The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
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Carnival Week in Dovercourt
Carnival spirit engulfs Dovercourt with many participants in fancy dress, including costumed regalia for the Carnival Queen. Captured by Thomas Bernard of Harwich in 1934.
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Overview
A week-long summertime festival of fun and games for the small seaside town of Dovercourt, Essex. Taking advantage of their coastal location participants compete on sea as well as land, testing their strength, agility and good sportsmanship with a range of traditional and less traditional activities including ‘sack battles’ on or over the water – not an easy balancing feat that’s sure to end in a Dovercourt Bay dunking. Fireworks out at sea complete the festivities.
Captured by Thomas Bernard of Harwich. Thomas' father Charles Bernard established a Naval Uniform Outfitters at 63 Church Street in Harwich. When Charles passed on, Thomas continued the family business. Thomas had a 16mm camera and recorded not only his holidays, but events and happenings in Harwich and Dovercourt which the filmmaker dubbed the 'Bernard Bulletin'. It is likely that the filmmaker's son, also named Thomas, features somewhere within the footage. The filmmaker regularly showed his captured footage to film clubs and other local organisations.
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