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Strongman Demonstrations in Peterborough

1960 , Peterborough (Cambridgeshire)

Cat no. 212885

An Anglia Television report, featuring two stunts by Latvian-born strongman, daredevil and swimming pool attendant Walter Cornelius.

Cornelius, a muscle-bound strongman, uses his bare hands to break a pair of thick steel nails, bending them back and forth until they break. The broken nails are inspected by a bystander, who presents them to the camera. Later, Cornelius picks up a small concrete slab - approximately 3-4 inches think - and crouches down, placing it on his head. His assistant raises a large sledgehammer, dropping it down onto the concrete slab, which refuses to break. On the second attempt, however, the slab is broken into three pieces, watched by a group of boys on bikes. The film concludes with a close-up of the successful attempt, replayed in slow-motion.

Keywords

Strongmen

Background Information

Walter Cornelius was a bona fide local celebrity in Peterborough. Born in Latvia in 1923, he held numerous world records and was known for his various strongman stunts and daredevil escapades, as well as for being the lifeguard at the local lido. He even has a Facebook group dedicated to his memory: https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64232987178

Manifestations

Strongman Demonstrations in Peterborough

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