York St John University supports graduate's vision to honour sporting and business hero

York St John University is helping one of its graduates grow his business as he works to raise vital funding for a documentary film to honour Dr Ron Hill MBE, one of Britain’s unsung sporting heroes who later became a successful entrepreneur.

James Copson, who graduated from York St John University with a film and TV degree in 2011, founded his own production company called Anattic earlier this year to fulfil his dream creative career.

He is currently in the process of raising funding for the development of a film about Ron Hill who was one of Britain’s most successful marathon runners of the 1960s and 70s, and went on to set up two successful sports clothing business, Ron Hill and Hilly Clothing, which live on today as top brands.

York St John University’s Creative Business Programme is helping James towards making this film a reality by awarding him £500 Proof of Concept funding which is designed to help start-up creative businesses, like Anattic, establish the commercial potential for projects.

James believes that the achievements of Ron Hill, now aged 75, deserve much greater recognition and his proposed documentary film is already attracting the attention of major television channels.

Says James, “Ron Hill was only the second man ever to break the 2hrs 10mins barrier in a marathon and he represented Great Britain on a number of occasions including the 1970 Commonwealth Games.  As if his sporting achievements were not enough, he had much more to offer to the sporting world and pursued an entrepreneurial path too pioneering the use of synthetic materials for runners.

“The documentary project is still at a very early stage but the interest from broadcasters is really encouraging.  Securing funding is vital to the viability of the project which is why the award of York St John’s funding is so welcome.  It has enabled us to get this film off the ground and film an important and vital shoot.  With support from mentors including Robin Toyne of Quintessence films and tutors at York St John University I have developed into a confident filmmaker who is very much looking forward to developing this new work.”

Says Jenny Hall, Creative Business Development Manager at York St John University, “This is an exciting project and one which we hope further funders will step forward and support to enable Anattic to document Ron Hill’s story.”