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.
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Pear Tree Pub - Birthday Party
A Suffolk publican's daughter is film star for a day as she celebrates a very special 6th birthday.
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Overview
Cyril Clements ran the Pear Tree pub in West Row, Suffolk. It was a popular village pub and also a favourite watering hole for the nearby US Air Force personnel stationed at Mildenhall. One regular, called 'Tex' was a keen cinematographer and Cyril was delighted when he offered to film his daughter Sandra's 6th Birthday Party. This film, shot in what, at the time, was rare colour footage, is a wonderful record and treasured momento of a little girl's special day.
Sandra's mother Dorothy organised this special party for her daughter and school chums and made not only the delicious spread of sandwiches and fancies but also Sandra's beautiful party frock. Colour film was at a premium during and after the war years but USAAF had access to supplies which accounts for many war time films held in the archives. The american, Tex, was clearly a talented filmmaker using 'trick' shots for the party food and extra lighting to film inside in the pub's Club Room where the party took place.
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