The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
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Billingham at Play
An enchanting early portrait of workers from the vast ICI chemicals plant on Teesside at leisure between the wars.
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Overview
Time out between the wars for Billingham chemical workers at the ICI Synthonia Club sports and gala day. Last is best in the ladies wobbly go-slow bike race but muscle (and tattoos) win out in a competitive tug of war. Popular local juvenile jazz bands entertain the crowd, but the children in Bo-Peep, fairy and Pierrot fancy dress look glum as they are made to parade past the camera.
The Synthonia could be the only club named after a fertiliser a shortened version of Synthetic Ammonia, the main product for Imperial Chemical Industries at Billingham in the early years, after its formation on Teesside in 1926. The first Chairman, Alfred Mond, employed a measure of Victorian paternalism in running ICI, winning loyalty from workers with great sports and recreation facilities, a cheap monthly 65-page magazine, and regular film screenings. He aimed to create a band of brothers in the industry albeit ones that knew their place in the pecking order. The original wooden sports hut was replaced by a brick built sports club, opened by Lord Melchett in 1931, and bombed during World War Two.
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