FESTIVAL OF LABOUR

Series

Series Name: Mining Review 16th Year

Issue

Issue No.

Date Released

Dec 1962

Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: At this festival held in Battersea Park there was a working model of a coal mine, the Cresswell Colliery Band and on the athletics side Dorothy Hyman and Arthur Rowe.
NCB Commentary - This summer London’s Battersea Park was the setting for a Festival of Labour.
A proud feature of the mining industry is its summer galas - a chance for working people to get together for comradeship and fun. This Festival was a Labour Party get-together; all major unions participated.
The famous Creswell Colliery Band played during the two days festivities.
Arthur Rowe of Doncaster Plant Works Athletic Club is the United Kingdom National Record Holder for the shot put. Rowe won - 63 feet 2 inches - twelve elusive inches short of his own record.
The Coal Board’s own exhibit was a mine of information Fresh from the Stockholm Exhibition was a working model of a coal mine.
On the Display Lawm - gymnastics. The vaulting horse stood still while the rider did all the work.
It looked as if the Flying Corbines were to be a living refutation of ‘what goes up must come down’ - but happily they returned to earth safely. Artist Robert Colquhon was on hand with sketch book to record his impressions.
Dorothy Hyman is a tracer in the Coal Board’s North Barnsley Area Planning Department. Representing Hickleton Main Athletics Club, Dorothy won the Ladies 100-yards. Soon after this Dorothy won a European Gold Medal at Belgrade.
The idea for the Festival was suggested two years ago by the General Secretary of the Labour Party, and on this warm June day beside London’s river, the idea became a reality and a resounding success.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded at Kays West End Studios on 5th November 1962.

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