THERE was no black horse in sight but a rain machine and a film crew caused a stir on Tavistock?s Brook Street last Thursday during the filming of a new Lloyds TSB advertisement. The advertisement, part of the bank?s You First series, features Wilkins Shoe Shop and is set to hit our television screens in April. Nicola Criegan, from advertising agency Rainey Kelly Campbell Rolfe Y&R, said they chose Wilkins as a setting because it had real character and appeared to be a in a ?beautiful village location?. ?It focuses on the main character buying a pair of wellington boots ? but we don?t want to give away the story,? she said. Filming involved a ?rain machine? to create a downpour. Sue Rowe, owner of Wilkins, said they were approached only two weeks ago and asked if the shop could be used in the advertisement. ?It?s wonderful, it?s a chance in a lifetime. It?s a unique shop, there?s nothing around like this,? she said. Mike Craigie, manager of the Tavistock branch of Lloyds TSB, said: We take real pride in the service provided in Tavistock and we?re delighted that a local shop has been chosen for the You First campaign.? Retailers and businesses in Brook Street received a letter from the production company last week informing them of arrangements and disruptions to the day. But James McQueen, owner of Potters Bar, felt retailers should have been consulted before filming as it had ?significantly affected? trade ? to the extent that he had to send two members of staff home in the afternoon. Mr McQueen claimed the production company had a ?large business mentality, taking advantage of small retailers.? ?This should never be allowed to happen again,? he said. Others traders reported no complaints. Pauline Hart from Scruples said: ?We took the same amount of money as we normally would. We were kept informed of what was going on. They were absolutely charming. They?ve got a job to do the same as all of us.? Sally Morris from A Rhyme In Tyme said: ?In the beginning we thought it was going to be an intrusion but at the end of the day I can only speak highly of the crew. They were very friendly and came in and bought things. They all stayed in local hotels, bringing a lot of income to Tavistock.? Keith Hall from Dartmoor Photographic said: ?The crew couldn?t have been more helpful. I couldn?t fault them at all. It was a good day, to be honest, as it?s usually very quiet on Thursdays.? The crew will continue filming the series of four advertisements in other locations across Devon and Cornwall and in London and Venice. RIGHT: Lloyds TSB manager Mike Craigie and Sue Rowe of Wilkins Shoe Shop.
