Produced by John McIvor of Film Entertainment Video Services the 18th birthday of a disabled man, John Smith, taking place inside the Hartlepool Catholic Men’s Social Club on the 26th March 1987. Guests sit around tables inside the club chatting over drinks, on the dancefloor some of John’s disabled friends are helped to dance along to the music. After a buffet meal the birthday cake is cut followed by a speech made by John’s mother and a toast. The remainder of the film shows guest dancing...

Produced by John McIvor of Film Entertainment Video Services the 18th birthday of a disabled man, John Smith, taking place inside the Hartlepool Catholic Men’s Social Club on the 26th March 1987. Guests sit around tables inside the club chatting over drinks, on the dancefloor some of John’s disabled friends are helped to dance along to the music. After a buffet meal the birthday cake is cut followed by a speech made by John’s mother and a toast. The remainder of the film shows guest dancing and singing along to the music including ‘Agadoo’ by Black Lace and ‘Celebration’ by Madonna. At night the Hartlepool Catholic Men’s Social Club on Marlowe Road in Hartlepool Title: Johns 18th Birthday Party. 26.3.87 Title: Held in the Catholic Club Hartlepool Inside the club two young women sit at table beside a tray of drinks chatting. Around the large room men and women sit around tables chatting over drinks, an older woman leans in close to the birthday boy cupping his face and to speak to him with a smile. On the dancefloor parents and guardians help their disabled children to dance along to the music, one boy in a striped top is being pushed in his wheelchair. Around the room men and women continue to sit at tables talking over drinks. At the back of the room a large table has been set up and is filled with food such as meat pies, salad, and a bowl of pickled onions. A queue of women forms to the buffet tables with paper plates being filled with various foods stuffs. On a smaller table the birthday cake in the shape of a Subbuteo pitch that includes players and a ball. ‘Happy Birthday John’ is written along the side and the base. Back at their tables guests enjoy their food, John’s father presents a trophy in the shape of a football for his son to hold, he then takes it away. His parents stand beside him as John cuts his cake, his mother claps along to the song ‘Congratulations and Celebrations’. While she is clapping her husband’s holds up his sons chin up so that he can watch. John’s mother makes a speech thanking everyone who has helped out with the birthday party, her husband and John stand beside her. Gifts are then presented to some of the party guests. John is wheeled around the room past friends and family as ‘Happy Birthday’ is being played over the loudspeakers; she holds up John’s head in order for him to see everyone. A young man gently rubs John’s cheeks as he passes, everyone is smiling, and many are clapping along to the music. On the stage John’s mother stands behind the DJ’s desk with a glass of whiskey or equivalent. Everyone is on the feet as she makes a toast to her son. The toast over the music begins again and couples begin to ballroom dancing on the dancefloor, a woman and small girl dance together, the girl holding a red balloon. A woman rolls John out onto the dancefloor and gently pushes him to the music. The music changes and people begin to Swing dance beneath a large glitter ball. Everyone laugh’s while singing and dancing along to Black Lace’s ‘Agadoo’ and other popular dance tunes. Women dance along to Madonna’s ‘Celebration’ followed by the crowd dancing other hits of the day, John watches from the side sitting on his mother’s knee. To a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Along’ his party guests join hands forming a circle around John now back in his wheelchair in the middle of the dancefloor. The song over people come over to congratulate him, other prepare to leave the club. John and his parents pose together for the closing credits, his mother holds up his head. Title: Many happy returns and best wishes John Credit: A Film Ent—Video presentation End credit: Tel Stockton 553120