The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
June Strawberries
Strawberry-picking and feasting is the order of the day
From the collection of:
Overview
Strawberry pickers spend June in the fields as the traditional month for strawberries in the UK. This makes the fruit a favourite of the Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon. The Strawberry Feast (Feaste) is held at the Methodist Church in Tamerton Foliot with the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Frank Chapman.
A strawberry is actually not a fruit but part of the rose family and a strawberry has its seeds on the outside. In 1714 a French engineer observed native strawberries in Chile and Peru, and brought some back to cultivate in France where they grew much bigger and juicier leading to the creation of today’s common or garden strawberry. The strawberry season is short in the UK from the end of May to late July. In order to protect the plants during these months, layers of straw are spread around the plant giving rise to the name, strawberry.
Related
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.