Back to Spike's house in Rye

On Sunday, Jane and I headed down to Rye in a truck where we met sound recordist Matt at the station. We were going to Carpenters, the house where Spike lived for the last 15 years of his life and where he died. Spike's second eldest daughter Sile joined us down there with her family (husband and three sons). The purpose of the visit was for them to collect any possessions left in the house by their step-mother Shelagh, who has emptied the place with the view to selling it. It was a very emotional day for all of them as they discovered bits of their childhood and memories of their father and grandfather. They have to say goodbye to this house that holds so many good memories for them.

There was a touching moment in the walk-in wardrobe where they discovered Spike's footprint in the paint work. They sorted through old photos, books, records, toys, letters and mementos of all shapes and size. Some were thrown out. Some went into boxes to be kept. This scene will most likely be at the end of the film, and will dissolve into the archive footage his daughters have of him as an old man in this house surrounded by his children and grandchildren at Christmas. His letters personal writings, poems and songs all tell the same story- Spike lived for his children and was happiest when he was with them.