Water Diviner Aka Water Diving (1967)

Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. Teenager Josie Simpson is seen whittling a willow branch in a garden; commentator tells us she is a sixteen-year-old water diviner. She starts walking about the garden holding onto the two prongs of her willow branch. Whilst walking across a lawn, the branch starts to turn over, indicating running water below; commentator says there is water below but “we can’t show it because it is underground“. Josie’s father appears and takes the branch, but he can’t get it to turn over. Several shots show Josie holding the branch again, for us to try and see if she’s cheating. Her father puts a stake in the ground to mark the spot, while Josie holds the branch over a pond; the diviner apparently only works on running water. Note: on file are some news cuttings on file about Josie; she says her friends call her ’Twiggy’. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MO