The Documentary

“Cameraman Yussef Nimer getting ready for the first day of filming on the Gypsy Royals. The smile rarely leaves his face except when he’s itching for a bit of ‘fresh air’.”

“The late Alexander Kennedy who was the catalyst for the initial online reunion. Alex was well respected as an ambassador of Romany Gypsy and Traveller culture. The Reunion in Yetholm is in his honour and he will be sadly missed. However, we still hope to meet his wife Freda.(And yes, that is Queen Elizabeth II in the background.)”

“Deby Sowter is a relative of the Royals living in New Zealand. She and her sister-in-law will be travelling to the Reunion. We are just about to film a video conference with Deby at her home down under and then will meet her ‘in the flesh’ when she arrives in Kelso. Deby and her husband pastor a church in New Zealand.”

“Nils Blyth, a descendent of the Royals, who lives in Australia has become the unofficial genealogist of the family and has been helping people piece together their family trees. When Nils is not cooling off with his grandson in the family pool, he breeds and sells horses for a living. Unfortunately Nils will not make the Reunion but we are hoping to link up with him via video conference.”

“Maggie Kennedy, a descendent of Esther Faa Blyth, is the driving force behind the Reunion. It was she who suggested the family get together in Alex’s memory and has done all the background work and organisation. She is a retired nurse, living in Edinburgh.”

“Jackie Hendry is Alex Kennedy’s cousin. He is proud of his gypsy heritage and says he likes nothing more than a good crack around a stick fire. When he’s not running his road surfacing business in Edinburgh, he plays with a Swing band. Jackie will be the ‘MC’ at the Reunion.”

“Steve Bloxham and his wife Tracy are the proud owners of the Gypsy Palace. Neither or them are of Romany blood, but simply bought the palace as a holiday property. They knew very little of its history at the time but have since gone on a journey of discovery finding out about the amazing story behind the little house. Steve hopes one day to turn one of the out-houses into a visitor centre. But for now the Palace is not open to the public but it may be booked as a holiday cottage. One of the family will be staying there during the Reunion.”

“Who’s that blocking a perfectly good view? Filmmakers Fiona Veitch Smith and Tony Glover in Coldstream on the way back doon sooth after a shoot in Edinburgh. What you don’t see are the fish ‘n chips.”