Three years on from Burberry’s Knitwear campaign featuring Chicken Corner’s oldest Buff Orpington hen (a recognisably pivotal moment in the celebrity status of the orchard), we’re reclaiming your screens in a most-likely short-but-sweet feature with the British Broadcasting Corporation AKA the BBC. For reasons listed in Sidney Street’s terms & conditions, (which family members were encouraged to sign in order to make an appearance on the show), it would be inappropriate and downright a breach of contract to disclose any further details relating to this “said programme”.
So rather than dwell on this, prepare yourselves for a detailed re-telling of that fateful Friday filming in October. Stylistically comparable, no doubt, to novelist Ian McEwan, expect long, drawn-out flashbacks with sporadic leaps to the present ensuring a single day’s events fill up a 300+ page book. But don’t panic, I’ll just aim for a page, promise..
Having been sent the filming timetable by Olivia on the Thursday evening, the realisation that Chicken Corner only had a 30-minute window to show its full potential seemed daunting. The camera crew, which turned out to be three freelance human bubbles*, were set to arrive at 8:15 the next morning. From the start of this fiasco however, miscommunication was residing over us like a high-quality umbrella, not the unspeakably terrible freebies given out by certain companies (that will not be mentioned for fear of damaging reputations and future sponsorship opportunities).
Communication’s arrows missed their targets very early on.. and hard lessons were learnt. Although an arrival time had been clearly stated, Olivia and S.A.Rainey started to confuse matters. Various times were thrown into the mix, ranging from 7AM to the supposed 8:15AM.. if my memory serves me correctly, the standard people carrier drew up the yard at about 8:20AM.
Building up to the arrival, of course excitement was through the roof, mainly fuelled by Olivia who couldn’t wear a particular rustic jumper because she’d been getting advice from Will, famously credited in the fashion industry Worldwide, oh wait! She also refused to wear a nordic turtleneck of mine because “it suits you, Cecily, but I don’t like it and its just not me”.. Thanks Olivia, I will treasure your words boundlessly..
By far, the worst miscommunication saga orientated around Olivia’s highland pony, Monty. To the horror of my older sisters, I had mucked his stable out before 8:20AM. In reaction, a percentage was re-deposited in the stable. Apparently it could contribute to some thrilling camera content according to Izzi and Olivia. Words on initiative were spoken but I hastened to add that telepathy is not a skill I possess and how was I supposed to know not to muck out the pony if nobody physically instructs me! Assumption should be this family’s motto as we are so very good at it.
While Izzi was off being filmed with the cattle, Olivia and I entertained the day by riding Monty round the Village. The next action I took; seeming so harmless, possibly even helpful at the time – collecting Monty from the field – well, I’ve never regretted anything so much. How I wished to click my fingers and teleport back to that very moment to crush that insolent thought.. for the fury it brought in so little time, groundbreaking! I couldn’t quite believe it ..in short, the cameras caught me collecting Monty from the field and because he is Olivia’s part of the farm, she should have been documented with him. Emotions were running high and like a born Director and Manager, I admitted my error and sort to right the wrongs. Thankfully, the crew captured Olivia riding Monty. Within the hour, jokes were already being banded about.. too soon perhaps, noting the difficult crowd ;)
During Chicken Corner’s half an hour moment of fame, awkward conversations and laughter were at an all time high. Luckily presentation wise, the orchard and its members looked fantastic and the constant stream of food (to ensure key shots were captured) was welcomed with open wings!
An emotional and draining day spent haphazardly recording footage of the farm with members of the family, resulted in an exhausted Director and Manager on the sofa with legs outstretched across S.A.Rainey, taking in the dreary yet stoical ITV series ‘Vera’…
You are free to take from that what you will.
Bye Chicks x
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