David Piggott was stopped in the street after BBC2 screened his 1997 film about the town, Picture This.
Since 1958, he had been the driving force behind The Chingford Newsreel, a series of films produced by cine club Acorn Films that captured the everyday stories, civic milestones, and quiet revolutions of East London life.
The long-time Chingford resident died peacefully on Wednesday, October 15, at Whipps Cross Hospital from pneumonia, following complications after his recent recovery from Covid. He was 85.
Mr Piggott described his work on the long-running newsreel as “a labour of love”.
Tim Emblem-English, an archive telecine specialist who joined Acorn Films in 1980, said: “David introduced me to the worlds of amateur film-making and subsequently film collecting, both of which chimed with my career as an engineer and operator in post-production at the BBC and led to me becoming the department’s specialist in amateur and archive telecine work.
“In large part I owe my career to David’s knowledge and enthusiasm.
“A dear friend, much missed.”
Mr Piggott’s work documented decades of East London history, from community events and changes on the high street to royal visits and moments of national significance.
Stories featured in the newsreel included the 1977 Silver Jubilee celebrations, the 1981 royal wedding, the aftermath of the Great Storm of 1987, the funeral of Ronnie Kray in 1995, and the reaction to Princess Diana’s death in 1997.
Screenings became a much-anticipated annual tradition, first held at The Parish Hall on The Ridgeway in 1958 and later at the Chingford Assembly Hall until the final showing in 2006.
Mr Piggott reached a wider audience when BBC2 aired the 1997 documentary Picture This, after which he was recognised on the street for his work.
In an interview earlier this year, he recalled: “One woman said ‘it was through you that we moved to Chingford’ – and the day after the screening at a Saturday event in Ealing, we went into WH Smiths and man came up to me and said ‘it’s you, isn’t it?’.
“It was amazing that people had watched Picture This and that it meant something to them.”
Gary Stone, chairman of the Chingford Historical Society, said: “David will be sorely missed by the society of which he was a member for many years.
“David was generous in providing us with unique access to the film archive, which documents the changing face of Chingford over more than five decades, for the benefit of our members, the wider community, and local history research.”
Mr Piggott also had a successful career at Lloyds of London in event management and other roles.
To honour his legacy, a free community event will be held on Thursday, October 30, from 2pm to 5pm at Chingford Community Hub on Station Road.
The event will include screenings of BBC2 documentaries Picture This (1997) and The Great British Homemade Movie Roadshow (2010), a public display of archival material, and a special appearance by Mr Emblem-English.
Mr Piggott is survived by his wife Joan and brother Michael.
His funeral will be held at The Chingford Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul on Tuesday, November 25, at 12.30pm.
