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
St Loye's Toymaker
St Loye's College graduate says never say die until you're dead!
From the collection of:
Overview
Charles Symons explains how he became a toymaker exporting goods all over the world after recovering from debilitating illnesses and training at St Loye's College for the Training and Rehabilitation of the Disabled in Exeter. Symons received his diploma in 1959 after gaining a grant to retrain. The College offers ongoing support to its students who come from all over the British Isles.
Only daughter of General Sir Redvers Buller, Georgiana Buller raised funds and opened St Loye's Training Centre in 1937. Buller ran the Red Cross Hospital in Exeter in 1914 and recognised the need for rehabilitation and went on to establish the British Council for Rehabilitation. Today, St Loye's Foundation is a registered charity working to transform the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people and the original St Loye's site in Exeter has been redeveloped. Buller was seen as an early disability rights' pioneer often speaking out on the subject. She once said, “In nature there's no blemish but the mind. None can be called deformed but the unkind.”
Related
Watch for free
Charm Hostess and Mannequin School Charm Hostess and Mannequin School
Current affairs 1965 6 mins Location: Exeter
Women are put through their deportment paces and all in the name of etiquette.
Watch for free
One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred
News 1986 52 mins Location: Plymouth
This documentary charts the progress and challenges of disabled people living in the community.
Watch for free
Fancy Dress Pageant Fancy Dress Pageant
News 1976 1 mins Silent Location: Exeter
Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education's perform in a fancy dress pageant.
Watch for free
St Loye's College in Exeter St Loye's College in Exeter
News 1962 3 mins Location: Exeter
St Loye's College shows its enabling training courses on offer.
Watch for free
Championship Swimmer Championship Swimmer
News 1967 1 mins Silent Location: Exeter
Champion swimmer Linda Hockworthy returns to the pool after a recent leg amputation.
Watch for free
Exeter Real Ale Festival Exeter Real Ale Festival
Current affairs 1975 3 mins Location: Exeter
The wet and warm ale goes down a treat as aficionados gather to celebrate real ale.
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.