British Pathe

C/Us and M/S of Tom Phelps helping a boy into a skiff and watching him row away up a river. M/Ss of Harry and Edwin Phelps looking at a boat being carried in front of them; commentator tells us that Tom won the famous Doggett's Coat and Badge Race in 1922, Harry in 1920 and Edwin in 1958 and "today...

C/Us and M/S of Tom Phelps helping a boy into a skiff and watching him row away up a river. M/Ss of Harry and Edwin Phelps looking at a boat being carried in front of them; commentator tells us that Tom won the famous Doggett's Coat and Badge Race in 1922, Harry in 1920 and Edwin in 1958 and "today he's a leader in the field of boat building too". M/S and C/U in a boatyard as we see Bill Phelps, chief boatman to the University of London working on a boat.

M/S as we look at the Doggett's Coat and Badge Race on the River Thames, where former winners turn out in full regalia - the red 18th century-style coats and gold badges they received as prizes. We see Jack Phelps who won the race in 1928 (there's loads of them!) in his coat and badge; various shots as we see the men standing on a launch with Tower Bridge in the background, waiting for the race to start (it is between London Bridge and Chelsea). The men also wear red knickerbockers and white stockings; other launches are seen waiting for the race; we see spectators going aboard; a man at the stern of one of the launches unfurls a flag.

M/S showing the contestants lining up in front of London Bridge; the starting boat comes into position and starter Harry Phelps drops a white flag and shouts through a megaphone to start the race. Various shots of boats racing and the launches following them; interesting scenes of the old warehouses along the banks of the Thames; they go under London Bridge and are seen going under others between there and Chelsea, not in strict sequence I don't think; St Paul's Cathedral is seen in the background; then on towards Waterloo Bridge. Nice M/S from a moving boat of a boatman on a barge looking at camera, pointing and laughing.

The race goes on towards Westminster Bridge and we see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament as launches and barges follow. Unfortunately, we don't get to see who wins!

Note: Commentary explains the extensive history of the race. On file are three newspaper articles about the race and names of the contestants of this race. Cuts exist - see other record.