An amateur drama about a young couple on a hostelling holiday who stay at a Youth Hostels Association (YHA) hostel and meet travellers from France, German and Holland. Each of these European visitors provide details of facilities available in each of their counties as well as recounting adventures travelling around Great Britain. The husband also describes some of his hostelling adventures including a visit to Canterbury where the ghosts of pilgrims travelling the Pilgrim’s Way come to stay...

An amateur drama about a young couple on a hostelling holiday who stay at a Youth Hostels Association (YHA) hostel and meet travellers from France, German and Holland. Each of these European visitors provide details of facilities available in each of their counties as well as recounting adventures travelling around Great Britain. The husband also describes some of his hostelling adventures including a visit to Canterbury where the ghosts of pilgrims travelling the Pilgrim’s Way come to stay at the same hostel. The final part of the film features a local policeman who is distrustful both of hostellers in general, but more so of the foreign visitors. However, following a cycling accident with a Frenchman, the policeman’s opinions are changed when everyone works together to rescue his dog which had gotten stuck on a mountain. Title: YHA The Magic Triangle A still image of a stone cairn over the opening titles. Credit: Directed by Ernest Selley Scenario Morland Braithwaite, E. St John Catchpool, Leslie Baily and Frank Herbert Photographed and Edited by Morland Braithwaite A.R.P.S. Title: Factory scenes by kind permission of Norton Grinding Co. Ltd, Murphy Radio Ltd, Cadbury Bros Ltd Credit: Cast includes Denis Harper, Marguerite Gaufier, Richard Reiss, John Pettigrew, Richard Pettigrew, T. Ewart Perkins, James Hastie, Arthur Russell-Jones, “Jim” and The Cadbury Amateur Dramatic Society, Producer Mr Stephens A town or city skyline in the distance with several large chimney’s dotting the landscape. Closer, smoke billows from several large chimneys which form part of an industrial complex. Men arrive at work passing through a set of gates changes to large factory floor where mainly women work packing items into cardboard boxes. In another part of the factory beside a large turbine or equivalent a young man with a moustache and wearing overalls takes a note from his pocket and using the details on it begins filling out his time sheet. After clocking off work he leaves the factory reading a typed note that states that he has been given fourteen-day paid holiday. He casually walks home along a street changing to the dining room table where he finishes a cup of tea sitting next to his wife. Title: A fortnight’s holiday with pay! Now we can do that Y.H.A. tour which we planned As she clears away the table, he once again looks at the typed note. Over a cigarette he opens and looks at another sheet of paper. Title: We must book our Hostels now before they are full up She takes a bottle of ink, a pen and some paper down from a shelf and sits next to her husband to begin filling out a YFA booking form which she shows her husband. Back inside the factory the young man at work, he looks outside at a nearby chimney which morphs into a tree. Waves splash onto a long sandy beach as gulls fly overhead. In the distance out to sea the sun attempts to break through the clouds. In a garden a man hoes a patch of potatoes, nearby bees come and go from a hive. The film changes to a town or city that features a pedestrian crossing light and feet walking up and down a pavement. Cars and lorries speed past changing to various stop signs and light, some lit up at night. A policeman in white holds his right hand up to stop traffic. Title: STOP! At a railway station the signal reads go and a steam passenger train speeds past. Two other trains speed along their track’s changes to the couple, both wearing shorts, making their way to a railway station passing several large advertising signs attached to a fence. The couple make their way up a boulder field or scree with the camera focusing on their legs. As they appear around a hillside the film changes to a nearby road where two women ride past on bicycles. The couple climb over a stile walking along a path beside a road, they wave at two men who ride past on their bicycles. A YHA sign attached to a drystone wall, nearby a policeman and postman stand chatting with the policeman looking through some of the postman’s mail. He takes interest in a card written in French before handing them back to the postman. He points at the YHA sign behind them and the postman pats the policeman on the back before departing. The couple arrive and walk past the policeman followed by a man in a beret on a bicycle. Title: Come’ere, Rover, and stop nosin’ about A dog walks in front of the bicycle causing the cyclist to fall. He gets up and comes over to the policeman to pick up his bike. Tile: Ah, pardon, je suis desole, est-ce que je l’ai blesse, le chien? Mais je cherchais l’Auberge de la Jeunesse. Elle est par ici? The policeman looks on confused and scratches his head. The Frenchman points at the YHA sign. Title: Tiens, voila l’lenseigne, je ne l’avais pas vue, merci bien, meci mille fois... The Frenchman removes his beret and bows several times in front of the policeman before picking up his bicycle and after one final bow rides away. The policeman remains standing at the gate rubbing his chin in confusion. A metal YHA triangle attached to a wooden pole outside the host and the couple arriving and shake hands with