This film is part of Free

Bede College Sports Day

Vintage games and gymnastics displays at Durham Racecourse for Bede Day in the 1960s.

Amateur film 1963 3 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for North East Film Archive

Overview

Filmed on 3 June 1963 at Durham Racecourse, knock-em down games such as the coconut shy and traditional penny arcade games of the shuffleboard variety make for a fun day out for children and Durham University students alike at the Whit Monday Bede Day fair. After gymnastics displays theres a welcome beer for the thirsty, delivered by the Vaux Breweries horse dray.

This film is believed to be by Donald (Danny) Webster, Vice Principal of Bede College between 1933 and 1961, and features snappy editing in the repeated shot and close-ups of the coconut shy scene. Webster had also been a student at Bede College during World War One. The College of the Venerable Bede (for men) was founded in 1839, and was associated with Durham University from 1896. It was amalgamated with St Hilds College for women in 1975.