembering many  Chris’s wife Gite’ stayed in NS for a while.

An American cartoon animation showed my ride across Kirkcudbright beach along with the birds, flagpole etc. This was about 20 years ago and it made me think at the time, oh they must have kept that print, so what is in store I do not know.

Anyway I think I have one of the instruments I played in the band filmed, on that library step in NS, long story there. I came by it in 2000.

As Chris Lee’s protégé, he asked me ‘if I were starring in a film who would I choose a my leading lady?’ I said Brit Eklund. The production company even bought a house for us. Leaving NS was for us the saddest  time ever.

It is heartening to encounter such strong interest in our film, some of the cast were time served provincial repertory and West End theatre actors, who put up with alot in the wilds of autumnal Scotland, I’m sure they would feel the same about this. It is sad to see from your notes that so many of them have passed away, especially Ingrid with whom I met again, so recently.

A picture of myself on the WM steps, is all I can find maybe one more of me, but of course **I am in all the missing scenes**, it was an ‘introductory’ role for me as Chris’s protégé.

How interesting. I thought everybody went home by December 72, and did’nt know anything about soundstage work continuing in 73, post  production .

I have vague memories about Dianne’s painting that ended up on the ceiling of the pub when they sing Gently Johnny but clearly remember Robin talking about a dream sequence.

Lou Adler and I think David Niven (friend of Chris Lee) as well as David Bowie whom I knew already came to visit or stay in NS.

Here is the only picture of me I think, that I have ever come across from the production. I think Robin had envisaged our film as a love story & musical. In this prod. Still I think we had nailed a paint tin full of smouldering combustible to the end of 2 tile lats taped-together - pole and were seeting what some smoke-trail or other would look like in shot.

Brit in the prod. Office, NS. Spoke to me in Plockton , where I was for two week, she said that the beach riding scene shots were ‘fantastic’, well the horse, as mentioned took off like a rocket leaving me lying on my back with my feet in the air then on its back, so I stood up using the flagpole in a leather sling pouch round it’s neck, to balance and amidst every bird one can think of flying around, crows seagulls hedgerow birds everyone was up & curious. It must have looked quite sensational. I know Harry Waxman was full of praise and pleased with their take, they were stationed in a fabric hide on the beach which I rode toward. That sequence, as mentioned, I saw on UK children’s TV about 3  decades ago, at that time I thought the scene footage might have been directly copied. I cannot remember the title but it was a carbon copy as that rider too was standing on horseback at a gallop plus being amid flying crows with a banner just the same.

A large number of people turned up to watch my ride, which I’m sure was on Kirkcudbright beach at a weekend.

Between you and I, of all the production shots I took the ones with Lord Staire’s castle are my favourites...

If they did re-release I wonder what the editing would be like, for me in reality it was a love story from the word go, without that included (the love interest) in  the film, it bombs and the critics are pretty accurate, that said these gifted reviewers were reviewing ‘a masterpiece’ as Robin referred to it, cut to ribbons.

In the same vein I actually dived off the bridge in NS wearing a tuxedo as part of my screentest for another movie. This happened to be the last job I did on this production, entirely self-interest motivated, nothing to do with the film, but it was nearly my last act ever act. I hesitated as it was lit on a cold night, with little me standing on the bridge parapet , my back against a lamp standard, luckily I hesitated, despite ‘get on with it’s’ coming at me, and presently I observed a railway sleeper with track spikes in it drift by, when it was out of sight I made my plunge.

I tell a lie, the last thing I did was being asked to play an electric guitar in a room in Kirkcudbright despite being on my way home I think. It was a right-handed instrument I’m left handed but I played, what sounds to me like one of the tracks accompanying the cave scene, that is why it sounds, f~.... terrible.

The picture I had thought was myself , not Robin, is below? But looking again it is hard to tell if it is me or Robin,: - (Pic of Hardy on steps with cherry picker on left close by)

Since you mention Robin being in this production still if Robin is pictured wearing the same gear then its probably Robin . I recall wearing a blue corduroy, jacket  like that, then.

I worked closely with Seamus. I wonder if you are in contact with Seamus, the set designer who was one of the 1st people Robin introduced me to in Gatehouse of Fleet. Yes the 1st meet was there on the 6th of October 1972.

I was of course hired , through Chris Lee, by Robin to take the production stills as a key function of my job and took pretty much all of the B&W PS’s that  you’ve sent URL’s for. (The behind the scenes pics here on the wiki.)

People then had high expectations of the film, we were creating something extraordinary and everyone sensed it and worked really hard at it, it was Chris Lee’s baby, no one else put the whole thing together but Chris partly for me.    Its a can of worms. A marquises estate. An Agatha Christie novel and high expectation all rolled into one, that’s why it went pear-shaped. I’m thinking of rewriting the end sequences precluding them as dream sequence, whereas the cavalry does arrive and suggesting it to SC. What do you think?

As I say I took all of the production stills pretty much. that was in my job title, only a handful I don't recognise taking.

As Chris's protégé  I was cast as Summerisle's son, contributing to script 1 assistant to Robin Hardy, driver, plus buyer of 8 bottles of 'Fairey Liquid' to be thrown into the sea for a bubbly effect, these came from a cash & carry in Kirkcudbright think it was that I bought them .

Many script ideas were already in place with some by Tony and Robin as well as Peter Snell & Chris who was very much this creation's overseer, and I had some good additions, like names after Trees.

Thus, one is  rather a forgotten component of the film's creation, though a few people may recall me, sharing hot drinks with my fellow-freezing wicker man cast & crew especially those I loved but had no choice but to leave behind.

The likely candidates for the beer cask photo ,again, I took this sequence, would be at least 1 of the drayman from the brewery which lent the barrels, I remember the guy on the left. No beer does not do that, it was definitely  washing up liquid, I remember having to get more to increase foaming and bubbling, but it became too much after a while and started blowing around , I seem to remember.

As postscript to gestetenering a drawing of David Bowie and our colouring them in with various makeup  designs, for want of a better description, my mother and I met  him when I was twelve years old. Mum had a hair salon in Ripon, and girls doing ladies hair, as part of her interest my mother told me we were going to London, Croydon salon I think to meet David, who then in 1962 was touted as being the new ‘Teesyweezi’ ( a famous stylist then) so when I saw him in Notting Hill Gate in 1969 we recognised each other and touched base I met him again living in A house in Knebworth village I think. Then he & Michael Deeley turned up and stayed a while In NS.

I think the round hat guy (in this pic) may have been fire service staff as they were around early.

