FAIR DEAL: regatta story

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 8th Year

Issue

Issue No.

3

Date Released

Nov 1954

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1PREVENTION IS BETTER
2. 2HELPING HANDS
3. 3FAIR DEAL: regatta story

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 3

Summary

BFI synopsis: The launching of a life-boat opened the two-day regatta festivities, many locals represented. Sailing, yachting, whaling and sculling races. Betteshanger colliery worker John Garbut’s step-daughter, Jean Ripley, was Dealtta queen plus a big part for Ted Hall, a banksman at Betteshanger shaft and a signaller on the Deal and Walmer Life-boat. The local Mayor was also on board for the event.
NCB Commentary - One of the few scorching days of 1954’s pathetic summer greeted the opening of the Deal Regatta. As usual Kentish miners played a large part in this gala at sea.
Home from work at Betteshanger Colliery came John Garbut. His step-daughter, Jean Ripley, was waiting for him with the big news that she was to be this year’s Deal Regatta Queen.
Another Betteshanger man with a big part to play in the Regatta festivities was Ted Hall, banksman on Betteshanger upcast shaft who is also a signaller on the Deal and Walmer Lifeboat.
The launching of the life-boat was the first big ceremony of the 1954 Regatta. On board was a party including the Mayor of Deal and, of course, the Regatta Queen herself.
The launching of the lifeboat opened the proceedings with a suiltably big splash; competitors in the greasy pole competition made their own splashes in their own fashion. No, nobody reached the end.
But the real business of a regatta is in sailing contests and this year at Deal there were many local types represented, from yachts to whalers.
Sculling races are another popular attraction. This year six local miners competed in the pairs and fours. Betteshanger Colliery is only about six miles away and many of the men of the pit are keen amateur rowing club members. No-one has far to go to the seaside all the year round.
With the return of the lifeboatmen the Regatta Queen - and the Mayor - were put safely back to dry land.
Among the men who winched the lifeboat back to her house over the shingle was another part-time crewman from the colliery.
The big parade took place on the Regatta’s second day. In the procession were the twelve-year-old Miners’ welfare Queen and, of course, the Betteshanger Colliery Band.
Jean Ripley’s big moment came as her decorated float was hauled in rpocession through the streets of Deal. The local bad men were under lock and key for the occasion.
And just as at any miners’ festivities up and down the country, the people of Deal ended their two-day Regatta with a fair which they and their children will remember through the winter months ahead.

Researcher Comments

According to bfi records, another cameraman, noted only as ‘A.N. Other’ was also responsible for this story. It was researched on 27/8/1954, and filmed between 31/8/1954 and 2/9/1954, on a budget of £116 16s. The commentary was recorded on 5 November 1954.

Keywords

Sport; Ships and boats; Entertainment and leisure; Celebrations and festivals; Mining; Sailing; Emergency services

Locations

Kent; England

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.9 No.109, November 1955, p570.
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Camera

Donald Long

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Director

Victor Wark