PR 2038

FOOTAGE PAINTS PICTURE OF BOURNEMOUTH'S PAST

Film footage which has been donated to Wessex Film and Sound Archive paints a fascinating picture of Bournemouth's past.

The films, which were sent in by Bournemouth Borough Council, include the 1938 tourism promotional film `All Seasons!', footage of the demolition and construction of Punshon Memorial Methodist Church, and amateur films of the town and beach in the late 1940s.

The footage is now kept as part of Wessex Film and Sound Archive's collections at Hampshire Record Office on Sussex Street, Winchester.

Two films stand out for their rarity and human interest: one shows the visit of the Prince of Wales to Bournemouth in October 1927. The Prince is shown meeting the Mayor, Ald. Harry Thwaites, and other local dignitaries, laying a wreath at the War Memorial, visiting Boscombe Hospital, opening the Boscombe Undercliff extension, then attending a special rally of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Boys Brigades and schoolchildren at Meyrick Park, where he also met Chief Scout Lord Baden-Powell. Taken specially for the Electric Theatre, this film would only have been shown locally and has not been seen again until now.

The other was made in 1944 and is one of the few from the `Calling Blighty' series to survive. It was made by the British armed services to boost morale on the Home Front by allowing some of our servicemen and women out in India to send cinematic `letters' home to loved ones. They were made for particular towns and surrounding areas, and the films would have been shown there for relatives by invitation of the mayor, who would usually give them a tea afterwards.

This film concerns Bournemouth and its screening must have been a very emotional occasion for the relatives. The names featured are: (Myra) Vingle, Astney, Wallis, Barrett, Napier, `Roz', Galloway, Randall, and Nicholls as taken from the soundtrack. If anyone can identify these names and shed more light on the film, please contact David Lee at the film archive on 01962 847742 or email: david.lee@hants.gov.uk.

The County Council's Director for Recreation and Heritage, Yinnon Ezra, said: "This latest film adds to the rich and varied collection of historic footage kept by Wessex Film and Sound Archive from across central southern England.

"As always we are pleased to play our role in making these fascinating snapshots of history available to a wider audience."

ENDS

For further information please contact: Julia Herron on 01962 846006
julia.herron@hants.gov.uk
29/04/2005

Notes to editors

Photo captions are as follows:

1. Myra Vingle, taken from the `Calling Blighty' footage (1944).
2. Derek Randall and Lieutenant Nicholls from `Calling Blighty'.
3-5. Stills from the film `The visit of HRH The Prince of Wales to Bournemouth (1927), showing the Prince at Meyrick Park, Bournemouth for the children's rally in his honour.

Digital video copies of the complete films can be supplied for broadcast review.