This amateur film shows pupils from Percy Hedley School in Newcastle competing in the National Spastics Games at Stoke Mandeville Hospital at Aylesbury in 1969 and 1970. The film opens on a group of athletes, from Percy Hedley School, dressed in red tracksuits; some of the athletes are in wheelchairs. They are receiving instructions from an official. One of the girls in the group holds a rag doll as a mascot. On a platform with two flagpoles on either side of it, two men stand, one of them...

This amateur film shows pupils from Percy Hedley School in Newcastle competing in the National Spastics Games at Stoke Mandeville Hospital at Aylesbury in 1969 and 1970. The film opens on a group of athletes, from Percy Hedley School, dressed in red tracksuits; some of the athletes are in wheelchairs. They are receiving instructions from an official. One of the girls in the group holds a rag doll as a mascot. On a platform with two flagpoles on either side of it, two men stand, one of them speaks into a microphone. The teams of athletes listen attentively along with their helpers. A shot put event shows a Percy Hedley athlete in the red team colours preparing to put. The landing point of the shot is marked by an official. A wheelchair athlete is next as he puts his shot. General views show the event ground, with athletes and spectators milling around. A view of large marquee is followed by general views of athletes and officials. A girl from the Percy Hedley team prepares the first of a number of javelin throws at a target of concentric circles marked on the field, From a wheelchair, a member of the red team throws a club. The film cuts back to the girl who threw the javelin earlier, she now competes in the discus event. A view follows of the same competitor from a different angle as she throws again. More general views follow of the athletes on the field as preparations are made for another event. A male athlete from the Percy Hedley team throws a discus from his wheelchair. He makes three throws; a tape measure is shown at the mark where his discus landed. Another wheelchair athlete throws his discus, again a measure is taken. Another athlete from the school team uses a walking stick to steady himself as he makes his throw. The next throw he makes from a kneeling position. A field track event follows as four female athletes’ race towards the camera. A group of boys race along the same track. On a hard surface with designated lanes, athletes compete in a wheelchair race, as two boys race towards the camera. On the platform seen earlier, a man speaks into a microphone while another next to him holds up a sheet of paper. The teams gather to listen behind a nearby railing; the Percy Hedley team appears in their distinctive red sportswear. A woman presents an award to a boy from the Percy Hedley team. A male official gives an award to the girl who participated in the javelin and discus events seen earlier. The woman also presents an award to another of the male school athletes, another male athlete receives an award from another female official. A male official presents a second award to one of Percy Hedley male athletes and another male athlete receives an award, most of the team achieving success in their respective events. The film changes to what are probably the Percy Hedley school grounds in Newcastle where a male member of staff gives coaching to some boys who throw a large ball back to him. A boy in a wheelchair throws a basketball backward over his head. Next to him another athlete stands practising throwing an Indian club, another athlete in a wheelchair throws a small ball forward. Taking up a stance as though he was throwing a shot put, another athlete throws a football-size ball. A wheelchair athlete throws a discus. He wears the distinctive red tracksuit of the Percy Hedley team, the letters ‘PHS’ appear on the back of his jacket. A phantom passenger view from a vehicle shows it leaving the Percy Hedley School, waved off on its journey by other pupils and staff. A view from a coach shows them traveling past a sign indicating destinations south. Another road sign shows the coach is traveling along the M18 to the M1. A view in the coach’s wing mirror shows the cameraman filming himself. One of the travelers lays across one of the coach seats asleep. General views of the occupants show the rest of the team and staff. A phantom passenger view from the rear of the coach shows the traffic following and overtaking the coach. A brief view of the coach going forward shows a road sign for the M1. The coach carrying the Percy Hedley team arrives at The Stoke Mandeville Sport Stadium car park. A sign on the building reads ‘The Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Paralysed and other Disabled’ The team in their team colours of red tracksuits along with the team manager pose as a group in the stadium grounds. One of the team shows off the rag doll mascot. On a raised platform a group of the games’ officials stand, one of them speaks into a microphone. Another official makes a speech as the Percy Hedley team gathers behind nearby railings opposite the platform. General views show the team and staff waiting at the edge of a field, in wet weather. On a hard surface all-weather football pitch an athlete maneuvers his wheelchair through an obstacle course. A member of the Percy Hedley team follows on. A scrutiniser follows him to ensure he negotiates the obstacles correctly. Next a track event shows four riders on tricycles making their way along their assigned lane on the track. The official fires his pistol for the next four to start, they race to the finish. On the same track a wheelchair race follows. A change of event and a Percy Hedley athlete stands and throws a discus. Another fellow athlete throws his discus from a wheelchair. Another athlete throws a club as fellow athletes, as staff and officials look on. From his wheelchair an athlete throws a javelin. From the starting circle marked on the grass a team member dispatches a shot put, he then puts the shot again a walking stick helps him regain his balance after the put. A female athlete from the Percy Hedley team throws a club. A general view follows showing different teams, staff and officials. Another Percy Hedley athlete puts a shot, another throws a javelin to a target marked on the field, the athlete has three attempts at the target. Another member of the school team throws a basketball in a similar manner to putting a shot, he then makes another shot. The same athlete kneels in the starting circle and from that position throws a discus. A man nearby films his throw. An athlete from another team puts a shot and an athlete from the Percy Hedley team throws a javelin both make their throws from a wheelchair. Another Percy Hedley athlete throws a javelin, he takes three shots at the target, marked on the field A Percy Hedley team member has two attempts with the shot put. A female athlete steps up to put the shot, she also makes two throws. An athlete throws a small ball and throws it again. The point where the ball lands is marked by an official; the athlete follows up with a third throw. The female athlete from the Percy Hedley team seen putting the shot earlier, has two throws with a javelin. A young male athlete throws a basketball, and the point where it lands is marked, he has two more attempts. The letters ‘PHS’ appear on his team jacket, he picks up his walking stick and walks away from the event’s starting base. A team member in a wheelchair throws a javelin, at a target marked on the grass. His javelin lands near the centre, he makes two more attempts to score. From a wheelchair a male athlete from the school throws a club an official marks the spot on the field where it lands. Another wheelchair athlete possibly from another team throws his club, he then has another attempt. From a standing position a Percy Hedley athlete throws a club, and throws again. A male discus thrower makes the first of three throws. Each throw is marked by an official where it lands. A young athlete not wearing red, possibly from another team throws a club from his wheelchair. He makes three throws. Another discus thrower from Percy Hedley prepares the first of three throws from his wheelchair. An athlete wearing a green top, possibly a Percy Hedley athlete takes his three throws of the discus from his wheelchair. The award ceremony takes place, as a woman wearing a sash gives one of the Percy Hedley male athletes his award. Another team member collects his award which appears to be a medal in a box, from a male official who shakes the young man’s hand. A number of athletes from the school step forward to collect their awards some more than once, collecting a number of awards. A girl in a wheelchair presents a bouquet of flowers to the woman seen at the beginning of the award ceremony, everyone applauds. Another female official is also presented with a bouquet from one of the athletes. A man steps to the platform seen earlier and makes an announcement. The film ends with a view of the ecstatic Percy Hedley School team bathing in the glow of their success at the games.