This film is a large compilation of amateur film based mainly in Chester-le-Street, Views of individual locations and events is included often different parts of the film. However, the content does represent a view of life in Chester-le-Street in the middle of the last century. The film opens on a gathering of men belonging to the National Union of Mineworkers. The banner which represents the local membership is held upright as the group prepare to march. A change of view follows to another...

This film is a large compilation of amateur film based mainly in Chester-le-Street, Views of individual locations and events is included often different parts of the film. However, the content does represent a view of life in Chester-le-Street in the middle of the last century. The film opens on a gathering of men belonging to the National Union of Mineworkers. The banner which represents the local membership is held upright as the group prepare to march. A change of view follows to another banner with other men and women marching alongside. The march may be part of the Durham Miners Gala. A brass band with accompanying followers passes along a street of terraced houses. The band stops and plays, then the marching continues, groups of men pose for the camera. Other groups stand and chat amongst themselves near parked coaches. A view follows of the interior of a marquee [quite dark]. The film moves outside where a man stands behind the passenger door of his white Ford Zephyr. A large sign written in red and white on a nearby building reads ‘Major Road Ahead’ The man opens the bonnet of the Zephyr and looks studiously at the engine. The man eventually gets into another car and other men nearby get into their cars. [Dark Section] The film goes back to the white car, the area nearby probably belongs to a garage. The film abruptly moves on to a man and two women standing next to a revolving display. The film moves on again to a windy field where a football game is underway with some of the participants in fancy dress. The film changes again to a marching band with a crowd following, including some in fancy dress. A very dull day follows in a town or village centre as a marching band with followers carrying a banner approaches the camera. The marchers stop and the film picks out several participants, with general views of others as the camera moves amongst them. A change of scene follows as the film shows several lorries parked on a plot of land behind wire fencing. The film moves to a commercial garage nearby, with a painted sign above the doorway which reads; ‘Coneside Motors (Chester-Le-Street) Ltd.’ The film cuts back to a relaxed moment for a brass band as the players chat amongst themselves [very dark]. Groups of police and other service men, women and cadets wait to form a parade. The band take up their instruments and march [very dark], the service personnel follow on. Umbrellas appear in the gathering of spectators as the weather deteriorates. A different view follows as the film looks over rooftops to nearby Lumley Castle. Next a coach, registration number LVP 442 approaches the camera. The film cuts back to the lorry park seen earlier with vans and lorries displaying the name and details of the owner which is C A Bambrough Transport Contractor Phone 2182 Chester-Le-Street. The next section shows men working in a garage building or industrial shed. They are working on the underside of the roof, using the raised bucket of a mechanical shovel as a platform where they can get access to the roof. A brief view of a street with local traffic follows then two men associated with the Coneside garage seen earlier walk towards the camera, another two walk past and look towards the camera. An abrupt change in view as man attends to the maintenance of one of the large wheels of a traction engine. Another man applies a large wrench to a bolt on the outside of the engine’s boiler. Two children attend to one of the wheels of the engine, one of them polishes the hub. A brief view of a spectacular sunset is followed by a view of a large excavator at work in a quarry or open cast mine. Next a dark view of the interior of a refreshment tent where people chat, smoke and drink. A view outside shows a couple, the man wearing mayoral chains, climb aboard a Foden steam lorry. The owners name appears on the coachwork; ‘Harry P Thompson, Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street , County Durham – Phone 3007. The woman is helped down from the steam lorry and stands next to a Jaguar car. She speaks using a microphone over the public address system to the assembled crowd. The mayor then speaks as does another man following on. The woman receives a bouquet from another woman who wears a top hat. The film moves on to a view of a traction engine race probably at the Chester-le-Street Steam Fair at Lambton Park the first one was held in 1956. The woman and mayor each enjoy rides on different traction engines. After a pause in proceedings the racing continues. The woman who was with the mayor stands with an older woman as they pose for the camera. Next a view follows of an elaborate steam organ made by Gavioli and powered by a static traction engine nearby. A convoy of traction engines enter the show field, general view show the crowd enjoying the spectacle. The older woman seen earlier presents a sash to another young woman which reads ‘Miss G.I.G.F.Y. 1963’ A change of view shows men at the controls of a steam traction engine, followed by groups of men surrounding the engine talking amongst themselves. Next a traction engine goes by pulling a wagon full of children. General views follow showing various engines on the competition field. A view of a small boy looking out of the cabin of a steam lorry is followed by several steam lorries being put through their paces. General views of the event follow, including views of the car park. Brief views follow of two traction engines racing each other, some other racing engines, and general views of the spectators. Chester-le-Street Model Engineering Society has a display at the show. Two men show off a scale model of an LNER steam locomotive. A smaller working scale model of a traction is let loose on the ground Many of the traction engines have the owners name painted on the canopy above the engine. One of the engines belongs to R. Preston of Potto in North Yorkshire, another belongs to Alma Bates, Iveston near Consett. Several commercial tents or marquee’s promote wide ranging products including Calor Gas portable gas canisters, footwear and clothing available at Macrae’s, 34 North Road, Durham and bricks at Blythe’s Birtley Bricks. Judges examine the traction engines on display including one belonging to T E Tate, Low Fell, Durham. A Morris J Type van appears on display, promoting the owners; Thompson and Son builders, decorators and signwriters. A policeman stands at the entrance to Durham County Police’s road safety exhibition in a large marquee. A grand assortment of steam lorries and traction engines in their colourful liveries in bright sunshine