The Powell & Pressburger Pages Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films. A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it. I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films. [Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]

Myrtle Paton

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Myrtle Paton in Shottenden

Myrtle Paton died on Monday, June 19th, 2006.

Myrtle was the widow of Bill Paton, Michael Powell's assistant ever since they met while Michael was making The Edge of the World (1937). Myrtle was the daughter of Neville Horton, the real blacksmith that the one in A Canterbury Tale is based on. Neville & his brother Ben (the real wheelwright) both appear in ACT helping the actors that are playing them.

Bill was a tough little Shetlander and he had joined the Royal Navy during the war, but he was taking some leave when The Archers were finishing making ACT. Myrtle had joined the Red Cross and was away for most of the filming. But she came home on leave to her parent's house just in time for the end of shooting party, and that's where she met Bill. They married in May 1945.

I met Myrtle at various events in and around Canterbury and one time, when we were showing John Sweet around the ACT locations, we descended on her in her lovely little cottage in Shottenden. But she was quite capable of dealing with surprises like that and proceeded to make us all tea and feed us cakes while we all chatted away merrily.

A truly lovely lady.

    Steve

See also, the tribute to Myrtle from her friend, Margaret Stocker.

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Other P&P obituaries