Miss Brighton

Bouffants and beehives battle it out at the 1965 Miss Brighton contest in this white stilleto extravaganza filmed at the Black Rock Lido

Michael Gillings' remarkable film, made on a breezy day, sees would-be beauty queens parading for the judges at the 1965 Miss Brighton contest. The contestants strut along the poolside at Black Rock Lido, though the wind plays havoc with their elaborate bouffant hairdos. The contest continues later in the day, though now in sunshine, to a packed audience. After much posing in line-ups a winner is eventually chosen and photographers and officials swarm around her.

The film maker, Michael Gillings, was born in Guildford and lived in Brighton from 1960.