• Short Summary

    River festival at Maidenhead.

  • Description

    Title reads: "Festival Afloat".

    Maidenhead, Berkshire.

    Sign on lamp standard reading "Maidenhead River Festival" pan to crowds on the river bank. Various shots different types of boats sailing on River Thames, including one carrying Indian dancers. Various shots girls in bikinis on pleasure boat.

    Canoes paddling down river pan up to show the rest of the river. Canoes get into turbulent waters. G/V canoes sailing in front of weir, one of the canoeists in the water having capsized. C/U man in the water clinging to another canoe and swimming to the shore. M/S boy canoeist turning over in his canoe, going right under the water and coming up again.

    C/U Barbara Smith being crowned "Miss Thames 1959" by the present "Miss World". Canoes paddle down river following the float which is carrying the Beauty Queen, camera pans onto it. The Beauty Queen waves as she sits on the float made out of flowers in the shape of a swan. G/V canoes escorting the Beauty Queen's float down river.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    1589.23
    Media URN:
    51315
    Group:
    Pathe newsreels
    Archive:
    British Pathe
    Issue Date:
    23/07/1959
    Sound:
    Sound
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Black & White
    Duration:
    00:01:00:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:29:29:00 / 01:30:29:00
    Canister:
    59/59

Comments (1)

  1. jamied says

    "G/V canoes sailing in front of weir" - that's Boulter's Weir on Ray Mill Island, (although the commentator calls it Rayville Island.)

    "the present Miss World" - that's Penelope Anne Coelen.

    Lots of extra footage from this event can be seen in clip 1589.30.

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