the hostel warden. The man then presents his YHA membership card to the warden, a closeup of said card with stamps of the various hostels visited including Scarborough, Bridlington and York. The Frenchman arrives and interrupts the conversation, again he shows the warden his French YHA membership card. A fourth man appears from the hostel and the Frenchman shakes his hand vigorously. Everyone heads inside. In the male dormitory the Frenchman is shown his bed, he takes a top bunk while his companion takes the one below. The two men begin to unpack with the Frenchman placing his rucksack on the back of the dormitory door. He then unfurls a sheet from his bag and with the help of his friend makes his bed. After helping his friend make his bed, the film changes to the hostel kitchen where the Frenchman makes a pot of tea, around him other guests making their own meals. In a dining room everyone sits around a long table eating and chatting happily. The meal over everyone heads into the kitchen each carrying piles of plates and other crockery with everyone helping with the washing up. Title: End of Part One. The Magic Triangle [Blank] Title: Part Two. The Magic Triangle In the hostel common room a pair of shoes drying next to a fire. Around them are four pairs of feet in matching socks and shoes. Three of these pairs of feet below to the couple and a second man who are looking at a map. Around the fire other guest sit chatting, several women at the back of the room are also knitting. The warden comes into the room holding the hostel guest book, his finger goes down the list of name and nationalities. He stands beside the fire and looks around the room at his guests with a smile. Title: We have many nationalities here tonight The Frenchman gets to his feet and addresses the room with a smile. Title: I come all the way from France to see your beautiful country. I will tell you… He continues to address the room. Title: My good friends here they come to Fontainebleau to help us build a hostel A steam passenger trains pulls into the railway station at Fontainebleau in France. The Frenchman and two of his friends greet and shake hands with a man changing to them all arriving at a house. They pass a man writing ‘Youth Hostel Association’ in chalk on one side of the hostel entrance wall, on the opposite ‘Auberge De Jeunesse’. A group of men inside a garage sit at a table chatting, the Frenchman again makes a speech. Title: You English did come with Friendship for our Movement Men and women work together helping to renovate the property, several men are cutting wood while women stand atop of steps cleaning windows and blinds. Beside a door in a courtyard a group of men and boys washing up. Behind them a door through which two men appear carrying plates. The pass two other men in a water trough, one of whom is washing the back of the other. Back inside the Frenchman continues to speak. Title: So I come to see England, I am a poor man… A car pulls up at garage near the hostel at Fontainebleau, a man comes over and checks on the engine. Leaning against a wall nearby a woman. Back in the hostel in England a German hosteller address those around the common room. Title: Come to see our wonderful River Rhine From a passenger boat on the Rhine a large steam paddle boat passing in the opposite direction and views of the surrounding landscape changes to show a large building built along the river, possibly the Youth Hostel Bacharach. Inside a large spacious dining room. Title… and modern buildings… A montage showing the exteriors of several large Bavarian-style building and chalets. Back in the English youth hostel another young man sitting beside the fire speaks. Title: Come also to Holland Near a Dutch market two local men stand chatting. At the market itself women wearing traditional Dutch caps or bonnets mingle with men chatting and looking around various stall. Title: You will love our old towns as I love your English hills and valleys and lakes A map of the Lake District in Cumbria featuring its many lakes and peaks changes to clouds over one of the said lakes and surrounding hills. The Dutchman in shorts and carrying a rucksack comes along a track and looks out upon the lake nearby. As he walks along a narrow road cars pass him in the opposite direction. He meets two other young men at a stile, they point in the direction they are travelling and all three head off together following a path beside the River Cocker. Title: Cockermouth Hostel.. an old mill They continue to follow the path arriving at the hostel, Double Mills. Following a brief return to the Dutch hosteller back at Cockermouth a group sit outside peeling potatoes. The three men walk along a path towards the hostel passing a couple pushing their tandem bicycle in the same direction. Outside the hostel a woman checks and stamps their membership cards. Title: Derwentwater with Skiddaw in the background Sitting against a tree the Dutchman looks out across Derwentwater below and the mountain Skiddaw in the distance trying to draw the scene. The other two men sit nearby changing to them working together to put up a tent on the hillside overlooking Derwentwater. The Dutch man walks past carrying a large jug of water changing to all three now working together to erect and make ready the tent. Title: Blea Tarn and the Langdale Pikes The three men walk along a path in the rain with the Langdale Pikes in the background changing to them sitting along the banks of Blea Tarn eating chocolate. Title: Tilberthwaite Gill near Coniston Again, in the rain the three men