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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Poppy Day Rag in Cambridge
Outrageous behaviour that’s all for a good cause. Cambridge students ‘rag raid’ on Poppy Day in 1951. Captured on 8mm by student C.D. Cooper.
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Overview
Cambridge’s tranquil historic streets are transformed to carnival atmosphere during Rag Week when Cambridge University students wearing outrageous costume take to the streets and ‘rag raid’ the locals, that is, rattling tins or buckets and begging for donations. But there is good intentions despite the chaos, for the students collect money for charity, this occasion being for the Royal British Legion as part of Poppy Day.
Rag Week is always quite a spectacle and cross-dressing is popular; it seems the dafter the costume, the dafter the behaviour. It is interesting to note this footage shows all-male crowds of students, indicative of a time when the majority intake of Cambridge University students in 1951 would certainly have been male. Women weren’t admitted to full membership and able to receive a degree at Cambridge University until December 1947, just a few years before these Rag Week scenes were captured on film. This film was recorded on Standard 8mm by Mr C.D. Cooper, a student at the time. He continued to live in Cambridge after graduation and worked as an engineer.
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