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The Review - PICK OF THE INDIES
Published: 10 July 2008

Pick of the Indies

WHEN families living in Kilburn in the 1950s were desperate for social housing but faced years on the council waiting list, they decided to do something radical about their situation. They gathered together 50 households, chipped in to buy some cheap land in Chesham, Hampshire, picked up their tools and worked weekends to establish their own self-built community.
Their story comes to life this weekend as part of the film section of the Kilburn Festival. On Sunday, a day-long film event at four venues includes Self-Build, created by the festival’s organiser Anna Bowman. She discovered the story after a chance conversation with retired builder, 91-year-old Arthur Wilson. They first met at the Kilburn State Cinema – when it was a Bingo Hall.
“He told me he had built the tower on top of the building and often came to look at it,” says Anna.
Mr Wilson then told Anna the story of Chesham community and she decided to turn her lens in their direction.
“They were driven by desperation,” says Anna. “They needed homes for their families and took the decision to do something about it.
“Most of them had no experience in the building trade at all. There was one plumber, one carpenter, one bricklayer and one electrician. The rest learned as they went along.”
Other highlights include films made by schoolchildren at Kingsgate Primary and Hampstead secondary schools, called Putting Down Routes.
The programme includes features on Iran, South Africa and Spain.
Call 020 7328 1000 for more information.

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