VILLAGERS have raised more than £1,000 for charity as the community came together to remember two film-loving brothers.

More than 150 people in Sible Hedingham turned up to the village hall to pay tribute to the Hewitt brothers, Derrick and Roy.

The brothers, who moved to the village together during the Second World War from Woodford, lived together for decades,

Sadly, both brothers died at Cedars Place care home in Halstead with the younger brother Roy dying in 2020 at the age of 88 while Derrick died in March 2022 at the age of 94.

Derrick was even hailed by the care home as one of the first survivors of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pair were well known throughout the Sible Hedingham community and were perhaps best known for Derrick’s love of all things film.

The elder brother even worked at Paramount Pictures in West London before moving to the village.

Both Derrick and Roy even hosted their own cinema events as well as discos, Punch and Judy shows and regularly recorded the village carnivals from 1954 to 1983 with the 1963 and 1983 carnivals on display at the show.

To honour the much-loved duo, a special fundraising film show dubbed ‘Those Were The Days’ was held at the Sible Hedingham Village Hall.

The show featured films shot by Derrick which have been digitally remastered by local businessman Brian Day.

More than 1,000 was raised at the event for two charities - Alzheimer's UK and the Sible Hedingham Village Hall.

Organiser Angela Weatherley, who loved opposite the brothers for decades said: “The two brothers were well known in the Hedinghams and surrounding villages for amongst other things taking films of village life and in particular recording the village carnivals. 

“Derrick was a projectionist at the Plaza Cinema in Sible which has been since demolished. 

“When living at Woodford they had set up a little shed in the garden and would run films there.

“Many local adults can still recall as children going to see films there too. 

“Derrick and Roy also built and flew model aircraft which they then flew at the former Ridgewell Airfield. 

“One film shown on the night depicted the return of USAF veterans returning to the airfield for a memorial visit having been stationed there during the Second World War.

“Derrick and Roy have left a lasting legacy for the village and after the restrictions imposed during Covid this event provided a chance to get together again and reminisce on old times.”