The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Ian and Viv at Somerset CCC
The end of the season at Somerset and an award for Viv Richards
In partnership with:
Overview
Ian Botham and Viv Richards play a in the Dry Blackthorn Challenge Trophy at County Ground Taunton against South African Mike Procter sponsored by the Taunton Cider Company. As captain, Botham’s England side lost in 1980-81 to the West Indies before the Ashes of 1981. Botham was appointed match-by-match and his form dipped dramatically. England lost the first Test against Australia and at the second Test at Lord's Botham made a pair being out for nought in both innings.
The captaincy was given to Mike Brearley. Botham came back in the next three Test matches and England retained the Ashes. Botham was voted Sports’ Personality of the Year. He remained an international cricketer until 1992 and captained Somerset in 1984 and 1985, retiring from playing in 1993. He received an OBE in 1992 and a knighthood in 2007. He became a cricket commentator as well as continuing with his charity work. Viv Richards made his first class debut in 1972 for Leeward Islands and joined Somerset CCC in 1974 and had his Test match debut playing for the West Indies that year against India in Bangalore. He captained the West Indies cricket team from 1984 to 1991. Botham and Richards formed a strong bond.
Related
Watch for free
Somerset County Cricketers Ian Botham and Brian Rose Somerset County Cricketers Ian Botham and Brian Rose
News 1977 3 mins Location: Taunton
Ian Botham and Brian Rose tell it like it is - interviewed in 1977 Plus ca change
Watch for free
Basil D'Oliveira - Dolly Basil D'Oliveira - Dolly
News 1968 0 mins Location: Devon
Basil D’Oliveira plays football with his children
Watch for free
Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954 Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954
Amateur film 1954 52 mins Silent
The voyage, the camaraderie, the matches, the sights: the whole experience of a 1950s tour down under is here.
Watch for free
Colin Milburn's Cricketing Comeback Colin Milburn's Cricketing Comeback
Sport 1970 3 mins Location: Kingston upon Hull
Amiable cricket legend “Ollie” Milburn hopes to return to cricket depsite losing partial sight in his left eye following a car accident.
Watch for free
Fielding and Wicket Keeping Fielding and Wicket Keeping
School programme and Educational film 1983 26 mins
"Catches win matches!" England's David Gower and wickie Bob Taylor show how it's done.
Watch for free
Learie Constantine Learie Constantine
Biopic 1945 9 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
The West Indian cricketing legend is filmed in his role as a welfare officer, working to help African and Caribbean factory workers in Merseyside.
Watch for free
Taunton College of Art Fashion Show Taunton College of Art Fashion Show
Current affairs 1975 2 mins Silent Location: Taunton
Students at the College of Art in Taunton hold an end of year fashion show with eye-catching futuristic designs.
Watch for free
Rien ne va plus at El Matador Rien ne va plus at El Matador
Current affairs 1962 4 mins Location: Taunton
Everything is going very well at El Matador Club where gambling forms part of a growing leisure activity.
Watch for free
One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred
Current affairs 1986 52 mins Location: Plymouth
This documentary charts the progress and challenges of disabled people living in the community.
Watch for free
Wassail Wear and Whimple Wassail Wear and Whimple
Current affairs 1975 2 mins Silent Location: Taunton
Wassail queens assemble at Taunton Castle before returning to their respective orchards.
Watch for free
Taunton Jazz Festival Taunton Jazz Festival
News 1962 12 mins Location: Taunton
Notable interviews are with some of the greatest jazz talent as music lovers gather to celebrate jazz, trad and free.
Watch for free
Da Vinci's Wingman Da Vinci's Wingman
Current affairs 1961 3 mins Silent Location: Taunton
An eccentric Englishman looks to achieve winged flight inspired by Leonardo
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.