(talking about Seamus Flannery) We worked together very much with my being on the blossom-squad, decorating trees which by then were denuded of May’s seasonal vestiges. Seamus’s stellar career doesn’t surprise me since he was always very driven, and proved his worth then, and subsequently. I will contact him.

Thanks for the images, I think I’m in the 1st holding a couple of nailed together tile-latts with a smoking taper in a can on the end in this  shot and standing behind Tony with a light ‘fair isle’ jumper in the second. The be-kilted gentleman is I believe the farmer/land-owner come to see out of curiosity, I do remember meeting a large chap who fit that script. I remember the situation but was  in charge of making and holding a smoke source at waste-height (the WM) as requested by Robin to ‘see where the smoke goes or ‘what it does’) .

After formalities & my meeting in the ‘Spit & Sawdust ‘at the end of Cheyney Walk, with Peter Cushing and his best mate Chris Lee;- Chris said ‘can you act’? at which point I recited the soliloquy from  ‘the Scottish play or Hamlet or one I learned at school............

‘Is this a dagger I see before me

The handle towards my hand

Come let me clutch thee

I have thee not

I see thee Still

Art thou but a vapour?

A dagger of the mind?

Proceeding forth from Heat oppressed brain’

And said............ ‘What do think’

They smiled and Chris said ‘Allright’ (in a ‘cum-si cum Sa’ way) , .......... ‘ A bit hammy’

But I got the job.

## Antler dancers

There were six antler dancers. These would be modeled after the Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers, an English ritual dance that uses reindeer antlers. The dancing done in the movie is only swaying in the procession whereas the Abbots Bromley dance is much more involved. It does involve a Betty which we see as a Teaser in the movie, a hobby horse and a Fool, the movie using the Punch character which is not used at Abbots Bromley.

Paid £3.50 per day apparently!

We know the names of four out of the six dancers. In order of the dancing/procession, they are:

#1 Ian Sunderland is bearded guy, wearing a red sweater

#2 Don Boag is the man with the blue sweater and black glasses.

#3 Mark Suderland in white shirt, is also in the Green Man wearing a grey turtleneck seated at the bar.

#4 Harry Sunderland is youngish guy in blue shirt

#5 man in black turtleneck

#6 unknown man, grey haired, light sweater.

Peter Carne might be one of the unknown ones.

The usual numbering/order of these dancers is:

2-4-6

1-3-5

### Ian Sunderland

He was interviewed in the Walks With My Dog TV show in 2018.

His brother, Mark I presume (he says “his youngest brother” spotted it), saw ad in the paper so he went down too. Choreographer (Stuart Hopps) had planned to have them do a slip step? but “looking at them” decided it was better to just have them sway. Got paid £3.50 per day. Didn’t know what the film was about when they shot it and was surprised - thought it was the strangest film they’d ever seen, but thinks it’s ok now.

From an interview with Amanda Sunderland, his daughter in 2014 by Ian Thomas (TWM)

TWM: And Mark's two brother's, Ian (your father) and uncle Harry were employed as 'antler men' for the procession scenes?

AS: Yes, my dad remembers laughing because there were no eyeholes in the masks! First of all they were supposed to skip along to the music but the choreographer realized that was hopeless, so made them sway in time, but still uncle Harry managed to slide off the banking at Castle Kennedy and roll down the hill! He also recalls one day while watching the female cast members shooting something, they were moaning about this and that, and he overheard Britt Ekland say, "Never mind, think of all that lovely money we'll be making!". Bert Elkhound, ha ha! (a reference to the Galloway Gazette's name for Britt after her negative comments on the area!).

### Our visit with him in 2022.

On Saturday, April 30, we spent the afternoon at Pilgrim Cottage in Whithorn, the rental Amanda Sunderland owned where we were staying, watching the film with her father Ian Sunderland, Amanda and her significant other, Andy Pearson. Ian was an antler dancer in the film as were two of his brothers, Mark\* and Harry. We watched a version of the Director’s Cut I’ve made that has burned-in subtitles that describe all kinds of info about various shots and scenes. (\*Mark is also seen in a few other scenes: At the bar in The Green Man and in the background outside it on the morning when Howie asks Willow for directions.)

He apologized for not remembering people’s names or more details but looking at the video that Fergal shot, there’s quite a list of interesting details that he and Amanda let us know about. (I wouldn’t have known most of this if Fergal hadn’t shared this video with me. I only took a few hand-written notes at the time as I relied on Fergal to record all the interesting details of all of our meetings/travels.)

Here is what I can share: (anything you don’t want me to share, let me know.)

How did they find out about the film?

His youngest brother Mark told them that extras were wanted. The casting call was held at Douglas House in Newton Stewart.

Were you paid?

They got paid 3 pounds something (he mentioned 3.50 elsewhere)  per day. Mark was the entrepreneur. He found out that professional extras got paid more and asked for a raise. He was told you can have what they were paying him or go home.

What was the routine?

That was the hardest bit. They’d get started in the dark, leaving at half past 6. They had borrowed a Land Rover to take all three of them wherever the filming was. Were given a “rather good” breakfast each day.

The beach scene was their first day of filming.

Overall he had quite alot of fun doing it. It was a big deal.

Antler dancing

- He told a  funny story. Getting people to dance in the procession wasn’t going to be possible so they just had to sway. There were no holes in the masks though and there was an accident on a ridge. There was a coming together and some of the musicians fell off! (He has also mentioned elsewhere that his brother Harry fell off too.)

- He was upset that he had to take his maroon jumper off; it wasn’t summery enough.

Green Man

Amanda remembers Ian’s sister saying that Mark and his friend David Graham had cans of beer whereas for everybody else it was prop cold tea! They were the sorts of people who would have done that.

Burrow Head

It was quite dangerous at the cliffs, didn’t remember there being any fencing. You just had to be careful!

Oak just about finished Edward Woodward off taking him up the steps!

The Hero man

Amanda  thinks the hero legs  were gone in the 1980s, remembers going there in the 90s.

Keith Hunter took the pics that Amanda gave me of the hero, (See these pics here. He used to come up there in the 70s.

The Your Face Here book by Simon Wells was mentioned. Ian Thomas! showed her an interview. (Ian, do you remember anything about this or the Your Face Here Book mention?) A family had set up a bbq which ended up torching the hero legs.

We thought the hero man had been burned. ian disagreed. It would take quite alot of burning because they were solid like tree stumps.

