Learning on ScreenHOLYROOD GATHERING
Series
- Series Name
- Mining Review 5th Year
Issue
Story
- Story No. within this Issue
- 2 / 4
- Summary
- BFI synopsis: a miners annual gala at Holyrood, Edinburgh.
NCB Commentary - Edinburgh was in her usual openhearted mood to welcome Scottish miners for their 6th Annual Gala, but the weather didn’t cooperate.
None the less, 20,000 people formed up behind the massed bands and pipes for the customary march through the city. Edinburgh’s citizens found time to watch the free show in a gentle drizzle of rain as the procession of bands, banners and tableaux wound its way under Calton Hill.
Now through the gateway of historic Holyrood Palace, at the foot of the Royal Mile, and into the Park. By now there were 75,000 Scots miners and their families from all over the Scottish coalfields gathered together for their annual day out.
Speeches took up most of the morning. Among the speakers were Abe Moffatt, President of the Scottish MUN, William Paynter, from South Wales, and Jennie Lee, wife of Aneurin Bevan.
But for those who weren’t in a listening mood there were plenty of other diversions. Scotland’s Coal Queen was chosen by comedian Jimmy Logan, who didn’t take long to make up his mind. Here she is, Cora McGinty from Forth, and crown sits well on her pretty head.
Hey, don’t shoot the girl yet - she’s only just started. I don’t know what the boys are running away from. J. S. Moffatt won this 100 yards’ dash. He comes from Lumphinnans.
There were plenty of other athletic events, up to the half-mile, but one of the biggest crowds gathered around the football pitch to watch a team of Scottish miners beat Northumberland by 3-2. Hall, the Northumberland goalkeeper, was kept busy but the game was a lot more even than it looks. To keep things on a friendly basis, both teams got prizes - clocks for the Englishmen and a camera apiece for the Scots.
The day ends traditionally with the pipe band contests. With 24 bands taking part in a final massed parade the miners’ day out drew to a close in a blaze of Scottish pageantry - and the pipes skirling loud enough to wake the ghosts in Holyrood. - Researcher Comments
- BFI sources suggest that this story was filmed on the 5th May 1952. Commentary recorded 10 June 1952.
- Keywords
- Sport; Music and dance; Children; Women; Weather; Competitions; Celebrations and festivals; Mining; Football
- Locations
- Edinburgh; Scotland
- Written sources
- British Film Institute Databases Used for synopsis
Film User Vol.6 No.74 December 1952, p651.
The National Archives COAL 32 /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956
- Credits:
-
- Camera
- B. Hansom
- Director
- Basil Somner
- Camera
- Bill Cheesman
- Production Co.
- Documentary Technicians Alliance
- Sponsor
- National Coal Board
- Camera
- Phil Law
- Camera
- Ronald Bicker
Record Stats
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