• Short Summary

    The 'Go Placer' collapsible caravan is seen in action in a field in Rickmansworth.

  • Description

    Rickmansworth, Buckinghamshire.

    L/S of an estate car pulling a trailer driving onto a field and stopping before two small tents. A family of four get out and take a rowing boat off the top of the trailer. The mother and children carry the boat to the water, helped by man who's tent they have just parked smack bang in front of. They launch the boat on a lake.

    Meanwhile, the father is busy setting up the collapsible caravan, called the Go Placer, which springs out of the trailer the boat was strapped to. The helpful man pushes the boat off from the side of the lake with the boy and girl in it. More shots of the father adjusting the tent to make it stable. I would describe it as a tent on a trailer rather than a collapsible caravan.

    M/S of the helpful man sitting outside his tent having a well-earned cup of tea; he has lots of colourful flags hanging from his guy ropes. The mother climbs onto the trailer to fetch a folding table and picnic hamper. The boy is seen rowing the boat furiously across the lake with the girl sitting opposite. The mother pours the tea while father reclines on a sun-lounger.

    Although the commentator says the caravan sleeps four people, it doesn't look particularly comfortable to me; they must all have to get in the same sleeping bag!

    Note: On file is correspondence from Gerard Cooper, Sales Director of Go Placers Limited who manufactured the caravan, plus leaflets about this 'transport of delight for camping tourists and sailing dinghy owners'. The family seen are Albert, Lillian and Jean Hooker (sp? or Looker) - the father, mother and daughter; the son is John Day.

    Cuts are available on Pathe Master 135 *PM0135*.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    137.03
    Media URN:
    1734
    Group:
    Colour pictorials
    Archive:
    British Pathé
    Issue Date:
    03/04/1961
    Sound:
    Sound
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Colour
    Duration:
    00:02:22:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:03:40:00 / 01:06:02:00
    Canister:
    CP 327

Comments (2)

  1. Kerry Miller says

    Just a small but important note. Rickmansworth in is Hertfordshire and not Buckinghamshire although it is right on the border. This could have been on one of the gravel pits near West Hyde, or more possibly the Aquadrome which is close to Ricky town centre and therefore definitely in Herts.

    x
    Report comment
    Report comment

  2. neilcolombe says

    The 'helpful man' was my great-uncle 'Sam' - Charles Samuel Clegg - stalwart member of Camping and Caravan Clubs of Great Britain.

    x
    Report comment
    Report comment

We always welcome comments and more information about our films.
All posts are reactively checked. Libellous and abusive comments are forbidden.

Add your comment