The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
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Bede College Sports Day
Vintage games and gymnastics displays at Durham Racecourse for Bede Day in the 1960s.
From the collection of:
Overview
Filmed on 3 June 1963 at Durham Racecourse, knock-em down games such as the coconut shy and traditional penny arcade games of the shuffleboard variety make for a fun day out for children and Durham University students alike at the Whit Monday Bede Day fair. After gymnastics displays theres a welcome beer for the thirsty, delivered by the Vaux Breweries horse dray.
This film is believed to be by Donald (Danny) Webster, Vice Principal of Bede College between 1933 and 1961, and features snappy editing in the repeated shot and close-ups of the coconut shy scene. Webster had also been a student at Bede College during World War One. The College of the Venerable Bede (for men) was founded in 1839, and was associated with Durham University from 1896. It was amalgamated with St Hilds College for women in 1975.
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