Brighton Swimming Club: Beach Snapshots part 1
From the collection of
Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton collects, preserves, catalogues and provides public access to its collection of films and magic lantern slides. The collection charts the rise of screen culture in the region and the nation and captures many aspects of life, work and creativity in the South East from the late 19th century to the present day. It is available for research, screenings, creative re-use and commercial access.
Brighton Swimming Club: Beach Snapshots part 1
Swimming in all sorts of weather is what members of the Brighton Swimming Club like doing best - as Roger Dunford's joyful film reveals
Our film starts with a group of young men, in drag of course, and women collecting for Rag Week. We next see the same funsters on Brighton Beach, swimming, sunbathing and generally larking about. We get great views of the Palace Pier from above and below, the visiting crowds on the beach and later on fishermen hauling in their mackerel catch. In colder weather we see older members of the club going for a dip in heavy seas while being watched by other club members wearing overcoats.
Roger Dunford, a member of Brighton Swimming Club, purchased his first cine-camera in 1943 as a 21st birthday present to himself, soon after he'd joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. While serving in Egypt and Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, Roger made films about his service life in both countries. Between 1946 and 1954, Roger made a number of films featuring the Brighton Swimming Club, which was founded on the 4th May 1860, and many of those films today form part of the Floating Memories project which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund along with local partners like Screen Archive South East. For further details go to www.floatingmemories.co.uk