Description

Relive Weymouth and Portland from the 1930s to the 1970s, with an hour and a half of rare and exclusive film of paddle steamers, the quay tramway, the last train to Portland, sand sculptures and Punch & Judy shows in the 1960s. The DVD combines broadcast TV material with the rarely seen work of enthusiastic local filmmakers.

Many of the films in this programme are from the South West Film and Television archive which is a treasure chest of film based around the independent television film collection which broadcast from the South West from the early 1960s. Other films are from film-makers who captured historic moments from Weymouth and Portland’s past.

For the first time, archive films of the area have been brought together to show past scenes in the harbour at Weymouth when the Channel Islands ferry and freight traffic was so important to the town. We see life on the promenade and the beach which has been part of local life for centuries. See the last of the paddle steamers in 1967, unloading goods from the Channel Islands ships, the demolition of the pier bandstand, the effects of storm damage along the Preston beach road, the trawler race in 1978, last days of brewing in Hope Square, sailing at Weymouth Week in 1979 prior to the 1980 Olympics, and film star Kirk Douglas on location.

Footage of the old Quay Tramway and the last train to Portland are included. Two very detailed documentary films about Portland by Westward Television dating from the late 1970s give a very complete account of this fascinating island. Look out as we see these rare films as you might just see yourself, a friend or a member of your family.

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