Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free

Westgate Holidays
Join the Newmans on their holidays to the Kent coast in the late 30s - complete with paddle steamers, model boats and a special visitor from India
From the collection of:

Overview
This holiday compilation, filmed over three years, begins at Westgate-on-Sea where Mum and Muriel visit the beach for a swim. We see them on the boating lake at Margate, before boarding the paddle steamer Royal Eagle. A year later we see the family on the same vessel in the Pool of London and later at a boating pool where Muriel launches a model boat. In the final year we see more swimming, grandparents and Jagat Mehta, from India, at an outdoor picnic and a model boat competition.
From the intertitles one could suppose that the Newman family lived in Wellingborough and travelled to the Kent coast onboard the paddle steamer, Royal Eagle, which they would have boarded at London's Tower Pier. The Royal Eagle, built in 1932 by Cammel Laird of Birkenhead, was owned by the General Steam Navigation Company for services from London to Margate and Ramsgate. She was much larger than similar paddle steamers and was luxuriously appointed with bars, saloons and private salons. During WW2, now renamed HMS Royal Eagle, she served as an Auxiliary Anti-Aircraft (Coastal) Vessel, returning to her former duties when the war was over. The Royal Eagle was eventually scrapped in 1954.
Related

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.