Telephone Cables: Sports Day, Fete And Gala, Dagenham (1956)

Fancy dress, egg-and-spoon race, ancient cars and creative titles from this splendid colour film of a company sports day in Dagenham.

As the creative title sequence spells out, this was filmed by the SUTC (Southern United Telephone Cables) Film Unit of their annual sports day in Dagenham. Contains much to admire, including fancy dress – is that child dressed as a Christmas tree? – novelty races, a pony, a very popular carousel ride and a heavily polished old jalopy. Such company social events were common affairs in pre-TV Britain.

Barking & Dagenham Heritage and Archives Service