This programme is part of a series looking at people who have opted for a career change in order find a more fulfilling way of living. Louisa Gidney and Paul Stokes call themselves 'Rentapeasant'. They are both archaeologists who have developed their own way of bringing history alive by dressing up as peasants through the ages. There is a serious educational purpose to what they do and schoolchildren are fascinated. Joanne Rymell was a production manager at a Nestlé's factory...

This programme is part of a series looking at people who have opted for a career change in order find a more fulfilling way of living. Louisa Gidney and Paul Stokes call themselves 'Rentapeasant'. They are both archaeologists who have developed their own way of bringing history alive by dressing up as peasants through the ages. There is a serious educational purpose to what they do and schoolchildren are fascinated. Joanne Rymell was a production manager at a Nestlé's factory in the south of England. She left the company to travel the world for eighteen months. On returning home she has no desire to take on a conventional job. Peter Hinchcliffe had his life-change forced upon him. Until compulsory retirement, he was a high-profile ambassador. Now he and his physiotherapist wife Archie Hinchcliffe live in a quiet village near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Title: Change Your Life! The film opens on a view of the castle keep in Newcastle City Centre. From a Land Rover parked nearby two people dressed in medieval costume Louisa Gidney and Paul Stokes arrive for a day’s work at the keep. They call themselves Rentapeasant or according to the commentator Master and Mistress Piers. In their current incarnation they will be presenting their living history lesson to St Joseph’s Middle School pupils in Hexham. Standing in front of the pupils Louisa and Paul describe the authentic clothes they wear, which they make themselves. They also bring along other medieval artefacts to their presentations. They specialise in showing the lifestyle of those who were poorest in medieval times. The schoolchildren eat their packed lunches. The two performers stay true to their roles and eat a meal which may have been familiar to working people at that time. Title: Louisa Gidney Louisa describes what they are eating and from where it originated. Title: Paul Stokes Paul has similar food but he’s also drinking ale, low in alcohol and typical of the ale consumed in medieval times. Paul and Louisa are both archaeologists specialising in the study of animal bones and what they can reveal about the past. They are seen feeding some horned and black cattle in a field at Louisa’s smallholding at Tow Law. Currently they give much of their time to Rentapeasant. Other animals such as the sheep provide wool other animals are available for hire for historical pageants, nativity plays, agricultural shows and sheep shearing demonstrations. Paul now sitting at home explains why they both left their roots in the south-east of the country. A photograph shows people working on an archaeological dig. A storm was brewing, and Paul went to check on a site he was working on. At home he continues the story, which involved a tree falling on him. He picks up a cross section of the trunk of the tree which is over 2 feet across. His injuries included 21 fractures including a severely fractured left leg and some fractured vertebrae. A photograph shows firemen and police at the scene of the accident. Other photographs show other views of the fallen tree. He took medical retirement from his job teaching professional cookery and opted to attend Durham University to read archaeology. Views follow of Durham Cathedral and castle. He met Louisa at university and is now the St Cuthberts Society resident tutor. A view of the Durham village of Tow Law is next as the commentary outlines Louisa’s journey from the south to the north east. At home Louisa talks about her initial experiences in Tow Law which initially were unpleasant, but now the couple are very much part of the community. She explains how they started Rentapeasant. Louisa and Paul also have branched out in their range of roles. They appear on film dressed in clothes from the Roman occupation. Louisa describes her costume and Paul describes his outfit. They then change to medieval dress which again they describe. The final costume they show is from the Tudor period. A t home Louisa is asked if all that they do in their new lives brings in a living wage. She admits that is all a bit hand to mouth but they struggle along. Paul is asked about any regrets he has moving from the south to the north east. He replies simply; none whatsoever he says. Back at the Newcastle keep Louisa demonstrates a wooden yoke design for oxen. Two willing youngsters act as oxen. Off camera Louisa says she is not envious of others who might be earning a great deal more than she does and enjoying a very different lifestyle. Title: End of Part One Title: Change Your Life! – Part Two Three members of a family sit around a breakfast table. The commentary introduces Joanne Rymell and explains that she left a good job to travel the world asserting that she would never take on another conventional job. Joanne is part of a large extended family living