The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
The Flying Doctor
Snow is no barrier for 74 year old Helena as the propellers get fired up on her Hornet Moth and off she flies over the hills of South Yorkshire.
From the collection of:
Overview
With only 3% of all airline pilots worldwide women, 6% in Britain, this film of 74 year old Dr Helena Hamilton piloting her a De Havilland Hornet Moth shows that neither gender or age should be a barrier to flying an aircraft. It’s 1988 in the middle of winter in Doncaster, but Helena, inspired by John Magee’s poem ‘High Flight’, reveals her passion both for flying – vowing to continue until she is no longer able; and for her beloved plane – not willing to sell at any price.
Dr Helena Hamilton was born in South Australia, learning to fly in South Africa. She served on Mountbatten's staff in Burma, and was attached to the Allied Staff at the Nuremburg War Crimes Trials. On discovering that her Hornet Moth was stationed at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham in Suffolk when built in 1936, Helena became Vice-President of Martlesham Heath Aviation Society. Helena died on August 24th 2001. Her Moth is still in service. At the start of the war women joined the Air Transport Auxiliary as pilots, eventually flying everything from Spitfires to Hurricane (apart from the largest flying boats). 15 lost their lives, including pioneer aviator Amy Johnson.
Related
Watch for free
Building of St. Mary's Bridge Building of St. Mary's Bridge
Amateur film 1959 8 mins Silent Location: Doncaster
An eye-opening, albeit rough-edged, look at the modern rebuilding of the historic St. Mary’s bridge in 1950s Doncaster.
Watch for free
Co-op 3-D Film Co-op 3-D Film
Advert 1952 1 mins Location: Doncaster
This strange early 1950s stereoscopic 3-D film is a colourful document of the Co-operative Wholesale Society in Doncaster
Watch for free
Brother to the Ox Brother to the Ox
Biopic 1981 54 mins Location: Doncaster
This harrowing look at the realities of farm and child labour in 1904 reveals the residues of feudalism persisting into the twentieth century.
Watch for free
Another Bloody Sunday Another Bloody Sunday
Documentary 1981 53 mins Location: Doncaster
Move over Spinal Tap, there is no need for parody in this superb documentary of a Doncaster Rugby League team, and loyal followers, that turns out every Sunday for a ritual beating.
Watch for free
The St Leger The St Leger
Non-Fiction 1913 3 mins Silent Location: Doncaster
Top hats and flat caps, a flat race with a close finish; jockey Elijah "Whippet" Wheatley, winning his solitary Classic, dismounts, and Night Hawk shows off her unsaddled beauty.
Watch for free
Doncaster War Week Doncaster War Week
Non-Fiction 1941 12 mins Silent Location: Doncaster
A portrait of a Yorkshire town during a typical WW2 fund raising week for Warships, providing an insight into the fund raising, and an intriguing peak into wartime daily life.
Watch for free
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
Watch for free
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
Watch for free
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Watch for free
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Watch for free
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
Watch for free
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.