This film is part of Free

Herne Bay Newsreel 1963

John Clague's smashing film records 1963 in Herne Bay - the year when Ken Russell and his cast and crew came to town for some French Dressing

Amateur film 1963 14 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Screen Archive South East

Overview

This minor epic opens with Britain's coldest winter, followed by a pair of Spring fétes. We next see the cast and crew of French Dressing, filming on the sea-front. Crowds watching the filming, catch glimpses of Ken Russell, James Booth, Marisa Mell and Roy Kinnear. Costumed locals appear as extras. The Herne Bay Carnival complete with elaborate floats, Beauty Queens and marching bands follows before the film ends with the final journey of the paddle steamer Medway Queen.

John Clague was a keen amateur filmmaker who was based in Herne Bay. From 1934 to 1970 he produced annual newsreels showing events that had occurred in the Kent coast town and surrounding area. He used 9.5mm film at first but by the 1950s had adopted 16mm film and the collection forms a lively chronicle of life in Herne Bay over 36 years. An architect by profession, John set up his own company in the 1930s, working on a diverse range of projects including the replacement of Herne Bay's Grand Pavilion, which was destroyed by fire in 1970.