Biography of 'LOW, David'

Cameraman

Raised in Blairgowrie, the son of confectioner, Low became an apprentice engineer. He was called up into the army in 1941 and served in the Wessex regiment (Desert Rats). He saw active service during the D Day landings on the Normandy beaches and was in the first British units to enter Berlin. After Low was de-mobbed he joined Jack Elder on an exchange trip to Denmark to visit Danish film studios. He spent a year as general assistant in Nordisk Studios (1948-49).

On his return to Scotland in 1949, with Robert Riddell-Black he established Templar Films in Glasgow. The company initially survived on newsreel work for Gaumont and Movietone. Low did the camera work and Riddell-Black organised the financial and business activities. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Low shot news for BBC Scotland Television Newsreel. The company provided the editing facilities for John Grierson during production of ‘This Wonderful World’. Low filmed the Coronation in 1953 for NBC. He also filmed the Knockshinnock mining disaster and scooped John Cobb’s fatal crash during his attempt at a speed record on Loch Ness.

Templar was commissioned by Scottish Educational Films Association to make educational films and by Films of Scotland to make sponsored titles. It also had a contract for filming for General Motors. Low was the principal cameraman on Seawards the Great Ships (1960) the Oscar winning film of shipbuilding on the Clyde. When Templar’s production essentially shut down in the mid 1970’s Low worked as a freelance cameraman until his retirement a few years later.

Researcher: Janet McBain

Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'

7 hits

Asc Desc
	CHAMPIONS IN THE SUN [2203] Add to my films Documentary about the 1964 Royal Highland Show at Ingliston.	1964 sound col
	CRUACHAN [2790] Add to my films A description of the building of the pumped-storage hydro-electric scheme at Loch Awe, Argyll.	1966 sound col
	DISCOVERING THE PAST [5016] Add to my films Magnus Magnusson introduces the story of a two year rescue dig at a prehistoric long-barrow near Edzell in Kincardineshire, Scotland [Intended for secondary school pupils aged 12 - 15 years]	1975 sound col
	HEALTH OF A CITY [2241] Add to my films Made to commemorate the centenary of the appointment of the first Medical Officer of Health for Glasgow, it highlights their work in housing, schools and hospitals.	1965 sound bw
	HOLLOW MOUNTAIN, the [2214] Add to my films The building of the Ben Cruachan pumped-storage hydro-electric scheme. (15 mins) [See also ref. 2790].	1966 sound col
	SEAWARDS THE GREAT SHIPS [2230] Add to my films The Oscar-winning documentary of shipbuilding on the Clyde, directed by Hilary Harris, treatment by John Grierson. Scenes in the drawing offices, steel mills and shipyards depict how the ships were constructed, launched and fitted out before starting out on voyages around the world.	1960 sound col
	YOUNG IN HEART [1480] Add to my films The development and production of the Hillman Imp car at the Linwood industrial plant.	1963 sound col