climb a set of steep steps and follow a boardwalk that passes along and across Tilberthwaite Gill before walking along what appears to be a ridge. One of the men dives into a lake and is joined by a friend for a swim. They get out and after drying themselves with towel after which one of them takes a photograph of the other only wearing his towel. At a café a waitress serves the three men tea and cake. Title: High Cross Castle, the Windermere Hostel Exterior views of the concrete castle and the three men walking through the garden to look out across Windermere. Returning to the Dutch hosteller in the common room he continues to speak to the room. Title: That’s just it. I couldn’t afford a real holiday till I joined YHA. But last year… A map showing the Bristol Channel, Mendip Hills and Exmoor amongst others, an arrow pointing at the Mendip Hills reads Burrington Combe. The Dutchman joins a couple walking along a country road, the other man is pushing a tandem bicycle. He say’s goodbye to the couple and heading off along a different path before stopping and removes his backpack. Tile: Goatchurch Cavern – one of many Mendip Caves After looking around he makes his way towards an open gate that leads down into a cave. He goes inside and carefully makes his way through the dark lighting a match before re-appearing into the sunlight outside. He continues his walk along a road before turning off and climbing a steep embankment. The map again this time with an arrow pointing at the cathedral city of Wells in Somerset. The Dutchman following a path around the moat surrounding The Bishop’s Palace before sitting on a wall with the towers of Well Cathedral in the background. A road sign for the village of Cheddar changes to the Dutchman walking along a path around the base of Cheddar Gorge. Cars pass him as he follows the road towards the summit with the camera panning around looking up the steep rockface of the gorge itself. From the top the surrounding rural landscape Title: End of Part Two. The Magic Triangle [Blank] Title: Part Three. The Magic Triangle Back in the hostel the Dutchman continues to speak to the other hosteller’. A road sign for the Alfoxton Park Hotel and Holford village is followed by the map again with the arrow this time pointing at the Quantock Hills and reading Holford Glen. The Dutchman follows a track and crosses a stream before picking and eating wild raspberries from a bush. He climbs a wooded hillside to reach open moorland looking out of the rural landscape below. The map again this time pointing at Exmoor and the arrow reading Dunster changing to the Dutchman walking through the Somerset village passing the Yarn Market. The map again this time the arrow pointing at the coastal village of Porlock also in Somerset. Writing on the side of a bus reads ‘Porlock Weir’ morphs into the Dutchman passing the Anchor Hotel at Porlock Weir heading down to the beach where in swimming trunks he goes swimming in the sea. Back in the hostel common room he continues to speak with those around him. Title: … and this year I’ve cycled over 600 miles! A spinning disc which stops to reveal the name Jordans. Attached to a tree a YHA sign for Welders Hostel Jordan and nearby the large wooden bunk house near the town of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire. Another sign for Jordans Meeting House changes to the Quaker meeting house itself. The spinning disc again this time reading Oxford. Cyclist and cars travelling along High Street in the city with the spire of Oxford Cathedral featuring in the near distance. One of the universities colleges and a garden built around its historic city wall changes to car driving under the Bridge of Sighs. A third spinning disc this time reading Stratford for Stratford-upon-Avon in the West Midlands. The exterior of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is followed by the spire of Holy Trinity Church and the Falcon Hotel on Chapel Street with three cyclists riding past. The sequence ends on Anne Hathaway’s Cottage . The spinning disc stops this time on the name Wilderhope and exterior views of the 16th century Wilderhope Manor at Rushbury in Shropshire now a YHA hostel. A large wooden door leads into the manor itself with additional views of the interior including its plaster ceiling. Back at the hostel the Dutchman continues to speak. Title: Next year I shall go abroad. My mates at the factory will think I’ve been left a fortune, but it will only cost a few shillings a day He finishes speaking and everyone laughs after which he and a friend head of to play a game of billiards. The young man with the moustache seen with his wife earlier in the film gets up and address the room. Title: It’s the variety I like You can stay in a modern hostel at Holmbury St Mary Exterior views of the YHA Holmbury St Mary Surrey Hills hostel and the young man walking towards it while smoking a pipe. In the hostel doorway he is greeted by the warden before heading inside followed by his wife. The man walks through the male dormitory placing his backpack on his own bed for the night. In the common room he looks around at a hostelling themed mural painted around the room above the windows. Sitting on the floor beside the fire two women looking at a map, he turns to them and points up at the mural. In the kitchen a woman removes a pie from an Aga oven changes to the couple coming into a dining room and approaching a closed servery window. He knocks on the wooden window which opens to reveal a woman in the kitchen. With a large pot beside her she places potatoes