News on Screen

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 6th Year

Issue

Issue No.

4

Date Released

Dec 1952

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. SPECIAL TRAIN
• 2. LADY DAY
• 3. LONG HAUL
• 4. FREE FOR ALL

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: meeting of Women’s Institutes in Durham.
NCB Commentary - Poor old Charlie!
"Come on - make up your minds, will you !"
Twice a year the Durham East Coast Goups of Women’s Institutes holds a meeting and exhibition. The stage is set.
Mrs. Smith is secretary of the Easington Colliery Women’s Insitute, and for months she and her friends have been preparing work for the show.
Mrs. Scott is a teacher at the Modern Girls’ School at Easington. This is something new - teacher helping the girls with their homework.
And here they come - two or three hundred strong, ready for the meeting.
Nearly all these women are wives and daughters of miners. Women have an important place in the life of these mining communities. At these get-togethers they report back on Institute activities, listen to lectures, and enjoy feminine company without distracting the menfolk.
And here’s some of the beautiful handiwork the ladies manage to do in between the housework. Some of these articles are sold to swell the funds of each Institute; other will be put to good use in the home. The men are proud of the craftsmanship shown by their womenfolk, and so they should be.
That’s Dr. Dixon, who shares a practice with her husband, and is president of the Horden group.
And there’s Mrs. Smith again, with Mrs. Scott enjoying a bit of a gossip.
This is no place for a man. I think I know where Charlie’s going.

Researcher Comments

BFI sources suggest that this story was filmed on the 23rd and 24th October 1952. Commentary recorded 3 November 1952.

Keywords

Organisations; Education and training; Women; Arts and crafts

Locations

England; Durham; County Durham

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.8 No.87 January 1954, p32.
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board