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
Brighton Swimming Club: Beach Snapshots part 1
Swimming in all sorts of weather is what members of the Brighton Swimming Club like doing best - as Roger Dunford's joyful film reveals
From the collection of:
Overview
Our film starts with a group of young men, in drag of course, and women collecting for Rag Week. We next see the same funsters on Brighton Beach, swimming, sunbathing and generally larking about. We get great views of the Palace Pier from above and below, the visiting crowds on the beach and later on fishermen hauling in their mackerel catch. In colder weather we see older members of the club going for a dip in heavy seas while being watched by other club members wearing overcoats.
Roger Dunford, a member of Brighton Swimming Club, purchased his first cine-camera in 1943 as a 21st birthday present to himself, soon after he’d joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. While serving in Egypt and Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, Roger made films about his service life in both countries. Between 1946 and 1954, Roger made a number of films featuring the Brighton Swimming Club, which was founded on the 4th May 1860, and many of those films today form part of the Floating Memories project which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund along with local partners like Screen Archive South East. For further details go to www.floatingmemories.co.uk
Related
Watch for free
Playground Express Playground Express
1955 17 mins Location: Brighton
Kids face the closure of their Brighton playground but fight back to reclaim it, with a little help from the iconic Volks Railway
Watch for free
Southern Seaside Southern Seaside
Travelogue 1935 15 mins Silent Location: Bournemouth
Anyone for a trip to the seaside? From Bournemouth to Margate via Brighton and Folkestone – sunny delights in abundance.
Watch for free
Early Fashions on Brighton Pier Early Fashions on Brighton Pier
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent Location: Brighton
An accidental fashion parade as holiday promenaders pass before the camera on Brighton Pier
Watch for free
A Visit to Heathrow Airport A Visit to Heathrow Airport
Amateur film 1961 5 mins Silent Location: Heathrow Airport London
At a time when flying still had a touch of glamour, Heathrow's Queens Building could provide the perfect venue for a pleasant afternoon's plane spotting
Watch for free
Brighton Seaside - Airshow & Silver Jubilee in Bromley Brighton Seaside - Airshow & Silver Jubilee in Bromley
Amateur film 1977 11 mins Silent Location: Brighton
Tony Mitchell captures a variety of events during Jubilee year - including day trips to Brighton and a bunting covered London as well as an accident at an airshow
Watch for free
Brighton & Hove Band of Hope Demonstration Brighton & Hove Band of Hope Demonstration
Non-Fiction 1913 2 mins Silent Location: Brighton
Brighton's children are recruited for the fight against the 'demon drink' in this revealing 1913 film featuring the Temperance Movement
Watch for free
Showgirls is a Western Showgirls is a Western
Short documentary 2025 2 mins
In this mini video essay, BFI contributor Maha Al-Badrawi explains why Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls is a rhinestoned, stilettoed Western. Contains spoilers!
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.