This is a promotional film made the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland explaining the benefits of the Club.  It also features part of the annual ‘Feast of Lanterns’. The film begins with photos from London in 1901 and a re-enactment of how Thomas Holding started the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland showing a photo of Holding.  This is followed by up-to-date, large modern caravan and campsite.  The commentary states that in this country there are three million campers.  There...

This is a promotional film made the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland explaining the benefits of the Club.  It also features part of the annual ‘Feast of Lanterns’. The film begins with photos from London in 1901 and a re-enactment of how Thomas Holding started the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland showing a photo of Holding.  This is followed by up-to-date, large modern caravan and campsite.  The commentary states that in this country there are three million campers.  There is a playful scene of illicit camping with a man camping in a field brewing up on an open fire, while some boys play on a tractor.  The farmer grabs a shotgun and walks towards the campers. The head of the Club speaks to the camera from the headquarters in London.  He goes through the facilities of a modern campsite, with examples being shown of showers, laundry and shops.  Several campsites from around the country are shown, including one at Folkestone, owned by the council but run by the Camping Club, “a perfect arrangement”.  There is a short humorous scene of campers stuck in the mud with their car in a field, camping illegally.  The Camp Sites and Year Book is shown.  With Westminster in the background, it is explained that there is a Parliamentary camping and caravanning group.  Women relax in the sun on a campsite in the North Downs owned by the National Trust.  Architects work on drawings for new campsites.  A new site is shown at Chertsey.  Campers on the Thames Estuary are out canoeing.  The Motor section is having its dinner dance at the Dorchester. A lone camper wanders through woods with a rucksack on his back.  He stops to fry up some bacon looking out at an “idyllic spot”. Then the film moves on to talk about the foreign part of the Club, called ‘Carefree’, explaining the benefits of belonging to this section, including an air ambulance service as part of the insurance.  The cover of the 1972 International Camping Book is shown. The annual giant meet of members at the end of September, ‘Feast of Lanterns’, is shown with the organiser of the event giving a speech. A procession goes by headed by a Highland Band. The film finishes at night with the campers collecting their lighted lanterns to walk around a bonfire and dance as music is played. End Credits: Produced for the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland by The Centre Film Unit. Commentary written by Christopher Turner Spoken by Basil Moss       Photography John Woolmer and Alan Lavender Sound recording Ken Burril Production crew members of the Centre Film Unit. Direction  Alan Lavender The End