This amateur film shows pupils from Percy Hedley School, Newcastle taking a boat trip along the River Tyne. A number of coaches transport the children to the quayside and a number of tour boats are needed for all the passengers on the tour. The film opens as a red coach enters through the gates of Percy Hedley School. Children, many in wheelchairs, members of staff and possibly some parents wait to board the coach. The coach moves off, the word ‘United’ appears on the side of the bus...

This amateur film shows pupils from Percy Hedley School, Newcastle taking a boat trip along the River Tyne. A number of coaches transport the children to the quayside and a number of tour boats are needed for all the passengers on the tour. The film opens as a red coach enters through the gates of Percy Hedley School. Children, many in wheelchairs, members of staff and possibly some parents wait to board the coach. The coach moves off, the word ‘United’ appears on the side of the bus denoting the operating company. Another group of children and adults patiently wait to get on board. A boy and woman pose for the camera, the boy wears a cowboy hat. At the quayside the pleasure boat crew wait for the passengers. The coach deposits the visitors, then the film cuts to a second coach driving along a street which leads to the quayside. It stops at the quayside not far from the Swing Bridge and the passengers get off, then make their way onto the boat. Another coach arrives and they make their way on board. Many of the children require help down the short flight of steps to the boat. On board some of the boys gather on part of the deck and pose for the camera. Others gather at the rear of the boat, in the distance are the Tyne and High Level Bridges. A wheelchair is passed through one of the windows of a boat. On board everyone gathers near the windows to get a good view, as the boat is now underway. Others are out on open deck area wearing coats and anoraks to keep warm. Another view [quite dark] shows other passengers inside watching the activities on the river and quayside through large windows. A boy smiles at the camera, another boy makes a face and then smiles. A young girl looks shyly at the camera then smiles. A view from the boat shows the three famous Newcastle bridges, the Tyne Bridge the High Level Bridge and between them, the Swing Bridge. Closer views follow as the boat approaches the Swing Bridge. On board a passenger, with a movie camera films some of the children. General views follow of the passengers on the open part of the boat. [Dark underexposed section] More general views follow of passengers in the covered area of the boat. Views show other vessels going by including a long boat, with a cabin towards the rear and the name ‘A Gibson’ on the side, possibly a barge or perhaps a dredger. A river police launch speeds past.. A view from the boat shows two more approaching bridges, the King Edward VII bridge and beyond that the Redheugh Bridge. The police river launch keeping pace alongside the tour boat. General views show a view of buildings on the bank of the river followed by the passengers gathered together on the covered part of the deck. Out on the open deck in sunshine children pose and smile for the camera. More general views follow of the adults chatting amongst themselves and pointing out features on the river banks as the boat travels past. The tour boat travels past a vessel moored near a marker buoy in the middle of the river. A goods train makes its way across the King Edward VII Bridge. The tour boat passes under the Swing Bridge once more as it heads downstream and then goes under the grand arch of the Tyne Bridge. The boat heads away from the bridges, passing cranes and industrial buildings on the way, including Hawthorn Leslie (Engineers) Ltd, makers of ships, marine engines and locomotives. More general views [some overexposed sections] show the children and adults on the open deck enjoying the trip and the fine weather. The tour boat goes by a large industrial building made of corrugated steel, which bears the name ‘Heaton Spares’ Heading towards the Redheugh Bridge, the police launch shadows the tour boat. The boat travels past the CWS (Co-operative Wholesale Society) Soap Works and Flour Mill at Whickham. More general views follow of passengers on board. The tour boat heads towards the main bridges downstream, followed by general views of some of the children on the boat. A shipyard comes into view where two ships are under construction, more views follow of shipyard cranes and ships. The tour boat heads upstream under the Swing Bridge followed my more general views of the river and landmarks. General views of the passengers show a crowded open deck where they are buffeted by the wind. Closer views of shipyard cranes are followed by a close encounter with a much larger ship possibly a tanker being maneuvered by a tug. A collier is loaded with coal at the quayside and another tour boat passes by going in the opposite direction. Passengers are shown getting off the boats making their way to where the coaches are parked. A young boy gets some help when he stumbles, a man wearing a peaked cap, possibly one of the coach drivers comes to the rescue. The film changes to show the Percy Hedley School Mini-bus followed by pupils and staff sitting on the grass near trees. Food and drink is distributed as part of a picnic. The weather is windy making it difficult for everyone to get comfortable. The sun shines and the children and adults face the camera but the wind appears to be cold judging by the expressions on their faces. A different location follows where children in wheelchairs take snacks on grass near a whitewashed building. Another picnic follows this time at the coast, possibly near Tynemouth, this time staff and children from the school are joined by a large dog. A change of location and the school group takes refreshment near an ornamental wall, while others sit on grass not far from a road. A group of children in wheelchairs and school staff enjoy a sunny spell of weather. Another change of location follows as the group picnic next to a large pond in a park The fun of the fair is next as the children, with help from the adults, enjoy rides in dodgem cars at a fairground. Another group goes on to seek excitement on the ride named ‘Sheeran’s Cyclone Twist’ where chairs go around a roundabout but also spin on their own axis. More views follow of children in dodgem cars. Staff and children gather together near one of the other amusements, another roundabout, some of the children take a ride. A toffee apple store attracts the attention of a few of the children. Two others stop at a kiosk selling lettered rock. Inside one of the amusement arcades, a couple of children try a rocket ride, under supervision from one of the school staff. Another view follows of the Cyclone Twist ride seen earlier, children and staff sit in the seats provided for the ride, waiting for it to start. More views follow of children enjoying dodgem car rides then the film cuts to children and staff on the beach. A boy plays with a piece of driftwood, using it to dig the sand. Another boy walks near the sea with his fishing net. A girl, with staff assistance, paddles in the shallows. They both walk barefoot across the sand towards the camera. Another girl plays in the sand with her hands, smiles, and waves at the camera, the girl who has just been paddling joins in with the digging. A boy crawls across a dry area of beach on all fours. The girl who had been paddling digs with her hands in softer dry sand. A boy appears on the beach in a wheelchair. In a wheelchair next to him is one of the girls seen earlier. They both smile at the camera. Another of the girls is carried across the beach by two members of staff. She is placed on the lap of her digging companion who sits in a wheelchair. The film ends as two women walk hand in hand on either side of one of the children as they walk towards the camera and off the beach.