There is a shot that has Ian in it and it turns out, Harry as well in it swaying as TWM burns. They are only seen in that order for those few shots. The rest of the time all the antler dancers are seen on the far left, to the right of the band (from Howie’s POV). There was some talk about that, trying to ID people in it. (See the screencap in the comments)

Ian didn’t remember it, did they use a second camera? Is that Harry?, Yes, we think that’s Harry! Harry is picked out! (in maroon too, two from Ian on left, see the screencap in the comments) They must have moved us about abit.

A cut scene with Britt!

In an interview with Ian Thomas back in 2014, Amanda mentioned a scene that had Britt and him holding hands and running down the street with her! It was somewhere near, not a street, in a lane, The hobby horse was just starting, I just happened to be standing nearby. They said, you, go down this lane and grab her hand and go down this lane skipping, I think my skipping wasn’t up to scratch. He also said he didn’t think he looked like the right part for it. Where was this shot? He thinks it was Castle Kennedy! We’d be going from set to set so you couldn’t follow things (put it all together as to what the scene was about.)

(The closest I can come to guessing when this scene would have taken place is the procession since it took place at Castle Kennedy. Probably close to the part where Willow and the other two women attack Punch with the castanets. It is not mentioned in any scripts I have seen.)

(See Ian’s interview with Amanda from Jan 17, 2014 as well.)

Some random topics:

Was there much drinking on the set?

There was some. Ian didn’t do much, The harbour master and is middle brother Harry had to be rousted twice from the pub at Burrowhead. (This story is confirmed by Hardy in the Cast and Crew documentary although he just says members of the cast… Now we know who at least two were….)

How the filming affected the places it was filmed at.

Kirkcudbright had to block some of the streets off but Whithorn didn’t, there were no big crowd scenes there. people would watch.

Got a few people to watch even at Burrowhead because it’s a camp and there was a bar.

He wasn’t in town for the filming. He was at burrowhead, Castle Kennedy and the cave.

We see  Ian’s arm! He doesn’t show up much in the procession but does appear in the background during the beach and anointment shots.

He never noticed his breath. With it being so cold, some actors had ice cubes in their mouths so their breath wouldn’t show up on camera.

I asked about Jack Maltman who is seen in the crowd on the cliffs. His wife knew him, taught her art at school.

Are there any memories or stories that haven’t been brought up?

The first day we went we thought this was peculiar.

Did you know who Britt Ekland was?

Yes, knew of her being married to Peter Sellers. She’d been in alot of movies, Some still hold her comments against her. One story: He watched Britt and Ingrid running up and down  the countryside (during the procession?) Britt complained of the cold. Ingrid said just think of all the lovely money you’re making.

He never spoke to Ingrid.

He did speak with Paul Giovanni a few times. Found him very pleasant.

He never spoke to Christopher Lee. He used to spend all his time in his caravan practicing his singing, He used to hear him. (He did a little imitation.)

Was the community upset with the film?

They weren’t too keen on it at first. The church resisted it but his minister was more tolerant. Wasn’t too bad.

He saw the premiere in Stranraer, the highly edited version. It was on a double bill with Don’t Look Now.

I showed him the Byron Chamberlain pics. I thought some might be #2 George St. in Whithorn.  I asked where he lived but there was way too much other talk going on so I don’t know what the response was. I did hear that Byron lived on the corner…

Alan and Linda McGhie

Alan’s father is Alex. He took the pics we have from them. (See those here: (https://twm.fandom.com/wiki/Special:Search?scope=internal&query=mcghie&ns%5B0%5D=6)

Here are some things Amanda brought up:

Amanda was friends with Elizabeth (Liz) McAdam-Laughland (Will Byers?)

She picked her out behind Mark in the beach scene. (see the screencap in the comments)

It is possibly her behind the girl with the stripey dress as Howie got anointed.  Her face looks like her. (see the screencap in the comments)

Also in front of Andy Bays in the Howie POV shots of the crowd. (see the screencap in the comments)

Liz said she lent Allan Brown some stills and he kept them. (Others have told similar stories.)

Isle Castle

Amanda talked about her memories of it. (The stairwell we see at one point was not shot there. It was shot at Culzean.) She talked about the front of the castle. The niche that Howie steps in is just a window. They made us think it was a stairwell. She described the layout to some extent (which I can share in more detail if anyone wants to hear about it. Will Byers?)

- The back door of the castle that Howie goes out was green. (It seems black in the movie. It’s open though so we can’t see it well…)

- She did’t know who’s boat it was that we see outside it.

Thinks what the postman is whistling could be Let Me Call You Sweetheart too. I do too. I asked Tony about this but he didn’t remember.

Amanda told a  story about Hardy getting tired of everyone complaining. Went off (buggared off) (from the Kirroughtree) with John (Schooler?) and drank alot of whiskey just to escape.

She (and Andy) talked about the Newton Stewart museum.

- locals talking about the film back then.

- the bathtub they have there which they had thought was in the movie.  (It turns out it is not the one seen in the film. I pointed this out to them when we visited there on Monday, May 2.)

She thinks the fishmonger’s shop could have been J. R. Daughty’s which was right across the street from where we were staying.  (I posted about this earlier this year here:.

She mentioned that Dolly was the owner of the hairdresser’s shop used in the film  in the 1980s. (That scene is only seen in the Director’s Cut.)

She knew someone who worked on The Captain Scott, the ship Howie is seen inspecting and which is seen in the harbour as Howie flies in. She got me in touch with him. It was not productive. He was drunk when we talked and didn’t have anything to add.

We thanked them. He apologized that he didn’t remember much. I said you remembered all kinds of stuff!

Some more info relates to all this:

Pics of things I reference to are in the comments.

Some of these things have been known before.  See Ian Thomas’s interview with Amanda in 2014 (Will, Liz is mentioned in it too.) In it, Liz had mentioned a cut scene with the doctor opening a bag full of serpents, Fintan. Ian and Amanda didn’t know about it then. When I showed a pic of the Dr doing that to Ian he thought they were grass snakes. Since there was a picture of him doing that, that means they shot it. (You can see that pic in Brown’s book.) That would add meaning to the shot of the gravestone inscription (Beech Buchanan's) which mentions serpents.

- The only snakes mentioned in the Pitt script are the ones in opening credits: “The credits are shown over a nest of serpents which at the start are dormant. Gradually, as the credits proceed they wake up and start to writhe together. Their excitement mounts, until they are in a considerable frenzy. By the time the credits are completed, the snakes have generated a great quantity of yellowish froth which lies all over their bodies, entangling them.” Also an ejaculation of serpents…

I posted about this meeting last year before I saw Fergal’s footage.

Issue three of the Nuada fanzine contains a short interview with Mark Sunderland.

