Documentary about a travelling knife sharpener

[FrankMcLean]

Hi,



This was somewhere in the 70's/80's, I believe. It's a documentary (or extremely naturalistic portayal) of an odd couple:-



He is a bespectacled late middle aged white guy who travels around and both fixes kitchen utensils, like pots and pans, and sharpens knives on a portable grinding wheel.



She is a slightly older, white, 'daft' (sorry, kind of sums it up) woman who seems to be (or thinks she is) his girlfriend. She acts very giggly and, y'know, daft. Like a child, almost.



This all takes place in East Anglia, I think. I think I recognise those accents.



Why I'd want to see this again is a mystery, but it's bugging the hell out of me. :-)



Thanks in advance,



Frank

[Freddy]

I remember a documentary about a chap who dresses in a suit (so that he is respectable for going into the 'big houses') and cycles round with a grinding wheel attached to his bike and sharpens knives. Can't recall the girlfriend though. It was one of those films about individuals which touched your heart.



Again only a vague memory but wasn't there a documentary film maker who specialised in this sort of film who died in the last 5 years or so and there was a programme about him and his documentaries.



Not too sure whether it helps but like you the knife grinder is in my brain.



Freddy

[FrankMcLean]

That's completely it. I didn't want to talk about the bike powered grinder, as I thought I might have made that up. But that's the ticket, yes, including the suit.



Rereading my post, it may have sounded like I was laughing at them. Like you, I found it quite touching, but couldn't really sum it up. I'm from Luton, with older relatives who aren't Mockneys (like I am), so I'm kind of interested in the 'original inhabitants' of Anglia. :-) I remember going for a walk in the country with a friend way back and asking directions from a bloke in a field - couldn't understand a blind word he was saying, but he was nice enough to point with his stick for us townies. What on earth am I drivelling on about? Ahem.



And anyway, that's if I even remember the location right, of course...



Thanks a lot. Hopefully your extra info will help us to get this cracked.



Frank

[GoggleboxUK]

I also have a vague recollection of this programme, did the man have greying hair and possibly a pony tail? I definitely remember the grinding wheel and seem to remember him sharpening knives outdoors on a council-type estate.



Again, I recall it being a programme that was strangely compelling.

[PS68060]

There used to be a guy who did the bicyle knife sharpening thing in my home town in the early 70's. Last of his kind I expect.

[Freddy]

I always thought for some reason men like that were old WW2 veterans who had found it difficult to settle down after Army life.