Drink Up Thy Zider (1967)

Nailsea, Somerset.
A man in a green smock stands at the top of a huge mountain of apples, raking them down towards the bottom of the pile. We then see various shots of the process of making cider here at Coates factory; the apples are pressed into a 'cheese'; the juice is squeezed from the cheese and poured into giant vats. The vats are named after people with strong West Country links; Sir Ronald Howe and Mr Acker Bilk vats are seen.
Cider jugs are filled with the fermented cider. Adge Cutler of the West Country band The Wurzels shakes hands with the Managing Director of Coates (could be Mr F W Pring), then unveils a new vat named after Adge Cutler and the Wurzels.
The band then sing their song 'Drink Up Thy Zider' before some factory workers who enjoy a glass of cider and sing along. At the end of the song, the musicians walk backwards and disappear between the vats.
Note: on file is a letter from a public relations company who liaised with Coates and requested that in this story "there must be nothing which presents it as a drink that people go out and get drunk on - rather must the image of a friendly, happy drink be relayed".
Cuts exist - see separate record.
FILM ID:395.06
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[@matt01506]

This fills me with pride. When i was a young "cider monster" out on pub crawls i had the wurzels on tape and pestered every landlord to play it !

[@brownnoise357]

Huge soft spot for Adge and the original Wurzles, plus Coates Cider Works in Nailsea, which should never have been shut down by Shoerings and moved to Shepton Mallet. In 1969, a pint of Superb Coates Scrumpy, was 8d (abit over 3p in Fake money)in the Friendship Inn served by Auntie Beattie the Unforgettable Landlady. I'll never forget old Farmer Brock in the Old Oak Pub being asked what he thought about the new decimalised Funny Money, and he replied -"Wellmit might catch on in the Towns, but I don't see it catching on out here" Sadly he was Wrong, the Fake Money caught on everywhere. RIP Farmer Brock, I'll never forget you driving around in your Blue Ford Escort, Always and Only Ever in First Gear. Nailsea was still Full of Great Characters like him and Dear old Adge back Then. Dear God, what have they Done to the place in the years since. 😳

[@incargeek]

You cant get better colours than you can from film!

[@philbennett5312]

I don't know how many times I saw Adge perform this, including at a recording session at the Royal Oak. I never heard the milkmaids version, it should have been though!!

[@alastaircrook1188]

Adage Cutler was a friend of my Fathers after serving in the army together, the wurzels were getting well established when Adge was killed in a car crash in 1974.

[@richardhyde6418]

JFC! I'm descended form some of the best.......True class at work Uncle Adge! God rest his soul.....

[@DarrelCouzens]

The old'uns are the best!

[@glennmorris371]

Loved your Uncle on westward TV, which we could get in Swansea as a child... May he rip.

[@johnlagan2160]

That be the best cider session having those jolly men sing that song God bless arge

[@KinnikuGameDojo]

When D said his song was just a tribute to the best song in the world. He meant this song.

[@Krzyszczynski]

"Coates comes up from Somerset - where the cider apples grow." (TV jingle from the mid-60s)

[@iowanation1034]

Dickins cider. Good stuff!

[@olixbob]

Love this. Especially the end, cracks me up how they creep back away into the cider

[@melgrant7404]

Rip adge

[@szuzin]

To a sailor, it might mean SNARE

[@oliverholland2771]

Does anyone know the names of the people in the wuezels at this time? Ive never seen them apart from this video

[@DasTubemeister]

I preferred I am a cider drinker ,their biggest hit.

[@Crabfather]

Somehow this sounds like German beer music to me I don't hate it

[@iowanation1034]

Dickins Cider is the best.

[@adamread3540]

Better than Sgt Peppers

[@tonymorph3672]

Somerset’s finest

[@hypothalamusjellolap8177]

If only they had better exposure back then, they would have made more money as not to struggle.

[@RandallSlick]

I love the Wurzels, but looking back at this film from 2023 makes you realise that cameos by men in brown draylon suites weren't great. Was anything from the 70s not warped? Asking for Gary and Jimmy.

[@Andy28548]

that aint the wurzles ...no tommy banner or Pete budd

[@pjltopfca]

Video is from 1967 before Tommy Banner and Pete Budd joined The Wurzels.

[@charliepenny2011]

Not surprising given that Budd only took over frontman duties after Adge died

[@BarkHillBrewsCafe]

I see Rege in there though!

[@tonymorph3672]

Adge Cutler was the Wurzels

[@Krzyszczynski]

Banner? Budd? They'm just interloperz. Original Wurzels for ever!