HELEN

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

3 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: The progress of Helen Kent, a Northumberland miner’s daughter, studying to be an engineer.
NCB Commentary - James Kent has been a winding man for more than thirty years.
His job is a responsible one: lowering and raising men and materials in the 576-foot shaft at Carl Pit in Ashington, Northumberland.
This winding engine at Carl is almost 100-years old - and still winding strong, and in another hundred years time it’s on the cards that the Kents, will still be engineers - for with them it’s like father - like daughter.
Daughter Helen, aged 17, is studying for her Ordinary National Diploma in Engineering at Ashington’s go-ahead Technical College.
The two-year course includes mathematics, physics, chemistry, electrical and mechanical science. As well as learning about engines and lathe-work, a solid grounding in draughtsmanship - or is it draughtswomanship? - is essential.
As wheels would seem to run in the Kent family - although Helen’s mother wanted her to be a nurse - when she qualifies Helen’s will be able to hold her own in what is traditionally taken to be a man’s world.

Keywords

Education and training; Women; Mining; Engineering

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