FAMILY PARTY

Series

Series Name
Mining Review 12th Year

Issue

Issue No.
11
Date Released
Jul 1959
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1FAMILY PARTY
  2. 2TOUCHE
  3. 3GEORDIE BROWNE
  4. 4NEW LOOK

Story

Story No. within this Issue
1 / 4
Summary
BFI synopsis: Miners’ Gala Day in Edinburgh.
NCB Commentary - The ancient city of Edinburgh perpared for what the Press described as the biggest family party of the year. The Scottish Miners’ 13th Annual Gala.
Among those leading the procession were Mr. Abe Moffat, Mr. Frank Cousins of the T.U.C. and Mr. Will Paynter, the new General Secretary of the N.U.M.
The march was from the Union Offices at Hillside Crescent to Holyrood Park and some 15,000 marched in the procession, watched by thousands more.
The way led past the Burns Memorial. Decorated lorries added a touch of gaiety, and there was a forest of banners and placards. The marchers entered the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence when in Scotland.
Here a crowd, estimated at 150,000 heard several speakers. Among them Abe Moffat, President of the Scottish Area N.U.M., and the General Secretary, Mr. Paynter.
There was plenty of fun and games to follow and plenty of time for refreshment. There was an International football match between the miners of Scotland and North Wales. And there was a brass band contest.
There was something to suit all tastes for old and young alike - the widely varied programme made it a real family do.
The boxing displayed some fine amateur talent. And talent of quite another kind set a bit of a problem for Mr. Cousins and Mr. Paynter when they had to pick the Scottish Coal Queen. Mr. Paynter crowned the winner and escorted her with true Welsh gallantry from the dais.
There was time for a wee dram of tea before the Championship Pipe Band played Auld Lang Syne and the Scottish Miners’ day was over.
Researcher Comments
Commentary recorded 5th June 1959.
Keywords
Sport; Music and dance; Celebrations and festivals; Boxing; Mining; Football
Locations
Edinburgh; Scotland
Written sources
British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.14 No.160 February 1960, p82.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960
Credits:
Production Co.
Documentary Technicians Alliance
Sponsor
National Coal Board

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