News on Screen

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 9th Year

Issue

Issue No.

12

Date Released

Aug 1956

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. RUSSIAN VISIT
• 2. WET HEADING
• 3. SAMMY ROAN
• 4. TEN YEARS ON: WINDING

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: a paraplegic is champion angler and fly-tier
NCB Commentary - Along the roads of Fife in his motorised invalid car, ex-miner Sammy Roan is a familiar sight.
Paralysed in a pit accident in 1954, Sammy Roan has refused to be kept away from the sport he loves and at which he has earned a national reputation. Loch Leven with its rich fishing grounds is his destination on a summers evening.
Despie his disability, Sammy Roan is still one fo Scotland’s champion anglers. The accident which put an end to his working life in the pits has not affected his skill with the rod, and he’s fortunate in living within easy distance of this world famous fly fisherman’s mecca.
Sammy Roan is more than a champion angler: from the lakes and hills he knows so well he returns to his home at Kinglassie to take up another aspect of his sport - the tying of fine fishing flies.
From the plumage of wild birds and the fur of game animals, Sammy Roan creates delicate Lures to trap the Trout and Salmon of his native Lochs and Rivers. This is a Kingfisher Butcher which he’s winding with a skill he learned while he was laid up in hospital for 4 1/2 months.
Fishermen all over the country recognise Sammy Roan’s skill in fly tying and the painstaking thoroughness with which he has taught himself to master the making of the whole romantic range of fishing Lures.
In competitive fishing too, Sammy Roan’s appearance commands a public interest. In this year’s Scottish National Championships Sammy Roan was once again among the senior anglers who set out to pit their skill against the cunning of Loch Leven’s trout.
He didn’t win this year - but that’s all in a fisherman’s day. Still to be able to play the fish is Sammy Roan’s reward, and his prowess earns him the respect of his colleagues.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 27th June 1956.

Keywords

Sport; Arts and crafts; Disabled persons

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.11 No.123 January 1957, p30.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board