The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
This film is part of Free
Cambridgeshire couple adopt a disabled child
Anglia TV meet a 'Thalidomide boy' and his remarkable adoptive parents; all the subject of a new book and adapted BBC TV 'Play of the Week'.
From the collection of:
Overview
Thalidomide baby' Terry, born without arms and with limited use of his lower limbs, has been adopted by Cambridgeshire couple Hazel and Len Wiles. Adoptive father Len, a technical wiz, has created a “Supercar” for Terry, a wheelchair based on the design of a forklift truck, enabling Terry to adjust his height and move around freely. Journalists Marjorie Wallace and Michael Robson are due to publish a book about Terry, titled “On Giant's Shoulders”.
Wallace and Robson's 1976 book “On Giant's Shoulders: the Story of Terry Wiles” was later adapted for television, airing on BBC2 as the 'Play of the Week' in 1979. In the television film Terry Wiles played himself and starred alongside accomplished actors Judi Dench and Bryan Pringle who portrayed Terry's adoptive parents Hazel and Len.
Related
Watch for free
Ian Dury Ian Dury
Biopic 1983 52 mins
Blockheads lead singer talks about how becoming disabled has affected his life and music.
Watch for free
Y Gwr O Gwr Yr Aran Y Gwr O Gwr Yr Aran
1978 29 mins Location: Llanuwchllyn
Teacher Frank Letch of Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd discusses his life and living with his acquired disability in this TV documentary. In Welsh with English subtitles.
Watch for free
A Day in the Life of Kevin Donnellon A Day in the Life of Kevin Donnellon
1972 28 mins
An episode of World in Action documenting the life of 11 year old Kevin and how he and his family live with the effects of the drug Thalidomide.
Watch for free
Disabled Graduate Disabled Graduate
News 1981 6 mins Location: Cambridge
Disabled graduate Peter Thweeney simply wants the opportunity to be economically independent, and has ambitions to become a lawyer.
Watch for free
Disabled Boy Invents Speech Machine Disabled Boy Invents Speech Machine
News 1973 5 mins Location: Cambridge
Anglia TV report on the young disabled entrepreneur that has invented the Lightwriter, a communication device that won a British Design Award
Watch for free
Championship Swimmer Championship Swimmer
Current affairs 1967 1 mins Silent Location: Exeter
Champion swimmer Linda Hockworthy returns to the pool after a recent leg amputation.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.