TIME WELL SPENT

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 8th Year

Issue

Issue No.

11

Date Released

Jul 1955

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1MUM’S DAY
2. 2TIME WELL SPENT
3. 3BOXING: NATIONAL FINALS
4. 4NO RETURNING

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI Summary - first-aid competition at Yorkshire pit
NCB synopsis: A first-aid comeptition is organised by South Kirkby pit, Yorkshire, which attracts entries from collieries all over the North.
NCB Commentary - At South Kirkby Pit they’re proud of their first aid team, who run an open competition which attracts entries from all over the North.
Taking pride of place in front of the prizes are the trophies won by the colliery team. The men who’ve won them prepare the staging of their own show under the captaincy of Alan Hartley. In the local hall they assemble settings to represent houses and streets where the competition accidents are supposed to have happened.
The victims are made up, very realistically too. For five bob a head local lads act as accident cases, and it’s a surprise after what’s been done to them to still see them walking.
From the miners and factories of Northern England the contestants and spectators assemble at the Silver Jubilee Club.
Here’s the problem which faces each team. A boy has fallen off a ladder outside a house. What’s the best way to handle it? Coats off for the team from Grimethorpe No. 1. Marks are awarded for every step in correct first aid procedure, and of course teams are working against the clock. A bell sounds to indicate the arrival of the ambulance and the patient is carefully lifted away.
The same problem, but a different group of first aid experts. This time it’s a ladies’ team from the Parkgate Iron and Steel Company.
You can ask questions, but that doesn’t mean that the jusge is going to answer them.
At the end of the afternoon a special prize went to the ladies’ team while Silverwood, Primrose Hill and Markham Main Collieries won in their sections.
The individual prize went to Mr. Todd of the West Riding Constabulary.
Spare time of miners and factory workers devoted to first aid is certainly time well spent.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 6 June 1955.

Keywords

Health and medicine; Competitions; Mining; Emergency services

Locations

Yorkshire; England

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board