This home movie compilation by amateur filmmaker Donald Oates focuses on his two sons, Christopher and Alistair, who are documented at home, on a beach playing and posing together, in Tynemouth and in a fancy dress contest as part of a Round Table Carnival at Bedlington. Footage incudes general views of Newcastle Quayside including Swing Bridge and Bessie Surtees House. The final part shows a 7th birthday party for one son, and a family Christmas in 1963. Title: Christopher and Alistair A...

This home movie compilation by amateur filmmaker Donald Oates focuses on his two sons, Christopher and Alistair, who are documented at home, on a beach playing and posing together, in Tynemouth and in a fancy dress contest as part of a Round Table Carnival at Bedlington. Footage incudes general views of Newcastle Quayside including Swing Bridge and Bessie Surtees House. The final part shows a 7th birthday party for one son, and a family Christmas in 1963. Title: Christopher and Alistair A young boy and an older girl explore the rock pools on the seashore at Whitley Bay, St. Mary’s lighthouse in the distance. Another young boy joins in the exploration. Back home in Whitley Bay the two boys pose for the camera larking around, and sit on a garden wall in the sunshine. A fancy dress parade at a Round Table Carnival at Bedlington is next, with the two boys amongst a crowd dressed in their costumes. General views show other youngsters in fancy dress. A girl wearing a black and white costume holds up a piece of card which reads ‘Up the Magpies’. The two boys are dressed as fishermen. Between them they hold a piece of card shaped into the outline of a large fish. Written on the ‘fish’ are the words ‘The One That Didn’t Get Away’. There's also a girl in a St Trinian's school uniform. In the family's suburban garden Mrs Oates sits on a deck chair in the sunshine, with cups and saucers on a tray next to her. Her sons sit nearby then start to play with toy guns. One of the boys climbs over a high fence next to the garden, and walks off. [Quite dark] The two boys play at the boating lake at Tynemouth Park using fishing nets in an attempt to catch something. A number of other children and parents also try their luck fishing. A male blackbird scratches around looking for food in the family garden. The blackbird is unusual by having white patches in its plumage. A change of scene with a view of the Swing Bridge on the river Tyne filmed from the Gateshead side of the river as cars and commercial traffic cross. The camera zooms in on the castle keep and St. Nicholas’ cathedral tower in the distance. A dredger sails up the Tyne. General views follow of Newcastle Quayside, the Sandhill area of Newcastle and the striking architecture of Bessie Surtees house. A plaque mounted on a wall outlines the famous occasion Bessie Surtees eloped with John Scott, later Lord Chancellor of England. Shots of two birthday cards for the filmmaker's sons, one decorated with the number seven, the other with number four. An elaborately crafted and colourful birthday cake complete with candles sits on a table surrounded by other plates of food. A birthday party for the boys follow.  The boy at the head of the table blows candles out on his birthday cake, which is made in the shape of a number seven. He then poses for the camera as he prepares to cut a slice from the cake. A change of view as two older couples sit at the table for tea and sandwiches to celebrate the young boy’s birthday. The birthday cake remains on the table. A young woman sits on a chair in a bay window in the house holding a cup of tea, and talking to another woman sitting opposite her. Title: Christmas 1963 The boys, Christopher and Alistair, stand in front of a highly decorated Christmas tree. On the floor a boy plays with a model railway layout. Another boy joins him as they both put a train together on the layout. The set then runs two trains on parallel tracks, as the two boys operate controllers attached to the board on which the layout sits. The Xmas roast turkey is on a table. On another table nearby the family tuck into their Christmas meal. Later the family and relatives sit in a lounge drinking cups of tea. Two older boys sing, play and joke around on banjos while two younger boys look on. The film ends with a brief view of a teenage girl dancing in front of the television.