END OF THE ROAD

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 17th Year

Issue

Issue No.

7

Date Released

Mar 1964

Length of issue (in feet)

964

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1END OF THE ROAD
2. 2NO SMOKING
3. 3HELEN
4. 4CZECH MATE

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: A look at some of the few remaining horse and coal carts in London.
NCB Commentary - Queen’s Park Coal Depot on a winter morning.
Darky’s day starts early.
So does Kitty’s.
They’re not alone; a few miles away, Joe and Storm are getting ready for their day’s work.
Although Joe and Darky have never met, they wouldn’t be strangers if they did; they’ve both done the same work all their lives - delivering coal with a horse and cart.
There’s a lot to do in the morning; a horse needs a good deal more attention than a lorry.
By the time Joe and Storm leave the stable, the office workers across the way have just come to work. It’s always been like this as long as the two have been together.
Everybody helps load up, whether they’re lorry-men or horse and cart roundsmen.
When the last bag is on, Joe can get away.
Darky has worked with horses nearly all his life; he remembers the time when all coal was deluvered by horse and cart.
But things have changed - and they’ll go on changing - soon Darky and Kitty will have left the street scene for good. Newer ways of delivering coal to the customer are taking over.
It’s the same with Joe; each trip he makes is one nearer the last. And one nearer the day when Storm and Kitty can retire to green fields.
Nostalgia’s all very well - but it’s damned hard work humping sacks of coal.
A lot of the houses are old and inconvenient and the coalman still has to carry hundredweight sacks on his back through the house into the back yard.
There are three rounds a day, and over 20 calls to be made.
So their day goes on.
And when it’s finished, there’s still the horse to be settled for the night.
Then, and only then, a chance to relax.

Keywords

Vehicles; Business and commerce; Mining; Fuels

Locations

London; England

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Viewing Copy - bfi screenonline
The British National Film Catalogue   Vol.2 1964, p.55
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963
BFI Screenonline synopsis   ID No.721616

Credits:

Producer

John Reid

Commentator

John Slater

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Production Co.

National Coal Board Film Unit

Cutter

Robert Vas