BFI

It seems at first quite alien to see fully suited and top-hatted gentlemen bobbing up and down with opened umbrellas in the waters of the North Shields. This is a delightful film of participants and spectators being entertained at a swimming gala. It successfully conveys a great sense of humour and community spirit in its depiction of Edwardians at play.

The Tynemouth Amateur Swimming Club Annual Gala, with its '60 yards Comic Obstacle Race', took place on 2nd September 1901 in front of a crowd of keen local onlookers. News reports from the area show that this bit of fun was shot by the exhibitor, Mr. Tweedale, and was shown as part of a two-hour programme at the Tynemouth Palace with other more serious films, like the women at work at the North Sea Fisheries (1901) (Mitchell and Kenyon 731), which also survives in the collection.

Rebecca Vick

*This film can be downloaded in its entirety from the BFI's Creative Archive. Note that this material is not limited to users in registered UK libraries and educational establishments: it can be accessed by anyone within the UK under the terms of the Creative Archive Licence.

Click titles to see or read more