I have more info on Ian from Amanda in e-mails she’s written to me. I may be able to share some of it. She knows alot about all kinds of things related to the film.

Ian was featured in the show Walks With My Dog that aired in the UK.

### Don Boag

Sue Macdougall My father was an extra and played a fertility symbol with a deer mask on a stick! They filmed at Castle Kennedy gardens and he enjoyed the chuck wagon alot. I think I have some photos somewhere, I'll have look .

## Band

### Peter Brewis

(At Brighton May 17, 2023 showing/Singalong Wicker Man. See this Facebook post with two videos!)

Tells of getting hired, Gary Carpenter and him, shows jew’s harp, wouldn’t have heard it outdoors, He plays it,

Q - What was most cherished memories?

- liked chatting up Britt, Had two chances,

#1) you eat a lot of licorice, ya, it’s good for my complexion, oh

#2) no licorice today, em? No, today i’m into apples. Oh,

#3 - the third one was going to be the clincher, but it never happened. our paths never crossed again.

One day a second assistant, or third assistant, came around, and asked, we need some guys to lie naked on their backs in a plowed field. Some local girls are going to be straddling you, looking like you’re having sex. We were only kids of about 19 or so, and we said, we’ll have to think about it. We’re not sure, that the girls will be abit disappointed. We turned it down.

(David Bramwell) That would be the orgy.

Talks of after, his career… Andy Roberts his friend was there.

Andy asks, can he identify the man in black at the end. (I think this is referring to the antler dancer in this shot.)

It’s Paul Giovani.

(David Bramwell) No, Paul Giovanni is next to him.

Oh, then I guess I'll have to see the movie...

### Anthony Inglis

(Not a member of the band per se but he was brought in to sing The Landlord's Daughter in the studio during in post-production.)

"I was a student at the Royal College of Music in the early 70s, and Gary Carpenter, who if I remember rightly was still a student at the college and a friend of mine, was looking for a choir. So a few of us went along to a recording studio somewhere in North London (I think it may have been the old CTS at Wembley) and told to listen to a piece of music already pre-recorded by musicians. We were then told to sing along to the music as if drunk; being students, that we could do! Memory says, we were not given any music to read, but to make it up as we went along. Being music students, we picked up the tune and harmony quite quickly and sang along. In those days, being a pretend tenor, I sing high (and badly). On the few occasions I have watched the film, I can’t really remember which my voice was; I just remember it was a high and I nearly did myself a mischief! I have written about it in my autobiography."

## Church scene

Parishioners in the mainland church scene: *Fred Wood* - has a beard, big ears and wearing a skinny tie. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak), Pauline Chamberlain - congregant in the mainland church scene, the brunette on the right in the front row with shoulder length hair wearing a dress. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak), George Oliver - He's the bearded and balding parishioner sitting next to the wall in the fourth pew. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak), Mabel Etherington - She's the old woman with the white hair sitting in second pew. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak), Ian Selby - Very old balding guy wearing glasses in far back row left row. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak), John Stewart, Mrs Bell (Katherine Soriani's mother), Fay Norris, Mona Stewart - John (far left, 2nd row, Mrs Bell sitting next to John, Fay, sitting next to her. Mona is in 4th row on the aisle.) Info provided by Fay. (See more from Fay here.)

## Courtyard scene

bagpiper (Robert Jamison, a classmate of Sheena Sanderson's - see below) who is seen in the procession, courtyard and chop chop scenes.

The brass band in the procession, courtyard and final scenes were from the Redford Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh, as were the sword dancers.

Sheena Sanderson (now Charity) - I was an extra and enjoyed every minute. My Dad wrote a letter to Stranraer Academy asking for two weeks off which was given. Seem to remember I got paid £200 😁 lot of money in those days. I was riding Argenta in what I was told was one of the opening scenes however it ended up on the cutting floor 🤣 then went on to be in lots of scenes bout 2 seconds each 🙄 (Stranraer & District Memories Facebook group, 10/22/20) I was 14 at the time, and I lived in Lochinch Castle from the age of 9-17 so was in all the scenes filmed in the courtyard below my bedroom and the garden scenes and was in the final scene singing n swaying 🤣 at the burning of the wicker man. Still wasn’t old enough when the preview came to the cinema ☹️ but I went n watched it anyway 🤣🤣 (Stranraer & District Memories Facebook group, 10/23/20) On Ash's right in the last scene. (Making of the WIcker Man FB group, 1/16/21)

*Elizabeth McAdam-Laughland* - Owner of Isle Castle in Whithorn was an extra in the courtyard.

Tar Men (3 or 4 depending on the script you look at) Only one seen in the movie in the courtyard. (4 tar men\*)

## Crew

### Justin Hardy

In this interview, Robin Hardy's son tells of being involved in the re-recording of some of the voices heard in the film.

"Born in October 1964, Justin Hardy was eight when his father Robin made The Wicker Man, the iconic British male death-drama.  Old enough to remember the actor if not his immolation or his frantic cries."

“I remember my father calling me and various of my cousins to a sound studio in order to record the voices of the children in the village [in Summerisle] when I think Edward Woodward is running around trying to follow the hobby horse - in the latter half of the film - and we were all required to say, ‘We bring death into the village’ - and I remember wondering what we were talking about.  But we got a cup of tea and a bun and it was a day out from school.  And then as the years have gone on I’ve seen the film a number of times and realised that that’s my little voice placed over a scene.”

“And I do remember Britt Ekland in a taxi wearing a fur coat and not much else as she was going to an additional dialogue replacement session ‘cos I’m sure that she had to work quite hard on her Scottish accent.  I don’t think that accents were her thing [but] I was aware I was in the presence of a very very beautiful woman.”

"Are we to imagine 29 year-old Britt Ekland wearing a pair of boots and a pair of panties otherwise trusting to soft fur?  Very educational.  The infant Justin seems to have seen the potential of the situation.  Though his father is famous for one film the son has worked more consistently."

### Don Coutts

From this article.

"Thirty years ago, I began my career in features, working as second assistant editor on the worst six films in British cinema history.

''One of them was The Wicker Man. That alone was bad enough to convince me to flee movie-making and go into television. Every night, we'd sit watching The Wicker Man's rushes. They were appalling.

''I had to have a hankie crammed into my mouth to stop myself bursting out laughing, especially as the writer and director were sitting next to me, rhapsodizing about the brilliance of their work.''

He went on to other projects including directing the Cast and Crew documentary in 2005...

