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The Cromer Train

The railway line from Norwich to Cromer; a vital link in local life, but will the trains continue?

Amateur film 1984 11 mins

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Overview

The Norwich to Cromer railway brings holidaymakers to the North Norfolk coast, but here it is filmed out of season with an artist’s eye and ear, the empty and abandoned buildings haunted by evocative voices from other times. Tony Hare draws on childhood memories of the trains near his home. There’s melancholy beauty, but also a sense of the urgency to preserve what makes Cromer special, particularly the railway which supports the local community.

Dr Tony Hare 1954 – 2010 was a botanist, author and film maker, an inspiring conservation campaigner and founder of the charity Plantlife. On television he worked with Chris Packham on children’s wildlife and environmental programme 'A Beetle Called Derek' 1989-91 and Saturday morning show 'Going Live'. As a member of the East Anglian Film Makers co-operative, he made films about Norfolk rural life including land ownership and poaching. 'The Cromer Train' captures his love of the individuality of localities, their plants and their people, and his political concern about the loss of public transport contributing to rural decline.