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Keep Fit

Let’s get physical! With over a century of exercise on film, this collection offers some high intensity viewing.

Victorians might not have known how to Zumba, but few generations have been without a fitness craze. Since its earliest days film has been used to champion a variety of physical pursuits, from calisthenics and cycling to haggis hurling.

Whether it's the spectacle of the form in motion, the pursuit of healthy body and mind, or an excuse to let it all hang out, this collection is testament to the fact that when it comes to exercise it’s not about winning, it’s the taking part that counts.

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4 and 20 Fit Girls 4 and 20 Fit Girls

1940 11 mins Silent

Flock to your local keep fit class - there's a war on and Britain needs its citizens in tip-top shape.

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Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Disabled Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Disabled

Amateur film 1967 19 mins Silent Location: Stoke Mandeville

Rare home movie capturing sporting action in 1967 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, birthplace of the Paralympics.

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Long Distance Runner Long Distance Runner

News 1974 4 mins Location: Woodsetton

They breed them hard in Dudley - running non-stop for 24 hours is nothing to Ron Bentley: his next challenge is to race over 800 miles.

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National and Country Dancing National and Country Dancing

School programme and Educational film 1952 14 mins Location: Leigh-on-Sea

Want to learn to dance the Swedish Masquerade, Dutch Hakke Toone, or maybe the Italian Tarantella? Essex schoolchildren show us how it’s done.

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Haggis Hurling Haggis Hurling

News 1980 6 mins Location: Belfast

Meet the president leading the haggis hurling revival and learn how delivering lunch became a sport for kilted gentlemen.

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Cycling the Channel Cycling the Channel

Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Dover

A Fine Feat of Endurance. Why swim the Channel when you can go by hydrocycle?

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Tug of War Tug of War

News 1975 5 mins Location: Leicester

Their training regime includes lifting a lump of concrete into a tree - meet the Leicester tug-of-war team preparing to take on the world.

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Hints and Hobbies No.12 Hints and Hobbies No.12

Magazine and Review show 1926 12 mins Silent

Who needs an iron when you have a jam jar to hand? The Hints and Hobbies team return for the last surviving edition of the weekly cinemagazine.

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Women and Leisure Women and Leisure

Current affairs 1988 11 mins Location: Leeds

This film sees Sheffield Council reform and modernise their approach to female leisure activities for their diverse and busy community.

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Lyons Ice Cream Lyons Ice Cream

Advert 1938 1 mins Silent

From out of the vaults comes this pre-WWII cinema advert for ice-cream.

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Mabolgampau Yr Urdd Abertawe, 1933 Mabolgampau Yr Urdd Abertawe, 1933

Amateur film 1933 11 mins Silent Location: Swansea/Abertawe

The Vetch Field stadium in Swansea is occupied by Urdd Gobaith Cymru – The Welsh League of Hope – for 2 days of mass gymnastics in June 1933.

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Calisthenics (c.1905) Calisthenics (c.1905)

Non-Fiction 1900 7 mins Silent

A truly impressive exhibition of calisthenics from two teams of girls - perhaps an early talent contest?

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Day School Sports at Park Avenue in Bradford (1902) Day School Sports at Park Avenue in Bradford (1902)

Non-Fiction 1902 13 mins Silent Location: Bradford

Barrels of laughs and sackfuls of fun at a school sports event in Edwardian West Yorkshire.

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Fun On A Weekend Fun On A Weekend

Amateur film 1963 11 mins Silent Location: Great Yarmouth

Pedal power wins, whatever the weather, as cycle-mad teenagers put the miles in for a pre-Christmas weekend of festive fun by the sea.

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Sports dans l'armée des Indes Sports dans l'armée des Indes

Interest film 1910 5 mins Silent

A demonstration of sport and fitness by members of the Indian Army

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What and What Not What and What Not

Amateur film 1930 12 mins Silent Location: Tangmere

Join the crowds dazzled by keep-fit frolics, a record breaking air race, a speed boat celebrity and joy-riding at an air circus in this 1931 film from the Bognor Regis Film Society.

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Off for a ramble Off for a ramble

Amateur film 1951 11 mins Silent Location: Little Chalfont

Joining the Countrywide Holiday Association after the war to keep fit brought Jo Peters another reward - a wife!

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Third Age Holiday Exercise Class Third Age Holiday Exercise Class

News 1963 1 mins Silent Location: Marldon

English Riviera resort offers full accessibility for wheelchair users.

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Health Education Council 'walkies' Health Education Council 'walkies'

Advert 1977 1 mins

Is your husband a layabout? Then attach him to a leash and take him for a walk round the park.

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Pedal Cyclists Pedal Cyclists

Public Information Filler 1947 2 mins

A witty, eccentric guide to safety on two wheels under the watchful eye of a pedalling angel.

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Running Film Running Film

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 4 mins

A London park and artist Welsby runs repeatedly into frame and off into the distance.

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Cambridge University Sportsday (1903) Cambridge University Sportsday (1903)

Non-Fiction 1903 3 mins Silent Location: Cambridge

Cambridge undergrads reach new heights!

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Physical Drill Physical Drill

Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins

Victorian seadogs fighting fit

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Butlins Keep Fit and Exercise Butlins Keep Fit and Exercise

Amateur film 1946 2 mins Silent Location: Clacton-On-Sea

With war over, Butlin's was back in business. Happy campers were keen for a taste of fresh air and exercise - with all ages, shapes and sizes limbering up and letting their hair down!

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Children Running on Beach Children Running on Beach

Home movie 1902 0 mins Silent Location: Sandown

Seaside larks aplenty in this very early home movie by pioneer amateur filmmaker Alfred Passmore

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Physical Drill: Indian Clubs Physical Drill: Indian Clubs

Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Whale Island

Sailors do fashionable exercises at Portsmouth

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Secondary School Gymnastics: Leyton County High School for Boys Secondary School Gymnastics: Leyton County High School for Boys

Sport 1936 11 mins Silent Location: Leyton

London schoolboys demonstrate impressive range of gymnastic moves for the cameras.

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Audley Range School, Blackburn (c.1905) Audley Range School, Blackburn (c.1905)

Non-Fiction 1905 1 mins Silent Location: Blackburn

Lancashire children perform physical education exercises in (almost) perfect unison.

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Aysgarth School Sports Aysgarth School Sports

Non-Fiction 1953 15 mins Silent Location: Aysgarth School

Ancient Greek states battle it out in shorts on the playing fields of Aysgarth

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In Welsh Hills - a record of pleasant hours among the mountains of Snowdonia In Welsh Hills - a record of pleasant hours among the mountains of Snowdonia

Amateur film 1950 15 mins Silent Location: Nant Ffrancon

A film highly commended in 1950 by the National Eisteddfod in Caerffili, the Scottish Amateur Film Festival, and Amateur Cine World magazine.

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Aberystwyth County School Gymnastic Display Aberystwyth County School Gymnastic Display

Non-Fiction 1924 6 mins Silent Location: Aberystwyth

Exercises to stimulate the healthy development of the growing child: vaulting, somersaulting, hurdling, jumping, leap-frogging, dancing – and violin playing.

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Action in Slow Motion Action in Slow Motion

1943 3 mins Silent

A naked woman cavorts innocently at the seaside in this 1940s nudist film, strictly for artists and students only

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A Squad of Gymnasts on Parallel bar Exercises A Squad of Gymnasts on Parallel bar Exercises

1900 1 mins Silent

A companion to Highlanders Drilling, the two films attest to the sheer athleticism of the regiment.