captures the attention of onlookers. A woman poses for the camera which has the date 1958 written on a sash she is wearing. Steam lorries and traction engines enter the display field, the film cuts to a biplane performing acrobatics in sky overhead, another plane, a single wing aircraft also flies over the event. The film changes location with views from a small boat out at sea. The film cuts briefly to railway station platform, then to a crane lowering a small cabin cruiser into a harbour. A view from a sailing vessel shows ships moored along the riverbank probably on Tyneside as views follow of the riverside area at Newcastle and the Tyne bridge. The film cuts to the small cabin cruiser seen earlier out at sea with rather erratic views of the rough water. A change to the film as a group of people gather at what appears to be a garden party, with a covered stall and home-grown vegetables on display. General views show elderly people sitting on benches, others play bingo on a table under the shade of a canopy. General views follow of people chatting to each other and enjoying themselves. A fancy-dress competition is held, and a close view follows of a lapel badge worn by one of the men at the gathering, it indicates that he is an executive member of the National Federation of Old Age Pension Associations. A change of venue as the film moves to a colliery and a view of a banner representing the South Pelaw district of the National Union of Mineworkers. Adults and children gather, then they start marching behind a brass band. The band heads the march along a road and into town. The film cuts to a display stand possibly at Durham County Show with a sign for the Rootes group, car manufacturers, on display. The vehicles nearby are lorries including one from the C A Bambrough fleet seen earlier in the film. A brief view follows of men drinking in a marquee which is functioning as a refreshments venue. The film moves back to the vehicle display where other companies vehicles are on show. The film moves on to a display of show jumping possibly at Durham County Show, the crowd gathers round the perimeter fence to watch the competition. The next view returns to the Coneside Motors garage seen earlier in the film. What appears to be a brand-new lorry pulls up outside. A change of scene follows as a young man smiles and walks towards the camera. Behind him is a kiosk advertising ices, minerals and tea. A sign on the roof of the kiosk reads ‘Gabriele’s’. A young woman relaxes on a nearby swing. Next a troop of policemen with some other people in ordinary day wear arrive at a church and are welcomed by a bugle fanfare. Also arriving at the church are nurses and members of the St John Ambulance Brigade. The film then shows the choir and members of the clergy leaving the church. The whole congregation gathers outside in a memorial garden where a plaque is unveiled on a wall behind a wooden bench. The film the moves on to a game of cricket presumably at the old Chester-le-Street cricket ground, players are shown leaving the field of play, then returning. The film goes back to a close up of a lorry belonging to the C A Bamborough fleet seen earlier, this is followed by views of other lorries parked by the Coneside Motors garage. Several drivers pose for the camera. Next is a view of a Salvation Army band along with a group of onlookers standing nearby. The band play as they march along a street. A group of policemen, nurses, and members of the St John Ambulance Brigade follow. The film moves back again to the transport firm of C A Bambrough, where drivers stand next to one of the lorries and pose for the camera, more views of other lorries in the fleet follow. A view of a cricket match cuts to a rowing race between two boats on the River Wear at Durham. Each boat has four rowers and a cox steering. A man adjusts a cine camera on a tripod, nearby other people gather on an area of grass, possibly Palace Green near Durham Cathedral. The group get directions from another man who assisted with the camera. The film then goes back to cricketers practising, then the film moves to a terrace overlooking the ground where a group of men chat amongst themselves. Views follow of the game then the film shows practice sessions between bowlers and batsmen. A brief view follows of women watching the match from inside the clubhouse, then the film goes back to the main game. A change of scene shows a large crane lifting a heavy load. The load appears to be machinery which may belong to another crane or excavator which is being constructed on site. Another different location shows an indoor trade display possibly at Durham County Show for EKCO radios, some men at the display chat amongst themselves. A view of a Ford Consul or Zephyr car [quite dark] on a slowly rotating display stand. Outside at a garage a group of men get into their cars, the film moves briefly to people enjoying refreshments in a marquee which is followed by more views outside the garage. The next sequence shows more of the construction of a large excavator seen earlier at an open cast mine. The cabin on the new excavator bears the name Mears Brothers. A smaller excavator puts spoil or coal into a waiting lorry, further general views of the working vehicles follow. The film moves on to another cricket match. Black & White Section. Chester-le-Street & District Sea Cadets Corp launch a small boat given by the Admiralty at Sunderland Docks. A small curtain is pulled back on the boat to reveal the vessels name; TS Donald Owen Clarke (19.6.1959) which appears on a plaque. A dedication is performed by Rev. Titterington, Methodist Minister of Chester-le-Street. Officers raise their caps in salute and a woman official is escorted from the boat. The film goes on to show a group of people enjoying a trip on a small cabin cruiser. A brief view follows of a bowling match followed by some other people playing tennis. The film then goes back to the bowling. Next follows a brief view of parked lorries, which then moves on to a tractor cutting grass in a field. A view follows showing the turrets of Lumley Castle towering over suburban houses Colour Bowlers and batsmen engage in cricket practice; a group of cricketers’ man-handle a large roller over the pitch. More views follow of the excavators seen earlier at work, which is followed by general views of C A Bambrough’s fleet of lorries and then the Mear’s Brothers excavators at work again, followed by views of a sunset. More views follow of the excavator seen earlier being constructed using cranes, then the film cuts back to cricket practice. A change of scene follows as members of the St John Ambulance Brigade and cadets gather outside a building. Bench seats are set out in a field in front of a covered stage. A mayor wearing official regalia stands with members of the St John Ambulance Brigade. The mayor turns a key in a nearby door. The occasion appears to be the official handing over of premises to the brigade. General views follow of officials and members of the St John Ambulance Brigade which ends the film.