Member Article

Yorkshire businessman's anti-litter campaign goes viral

Thomas Black, a well-known West Yorkshire businessmen, has made a second anti-litter film, following the astonishing success of his first film two years ago.

Mr Black, the former Joint Chairman of the Keighley-based Peter Black Holdings, a major supplier of a wide range of products and services to the leading UK retailers, is fed up with the “horrible litter which is desecrating our beautiful Yorkshire countryside”.

In 2014 he made the film Don’t Drop Litter or Else!, which has received more than 153,000 hits on YouTube.

Mr Black, who lives in Ilkley, commented: “I have been completely bowled over by the success of Don’t Drop Litter Or Else!, which clearly struck a chord with many people. The rapidly increasingly amount of litter in our towns and cities, as well as our countryside, is a national disgrace.

“Since our first film was so popular, I decided it was worthwhile making a second. This one is called Don’t Drop Litter Or Else 2! Retribution Works and features the same central characters, together with some new faces. The anti-litter message is as hard-hitting as ever, and I hope the film makes it clear that dropping litter of any sort is anti-social, bad for the environment and eventually hits us all in the pocket”.

He continued: “Producing a short film like this is a challenging and fun project but, of course, there is a very serious side to it. Although the film is essentially a light-hearted parody, I just hope those who drop litter, or know people who are litterlouts, watch and learn. How much better to self-regulate than have legislation imposed from above.

“Meanwhile the suppliers and the vendors of soft drinks, sweets, crisps etc. have a responsibility to try to change their customers’ pattern of buying their products. Perhaps there should be tax incentives for people using the same container more than once?

“I believe it is fundamentally wrong to discard paper anywhere. Litter is a scar on the landscape. It is a symptom of a society without discipline and with declining family values.

“It is enlightened self-interest to campaign against littering. It is estimated that £1bn of local government money is spent on collecting litter every year. It therefore follows that less litter means more money for education, the police, the social services etc – and would also help to keep Council Tax low,” he said.

“I am lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful areas of Yorkshire, on the outskirts of Ilkley, and it makes me so cross – and so sad – to see how many people disrespect the countryside and dump their revolting litter anywhere they want,” explained Mr Black.

Retribution Works was produced and directed by Leeds-based film-maker David Varley and his production company www.1st4film.biz. It stars Thomas himself, together with Gareth Finister, who plays Finny, a yobbish litterbug, and professional actress Amy Warhurst as Finny’s wife, with Patch the Wonder Dog adding a fine cameo role.

“I don’t want to give too much away,” said Mr Black, “because people should see the film for themselves. Suffice it to say that I exact retribution on a yob who dumps his old fridge in the lovely Yorkshire countryside. With the help of Patch the Wonder Dog and a number of my friends, I make sure that Finny will never, ever drop litter again.”

Retribution Works was filmed at Denton, near Ilkley and is now available to see on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3GiFxjQyo and Thomas Black’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thomas.black1044186/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .