This film is part of Free

Wet Summer In Devon

The deckchairs are out but the sun is not and the country endures a wet summer.

News 1960 1 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for South West Film and Television Archive

Overview

The winter of 1962 to 1963 was known as the Big Freeze and the country lived through one of the coldest winters on record. At Torquay in Devon on the English Riveira in the summer of 1963 and the British weather lives up to expectation. Rain, rain, go away, come back another day. The weather is affecting the usual bustling seaside resort although local Bed and Breakfasts have no vacancies.

The car park is full in Plymouth's Derry's Cross and queues for the ABC cinema stretch around the block as everyone tries to shelter from the rain. Oh well! Charlton Heston in Anthony Mann's El Cid (1961) again in the Super Technirama 70 deluxe edition, at least he is hot in his chainmail riding up a sunny beach in Peniscola in Spain.