This amateur film shows a hostelling trip by pupils of Percy Hedley School, Newcastle to Cumbria and Scotland. The film opens showing three mini-buses and a larger coach parked outside a single story building. A young boy runs across the car park. Inside the building, a number of people sit at tables in a restaurant for a meal. A view of the entrance to the building shows a sign on the wall which reads, ‘Restaurant and Toilets’. Pupils, some in wheelchairs, and staff start to leave the...

This amateur film shows a hostelling trip by pupils of Percy Hedley School, Newcastle to Cumbria and Scotland. The film opens showing three mini-buses and a larger coach parked outside a single story building. A young boy runs across the car park. Inside the building, a number of people sit at tables in a restaurant for a meal. A view of the entrance to the building shows a sign on the wall which reads, ‘Restaurant and Toilets’. Pupils, some in wheelchairs, and staff start to leave the building. They make their way onto the mini-buses. A view follows of the first mini-bus, Percy Hedley Schools own mini-bus with a trailer carrying wheelchairs as it starts to leave the car park. The other buses start to follow. The view changes as the hostellers gather on the banks of a large lake and take in the views across the water to the mountains and hills beyond. The travelers gather around the trailer of the Percy Hedley School bus which is parked next to a stone-built building. Another mini-bus a Variety Club Sunshine Coach is parked nearby the third mini-bus is unmarked and is parked between the others. A pupil in the Percy Hedley bus waves at the camera. A general view of the building shows it to be a large house with some half-timbered walls on the upper story. Pupils and staff get aboard the buses. The film cuts to a view of a horse grazing on moorland with a foal nearby. The film moves back to the hostellers who are leaving their buses which are now in a car park. Another mini-bus parked next to a wall has written on it, ‘The Spastics Society Irton Hall School’ The building in Eskdale Cumbria, has a history dating back to the 14th century. Staff and students make their way to a fortified section of the old house where they take in the views across the fields and mountains of the Lake District. Another view looks down on the extensive buildings which make up the school. A man accompanying the group seems to be acting as a guide as he points out locations. A view of the gardens around the hall reveals a small twin-propeller plane parked near rhododendrons. A closer view shows that it must be a permanent fixture as most of each wing has been removed. In another part of the garden a traction engine is parked. Elsewhere on the estate one of the girls tries out a playground swing. Some of the other pupils check over the static plane. One of the school staff members climbs up some steps and opens a door on the side of the plane. The film cuts back to the swing, now fully occupied. An old-fashioned self-propelled roundabout or ‘teapot lid’, attracts two of the boys. A member of staff and one of the pupils try a see-saw, some others climb on including a member of staff who holds one of the girls to keep her secure as the see-saw moves. General views show other pupils trying the rides, with help from staff. The view changes as a wheelchair and occupant are pushed along a driveway near the school buildings. Staff and school pupils explore more of the gardens and play areas. A bird is held by a pupil or member of staff for the camera, it’s carefully placed in some long grass. A general view follows of a caravan park which pans round to show the pupils gathering at an ice cream kiosk. On the tarmac immediately in front are the words, ’Boat Park’. Ice creams are distributed to the pupils by staff. Another change of view shows a car park overlooking the open sea. A sign on a nearby gate reads, ‘Ennerdale R.D.C. Access Road To Beach For Boat Launching Only, Cars Must Be Parked On The Car Park.’ A dog ‘persuades’ one of the pupils to part with his ice cream. The mini-buses park near a field where there is a horse and foal. The horse seems to be fed tit-bits from one of the buses. The next view appears to be in a public park [over exposed], where the hostellers sit around picnic tables and have refreshments not far from the car park. A change of view follows as the hostellers pose as a group for the camera outside the entrance of a large stone building which is Ayr youth hostel. members of the group wave at the camera. General views show this grand stone building with its distinctive turret-like features with conical roofs. A sign on the gateway reads, ‘Scottish Youth Hostels Association’. The group gathers next to a view of open water, with hills in the distance. A ferry approaches the quayside or jetty where the group is watching. The approaching vessel is called, ‘Queen Mary II’. Pupils and staff get on board. A sign on a nearby building on the quayside reads ‘Largs’ as the ferry moves off. Onboard seagulls fly alongside the boat trying to snatch tit-bits from outstretched hands. Inside part of the school, the group looks out of a window at the spectacular landscape. On deck, some of the wheelchair users are pushed along by staff. A couple of staff members pose for the camera. Another pupil sits on one of the deck seats reading his comic. A girl in a wheelchair smiles for the camera [over exposed] Others stay sheltered in the enclosed area of the ferry. Some of the boys cast a fishing line from the deck railing. A change of scenery follows as the mini-buses stop next to an AA (Automobile Association) emergency telephone box. The location is probably the famous electric brae also known as Croy Brae in Scotland where a natural optical illusion gives the impression of objects being able to roll uphill. The film changes to the hostelling group walking through a grand stone archway, in the centre of a castellated stone wall. The group gathers together in front of the wall. The hostellers explore the ramparts of a castle or fortified house. One boy poses for the camera leaning on a small cannon. More members of the school group come through the archway. A smaller group walk towards the camera as they set off to explore other areas of the castle. A view follows of birds eating scraps of food scattered on the ground. The film cuts to a swan on open water with a group of ducks. The hostellers explore a pathway where benches are placed on nearby grass so that visitors have a comfortable view of the duck pond. The group stops at the wall that borders the pond. A traveling view follows as the camera looks directly into the wing mirror of one of the buses. One of the other mini-buses follows closely behind. A phantom passenger view shows another of the buses just ahead on a country road. A view follows of two of the girls on the trip onboard one of the buses smiling at the camera. A general view shows the other passengers. The group has stopped at an airport and from the viewing gallery, they watch as a Boeing airliner takes on passengers. A close-up view shows a wall plaque with letters SYHA, the Scottish Youth Hostel Association. The buses wait in the car park of Ayr youth hostel seen earlier, the hostellers are getting ready to leave. Together the buses leave the car park and drive past the camera. Onboard one of the buses the camera captures the driver concentrating on his driving. A phantom passenger view follows of the road ahead, going through a hilly landscape. The buses stop in a village high street. One of the staff members is checking something underneath the front of the Variety Club bus. Staff members look concerned as the problems seem to be with one of the wheels A dedication on the driver’s door of the bus reads, ‘Presented by the Variety Club of Great Britain Newcastle Committee in association with the Tyneside Angling Club’. Smiles from the concerned onlookers and a nod from the driver suggest that the problem is fixed. A change of scenery as a member of the Highland cattle breed stands placidly in a field as a number of staff members take its picture. Another stop-off follows at Gretna, at the Lovers Leap service area. Views show the school group getting back on the buses after having a snack at the nearby café. Another phantom passenger view follows showing the Variety Club bus in front as they travel down a country road, passing a road sign which says ‘England’ The buses turn into the main entrance at Percy Hedley School and park. The film ends showing staff and pupils getting out of the buses and a member of the resident staff coming out to meet them.