WINSTON RYDER 25/3/15 - 24/3/99

Win Ryder's career in the film industry began in the Sound Department at Beaconsfield, Ealing and then Pinewood where he made the move into the cutting rooms. He worked for a while with Harry Miller, the pre-eminent sound editor of his time, and a very good mentor from whom to learn. Win was soon to make his mark on 'Great Expectations' which led to his being David Lean's first choice on all his subsequent pictures. All had distinguished sound tracks, several of them winning awards, including 'The Sound Barrier', the first British film to receive an Academy Award for sound, 'Lawrence of Arabia', 'The Bridge on the River Kwai', 'Ryan's Daughter' and 'Dr Zhivago'. He had a unique ability to create atmospheres through the skilful and selective use of sounds. His reputation became such that he was much sought after by other Producers and Directors including Ronnie Neame, Stanley Kubrick, Sam Spiegal and Carl Foreman among many others. Consequently he was kept busy in the sometimes long gaps between David Lean films.

I first worked with Win on Walt Disney's 'Robin Hood', directed by Ken Annekin, taking care of the dialogue and eventually, three reels of effects. I was much in awe of him and soon found him to be very difficult to please and somewhat grouchy besides. He was careful and painstaking, patiently spending time on the smallest details. I was later to discover that he also possessed quite a lively sense of humour. He took a while to get used to but I learned to cope helped by advice from Johnny Cooke, his imperturbable assistant. Win was polemic by instinct. I enjoyed the lunch time discussions and arguments on all manner of topics. So I grew to know him better and later was able to have him join me in Rome on King Vidor's 'War and Peace' and we spent many a pleasantly argumentative meal together. He was something of an epicure and often described to me in great detail meals that he had enjoyed elsewhere especially in Spain which was a favourite location of his. After one particular evening of somewhat heated discussion we were having a coffee and liqueur I noticed a place mat on which was printed "Any two people who take a glass of Strega together will forever be united in friendship". I read this out to Win who gazed at me in disbelief, went slightly red and burst out laughing. However this prediction turned out to be quite true. While in Rome he became deeply interested in the Etruseans as well as the history of the city itself. He grew to love Rome though being somewhat alarmed by the local driving style.

And so we became friends, working together from time to time and socialising when we could. Later in life than most he married which brought him great happiness and contentment, and he mellowed noticeably. His wife, Lally, was a university lecturer, who also enjoyed lively discussions. They had a daughter, Melanie, who now lives in New York, working as a sound editor. He had a great love of the countryside, especially Norfolk where he spent a lot of his childhood but eventually, to my surprise, he moved to Shropshire where he had some land to dig, grow his vegetables and make his own wine. He still continued to work and one of his last films was 'Mr Corbett's Ghost', directed by Danny Huston. I was editor and Win did the sound, smaller scale and much lower budget than the epics he had worked on but, of course, he applied the same meticulous care and attention resulting in an excellent sound track. Shropshire proved to be a long way off for socialising and the last occasion I saw him was at his 80th birthday party, which was held at a friend's house in Wiltshire, this being central to his widespread group of friends. He was in excellent form. He never drank much but his face was rather red. "Having a good time, Win?" I asked. He looked at me with a beaming grin: "You know me mate, one glass of sherry and I'm anybody's." It was a very convivial evening and a very happy memory to add to the many others. Oddly enough, he shared the same birthday as David Lean. Win will be missed but he will be remembered and talked about for a long time. His artistry will be there for all to appreciate. 

LES HODGSON

I was sad to discover the passing of the sound editor Winston Ryder, who created sound tracks of the highest order before this digital age of wizardry.

I first met Win when he came to Cinesound Effects Library back in the 1960s. By this time he was already a legend in his own right and a force to be reckoned with. I was scared to meet him, after all this was the man who dubbed the late David Lean's greatest epics including 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Bridge on the River Kwai', and later, 'Passage to India' and many many more other films. He was the 'star' in the field of film sound.

He was dedicated to his art but did not suffer fools gladly, while appreciating those who tried to improve the craft, always encouraging them. His manner was sometimes crusty but was always respected and admired for his talents. His life was full of adventures and he was good at relating stories about them

I last met him about four years ago with his wife Lally, in his lovely bungalow in Craven Arms, Shropshire, surrounded by a home-made 'wine lake' filled with some very potent concoctions. It was an enjoyable afternoon

May I offer my deepest condolences to his wife Lally and daughter Melanie. Win was truly a great technician, and his creativity will live on in the history of Cinema.

ANGELA MARSHALL AMPS Hon