Thames En Fête Topical Budget 777-2

From the collection of

London’s Screen Archives
London’s Screen Archives is a network of over 50 organisations with a collective vision – to preserve and share London’s history on film. The network is managed by Film London and we work with our partners to digitise, preserve, and offer access to their moving image collections.

Thames En Fête Topical Budget 777-2


A mermaid, a fat man in a barrel and water-bound jockeys all appear in this brilliant short showing Londoners taking part in the Molesey Regatta.

There's plenty to enjoy here, as London celebrates the Molesey Regatta with a host of weird events. Filmed for posterity is a race featuring men in riding silks “swimming” aboard semi-submerged hobby horses, and a ridiculous group of clowns– including a very large gentleman in a top hat – sitting in barrels and rowing frantically in circles with a single paddle. There's also a four-year-old mermaid and lots of decorated boats.

There’s plenty to enjoy here, as London celebrates the Molesey Regatta with a host of weird events. Filmed for posterity is a race featuring men in riding silks “swimming” aboard semi-submerged hobby horses, and a ridiculous group of clowns– including a very large gentleman in a top hat – sitting in barrels and rowing frantically in circles with a single paddle. There’s also a four-year-old mermaid and lots of decorated boats.


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