### Olive Mcdonald

She worked as a seamstress on-set for three days and then worked from home. Has written extensively about this and provided the only other home movies we've seen.

### Marjory Mears

I spent the day at the filming of The wickerman at Lochinch castle grounds. I was a nurse at the local hospital and myself and another nurse went as first aiders. I found it fairly interesting a i was in my 20's. They were shooting the scene along the road beside the loch, there were quite a few people running and shouting if my memory serves me correctly.I was a bit away from all the action and i am afraid it got a bit boring as the day w

(I ask, would it be the procession?) yes that was it. It was a long day and as it was 40yrs ago my memory is patchy.

### Peg Cutland

Also a nurse. Her story is on display at the Creetown Heritage Museum.

## Crowd on the cliffs

A crowd of about 100 male and female islanders\* including: Jack Maltman (an art teacher at Douglas Ewart High School. He is the old man with glasses to the right of Howie seen in this shot. OM), Lewis Alexander, Aileen Lewis's husband. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak), Katie Vance probably.

The brass band in the procession, courtyard and final scenes were from the Redford Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh, as were the sword dancers.

Sheena Sanderson (now Charity) - I was an extra and enjoyed every minute. My Dad wrote a letter to Stranraer Academy asking for two weeks off which was given. Seem to remember I got paid £200 😁 lot of money in those days. I was riding Argenta in what I was told was one of the opening scenes however it ended up on the cutting floor 🤣 then went on to be in lots of scenes bout 2 seconds each 🙄 (Stranraer & District Memories Facebook group, 10/22/20) I was 14 at the time, and I lived in Lochinch Castle from the age of 9-17 so was in all the scenes filmed in the courtyard below my bedroom and the garden scenes and was in the final scene singing n swaying 🤣 at the burning of the wicker man. Still wasn’t old enough when the preview came to the cinema ☹️ but I went n watched it anyway 🤣🤣 (Stranraer & District Memories Facebook group, 10/23/20) On Ash's right in the last scene. (Making of the WIcker Man FB group, 1/16/21)

I have seen Jamie (Lord Stair) a couple of times in the last 45 years 🤣 I was told Wicker Man fans used to come quite frequently knock on the door and ask to see where scenes were made 😂. So maybe that’s why his website is continually under construction... probably doesn’t mean much to Jamie as all 3 boys were away at boarding school as I can’t remember them being around during the time of filming.

*Elizabeth McAdam-Laughland* - Owner of Isle Castle in Whithorn was in the “humming"  scene surrounding Howie and was at the burning too.

Andy Bays - in a purple shirt.

Andrea Thomson (Says Susanne Thompson)

\*\*\*

### left to right (from Howie's POV)

from long shots, Howie’s POV in Wicker Man and later ground-based shots

8 members of brass band (only see 7 until the very close to the end)

1) red top - trumpet

2) white top - trumpet

3) light brown top - clarinet

4) black top - clarinet

5) dark top cymbals - tall guy,

6) blue top - bass drum

7) brown top - trombone (isn’t seen until Howie POV shot

8) white top - tuba  see brown top possible clarinet in later shot next to tuba.

6 swordsmen -

1) dark

2) brown jacket

3) light

4) jacket

5) red

6) dark

6 antlermen -

1) dark

2) dark with glasses

3) white shirt - Mark Sunderland

4) blue

5) white

6) dark younger with glasses - Ian Sunderland?

(their order changes in a later shot - MS is first (L-R) and older man in blue with glasses is now where he was.) Later Howie POV shot shows probably a bearded blue top to the right of MS. After that the last 3 are the same but dark with glasses is next (going R-L) and then MS, then can’t tell.

Baker - John MacGregor, holding John Barleycorn bread (was wearing badger mask in the procession) brown jacket

that’s 20 so far

Briar with a mess of sticks? Green Man costume? Probably.

The Butcher - Charles Kearney in dark suit and tie, bull head at his feet.

Holly in white dress

Mrs Grimmond (Holly’s mom) in dark blue

man with suspenders and white shirt - Dr Ewan?

Mr Lennox with his camera on the  ground (later shot looks like 2nd Mr Lennox)

- in a later shot Alder MacGreagor  Lindsay Kemp is now inbetween Lennox and Harbour Master wearing his white top and brown cap

harbour master - Russell Waters

Kevin Collins - man with dark jacket wearing a dark knit cap

May Morrison in pink outfit

Rowan with cape

girl in blue and white print dress, brown hair

girl with long lapels, purple dress, darker hair

man with jacket and light brown vest and white handkerchief in jacket pocket, later shot shows something white on the ground in front of him. In a close-up pan after that we see he is wearing dark-framed glasses, has white hair. (Do we see him at any other time? Not when Howie first arrives. At chop chop?)

Seen in this pic.

girl with red print dress - no, now it is blue with large white collar/bib

girl with purple jacket - no, now it is purple dress , with white underneath/collar

Ash Buchanan - Richard Wren

girl in purple

Old Gardener - Aubrey Morris

Broome - Roy Boyd

Schoolmaster - Walter Carr in black sweater with red mock turtleneck shirt

man in blue sweater with grey shirt = Lewis Alexander? can see he is bald on top, hair on sides in later shot. Later close-up shows that he has curley white hair though balding. shirt looks whiter now.

hairdresser - Leslie Blackater

looks like EML - brown jacket, flourish in front, later shot shows square white frill in front above that.

Andy Beys - purple shirt

man in brown jacket with red tie

woman with yellow top, dark hair

man with light shirt, dark hair

man with light brown top, red hair?

woman with light sweater, sightly darker underneath

woman in blue dress

woman with blond hair, blue outfit behind her

woman with green dress (this order changes later)

EML behind her?

woman with orange dress, blond hair

woman? behind her with dark hair

blond in light dress

girl in striped dress

woman in dark dress (some more women may be added from here to the right in later shots, after the reversal ground shot. The order falls apart. I give up trying to describe them.)

woman in dark outfit

woman in light outfit

woman in light top, orange skirt

woman in dress with white lapels (this order changes later)

man with light pants

woman with red outfit, blond hair = Aileen Lewis?

woman in green print dress

man with dark jacket with blue shirt

man with reddish top, dark red pants, dark hair

48

48 + 20 = 68 not including Ingrid, Oak, Willow, Miss Rose and LS (5) = 73 total

Plus 4 torch bearers and 6 who take the ladder down = 83 total

No bagpiper - seen in procession and chop chop.

