Interview request for Documentary Project - Edith Tudor-Hart

[Jude Parsons]

Dear members of British Photographic History,

I have recently been accepted by the Paul Mellon Centre to make a short documentary about the life and photography of Edith Tudor-Hart (here is a link to the project website for anyone's interest https://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/whats-on/forthcoming/britishartinmotion) 

To enhance the project I would like conduct interviews to help articulate the historical and political environment in which she worked (the documentary concerns her time spent in Britain, mostly east London, in the 1930s - 40s where she was heavily involved with the socialist movement and where she also became involved in espionage, famously recruiting Kim Philby for the KGB).

If you would like to help I would greatly appreciate it. If you are interested let me know and I can give you the proposal for the documentary to give a better idea of what it is about and here are some potential topics for the interview:

• the life of Edith Tudor-Hart
• the strive for socialist reform in 1930s London
• living conditions of London's working-class districts

If you would like to get involved I will aim to film the interviews in between early June and early July, however, I will happily work to your timetable if that makes it easier.

If you choose to carry out an interview I don't mind doing it in-person, online, etc. Whatever suits your preferences. 

I understand that you will all be very busy at the moment and throughout the next few months but I would be incredibly grateful if anyone was interested or knew someone that could be.

Many thanks,

Jude Parsons

[Jude Parsons]

Hi James,

Sorry for taking time to reply. Do you have a contact number?

Jude

[James Hyman]

I’m interested in learning more about your project. Perhaps you can contact me direct. Thanks! James

[Jude Parsons]

Dear Paul,

thank you for taking the time to get back to me. I have contacted Duncan Forbes but not any of the others you have mentioned so I will try and contact them now - thank you very much.

Amazing that you met Wolfgang - I believe he was also unaware of his sister's KGB involvement. 

Again thank you for your help, Jude

[Paul Hill]

I am sure you have contacted Amanda Hopkinson, Duncan Forbes, and nephew Peter?

I spent some time with Wolf S in the 70s looking at his still photos. 

Someone would knows about photography and politics in the 30s would be Prof David Mellor of Sussex University.

Fascinating person, Edith. When I was first attracted to her work in the 60s, I had know idea of her Communist background, like many others. Good luck!