An inspired teenaged film maker has been given a £2,000 grant from Hadleigh's town council for his movie based on the town's gang of smugglers.

Alfie Cutts, aged 16, initially asked the council for £1,500 but after they heard his application it was decided to give him an extra £500 for the project.

Alfie told Nub news: "We've decided on the name While The Gentlemen Go By, which is an extract from Rudyard Kipling's poem a smuggler's song.

"Hadleigh was the epicentre of smuggling in Suffolk in the 18th century the largest smuggling gang was the Hadleigh gang. They were feared all throughout East Anglia."

The film follows John Harvey, the leader at the time, set around 1775, which was when when the authorities and dragoons were on the gang's tail.

Alfie added: "They begin to close in on the gang, who wanted to distribute what goods they have from their warehouses in Hadleigh to Ipswich market, before they can be caught.

"They have one load coming in at Sizewell and because there are authorities closing in at every part of Suffolk, a small rough and ready band are sent to retrieve the goods in an almost suicide type mission.

"It goes completely wrong at Sizewell, where they eventually return empty handed which then finally coincides with a battle between the Hadleigh gang and the authorities.

"Basically the project was inspired with me researching various events and battles and stories of what they got up to, it's all based on real events."

With so many creative projects cancelled due to lockdown, Alfie was keen to get this off the ground.

He said: "I really wanted to create a project that would involve as many people as possible into one story and to just show off Hadleigh in general.

"We are getting as many local folk bands as we can for the sound track. Having lots of people involved. Im trying to spread the word around to see if anyone would be interested to contribute anything."

Alfie has been able to get Suffolk dialect expert Charlie Haylock to help out.

"We have finished the first draft of the script and we have two people we are sending it off to one is Charlie Haylock who worked with Ralph Fiennes on "The Dig".

Charlie Haylock helped with his Suffolk accent so as he puts it is Suffolk-cating the script, to make sure all the accents are authentic."

The project is being filmed in the Hadleigh area locally and he said: "I have a bunch of locations one is Benton End, Pond Hall and various farms around Layham and the surrounding area."

With big aims for the film he told us: "Hopefully we can show it in theatres which would act as good advertising for the town."

Alfie is looking for helpers and volunteers of all types and ages he says: "We are completely open to anyone and everything, we need male actors, period costumes and anything anyone can contribute.

"We need a lot of extras as well and even horses if we can."

If you would like to contact Alfie about the film and help in anyway you can contact his email at [email protected].

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