onto a place of food which is taken away by his wife. As the potatoes are added to the husbands plate he stands chatting with the woman in the kitchen. Title: From there you can walk back eight centuries along the Pilgrim’s Way to Canterbury From a field overlooking the city the spire of Canterbury Cathedral in the distance. The man walks through a field passing a local farmer, the spires of the cathedral now nearer. He walks beside a terraced building with ornately carved decorative edges and enters a doorway leading into the courtyard of a hostel. A plaque beside the entrance into the hostel itself reads ‘At Waysmeet Here ye shall all find food and rest’. He heads inside passing a couple sitting at a table and then upstairs into a dormitory where he places his rucksack and walking stick on a top bunk. Smoking his pipe he heads back outside, looks around and sits on a step contemplating. The film changes to a historic scene and a group of pilgrims, including a woman riding a donkey, arriving in the city through a gate and making their way slowly towards Canterbury Cathedral. One of the two monks leading the procession invites them to enter what appears to be the cathedral. The film returns to the young man sitting on the steps of the hostel courtyard as one of the monks walks into the courtyard from the street. With the pilgrims following behind him, he makes his way over and looks at the Waysmeet sign. He smiles at the pilgrims pass him heading inside the hostel. The young man gets up and walks over to the monk who after making the sign of the cross morphs into a woman who leads the young man inside. Back in the common room at hostel the man continues to talk with the other guests. Title: You can stay at Ilam Hall in Derbyshire In the village Ilan a gateway leading towards the hostel followed by exterior views of hostel at Ilam Hall nearby with the YHA triangle attached to the wall near the main entrance. The man continues to speak. Title: Or in the Shepherd’s Hut near Black Sail Pass in Lakelands In a remote Lake District valley, the Black Sail hostel with three young men arriving at it. Above the door the YHA triangle. Back in the common room the man finishes, and his wife begins to speak. Title: And all the different people you meet. Just imagine all of us here at our usual occupations The group in the common room sitting quietly around the fire morphs into them wearing various outfits or uniforms. One woman is dressed as a servant, another a teacher doing stretching exercises. A man sits on the floor reading a book wears an academic cap or mortis board while the young man featured in this film now wears his works overalls and appears to be trying to fix something. The scene morphs back to the room as it originally was. Outside in the rain the policeman seen previously looks through the window at the hostellers in the common room. They are all laughing and cheering. Title: Let us have three cheers for the YHA The young man with the moustache leads the group in three cheers with everyone shouting and raising their arms. Outside the policeman looks on in amazement pushing his nose up against the glass. The hostel warden comes back into the room and points at a clock on the wall which reads 10.30pm. Title: Time gentleman please With some yawning everyone gets up and heads upstairs to bed, the room empty the warden checks and winds his pocket watch. Title: End of Part Three. The Magic Triangle [Blank] Title: Part Four. The Magic Triangle The following morning a dog races out of house and charges off into the surrounding hills and mountains. The postman walks along a road carrying his sack of mail while up in the hills the dogs sit watching two sheep which run away with as the dog chasing after them. Back near the hostel a dammed section of river with some of the hostellers wearing swimming costumes diving into the water. They swim and play about in the river before getting out and drying themselves with towels. The woman in group leads the three men in vigorous stretching exercises. The postman arrives at the hostel and is greeted by the warden who collect the mail. The two men chat looking up at the surrounding hillside following the edge of a mountain range. The dog continues to chase after the two sheep who race of further into the hills. Back at the hostel the couple sit around a table enjoying their breakfast, beside them the Frenchman wearing his beret writing a card. Two men leave the hostel passing another couple standing in the doorway chatting. They collect their bicycles from a shed and wave goodbye as they cycle away. The sequence is intercut with the Frenchman and his friend upstairs in the male dormitory folding a blanket placing it on one of the bunks. The couple featured join the others in the hostel doorway as the Frenchman appears with the card in his hand. Title: I must go to the Village to the Post Everyone smiles and points at each other. Title: We’ll wait for our walk till you get back The Frenchman departs riding away on his bicycle, everyone in the doorway laughs and waves. Title: Mind you keep to the right side The Frenchman cycles along the road scratching his head. Title: “… keep to the right side” He continues to cycle along a different road still scratching his head. Title: “… keep to the right side” The sequence ends with him heads off into the distance. The house seen earlier where the dog escaped from, inside the policeman sits out of uniform besides his wife. As he talking to her he holds a clay pipe in his hand. Title: That there Youth ‘ostel can’t be no good. Foreigners