in Jarrow on Tyneside. The commentary continues over a picture of Joanne as a child, after a carefree childhood she went to university. On screen her parents talk about her time at university. Title: Anne & Joe Rymell They are proud of the fact that Joanne was the first family member to attend university. A team photo shows Joanne as head production manager at a Nestlé coffee factory in the south east of England. Sitting at home Joanne describes her role at Nestlé. Title: Joanne Rymell On camera her father Joe Rymell, describes how Joanne dealt with being the first female production manager at the factory. The commentary describes Joanne’s increasing doubts about the job. On screen she explains further and how in the end she left the factory. Her mother describes her concerns about her daughter leaving a good job. Her father describes his concerns and ultimately his support. Joanne linked up with a friend and headed to the Far East taking in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Photos show some of the destinations and she describes how her experiences impressed her. She describes that despite poor material wealth the quality of life she thought was much more rewarding than her experiences at home in the Western world. On screen she says she found hospitality wherever she went, often staying in a stranger’s home for days. Her adventures in New Zealand also impressed her, and she felt immediately at home there. On screen her mother says she was worried about Joanne’s welfare. Title: Amateur Video A film clip shows Joanne taking a bungee jump from a high bridge. Her parents talk of Joanne sounding homesick on the phone after about a year travelling. Joanne eventually returns to Jarrow. As the family sit at breakfast the commentary states that Joanne is doing some voluntary work and some writing. She explains that she is not sure what she wants to do next, but it will not be in production management. Her parents however would like to see her in a steady job. A number of photos show Joanne travelling and also doing some manual work. Joanne responds to the question that she is not taking seriously her responsibilities to herself or her family. She responds by saying that she may have thought that once, but she asserts that each individual is different from the rest and she knows what’s right for her. The programme moves on to Peter Hinchcliffe whose life change was thrust upon him, with no choices open to him. A couple leave the front door of a large stone-built house. The couple walk through a church graveyard. Peter a former member of the government’s diplomatic corps had to retire when he turned sixty. Peter and his wife Archie have left behind excursions to the Middle East and settled in the border village of Hutton near Berwick. At home Peter explains his role as an ambassador in Jordan. Title: Peter Hinchcliffe A photograph shows Peter talking to King Hussein, followed by a picture of the king and his wife. Another photograph Peter greets Prince Charles and Princess Diana as they leave their plane in Kuwait where he was ambassador. Peter explains that at the time of difficulties with the royal marriage, the media were clamouring for information or pictures of the couple. Peter explains how those demands were dealt with. After a formal meeting with Emir of Kuwait the situation became worse, following what may have been disrespect towards Prince Charles. Peter explains the situation. Archie Hinchcliffe explains how she decided on what to wear for a formal reception. Happy with what she had chosen she explains she was somewhat upstaged by Princess Diana’s outfit. A photograph shows Archie standing to one side of Princess Diana. Peter explains that much of an ambassador’s life is to do with entertaining dignitaries and business people. On camera Peter explains this line of work. Photographs show Archie in her role as an ambassador’s wife talking with official visitors at their house. Archie managed to continue her career as a physiotherapist, specialising in children with cerebral palsy. Photographs show her at work with children in the Middle East. She explains what can be done for those in poorer countries where children need help and treatment for this affliction. Archie was concerned that her husband might find retirement challenging in a different way, however she says he seems to have adapted to it very well. On camera he explains that sometimes he has to get back to London, or to Edinburgh or Newcastle just to ‘see people’ as the village is very quiet. His time is now taken up with writing and lecturing on the Middle East. The house where they live has a kitchen which is also a functioning post office. A former manse it has been the centre of village life for many years. On camera Peter explains how they are now accepted as villagers. Peter and Archie gather up leaves in the garden, as Archie asserts that they are here to stay. The programme ends with a look forward to items on the next edition. Credits: Location Direction & Photography – Simon Elphinstone Sound: Paul Graham Editor: Edmund Quigley Sound Post Production: Charles Heath Music: McGregor Cook Graphics: John King Executive Producer: Jane Bolesworth Producer: Oliver Martlew A Tyne Tees Television Production © Tyne Tees Television MMI