George Plowman

George Plowman began his career in Fleet Street, but by 1925 was working for the Topical Budget as a newsfilm cameraman. In November 1925 Plowman was in the Topical Budget camera teams that filmed ‘REMEMBRANCE DAY’ for No.742-1, and Queen Alexandra’s funeral for No.744-2. In 1930 Plowman filmed Austen Chamberlain in Downing Street, possibly whilst working for the Topical Film Company. He may have remained with the company until 1931, but he then moved to Movietone, for whom he was listed as working in 1934 and 1935. Plowman then moved to Pathe, and in March 1935 filmed ‘BIG OIL TANK BLAZE AT FAWLEY’ for Pathe Super Sound Gazette No.35/21. Plowman was also listed in the camera teams for the ‘GRAND NATIONAL, 1935’ in No.35/26 of April 1935, and for George V’s Jubilee - including ‘ROYAL SILVER JUBILEE’ in No.35/36 of May 1935. Plowman was also in the teams that covered ‘THE DERBY 1936’ for No.36/43 in May 1936, and the Coronation of George VI for No.37/38 in May 1937. His last credit for Pathe is for filming the ‘JOHN PEEL STATUE’ for Pathe Pictorial No.88 of December 1937.

In April 1947 Plowman was in the camera team that filmed the Cup Final for ‘CHARLTON’S CUP’ in British Movietone News No.934, but afterwards returned to Pathe. In June 1953 he was in the camera team that filmed ‘THE CORONATION OF HM QUEEN ELIZABETH’ for Pathe News No.53/41, and he covered several stories for them over the following months. In May 1954 Plowman was in the camera team that filmed ‘THE QUEEN COMES HOME’ for Pathe News No.54/37. His last surviving credit is for ‘SPORTS NEWS’ in Pathe News No.58/54 of July 1958.

Sources

NFTVA, Luke McKernan’s biographical index of Topical Budget staff: J. Ballantyne (ed) ‘Researcher’s Guide to British Newsreels: Vol.II’ (1988) cover photograph and p.34.