and all sorts stayin’ there The policeman continues to speak with his wife. Title: ‘ikers all over the place, everywhere, dunno what the County’s comin’ to, that I don’t The wife attempts to calm her husband, but he continues to speak. Title: What I sez is it’s bound to lead to no good. You should ‘ave seen ‘ow they were a carryin-on last night! The policeman uses large hand gestures to illustrate his points. Title: I ain’t satisfied and I’m goin’ up there now to ask a few questions They both get up, the policeman putting in his jacket. Title: Them Foreigners are a danger on the roads. “Rover” was near killed by one yesterday The wife helps her husband put on his jacket and brushes his helmet before handing it to him. He leaves and stands in the doorway of his house whistling. Title: Drat the dog! Where is ‘e? As he steps into the street still whistling and looking for his dog, he doesn’t see the Frenchman on his bicycle behind him. They knock into each other and the Frenchman lands in the ground beside his bike. Getting to his feet the policeman walks over the Frenchman on the other side of the road and drags him to his feet. They argue about what happened with the policeman eventually leading the Frenchman and his bike away. They arrive back at the hostel where several hostellers are standing or sitting near the doorway. Amongst them are the couple the film has been following, on seeing the policeman the wife heading inside to find the warden. Title:… and what might you be wantin’? The policeman places his hand on the Frenchman’s shoulder. Title: Friend of yours is e? Well ‘e’s in trouble! The policeman continues to speak. Title: I charge ‘im with ridin’ a wheeled ve-hic-le, to wit a bicycle, to the public danger. The policeman reads from notes in his pad. Title: With not bein’ able to satisfactorily account for ‘is movements The policeman again places his hand on the Frenchman’s shoulder. Title:… and for endeavourin’ to undermine the Law of the Country! The hostel warden appears, and the Frenchman attempt to explain the situation to him waving his hands and arms to reiterate some of his points. The warden calms him and speaks with the policeman. As he does so another man rushes over pointing up into the surrounding hills. Title: There’s a dog on the Mountain seems to be injured, we couldn’t reach him The policeman looks up at the hills. Title: What sort of a dog? As the man attempts to describe to the policeman what kind of dog a brief shot of said animal in the hills. Title: That’s my dog The hostellers jump into action. Title: Get the ropes and climbing tackle. We’ll send out a Rescue Party As some of the group stand around chatting the young man and two others appear from the hostel carrying ropes following the man who informed them about the dog. The policeman follows leaving the Frenchman standing in the doorway speaking with the wife of one of the rescue party. Title: I now comprehend. I will rescue the dog He and the wife catch up with the rescue party and join them as they head into the mountains accompanied by the policeman. At the base of a rockface the rescue party prepare themselves and their ropes to climb. They point up at the summit with the camera following the craggy rock line. With everything ready one of the men begins the assent carefully making his way up the rockface. Following behind comes the Frenchman now wearing only a vest but still in his beret. The young man with the moustache follows next and a montage follows of all three carefully climbing towards wear the dog is trapped. The Frenchman arrives at the dog first and bandages a wounded paw before working with the other two to lower the animal back down to the ground in a hoist. At the base the policeman hugs and affectionately strokes his dog after which the party make their way back down the mountain. A new bandage is placed around the dogs’ paw by the Frenchman while the policeman continues to pet it affectionately. In front of the hostel the policeman shakes the warden hand, as he shakes the Frenchman’s he leans over and kissed the policeman on his cheeks. Everyone heads inside. Sits around the long dining room table everyone enjoys a celebratory meal. Bottles are placed on the table and the policeman picks one up to look at the label, ‘Corona Works’ Dandelion and Burdock. The policeman laughs as he opens his bottle. The content of the Frenchman’s bottle explodes as he opens his bottle, everyone laughs. Getting to his feet the policeman makes a speech. Title: ‘ere’s to all of you, your very Good ‘ealth He looks around the table. Title: ‘ere’s to our visitors from Abroad. May they always find a big welcome among friends in England The policeman raises his glass in a toast, everyone gets to their feet. Standing beside the hostel gate again the policeman and postman chat. The young couple and Frenchman walk past and the policeman stops the Frenchman to shake his hand and introduce him to the postman. After shaking his hand the three head off into the mountains walking along a rough track over steep terrain arriving at the summit and a stone cairn. They look out on the mountainous landscape around them. Title: At the mountain cairn is peace and freedom The three each pick up a stone placing it on the cairn. As the young man lights his pipe, he finds a piece of paper in his pocket. He looks at it revealing it to be the note he used at the start of the film to fill out his time sheet. The film ends on him laughs and lighting it using the embers of his pipe. A still image of the stone cairn. End title: The (YHA) End