A participatory film that begins with a local history event taking place in a community hall with people looking over displays of archive photographs relating to the Skinningrove and East Cleveland ironstone industry and local area. In the second part of the film a procession and community event that may relate to the 1985 Skinningrove Bonfire as it features the character ‘Fiery Jack’ who was the well-known local man and was the theme of the 1985 bonfire. In a community hall a crowd of...

A participatory film that begins with a local history event taking place in a community hall with people looking over displays of archive photographs relating to the Skinningrove and East Cleveland ironstone industry and local area. In the second part of the film a procession and community event that may relate to the 1985 Skinningrove Bonfire as it features the character ‘Fiery Jack’ who was the well-known local man and was the theme of the 1985 bonfire. In a community hall a crowd of predominantly older people look over displays of historic photographs of the local area. Many of the chat amongst themselves remembering the past. Other display boards show photographs and historic documents relating to several families who lived in the area at the turn of the 20th century as well as details relating to the ironstone industry. Along a suburban street a procession of mainly children and women prepares to move off behind a large banner, a reproduction of the Skinningrove Friendship Lodge banner featuring an image of David defeating Goliath and the moto ‘He that would be free must strike the blow’. A man bangs a drum, and the procession gets underway with many of those taking party carrying homemade banners relating to Skinningrove character ‘Fiery Jack.’ Another musician plays a guitar while at the rear a giant puppet believed to be a representation of Fiery Jack. The procession makes its way through Skinningrove and into a field where crowds of local people have gathered. With the drum still being beaten the procession walks around the field after which all the banners are placed into the ground. The man banging the drum makes a proclamation to the crowd with regards Fiery Jack after which the children from the procession dressed in homemade costumes hold a performance relating to the Skinningrove’s famous ‘pit pies.’ Nearby written on whiteboard the words of the song for people to read. The performance over people wonders around the site passing an ice cream van and a steam traction engine on display. A local juvenile jazz band perform a routine for the crowd. In a shed beside a row of terraced buildings a horse-drawn wagon with its rear doors open. Views inside revealing it to be an early ambulance. [Blank] Returning to the event in the field people continuing to mill around after which children of various ages taking part in a series of races. The film ends on both adults and children taking part is several tug-o-wars.