Clacton-on-Sea Sports Meeting, July 27th 1929

Scenes of multiple games at the 1929 Clacton Sports Meeting.

The first shot is of the official party and the crowd shot through the iron gates at the entrance to the Recreation Ground. Alderman Brooks opens the gates to applause from the crowd. There is a shot of the crowd from the rear during the speeches. The people enter the recreation ground and also a lorry. There is a high-angle shot of the field including marquees and showing factories and houses in the background. Ropes are marking off the track. Crowds are gathered down one side. The hurdles are out in the middle. The camera pans around the field. The first sports event shown is a hurdles race. This is followed by a tug-of-war and a grass track cycle race.Throughout the film, the sports events are inter cut with crowd scenes. Some of these show the crowd posed for the camera, smiling and waving. One man waves his St. George's flag. Children can be seen on the grass in front. A later crowd shot shows firemen, policemen and boy scouts in the crowd.There are other cycle races, showing the start and finish. During one race the camera tries to follow the cyclists round. This is of limited success as the shots are out of focus. There is the final of the Essex Police Relay Race, a 4x440 yards race. This shows the start, men running, changing the baton and the finish. No-one is seen dropping a baton! Women's tug-of-war contests feature, some of them performed in fancy dress. There is a posed shot of a group of men. Some of them wear medals. There are more hurdles races shown, one showing a man hitting a hurdle and falling.Sports Meeting.The prizes are presented by the local MP, P.J. Pybus. He is introduced, makes a speech and then presents the prizes. Some of the prize winners receive trophies and medals. Others receive goods. Clocks are awarded and a canteen of cutlery. There is a push ball match sponsored by the Daily Mail. The spectators' shots at the end show an advertisement for Fine Suffolk Ales on the roof of the marquee

Featured Events

The Official Opening of the Clacton Recreation Ground.Sports Meeting at the above

Intertitles

Official opening of Clacton Recreation Ground by Alderman H.E. Brooks, LD, JP, Chairman of Essex County Council, assisted by Councillor J.E. Ball, JP, Chairman of Clacton U.D. Council. The Sports Events. Final of Essex County Police Relay Race.Presentation of the prizes by P.J. Pybus, CBE, MP. Push ball match. Some of the spectators. The End.

Background Information

This film was discovered when the Palace Theatre on Marine Parade West was demolished in 1979. It is believed that this film and the Archive's film Clacton Pier With Steamer were filmed as local newsreel items for this Cinema. Sir John Pybus MP was the Liberal MP for Harwich division from 1929 until his death in 1935, two days before Parliament was dissolved. He sat as a Liberal until 1931 an then as a Liberal Nationalist. He was Minister for Transport under Ramsey Macdonald from 1931 to 1933 and Knighted in 1934. He was an engineer by profession. He was the director of several companies including The Times Publishing Company and Associated Portland Cement Company. He was Chairman of Phoenix Assurance Company.