Description: The British Deaf Association (then the British Deaf And Dumb Association) recorded several films of their annual summer schools in the 1950s, including this one to Exeter in 1957 which was attended by about 140 members. As somebody signs at the end of this home movie, the summer events were seen as a way for “young people to have fun and adults to learn from lectures”. The footage backs this up, with members of all ages appearing relaxed and enthusiastic.

The opening titles show the emblem of the British Deaf and Dumb Association on a blue background and Joseph Foster and James F Hudson have shot the film.

The film opens with colour footage of institutional buildings in Exeter, a green double decker bus goes past. Members of the group are seen arriving, carrying cases and smiling.

“The Rev.B.B.Morgan. Honorary Secretary of the Summer School”

He is seen signing to someone off camera outside the entrance to a building.

“Mr. K.P.McDougall, Chairman of the Association, says a few words on the origin of the Summer School”

The Chairman is signing to the camera with a number of members standing around him. They are standing outside in a courtyard with some building archways behind. He signs for quite a few minutes and is signing quite slowly.

“A civic welcome is given by the Mayor of Exeter, accompanied by the Mayoress, with the High Sheriff and his Lady"

This section is shot in black and white and opens with the members seated in an auditorium in rows. They then stand when the Mayor and Mayoress walk down the centre of the room from the back of the hall. There are then some shots of the Mayor speaking to the audience and a member signing what he is saying.

“The Rev. T. H. Sutcliffe, M.A., Warden of the Summer School, is celebrant at Holm Communion in the College Chapel"

The opening shot is of the stained glassed window; this is filmed in colour. The Rev. T.H.Sutcliffe is signing the sermon at the front of the church in front of the altar.

“A Local Editor lectures on The Editing of an Evening Newspaper”

This is shot on black and white and shows an audience seated watching the lecturer and accompanying signer. We can then see the members enjoying a communal meal together. Some sign to the camera that the food is good.

“Plenty of relaxation between lectures is to be found in the College grounds. Students make good use of the swimming pool”.

This, and the remaining scenes, are shot on colour. We can see male and female members enjoying a dip in the pool. Many of the women are wearing swimming hats of a variety of colours, there is even a high dive pool where various members are having fun diving in.

“Educational visits are made to Exeter Cathedral, where the Dean acts as guide to the students…”

The opening shot is the Cathedral towers from a distance presiding over the city. The members are gathered at the front entrance the Dean at the front. There are some close up shots of the cathedral architecture. A gentleman is signing to the camera and introduction the clergy staff before a group panning shot is filmed by the entrance.

“…….and to Buckfast Abbey, where the whole of the work of building has been done by the Benedictine Monks themselves”.

The members are walking around near the entrance to the Abbey buildings, looking like they are admiring the architecture. There are some other shots of the Abbey buildings and tower.

“Lectures stop on one day of the week and the students go on an outing to Minehead, Lynmouth and Lynton”

Shots of Minehead and its wide sandy beach are the next clip, it looks like quite a windy day. One lady is filmed feeding a seagull on the seawall. There is then shots of the coach and it drives past a sign saying “Porlock hill”, followed by a gradient sign reading “1 in 4, Bottom gear now”. This is followed by a scenic shot of a steep corner to a road with one of the coaches slowly travelling up hill, the sea and hills roll into the distance. As the coaches go past the camera the members wave. There is then a shot of the “Escape Road”, just in case. The view at the top is lovely. Some of the members are filmed standing on the water powered funicular railway at Lynton and Lynmouth, heading for the top. Following this the Chairman is standing in a field, lovely trees behind, and is signing to the camera, he is signing quite slowly.

“The End”