No Myrtle

No 4 torchbearers I don’t think = (L-R) grey top, green top, grey top, dark green top

No 4 men who lower ladder right before TWM is set afire = (L-R) light brown top, darker top, red top, black top, plus 2 rope pullers - brown top, and darker brown top

No school children/fire dancers/Maypole dancers

Aileen Lewis? - in crowd on the cliffs. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak) = brown/blond hair wearing a red dress. only see her at first from shoulder up so can’t tell more about her.

Lewis Alexander? - in crowd on cliffs. (Aileen Lewis's husband!) (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak) = The man with the silver gray hair and mustache on the far left behind Edward Woodward when he is surrounded. Looks just like Kevin Collins in some shots so hard to tell who he really is. Both are seen wearing a blue knit cap.

I can’t tell who they are in the first shot that is from their approximate POV looking towards the burning WM. L-R man dark top, shorter woman in purple dress, man with reddish top, man with dark later seen as maroon, top. It might be a special shot just for them. Man on the left turns to his right at one point and we see he has sideburns. I don’t see that order of people in the Howie POV shots.

The next time we see this shot, it is clear the man on the right has a beard. Looks like the swordsman who wasn’t in the procession but appeared when Rowan and Howie came out of the cave and later stood in front of Andy Beys. The person to his/the left is shorter but that’s all I can tell.

Next reversal: L-R wider shot. girl who was to right of Rowan, Rowan and the rest of any recognizable people are no longer there. Instead we have a man dark top, woman with red top, man with dark top, woman with blue top, man with light top and pants, woman in orange outfit (dead tree obscures some), possibly a woman with dark top and blond hair.

After that, more of the same shot. We see more of the woman in orange and can tell the bearded man’s top is maroon (pretty sure that’s the swordsman)

Pull back shot from behind TWM shows the band has put down their instruments OR we are only seeing the swordsmen now. I see a man in a red top third to the left and possibly the bearded swordsman on the far left.

See screencap for a shot that includes a red sign in the background. Can that location be ID’d? Can also see some paths/roads.

See screencap also for old guy we don’t see otherwise (or do we?)

At least once a shot that was used earlier is continued later, showing the changed order of the antler men. This is due to editing.

I can’t explain why Lindsay isn’t in the lineup until later on nor the reversal shots that have people that aren’t seen otherwise. I think they were shot with everyone else off set while TWM burned for real, rather than just smoke and fire effects being used. (All are the Hero man.) The shots of the smaller man include the head toppling over and perhaps some other shots that I can ’t be sure of.

## Experimental orchard

Martin Colerdige was head gardener/curator at Logan at the time and is seen tending a plant as Lord Summerisle and Howie walk behind him (in this shot.)

## Fire dancers

All are from the Edinburgh School of Dance and Drama (Stuart Hopps). 12 are seen in the film. Some also appear in the schoolroom scene but I don't know how many. Only 11 girls are seen in that scene.

## Hairdresser's

Betty Dickson is seated in the hairdressing salon.

## Half a dozen fishermen in the harbour

Plockton residents included, L-R below: Johnny “Bogles” MacRae, Tommy Ure (who was from Kyle).(Edward Woodward), Kenny John Mackenzie (owner of The Escampador,, the evil eye boat), Murdo Gillies (owner of Sannachan) and Peter Geddes. A great pic of them below.

## Harvest Festival picture models

The Pitt script says twenty 13 year-old girls were used for Harvest Festival photographs (13 seem to have been hired) - All are from the Douglas Ewart High School, Newton Stewart, class of 1976. Kathryn Soriani was a model but her pic was possibly not used and is not seen in the movie according to her. Wendy McLaughlan was used. Catherine McEwan was also possibly used. Shona Alexander - "I was an extra - had to stand about in Anwoth old cemetery wearing a thin white frock... Freezing in November! Think we were paid a fiver which was great money then." (Some info from the "Creetown Now and Then"and "Stranraer & District Memories" Facebook pages, others from a Wicker Man Facebook page.)

### Shona Alexander

I was an extra - had to stand about in Anwoth old cemetery wearing a thin white frock... Freezing in November! Think we were paid a fiver which was great money then... (We don't know which pic she is in.)

### Kathryn Soriani

Kate was also a Harvest Festival pic model. Her story is on display at the Creetown Heritage Museum.

## House search

Rhoda Macleod - girl who falls out of the closet! (Shot in Plockton.)

Julet Cadzow - Along with Elizabeth Sinclair, she gets surprised as Howie stumbles down some steep stairs while they are ironing. (This scene is only in the Director's Cut.)

Sandra Macdonald - the woman at the spinning wheel when Howie searches houses and sees the ship from her window. This was in the house, Tulllochard, which is next to the the harbour master's house, Tigh An Roinn, at the end of Cooper St. in Plockton.

## Howie arrives in Summerisle

*Annie Findlay* - the woman who looked of the window as Howie arrived. (Lived in Creetown.)

Julet Cadzow - a scene (18A) where she talked to Sgt Hoiwe as he crossed the causeway that got cut out of all versions. (Plockton residents Alisdair Mackay and Iain Mackenzie are barely seen approaching Howie in all versions.)

## Howie tries to fly off

### Juliet Cadzow

One of the masked villagers, leaning against the wall. (Plus other scenes, see below.)

Here are memories of the filming as told to Lesley Mackie:

Dear Lesley,

Wicker Man, yes, I was in. I filmed scenes at Plockton. 1 sc. meeting E. Woodward crossing causeway on my bike. Another scene ironing my dress and he falls through the roof. These scenes ended up on the cutting room floor, and Robin Hardy told me, they couldn't go into the directors cut as literally the cleaner swept them up and disposed of them!! I think I am probably still one of the characters in an animal mask popping up behind a wall! I remember having a lovely time at Plockton, boating with Jean Faulds! Chats with Anthony Shaffer.

Hope that helps to solve the mystery! I still get a credit. I was asked to be in Cowboys for Christ , but ended up I couldn't do the dates.

Much love, Juliet. X

And then in a letter to me on January 22, 2023:

All absolutely fascinating. Congratulations on all your invaluable work piecing the jigsaw together.

Now, Robin Hardy did tell me, when I met him casting a film, years later, that film edits had literally been swept up by the cleaner and disposed of. These would have ended up in The Director's cut I guess.

Yes, that is me in the ironing scene and I am sure the other actress is Elizabeth Sinclair.

Jean Faulds was an older actress, white haired, but I can't remember what part she played. Does she appear in he credits?

I am also quite sure that is me leaning on the wall with a mask on. I had very long hair at that time.

