This amateur film features pupils from the Percy Hedley School, Newcastle making a visit to Windsor Castle in Berkshire, followed by a trip along the River Thames, then a visit down to the seaside on the south coast. The film opens on a roadside motel with a sign on its central tower which reads ‘Excelsior Motor Lodge’ In the nearby car park are three mini-buses from the Percy Hedley School. The first bus shown has a Round Table insignia on the passenger door, the driver’s door of the third...

This amateur film features pupils from the Percy Hedley School, Newcastle making a visit to Windsor Castle in Berkshire, followed by a trip along the River Thames, then a visit down to the seaside on the south coast. The film opens on a roadside motel with a sign on its central tower which reads ‘Excelsior Motor Lodge’ In the nearby car park are three mini-buses from the Percy Hedley School. The first bus shown has a Round Table insignia on the passenger door, the driver’s door of the third bus shown displays the words ‘Percy Hedley School’. Members of staff standing near the vehicles pose for the camera. An interior view of one of the buses shows children sitting patiently. The film cuts to a country road sign for Norman Cross a village near Peterborough. The camera moves round to show the staff and children taking refreshments on grass near the road, near to the school buses. An old wooden cart is used as a plant and flower display. The film cuts to the school group, with many of the children in wheelchairs, as they gather outside a brick building. The film cuts to show the high iron gates and the imposing towers of Windsor Castle. A sentry wearing a Coldstream Guards uniform stands at the gates. A change of scene follows as wheelchair users are pushed along the pavement of a tree-lined street. They make their way to the entrance of a public park to gather with the others next to willow trees overlooking the River Thames. Two of the group get a close look at a swan which has come over to the river bank hoping for some food. Members of the school group have been playing football near the river, the ball now in the river, floats some way off. A brief view shows boats moored along the river bank. The children and staff enjoy the weather and shade amongst the bankside willow trees In the background the welcoming sight of a nearby ice cream kiosk. More views show the holiday group on the bank of the Thames looking at an array of riverboats moored on the opposite bank. A group gathers on the edge of the river to throw morsels of food at a swan. A change of view shows an information sign which reads, ‘35mins Return Trip to Boveney Lock Fare -Adults 20p Children 10p – ‘Day on the Boat’ – Golding Bros [indistinct] Estate 60676’ The school group gets on board a river cruiser, which has wooden benches covered by a canopy. Onboard everyone turns to look at the camera as they are about to set off along the Thames. Views show how wide the Thames is at Windsor, a small motorboat passes the tourists' boat. Moored along one bank lined with willow trees are a number of luxury cabin cruisers. Another packed sightseeing craft goes by in the opposite direction, it’s nameplate reads, ‘Windsor Lady’. Onboard views show children and staff enjoying the trip, one boy waves at the camera. A sign on the bank reads, ‘Private – Royal Windsor Racecourse Landing Stage [last line indistinct]’ The boat heads towards Windsor Castle in the distance, a staff member takes a photograph as they approach. Away from the river school group gather together for the camera [over exposed] A change of view as the three school mini-buses are parked outside a large two storey building which has a long single storey extension. A group of pupils and staff gather on a tree-lined grass verge next to a narrow road. Some of the group go deeper into the woods. A view looks back to the buildings where the school buses are parked. In part of the nearby wood, some of the boys explore a small wooden cabin. A couple of others sit on the seat of an old Ferguson tractor they’ve found. The tractor soon attracts attention from more of the children, others have found a set of swings in a playground to occupy them. Other pupils and members of staff explore other parts of the estate where some single storey buildings are built around paved areas. Out on the road again the school buses are parked near a sign which reads ‘Feeding of Animals Prohibited – Penalty £20.00’. This may be the New Forest where the native forest ponies graze. The holiday group is parked on a grassed area near a road, they gather around the back of the vehicles. Some ponies graze in the scrubland nearby, which attracts the attention of some of the visitors who approach the animals. Team sport follows next as a member of staff throws a ball and a game of football ensues, which at one point looks like a game of rugby as a number of players fall on top of the ball. A member of staff rescues the ball and the game carries on. The view changes as the school members gather on the banks of a river next to a wooden cabin. A good number of cabin cruisers are moored on the opposite bank. The film cuts to a suburban setting and a pub sign reads, ‘Arundel Arms – Take Courage’ Take courage in this context refers to the beer on sale, Courage being the name of the supplying brewery, and owner of the pub. The camera shows two of the school buses in traffic nearby waiting to move off. The vehicles are waiting at a level crossing as the gates are closed until a train has passed. A view from one of the closed gates shows the approaching train coming into Ford station in West Sussex which is just along from the crossing. A passenger train goes over the crossing in the opposite direction away from the camera. The approaching passenger train stops to pick up passengers. The train moves off across the level crossing. The holidaymakers sit on a grassed area near the buses eating and drinking. The weather is sunny and some wear swimming costumes. An overhead view shows staff members preparing meals, more general views follow with the children eating or sitting on a tarpaulin as staff hand around trays of food. The view changes to the sea, some of the holiday group run through shallow water as it sweeps up the beach. With the aid of a walking stick, one of the boys runs into the sea. One of the girls sits on the sand putting on plimsolls. A view follows of a number of pairs of shoes or boots waiting for their owners to return. Another general view shows the children playing in the shallows The camera picks out an abandoned walking stick lying on the beach. A couple of female staff members wheel one of the group down to the sea in a wheelchair. The adults get ready to go in the sea, one of them helps the girl to walk to the shallows. The second female member of staff rolls up her trousers and wades in. The wheelchair is left looking forlorn and abandoned. Another girl comes prepared for the sea helped by another member of staff. A metal and leather leg brace is left beside a wooden groyne on the beach. Back on the grass in the shadow of a youth hostel building with a greenhouse or conservatory along one side, some of the group play cricket. A passenger’s eye view follows of the driver of one of the buses, with countryside passing by his window. They make their way through a town [over exposed], the film ends as a phantom passenger view reveals a cathedral or large church dominating the skyline.