Ron Collins began his film career in 1958 as a messenger with Rank Screen Services. He worked as assistant camerman for Paul Barralet, before joining British Movietone as a trainee cameraman in 1961. In 1961 Collins was made up to cameraman, although Terry Gallacher [qv] recalled that ‘he still acted as assistant to Norman Fisher [qv] on occasion.' Collins worked for Movietone until 1968, though he continued to freelance for the company until 1976. During his time at Movietone Ron filmed all the major sporting events (specialising in the use of extreme telephoto lenses), the construction of the Post Office Tower, the funeral of Winston Churchill (on the steps of St Paul’s), the World Cup Final in 1966, and the 42nd birthday celebration of Queen Elizabeth at Windsor in 1969 (issue 2029).
His other work included the sports documentary VISIONS OF EIGHT (1973), the 1976 Winter Olympics documentary WHITE ROCK, the football sequences for the feature film ESCAPE TO VICTORY (1981), and the wedding of Charles and Diana. He won awards at the 1968 and 1969 World Newsreel Awards, for ON THE RIVER and THE BOAT RACE. In 1969 he founded the major film supplies company Optical and Textile, later known as Optex. Optex closed in 2005.
He also worked as a cameraman on Roundabout, a technicolor cinemagazine made by Associated British Pathe, and later British Movietonews, and This Week In Britain for the Central Office of Information. One of his earliest credits for Roundabout is ‘STRAMIT MACHINES’, Roundabout No. 87, of August 1969.
Sources
BUFVC, T. M. Gallacher, ‘Additional Notes,' October 1998: Information from Ron Collins, September 2006: NoS Number 327930; Roundabout Number 87; Date released August 1969.