The causeway scene. I recollect being on my own, stopped by Edward Woodward who asked me a question, directions perhaps, and I remember my reply was evasive, but can't recall what. I can't make out the boys clearly, so couldn't say if I was one of them. Wonder if it ended up on cutting room floor! Perhaps he shot two versions, one with me one with boys, or perhaps I met Edward Woodward first, that was cut and carried on with meeting the boys?

It was one of my first jobs out of Drama college and it was tremendously exciting. I was only in Plockton and remember there was a large tent pitched, where we would eat or wait to be called to a scene. I do remember having a lovely conversation with Anthony Schaffer about his play writing and those of his brother Peter.

I hope the little I can remember is helpful, and thank you for all the links, brought back memories and so interesting.

with all best wishes,

Juliet.

## Maypole dancers

### Gavin Marr

My recollection was the selection process was carried out in the hall that is now used by the Newton Stewart players. Filming for us was over a couple of days when we shot the Maypole scene and a scene where Diane Cilento walked out of the school and we are barged past her running in. During the first take she was accidentally knocked over!

### Jim Lowe

it was John Gordon that knocked Miss Cilento down in one of the takes.

## On the beach

### Dave (last name unknown)

worked in the prop department but also got on-camera holding and rolling the keg of ale that Lord Summerisle split with an axe. (One of these men.)

### Irene Mihuka

John, yes it was me. It was a fantastic experience, I met most of the cast and got their autographs. My first time, was following Christopher Lee along the beach heading for St.Ninians Cave, when I saw the way he was dressed, I did wonder what kind of film I was getting involved with. Then at the top of the cliff to the right of Edward Woodward and in the crowd scene. I am so happy that someone remember me and that you were able to pick me out. It was great to be back in Newton Stewart tonight seeing the film. It is great being part of such a memorable film. Thank you.

## Orgy participants

"Teenage couples on the green." I count 8 couples.They were students from the Bristol Old Vic theater school. Beth Robens\* and at least two others names are known. One is confirmed but private. The other has not been confirmed.

### name held private until he has OK'd it

Yes, John.  I was in the original Wicker Man.  Along with twenty or so other Bristol Old Vic Theatre School students of that time, I was bussed to Wookey Hole in Somerset one evening and filmed for the short night scene in which young villagers had sex in the church yard mostly on gravestones.  I was the male in the couple right at the front of the shots. (NSFW)

To the extent that "my" scene was shot in Somerset, the statement in the credits that the film was made entirely in the Orkney Islands (have I got that right?)

We did not meet Robin Hardy, who sadly died a couple of days ago.  There was a Unit Director on our shoot whose name I don't recall.

Tell me some things about your researches about the film.  I am a fan too.

## Postman rides his bike

Andrew Blackwood - the man standing in his front yard as the postman rides past. (Briarbrae, Broadstone Rd, Stranraer)

### Tony Roper - Postman

Just to say my memories of the filming are sparse and mainly not good ones. I met EW the day I arrived when I was taken to the burning man location. I was not in the scene but they were short of vehicles so I was put in a site caravan to share it with Edward. I was sat there for over an hour when he entered in a bit of a temper which can happen on any filming day. He was not complimentary to any one which tickled me as I was getting kind of fed up too. He left no one unscathed, again we can all identify with that kind of day. I had a very small part which I had indeed been asked to ride a bike in. I learned to ride it about a week before I went to the location and learned to ride it without hands. On the day they gave me a butchers bike with a large basket on the front which threw the balance of the thing right off. I was now beginning to side with Mr Woodward. The second unit assistant got on the bike to show me how and fell off it too. I have no idea what I was whistling as I was too busy trying to stay on it. My scene mercifully came to an end but I had to hang around for about a week as they said they might use me again. I got along famously with EW his schedule was very punishing and he was always on the go but I found him good company. We shared a mutual friend Russel Hunter who was Lonely to his Callan in  that tv series.

## Procession

The brass band in the procession, courtyard and final scenes were from the Redford Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh, as were the sword dancers.

### Chris Edwards

I played the Bass Drum in the small marching band in the film as well as one of my friends-we did a week each-it was a fantastic experience.

*Elizabeth McAdam-Laughland* - Owner of Isle Castle in Whithorn was an extra in the parade.

Andy Bays - in a purple shirt

## Schoolgirls

Other than Daisy (Leslie Mackie) and Holly (Fiona Kennedy). The Pitt script says there would be 18 schoolgirls in the classroom and at the stones\*. Only 11 are seen in the film, 12 in the fire dance. Some of the schoolgirls were in the fire dance (Stuart Hopps). Fiona Kennedy and Leslie Mackie were not in the fire dance.

Fiona had this to say in the Sunday Post of 5/17/20: I had four lines in The Wicker Man and two were cut, but I was there for eight weeks because the director wanted Britt Ekland's character to speak with a soft, Scottish accent. He asked me to sit with Britt and speak to her. She was beautiful, men queuing up for her, and I was her wee friend. Edward Woodward was phenomenal, Christopher Lee was lovely, and we'd all sit together like a family.

## Sword dancers

Sword dancers (half a dozen sword dancers\*) (6 are seen in procession, one more added on the cliffs scene) - They came from the The King's Own Scottish Borderers in Edinburgh. The extra on the cliffs was probably not from there as he had a beard. One is Duncan Milburn. He is wearing a brown jumper and khaki blazer. Another is John Brotherston. See his memories below.

### John Brotherston

The band and 6 sword dancers were from the Regimental Band, 1st. Battalion, The Kings Own Scottish Borderers who were indeed based at Redford Infantry Barracks at Colinton in Edinburgh. They did not go on to form a band called Beirut after the movie. The sword dancers are all wearing the Leslie tartan kilt, the tartan of the K.O.S.B. I was the blond haired sword dancer in the film. Best regards.

That is me opposite Duncan Milburn.I do remember some names, but would like to check first before divulging any. I do remember Christopher Lee approaching the sword dancers and asking if anyone of you young soldiers would like a mint imperial from the great Christopher Lee to which we all replied naw no thanks and the great man said Oh ok then and walked away I felt rather disappointed that not one of us had accepted a sweetie from him. Take care.

(I ask about the 7th dancer…(See in this pic in front of the crowd.))

I can attempt to explain this. The band\* had to leave filming early to go on N.I. training, but left their clothes behind to be worn by the new sword dancers whom I assumed would have been local. The dark haired bearded fellow was wearing my clothes, and when returned to Edinburgh I did not get my original Jersey back which was a Royal Navy Jersey as I served one year as a junior in the navy before leaving to join the 1/K.O.S.B. for 22 years. Hope this explains the 7th dancer and well spotted you.

