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Cripple children at Gorleston PR NUM

A convoy from Cambridge carries special youngsters to the coast for, what might have been for many, their real trip of a lifetime.

Amateur film 1937 6 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for East Anglian Film Archive

Overview

Being disabled in the 1930s meant segregation and being institutionalised and their cumbersome wheelchairs did not make for easy travelling. For many of these young people, a day out to the coast would have been something they could only imagine. Members of the SS Club from Cambridge motor engineers, King & Harper rallied their support, a large charabanc and a convoy of private cars to transport these happy trippers nearly 90 miles for a day in Norfolk at Gorleston-on-sea.

One of the firm's Directors and keen amateur filmmaker, William King was on hand to film the day which no doubt would be shown to the children back home later in the year as a reminder of the fun they had. Like on all long journeys, the party have to stop en route for refreshment. Arriving at Gorleston, they are treated to a sit down lunch of ham, salad and new potatoes before heading to the beach to relax and enjoy the freedom and fresh air. At the end of the day, the smiles on their faces say it all as they receive presents of chocolate all washed down with a bottle of pop!