Children’s day

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 12th Year

Issue

Issue No.

12

Date Released

Aug 1959

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Children’s day
2. 2Testing time
3. 3Automations
4. 4First course

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: Festivities of the Annual Children’s Day provided by the miners of Ashington.
NCB Commentary - Ashington in Northumberland is a town around a pit and the Annual Gala is therefore a great event. Mining Review has brought you pictures of many galas but never a one like this. Behind the bands come not miners but the children of the town.
Will Owen, Member of Parliament for Morpeth, walked in the procession and lent a helping hand where it was needed.
The idea of childrens’ day in Ashington started 59 years ago. In those days each child received a penny, a bun and a packet of boiled sweets. Today, with the cost of living higher a nice, newly minted half-crown was their bounty and there was no lack of little outstretched hands.
In spite of the warm day a lot of energy was expended in running.
Each of the schools provided an entertainment in turn and it was a splendid occasion all the way round, although some of the more complicated dances caused a bit of puzzlement.
It was thirsty work alright and the rewarding orange juice was one of the most popular items on the programme.
But when it came to spending the half-crowns every vote went to the fun fair. Life was all swings and roundabouts for the children of Ashington.
59 years ago some miners met in a shop and decided to pool their resources to buy the kids some sweets. From that simple meeting sprang the idea which has become the biggest event in Ashington’s year, certainly as far as the kids themselves are concerned.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 29th June 1959.

Keywords

Children; Celebrations and festivals; Mining

Locations

England; Northumberland

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