(I asked: use real swords? How many days on set, Does Andy’s map jive with your memory?)

I shall answer question 1 just now.The swords used were real swords which we brought with us from the Barracks and often used in sword dancing. We were taught on set how to put our arms around each other to make the star shape which if I remember right was copied from an old diagram from a book. The chop chop scene where the hares head was chopped off was done with the real swords which were used at all times. As we pulled the swords from the star shape we pulled away from the neck and although not sure I think the hare's head was pushed off the actresses head by our swords which was well above the actresses head, so that although using real swords no damage could be done to the actress.

Normally it was the pipes and Drums that had the sword dancing team. However at this time the Regimental ( Military Band ) also had a sword dancing team on the go and it was the Regimental Band who supplied both the musicians and dance team for the film.

I don't remember the hotel we stayed in of the top of my mind, but I do remember Aubrey Morris had to move to our hotel after something like a double booking in his original hotel.

(Referring to a post about the procession) Remember Punch chasing the girls and couldn't see through the mask too well. He asked one of the girls to let him know when he approached the camera rails so he wouldn't trip. He was not warned and took a fall over the rails. The expletives which were directed at the poor girl was not very Christian like.

### Rob Milburn

I still think it's awesome that my late Dad was one of the six swordsmen in The Wicker Man (the original 1973 one). That's him underneath Christopher Lee's arm! (Tweeted pic)

His name was Duncan Milburn, and yes, all of the swordsmen were from the KOSB regiment. They were offered a flat fee or a very small %. They took the money as they thought it was just a B movie that would never make any cash!

He used to delight in telling the story that Britt Ekland and Diane Cilento looked up his kilt to see if he was a proper Scotsman! No, he's the guy with the brown jumper and khaki blazer to the right of Christopher Lee in colour picture.

(I ask if he can remember any of the other names.)

No, nothing unfortunately. We did watch it together once, and he told me all the swordsmen's names, but unfortunately I can't remember them. He said Christopher Lee was a gent. In the final scene, the extras were all shouting obscenities at Edward Woodward - Burn you b\*\*\*\*\*d!

OK! One more thing - the KOSB's have their own website, who may be able help identify the other members. https://kosb.co.uk

## The Green Man

Mark Sunderland is in the grey sweater, the last one seated at the bar on the long side. Next to him is a friend, David Graham, who had not been selected as an extra but ended up in the film anyway. (Nuada #3) (The Call Sheet for the 11/15 shoot at the Ellangowan lists 3 young men and 3 young women as extra talent. One would be the friend of Mark Sunderland mentioned above.)

Andy Bays - In the Green Man in a red shirt

Tina Hart - woman in the yellow dress in the Green Man, sitting next to Oak. He also kisses her. (Credit: Joe Wawrzyniak)

David Graham - blond next Mark Sunderland at bar during the Howie's first night there. (Credit: Billy Mc Gowan)

### Eric Houston

Was in the ellangowan in creetown when the landlords daughter was sung

No photos I'm afraid it was my wife who worked there when she was 16 . She served lunch to Christopher lee,Edward. Woodward ,Britt eckland ad the other blond Diane cilento,Ian Campbell and the rest of the gang she says they were v kind to her and when asking Christopher lee what he would like to eat he said I'll have curry in the scary voice that reminded her of Dracula !!!!

## Tollbooth steps

Betty Dickson's husband was in the scene outside the courtyard and sat on the Tolbooth steps.

## A very old woman\*/woman in the coffin

(Dead) John Morton, (Alive) Louise McLaren (The woman in the coffin was from Stranraer according to Olive Mcdonald, seamstress.) The woman in the coffin was Miss Birchman (Ian McGhie, Whithorn History Facebook group, 10/12/19) "The woman in the coffin was Bella Ballantine. She worked with my husband in the George Hotel at the time." - Karen Elizabeth Wilson (Facebook, 10/22/20)

## We Carry Death

Kids carrying "death" out of the village - Drummore Primary School kids were used for this. Two groups were made. Only one made it into the film. That group had: Kirsty McColm (holding the baby doll), Gerald McSkimming (behind her), maybe 10 altogether? (probably = Half a dozen singing village children\*), possibly: Susan McClymount, Marie McColm, Fiona Stewart, Brian Beck, Matthew & Kerrow Caughie and Colin Downie ((Edward Beck, FB, 9/20/09), Bob Love, Beth Swain, Brian McCracken (FB, 5/26/20), Katrina Maxwell (seen as the last child in the procession, FB, 10/8/13)

The other group had: Fiona Downes, Also about 10 in it. They had the lines: "We carry life (or was it summer?) into the village."

### Fiona Downes

As one of the extremely young participants, I think the plan was to shoot near Port Logan - which was the location for the home of Lord Summerisle. It was rumoured that they couldn't land the sea plane and decided to relocate a lot of the shoot to Whithorn. Thinking about it, I'm not sure where they planned to film us unless the laigh row was a possibility . Edward Woodward visited Port Logan and had afternoon tea at what is now Port Logan House. We were transported by various parents to Whithorn and split in 2 groups. Kirsty led one and I led the other . Clearly my group was rubbish as unlike Kirsty's group we were not included in the directors cut. I held a spring branch and we chanted " we are carrying life into the village." Kirsty's crew chanted "we are carrying death out of the village." - hence the creepy doll! We did get to meet the stars - Edward Woodward was particularly kind. Kirsty, Marie and I watched it together once and laughed till we cried at Kirsty in her wee kilt concentrating so hard she was like a wee drunk trying to do a straight line test! It is a great measure of how things have changed.

Not sure about group sizes - it was a P1, P2 class - probs about 18 or 20. So 9 or 10 per group. Our head teacher at the time loved drama so I think jumped at the chance. I think the school got a donation of £50. Sadly she died in a car accident several years later. Not sure how clear it was that it was an 18! My parents certainly didn't know. Maybe Betty can remember if that was ever mentioned. My mum and dad were very close lipped after the screening! I'm a head teacher and don't think I'd get off with that now somehow!!

Some of the external shots with Christopher Lee were filmed at Logan House. I always wondered if the naked dance in the woods was at Logan but not sure. No memory of puppet and as i think most puppets are creepy I would have remembered. We just marched up and down the street.

It was all filmed from the library - don’t remember how far we went but not far - think they did a few takes. It is our secondary school reunion the weekend before May Day - but not sure if any other cast members are attending! If so - who knows!!!!

I'm not in that line because we were "carrying life into the village". I was lead of that group but we were cut. You can hear us tho. What a surprise! Xx (We can hear them?)