The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
Exercise Wake
A busy Saturday in Kidderminster: shoppers crowd the pavements, a policeman directs traffic. Suddenly the alert is sounded and the full force of the Cold War descends.
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Overview
Exercise Wake depicts Kidderminster Borough Council's response to the threat of aerial attack. Tin-hatted civil defence personnel raise the alarm via a telephone kiosk and a carefully planned operation unfolds; including a mass of ropes, ladders and pulleys used to lift casualties from upstairs windows in damaged houses. Even the challenge of making a cup of tea is tackled with typical British resourcefulness: simply build yourself a functioning oven!
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