CHOPWELL BEAUTY

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 12th Year

Issue

Issue No.

1

Date Released

Sep 1958

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1CHOPWELL BEAUTY
2. 2WORKING WEEK-END
3. 3COALS FOR CHINA
4. 4ADVANCE

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: Beauty contest in a Durham mining village of Chopwell
NCB Commentary - The Durham village of Chopwell goes gay for one evening.
Organised by a Newcastle Evening Paper is a County wide contest to elect the "Queen of the Sun".
In the local ballroom Chopwell’s youth gathers to elect its own representative.
In this predominantly mining community, Bandleader Eddie Stokes, himself an ex-miner, numbers pit-men among his players. Guitarist Elton Page did 22 years on the face at Medomsley.
A lot of energy is expended on the floor as the time approaches for judging the contestants.
Many of these youngsters work at neighbouring pits; most of them come from mine working families.
The parade of local talent passes under critical eyes.
And now the winner - 19 year old Florence Didd - whose father, now retired, was an underground worker at Chopwell pit itself.
Garlanded with a sash of honour, and acclaimed by her fellow contenders, she goes on to the final.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 25th July 1958.

Keywords

Competitions; Mining; Fashion and costume

Locations

England; County Durham

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.13 No.147 January 1959, p27.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board