In the early 1970s (the late) documentary maker Barry Cockcroft made a series called Once in a lifetime. One of the more memorable programmes was called "A Romany Summer" which featured a family of Romany Gypsies who travelled afar and lived on the country lanes around York.

The main character in the programme was called Sir Montague Smith, better known as Cocker Smith. Cocker allowed the cameras to come into his world and film him and his family living a life that in today's society beggars belief.

This is the original film and features many aspects of a life that has now sadly changed beyond recognition. Join Cocker and his family as they show us a life on the road as they travel from village to village scraping a living making clothes pegs and dealing in gypsy horses. Cocker also attends the famous Appleby Horse Fair and we see a fair that has barely changed in one hundred years.

Also in this video stream you can see another film very rare short film called "A Family Affair". This film shows the gypsies at the popular Lee Gap Fair as trouble brews among the travellers, and gypsies.

Running time: 55 minutes (approx).