Description: "Plymouth Congress 1962"

Film Producer – J. Foster

Film Editor – J.F. Hudson

“The Hoe”

A statue of Sir Francis Drake on a plinth starts the film, some pavilion buildings on the Hoe behind. The next shot is taken from a high vantage point and is looking towards the gardens and lawns that go up to the cenotaph on the top of the Hoe. Behind the cenotaph is Smeaton’s Tower, just seen. The sea and some of the cliffs are behind this, it’s a lovely sunny day though looks a bit misty out to sea. A second high view point looking down on to the houses and civic buildings, city centre and streets of Plymouth. The Civic Centre building is then shown with fountains to the front and people walking by. The next view is an interior scene. There is wood paneling on the walls of the building that a group of the BDA attendees are getting settled into seats. They people are greeting each other signing. There is then the focus on a group of four people, one woman, prior to more shots of the inside of the hall. More people are arriving. At the back of the hall are table and chairs on a stage facing the audience, ready for the speaker to arrive. Behind this table, long red curtains hang either side of a tapestry and large stained glass windows are shown. The room is the main auditorium of Plymouth Guildhall. Congress attendees are now seated and we can see them talking between each other and the camera.

“Dr E.S. Greenaway Introduced as Chairman of the Association”

The old chairman presents the new chairman to the audience. Outside the Guildhall the members start to exit the building, congregating in groups around the steps and front of the building. Behind one group we can see a sailor in uniform holding the hands of a toddler. She is dressed in a pretty dress and red shoes. A group of the attendees standing outside communicate and wave to the camera team. Shop fronts are on the street behind them and a red double decker bus goes past. A smart group of the attendees can be seen exiting the building communicating with each other. Three young sailors in uniform walk in front of the camera and one looks behind at the camera. Three of the attendees walk towards a bench, two sit down and the third stands. One of the men sitting on the bench is wearing a kilt. The man standing starts to sign with them and they reply. People can be seen behind walking along the pavement. The three then walk away from the bench. The next view is that of a man signing to camera. He is standing with a group of people on the steps of the Guildhall. They are all facing the camera before the shot then shows the full length of the tower of the Guildhall before coming to the entrance.

“Rev. A.F. Mackenzie introduces The Bishop of Plymouth”

A group of clergy are standing outside; all wear full robes with the Bishop wearing a red sash. A shot of the interior shows a board with paintings and drawings. The next shot shows the whole group of congress attendees standing or seated on the Hoe for a group shot. There is a red brick building directly behind and then a view down into the city. The group is smartly dressed with some lovely coloured dresses and pullovers being worn. Following the formality of the group shot, the attendees then go and visit the Hoe near the Cenotaph and can be seen site seeing and looking at the canons on display and talking in small groups. The interior of a coach is what is seen next and the attendees off on tour. Four coaches are then lined up in a street with the attendees walking up and down the street, houses in the background. The camera then turns 180 degrees and the views is that of Lands End. The rocky cliffs have the attendees looking around; there are also views of the famous signpost there. It looks like a sunny but windy day. The next view is of the attendees lined up next to railings with steep steps going down the front, which some of the group are walking down. A man in a sailor’s hat seems to be directing them from the top of the step. A sign on the railings says ‘Station ? Place, ? Boats, ?Vessels’. The building behind the group of people looks like a station building with the type of awning that is placed off the roof. Following the people down the steps they are getting into a boat. The view from the boat is that of an area of Plymouth called Stonehouse which winds its way round to the Navy dockyards. One of the group is then holding a large crab for the camera. On the Hoe are the bowling association lawns, here the group can be seen playing various games and having fun. The lawns have some flowerbeds and shrubs in the background and residential and hotel buildings can be seen on one side in the distance, on the other the Cenotaph is behind the bowling lawns.

“Buckfast Abbey”

In the to the entrance to the Abbey a small group of the attendees can be seen. The group are dressed in smart clothes and can now be seen walking outside of the entrance towards a number of cars. Behind one group another section of the abbey can be seen, people are walking around the site, looking at the large Abbey building. The time on the clock can be seen as 4.35pm.

“The Reception”

In the town centre a small group walk across the pavements. Shops and building are in the background along with red double decker buses and cars. A car pulls up in front of a building and, possibly, the Mayor and Mayoress of Plymouth step wearing their civic robes. They meet with some of the organisers and then the Mayor and Mayoress greet members of the group as they come in. The Mayoress can see trying some of the nibbles and talking. The main auditorium of the Guildhall has been moved to accommodate a number of long tables, all set with flowers and cutlery ready for the group to enjoy the dinner reception. Some of the members sitting on the top table are presented lovely bunches of flowers before the Mayor gives a speech, which is then signed to the audience by the Rev. A.F. Mackenzie. The next shot is outside, in the daylight in front of a building. There is a line of some of the group members, probably the main board, which are standing outside the building. The camera moves down the line showing the men and one woman. They all stare at the camera and smile.

“The End”

Intertitles throughout the film.