IN SPITE OF THE WEATHER

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 15th Year

Issue

Issue No.

12

Date Released

Aug 1962

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1PIPING HEAT
2. 2WAY OF GENTLENESS
3. 3IN SPITE OF THE WEATHER

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 3

Summary

BFI synopsis: the Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where the Coal Board exhibit included a greenhouse where Percy Thrower gave advice.
NCB Commentary - The Royal Show at Newcastle opened on time in spite of the storm which caused havoc less than a week before. There was little or no damage to be seen when Her Majesty the Queen Mother, visited the Town Moor site on the first day.
The dry stone walling competition claimed her attention. It’s an old art dating from the seventeenth century and still much used today in the Northern counties and in Scotland.
Of course, the biggest part of the Royal Show is given over to the livestock judging, and this year there were some particularly good specimens on parade.
Horses play a big part in the programme and, as in previous years, the pit ponies were there.
They were in good company. Friends and relations had come from all over the British Isles.
Mining Review found Sam Lodge, head horseman at the New Monkton Pit, and his mate, Eric Plant from West Riding Colliery, demonstrating the craft of the blacksmith. Sam is champion of Yorkshire - twice he has come second in the ‘National’ contest. The patient, by the way, is "Randy" also from West Riding.
All the very latest in agricultural machinery was on show - in fact, all the newest methods of doing nearly everything were demonstrated.
The National Coal Board were explaining the advantages of solid fuel heating for greenhouses and Percy Thrower - the man with the greenest of green fingers - was there to offer advice; and what’s more, you could get it without going to the expense of buying a television license.
As usual, the Royal attracted visitors from many overseas countries and even the weather didn’t stop the Show from opening or the crowds from coming.

Keywords

Weather; Horticulture; Exhibitions and shows

Locations

Newcastle upon Tyne; England; Northumberland

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board