Metadata
WORK ID: YFA 2789 (Master Record)
| Title | Year | Date |
| LITTLE DENMARK PART 1 | 1957 | 1957-01-01 |
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Details
Original Format: 16mm Colour: Colour Sound: Sound Duration: 40 mins Subject: INDUSTRY SEASIDE WORKING LIFE |
| Summary A film documenting the work of the R.N.L.I at Flamborough, the film also shows a day in the life of working fishermen out of Flamborough. |
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Description
A film documenting the work of the R.N.L.I at Flamborough, the film also shows a day in the life of working fishermen out of Flamborough.
The film opens with shots of Flamborough Bay followed by an introduction to the contributors who are shown in close up.
There is footage of the outskirts of Flamborough followed by scenes of the village including St Oswald’s Church, ruins of Flamborough Castle, and the War Memorial where a British Legion Service of Commemoration takes place. Service...
A film documenting the work of the R.N.L.I at Flamborough, the film also shows a day in the life of working fishermen out of Flamborough.
The film opens with shots of Flamborough Bay followed by an introduction to the contributors who are shown in close up.
There is footage of the outskirts of Flamborough followed by scenes of the village including St Oswald’s Church, ruins of Flamborough Castle, and the War Memorial where a British Legion Service of Commemoration takes place. Service members lay a poppy wreath on the memorial. Views of Flamborough High Street include the Royal Dog and Duck Hotel, and the Ship Hotel. Many cars can be seen in the village, and a lady walks by pushing a pram.
The next scene features the Fishermen’s War Memorial and a Flamborough Sword Dance display. This is followed by a view of Flamborough Head where both the old and new lighthouse can be seen, and the lighthouse keepers are introduced. Views of South landing and the old lifeboat hut can be seen, and there are families enjoying the sandy beach.
A crowd is gathered at the North Landing for the annual Lifeboat Flag Day. People in fancy dress and crowds gather to watch the demonstration launch of the lifeboat. A helicopter drops a flare as part of the event.
The next portion of the film focuses on the fishermen who make their livelihood out of Flamborough. The day’s catch of crabs and lobsters are hauled up the beach at Flamborough and loaded on to vans. George Emerson and his brother show us a day in the life of their fishing vessel, the Silver Line. At sea they haul in baskets of lobsters and crabs. Back on shore, they bate the lines with mussels and whelks for the next day. Out on the boat there is long lining for cod and haddock. The fish are then prepared for gutting, and the livers are kept for cod liver oil. Seagulls swarm around the boat as it heads for the North Landing to bring in the day’s catch.
Context
This film is part of two long films made by local filmmaker George Bayes of Flamborough and Flamborough Head. The films are mainly dedicated to the work of the coast guard and especially the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute (RNFI). But they also provide a picture of Flamborough at the time, with marvellous film of the sea fishing, showing many of the well known locals from that period.
The name of “Little Denmark” goes back a long way. One explanation is that it is to celebrate Flamborough’s...
This film is part of two long films made by local filmmaker George Bayes of Flamborough and Flamborough Head. The films are mainly dedicated to the work of the coast guard and especially the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute (RNFI). But they also provide a picture of Flamborough at the time, with marvellous film of the sea fishing, showing many of the well known locals from that period.
The name of “Little Denmark” goes back a long way. One explanation is that it is to celebrate Flamborough’s former loyalty to the Danish crown. The name of Flamborough is also said to be derived from the Scandinavian word “Flan”, meaning a spit or tongue of land. Some have commented on the Danish influence going back to the invasion of the 9th century: seen in local place names and the dialect of the inhabitants. However, Danes’ Dyke is a natural formation, and nothing to do with the Danes. Flamborough Head lies at the tip of the most eastern peninsula, and is famous as a beauty spot and for the nearby Bird Reserve at Bempton Cliffs. It is remarkably unchanged since this film was made, with the Coastguard lookout station and two lighthouses still in place. The first lighthouse, a white octagonal tower, dating from 1674, is probably the oldest surviving lighthouse in England. It started off as a way of making money, by Sir John Clayton charging vessels passing the headland. It is not clear whether this scheme ever worked. It stopped working as a lighthouse some time ago. The second lighthouse (the new lighthouse) was built in 1806 and vertically extended in 1925. The RNFI was initially set up as a charity was founded by Sir William Hillary as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1824, after he had witnessed the wrecking of dozens of ships from his home on the Isle of Man. The name was changed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1854, and cork lifejackets were first issued to crew members in the same year. By and large the crews are voluntary crewed, though there are four full time boats, one just a bit further along the Yorkshire coast at Spurn Point. All told it has 40,000 volunteers. Since its foundation the RNLI has saved more than 139,000 lives. In 1992 the rigid lifeboat was replaced by an inflatable one, but as the North Landing – home of the Caravel Bar –was considered too dangerous for an inflatable it was moved to the South Landing. Apparently this move caused a huge schism in the community, with most of the original crew resigning. Since then the entire station’s emergency search and rescue team and all the emergency equipment has been moved to Bridlington coastguard station. The South Landing was declared a local nature reserve in 2002. At the time of writing (May 2010), there is a Campaign to Save Flamborough Head Coastguard Station From Closure! The website (see References) also gives some examples of the work of the local coastguard The area and sea around has a rich history. One particular episode of great significance was a sea battle during the American War of Independence, in 1779. This was between ships of the Royal Navy and American ships under John Paul Jones, who has been credited as being the founder of the American Navy (and also inspired the great ex bass player of Led Zeppelin to adopt the name). The excellent Yorkshire Guide website (see References) has a good overview of Flamborough and Flamborough Head, and its history. The film demonstrates, as does the evident passion of the narrator, that for the filmmakers there is more at stake than just saving lives. The film provides a great example of what Pierre Nora calls ‘sites of memory’. One way that this has been encapsulated is in the tradition of sword dancing, as seen here with this young group of dancers. This tradition has a strong connection to East Yorkshire – see Kirkby Malzeard Sword Dancers (1930-32). But it is the place itself, and the of the sea crashing against the rocks, that perhaps makes it stay in most people’s minds. References Charles Knightly, The Customs and Ceremonies of Britain, Thames and Hudson, 1986. Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute Campaign to Save Flamborough Head Coastguard Station From Closure! Yorkshire Guide, Flamborough and Flamborough Head Martin Limon, Fabulous Flamborough |
