Broadland Panorama

Sponsored by Hoseasons, a film about a family holiday on the Broads and what a fantastic time can be had.

A family on a typical Broads holiday. They arrive at Oulton Broad yacht station driving a saloon car. They make their way to a varnished motor cruiser, 'the Caribbean.' The camera pans around Oulton Broad. A yard hand demonstrates a half-hitch knot and then they set off with him for a brief demonstration cruise. They set off up the river Waveney for Beccles, admiring the scenery and filming other boats as they pass. People swim in the river and they also pass some swans. Children are filmed on the boat wearing life jackets. At Beccles, the children swim in the river and in a swimming pool. There are shots of St. Michael's Church. Back on the river they pass anglers and yachters. There are successive shots of some of the ancient monuments on the Broads; Berney Arm Windmill, Burgh Castle and St. Olave's Priory. The cruiser moves on to Breydon Water, looking back at the Berney Arms Mill, and the Yarmouth Yacht station. This introduces a sequence showing the tourist attractions of Yarmouth, including rock making. The family take a ride in a horse and carriage along Marine Parade, passing the Windmill Theatre and Wellington Pier. Charlie Drake was appearing in the end of the pier show; other posters announce the stars appearing at various Yarmouth venues. The family move on to Lowestoft and there is a brief shot of Lowestoft beach. The next sequence shows dinghy racing at Oulton Broad, including a Broads One design. After a brief shot of Burgh St. Peter other types of sailing craft are shown. These include a catamaran sailed by Billy May. The family stop for petrol and provisions at Acle Bridge (which they pronounce 'Ackle') and the family cook and eat breakfast aboard the boat. This launches a sequence showing the interiors of the boats and the amenities they offer. The next day the family continue their cruise. They pass a lot of river traffic and Broadland scenery. They see a reed bed and a thatcher at work. Other Broadland crafts featured include boat building, where the interior of a boatyard is shown, and feather ornaments. Many types of birds are seen including a heron, ducks, Canada Geese and swans. Broads' curiosities feature including twin churches built by jealous sisters and a painter at work painting Waxham Old Barn. Some of the village signs feature including Horning and Somerleyton. Norwich features comparatively quickly with views of the Cathedral including the interior. Back on the Broads, they visit a friends' bungalow at Horning. This shows the amenities in the bungalow and the family take a river trip in a motor launch. There are scenes showing the Ferry Inn at Horning. Seaside bungalows at Yarmouth are shown and some house boats. This final sequence of the film is a disorganised pot pourri of everything they wanted to include that would not fit in elsewhere We see outboard and inboard motor boat racing on Oulton Broad. The family enjoy an evening out at a dinner dance. There are further shots of the Swan Hotel at Horning and of bathing at Salhouse Broad. Other country public house features including the Lord Nelson, The Pleasure Boat at Hickling Staithe and The Plough Inn at Somerleyton, from where a sign above the door reads, Barkis the carrier of David Copperfield started from this house. The film ends back at Oulton Broad.

Featured Buildings

St. Michael's Church, Beccles; Norwich Cathedral; Berney Arm Windmill; The Plough Inn, Somerleyton; Burgh Castle; St. Olave's Priory; Pleasure Boat Inn; Hickling; Staithe; Waxham Old Barn; Ferry Inn, Horning; Windmill Theatre, Yarmouth; Swan Inn; Wellington Pier;

Keywords

Boating; Holidays; Tourism

Other Places

Acle; Oulton Broad, Suffolk; Beccles, Norwich; Breydon Water Salhouse Broad; Burgh St. Peter; Somerleyton; Horning; Great Yarmouth; Lowestoft;

Background Information

Billy May also appears in Norfolk Broads, 1958, On The Broads.