Tutti Men Ceremony (1958)

Hungerford, Berkshire. M/S of a procession lead by a man with a cigarette in his mouth and funny hat on. He knocks on a door. Two men wearing morning suits and carrying sticks (poles) decorated with flowers come to stand next to him. M/S of the children behind the three men. They all wait for the door to open. This is a traditional annual ceremony of the tutti men - “two members of the local council who, carrying flower bedecked staves of office, call at houses in the village High Street to collect the tutti ’dues’: from every girl a penny - or a kiss!“ M/S of the procession lead by tutti men (the two with flowers) walking along the village High Street. M/S of the tutti men climbing up a step ladder to ask a girl in the window for a kiss (or a penny). The girl kisses the younger of the tutti men - a proper kiss! He raises his hat in the air. M/S of the crowd. Children follow the tutti men who, according to tradition, have to throw received coins to them. M/S of the tutti men walking towards the next d