Jewish Pensioners' Controversial Pools Win

From the collection of

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia

The East Anglian Film Archive, the UK's first regional film archive, offers a unique record of the East of England's social and cultural history. As part of the University of East Anglia, we continue to lead moving image heritage research and inspire audience participation through community projects and events. Our collections represent a broad range of amateur and professional creativity, from 1896 to the present day.

Jewish Pensioners' Controversial Pools Win

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia
Southend-on-Sea
26 Feb 1975
Sound
4m

All good pals and jolly good company! A syndicate of Jewish pensioners from Southend celebrate their big win on the football pools.

In the days before the National Lottery, the (football) pools offered members of the public the rare opportunity to win huge amounts of money from a relatively small stake. In 1975, in Southend, a syndicate of Jewish pensioners were lucky enough to receive a win, celebrating with a sing-a-long and a stroll along the seafront. However, not every member of the Jewish community thought “the pools” was harmless fun, arguing according to Jewish law that gambling is prohibited.

Judy Finnigan reports for Anglia Television regional news.

The Conservatives were streets ahead of all other UK political parties in embracing the film medium, through their Conservative and Unionist Films Association. It’s worth noting that the Conservative Party at the time favoured protectionist economic policies, hence the inclusion of Disraeli speeches against unfettered free trade.

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From the collection

Jewish Britain

Jewish life on screen: a century of insights and hidden histories

This collection uncovers insights, injustices and hidden histories across a century of Jewish life on British screens. It brings together documentary and first-person accounts of Jewish life in the UK, alongside historical dramas and artists’ work exploring the 20th century Jewish experience. The earliest surviving depictions of Jewish characters in British cinema offer a troubling insight into antisemitic representation, yet prejudice was later tackled head-on, with newsreels documenting the anti-fascist movement of the 1930s.

Drop in on joyous family weddings and community gatherings, and see the ways in which UK Jewry supported Jews young and old, and those fleeing persecution, in a selection of fascinating films from the 1900s to the 1980s.

This collection is generously supported by the Neil Kreitman Foundation, Shoresh Charitable Trust, John S Cohen Foundation, and Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.