Feet

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 18th Year

Issue

Issue No.

8

Date Released

Apr 1965

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1A Mine is Born
2. 2Feet
3. 3Hands - seen by Sid Chaplin

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 3

Summary

NoS synopsis: Peter Hill, a champion racing cyclist and miner, in training and at home
NCB Commentary - In a slim little building between the rail tracks at Yorkshire’s Askerne Colliery, works Britain’s reigning Bicycle Roadracing Champion.
This is an amateur title which 19-year old Peter Hill has held for the past two years - the youngest man ever to hold it.
Peter is a weigh clerk - his job is to watch the coal trains go by; but not before he has recorded the weight of coal in each wagon.
After work Peter carries the racing bike he paid £80 for across the rail tracks and before he’s had time to get up speed he’s home. Sister Eileen, 4-1/2, has recently graduated from a tricycle to a two-wheeler.
Peter’s mother is in charge of racing shirts.
The British Roadracing Championship is determined by the best season’s performance over time and distance - in a 12-hr. race; 100-mile race and a 50-mile race. Peter’s championship speed, an average of 24.6 miles an hour; try it sometime.
Roadracing is not only hard on the feet, it’s hard on wheel rims, too.
Most of Peter’s training is done with his friend Alan Robson, who works underground at Bullcroft Colliery - a solid 50-mile ride for a couple of hours each and every evening.
His collection of trophies: is on the piano.
Peter is lean and tall - streamlined for heading into the wind.
The family’s life turns around cycling - except for father Hill, who prefers to drive to his work at Askerne Colliery.
This year Peter is getting leave to go to France, where the pro champions flourish. He hopes to gain professional sponsorship and, with his feet firmly on the pedals, ride his way into the bigtime.

Keywords

Mining; Cycling

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases
Films on Coal Catalogue   1969, p.50
Film User   Vol.19 No.230 December 1965, p719.
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963

Credits:

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Production Co.

National Coal Board Film Unit