Tag Archives: gravel

Film director Albert Ernest Colbey

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Albert Ernest Colbey, was a director of around 250 films made by Cricks & Martin, of Ravensbury Lodge. Mr Colby lived at no. 33 Whitford Gardens
Note that some spellings of his surname appear as Colby in the street directory and newspaper article.

In 1910, he was taken to court on the charge of obstructing traffic on London Road while shooting one of his films, as shown in the Croydon Chronicle and East Surrey Advertiser – Saturday 12 March 1910 via the British Newspaper Archive.

A Mitcham Scene.
BEHIND THE SCENES IN MAKING CINEMATOGRAPH PICTURES.

London-road, Mitcham, was the centre of attraction one day last week. The road was crowded with people, who were watching the struggles of two men, who were almost buried in two heaps of gravel, which were dumped in the centre of the road. On Saturday Albert Colby, Whitford Gardens, Mitcham, appealed before the Croydon County Bench to answer a summons for obstructing the roadway. The police stated that the defendant had emptied two cartloads of gravel in the centre of the road, and completely blocked the traffic. When spoken to by the police the defendant said he would not leave until he had finished the picture. Defendant informed the Bench that he was taking a cinematograph picture. “We never interfere with the people passing along the road,” said the defendant, “but the people stop to see the fun.”

Chief Inspector McKay was present. The defendant had tipped two loads of gravel in the centre of the road. Two men got into the gravel and covered themselves up with it while photographs were being taken of them. It was a most ridiculous performance. A crowd of people had gathered, and the traffic was stopped.

The Chairman : Would a vehicle have room to pass ?
Inspector McKay: No ; I had some difficulty in getting past myself. (Laughter.)

The Chairman: We will fine you 10s. and 3s. 6d. costs for your fun, and don’t do it again.

In the 1911 census, he was listed as aged 34, living with his wife Alice Kate Coleby, aged 37; their daughter Alice Mary, aged 5; son Charles Raymond Coleby, aged 2.

The films he directed included Boxing Fever which is on YouTube, which I reviewed in this video to explain where in Mitcham the scenes were shot:

The BFI entry for Boxing Fever says that he appeared in the film, but was he the boxer?

1929 : Funeral of Mr J.G. Guyatt

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From the Mitcham Advertiser and Surrey County Report, 14th March, 1929, page 1.

Mr J.G. Guyatt.

Funeral of a Well Known
Contractor.

The funeral of Mr JG Guyatt, the well-known contractor of Mitcham and Brixton, who died suddenly last week at his Mitcham home, Grove Lodge, Sutton Road, at the age of 75, took place on Saturday morning.

Mr Guyatt was one of the largest cartage contractors in the London area and at one time owned over 100 horses and carts. Of late years motor lorries largely displaced the horse-drawn vehicle, but Mr Guyatt retained his love of horses to the end. It was fitting that his funeral procession should be of the old-fashioned horse-drawn kind.

The first part of the service was held in the Wesleyan Mission Church, Fair Green. It was conducted by the minister, the Rev. A. Denman Martin, who also officiated at the graveside.

Mrs Guyatt, who died two years ago, and her daughters were formerly active members of the Mission, and Mrs Parks, the younger daughter, was a member of the choir and a soloist. Before coming to Mitcham seventeen years ago the family worshipped at Brixton Hill Wesleyan church.

Mr Guyatt, who took no active part in Mitcham public affairs, succeeded to the business founded by his father and extended it enormously. He owned several gravel pits in Mitcham and was a contractor to many local bodies. His chief interest outside his business was his old-world garden at the rear of the house. He was the eldest of twelve children, ten of whom survive him. His own family consists of two sons and two daughters. The business will be carried on by the elder son. The younger one, Mr Frank Guyatt, has a separate motor transport business.

Mr Guyatt, who had not quite recovered from a serious illness, which left his heart in a weak state, was at work as usual on Monday last week, the day before his death. He collapsed at breakfast time and passed away in a quarter of an hour, to the sincere regret to all who knew him or had business relations with him.

Mr Nicholls, the organist, played “Oh Rest in the Lord” as the funeral procession entered into the church and later the Funeral March. The hymn sung was “Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand”.

The mourners were Mr JG Guyatt and Mr Frank Guyatt (sons); Mrs SE Crabb and Mrs H Parks (daughters); Mr W Guyatt, Mr L Guyatt, Mr John Guyatt, Mrs Howes and Mrs Priest (brothers and sisters).

Others present were Mrs JG Guyatt, Mrs Frank Guyatt, Mr and Mrs JG Guyatt, junior; Mrs John Guyatt, Miss Herbert and Mrs W Guyatt, junior; Mr C Guyatt, Miss L Guyatt, Mr E Guyatt, Miss Priest, Mr Howes, Mr Rickard, Mr Priest, Mrs Calver and Mr Robert Parks.

The beautiful floral tributes included wreaths from all the aforementioned families and from Dr Shelswell, Mr Rawlings, Eastfields Pit, the workpeople at Eastfields, Mitcham yard, motor department (Brixton Hill), horse department, Mr and Mrs Arthur Beard, Mr and Mrs Thatcher, Mrs G T Hodges and family, Mr and Mrs Cramp and family, Mr Walter Clarkson and family, Mr H Clarkson and Sons, Mr Wells (Eastfields), Mr and Mrs P Bell, Mr and Mrs J Ellis, Mr and Mrs John Gillett, Mr and Mrs J Emmerton, Mr William Priest, Volan and Trigg (George Neal and Sons), Mr Nathan Guyatt, Mrs Collins, Mr and Mrs Halliday, Mr Moon, Mr and Mrs Bruce Thompson, Mr John Cronk and family, Mr and Mrs George Thompson and family, Mrs Shepherd, Mrs Allen and Mrs Johnson.