Kenneth Reeves ("Ken / Tiger")

Ken (Tiger) Reeves started his career as a clapper boy and camera operator on animated films at Merton Park Studios in June 1941. He heard about Crown Film Unit [qv] after the release of TARGET FOR TONIGHT and was given a job by Dora Wright in May 1942. His first job there was as operating the clappers, and as a loader on COASTAL COMMAND and A LETTER FROM ULSTER. He also worked as a focus puller. Later on in the war, he was posted as a naval photographer in the Royal Navy Pacific Fleet Film Unit.

After the war, Reeves returned to Crown, but beginning again as a focus puller because of his lack of recent film experience. From there, he progressed to camera operator, on such titles as STEPS OF THE BALLET AND FOUR MEN IN PRISON.
He photographed the first six Data Film Productions [qv] issues of Mining Review with Francis Gysin [qv] and then moved to Data films with the cinemagazine and worked for eight years on coal films. No credits survive for his work at Crown, instead, his first credit for Mining Review is for ‘LIVING IN’ in Mining Review 1st Year No.7 of March 1948. His last is for ‘BEER AND SKITTLES’ in 8th Year No.2 of October 1954. During this period he also worked on the cinemagazine This Is Britain, his only surviving credit being ‘NEW STEEL PLANT’, This Is Britain No.38, issued in 1948. This series was produced by the Central Office of Information for the Board of Trade [qv] and also made by the Crown Film Unit.

In January 1961, at the close of Data Films, Reeves did some freelance work, in particular on THE PIPERS TUNE for A.C.T. Films, before joining World Wide Pictures Ltd. [qv] as senior cameraman. With them, he worked in Abudabi for British Petroleum [qv] for three months. In 1990, Reeves left World Wide to freelance in film and video for Highlight Productions, Anvil Films and Films for the services. He also returned to Worldwide in 1993, and Greenpark [qv] in 1994.

Ken Reeves retired in 1995 with, as he puts it, ‘54 years of very happy working memories’.

Sources

H. Donaldson, ‘Coal Film Makers: An Appreciation’ (NCB, London, 1981) p.4, 39: NoS Number 334741; Mining Review 1st Year Number 7; Date released March 1948: NoS Number 345847; Mining Review 8th Year Number 2; Date released October 1954: Conversation with Ken Reeves; 21 February 2006: NoS Number 328228; This Is Britain Number 38; Date released 1948.