Accession Number

B248

Series Title

[UNKNOWN]

Programme Title

VIVIAN WHITELEY ON HER OWN

Producer

Ray Colley and Alan Murgatroyd

Other Credits

Camera: Arthur Smith, Brian Spencer; Sound: Dave Smith, Dave Baumber; Editor: Dave Drury; Director: Alan Murgatroyd

Transmission Date

01/01/75

colour , sound (sep), 29 mins 52 secs

Synopsis

Harrowing documentary focusing on Vivian Whiteley from Tameside, a young mother left to bring up her two young sons after her husband Tony died from cancer aged thirty-four. This is a sequel to "Remember all the Good Things" (NWFA main collection film no. 2509), which featured Tony and Vivian just before Tony's death. Whiteley speaks of Tony's funeral, the plans they made before he died, the loneliness of being a widow and how the boys have kept her going. She is shown performing various domestic tasks: bathing and feeding the children, doing the washing-up and decorating. The sons are seen in a pram and playing in the back yard. A Professor of Community Care from Sheffield University speaks about societies' perception of widows and the personal and financial problems faced by widows. Whiteley is seen working in her new job at Manchester Polytechnic School of Art, where she and Tony had been students and an art exhibition of Tony's there is shown.