14 DAYS

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 7th Year

Issue

Issue No.

1

Date Released

Sep 1953

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1LIFT ON THE WAY
2. 2PIECE OF CAKE
3. 3MARIETTA ON TRIAL
4. 414 DAYS

Story

Story No. within this Issue

4 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: Two miners and two girls on holiday at Barry Island. Featuring Tom Evans and George Prior from Ffladau Colliery and Elizabeth Rees and Mary George. Includes bowling, the swimming pool, beaches, the fun fair and eating fish and chips
NCB Commentary - This year, for the first time, miners are taking their fortnight’s paid holiday. Here, miles away from the pit and the daily stint are Tom Evans and George Prior, from Ffaldau colliery, and with them are Elisabeth Rees and Mary George.
The place - Barry, on the South Wales coast.
Miners on holiday are much the same as any other holidaymakers - they don’t want to waste a moment of their precious time. So, from sun-up to sundown, it’s a case of packing every minute with fun. And at Barry there’s certainly plenty to do. One of the town’s bowling greens the boys and girls take tuition from Tom Yeoman, the genial mayor of Barry - no mean rinksmen himself.
This is Barry’s openair pool, 120 yards long, which is being considered as an Empire Games venue. Elizabeth had to be persuaded to try the water. There are two beaches at Barry; one is a pebble strand, but on the sands you can take a ride on one of the beach-buggies, with or without musical accompaniment.
And so one day comes to an end - but on holiday there’s always tomorrow to look forward to. This time, they’re off to the funfair.
Home or away, fish and chips are always a good way to round off an evening. These two couples, like all the other miners and their families who’ve taken their 14 days off in 1953, will go back to work fitter and fresher for the winter ahead.

Researcher Comments

According to bfi records, this story was filmed from the 10th to the 14th of July 1953. Commentary 4 August 1953.

Keywords

Sport; Entertainment and leisure; Food and cooking; Swimming; Mining

Locations

Wales

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for Synopsis
Film User   Vol.8 No.89 March 1954, p138.
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Support services

C. F. M. Coton

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Director

John Krish

Camera

Kenneth Reeves

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Camera

Wolfgang Suschitzky