Holt Hall

Scenes showing the range of education opportunities for young people at Holt Hall.

The film, currently lacking its sound track, shows the range of activities and opportunities for young people attending Holt Hall education and outdoor centre. There is a marked difference in the activities occupying boys and girls as seen in the film. Exterior of Holt Hall. Two girls approach the doors, go inside and up the stairs. A classroom scene with students writing in exercise books with reference books to hand. A teacher chalks on the blackboard details of individuals associated with Renaissance England. Boys playing recorders. Scenes of students performing a Roman drama as a teacher directs. Putting on make-up for an outdoor historical drama involving a man with animal skin and spear. A group of boys see a cyclist collide with a car and run to swab and bind his wounded leg. Indoors, girls practise bandaging of a foot and ankle, and head. One plays the role of a bedbound patient as two girls change the sheets beneath her. A group of boys and girls are practising crafts including sewing, basket making, furniture making, pottery and metal work. Glazed items are removed from the pottery kiln. Three boys repair the side of a small wooden boat. Four boys set off on an outdoor trip carrying backpacks with bedding rolls and two boats with paddles. They consult a map. At the river, they load the boats and paddle off, then bring the boats ashore and prepare to cook a meal over a fire. They set up tents. They try a range of activities including rope slide, balancing on ropes across a river, climbing up a rope ladder in a torrent of water, diving into water to swim and wading across a river. On the playing field, students are seen engaged in sports including long jump, running and netball. Girls in protective clothing tend the beehives. Pigs are fed, chickens watered, and eggs are carefully washed. Girls peel potatoes as others cut up meat and make pastry for pies. The oven range is shown. Girls wash land iron laundry and darn socks. Boys polish shoes. Smartened up after the day’s activities, girls wait by the fireplace for boys to join them in conversation. The film ends with a panorama over the grounds of Holt Hall as a boat is carried back to the house and smoke rises from a bonfire.

Keywords

Education; Outdoor skills; Domestic skills; Gender; First aid; Water sports; Sports

Intertitles

Chilef Education Officer Dr F. Lincoln Ralphs B.Sc., LL.B. Warden - Headmaster H. Whitaker

Background Information

Hugh Whitaker started at Holt Hall in 1950 to work as warden and headteacher and stayed until 1972, encouraging outdoor activity and plays.