Active spastics
digital file Colour Sound 1969 16:40
Video not currently available. Get in touch to discuss viewing this film
Summary: This film explains the work of the Lincolnshire Spastics Centre, a residential home for adults with cerebral palsy. The residents are seen working, eating, socialising and partaking in hobbies such as painting and listening to music. 3 segments.
Title number: 18073
LSA ID: LSA/21230
Description: Segment 1 The Lincolnshire Spastics Centre is shown, and the narrator explains how various regional Spastics Societies in the Scunthorpe area built it with money from a huge fundraising drive. The centre is a residential home for adults with cerebral palsy on the outskirts of Scunthorpe. The gardens and aviary are shown. The warden is seen walking through the corridors of the centre, smoking. There are thirty residents, and they are shown working in the workshops. The narrator explains that they are sent work by nearby companies, and receive weekly wages. The residents are seen screwing mechanical parts together and putting boxes together. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:05:54:20 Length: 00:05:54:20 Segment 2 More shots of the workshop are shown whilst the narrator explains what the word 'spastic' means, and how the workshop activities provide physiotherapy and build a sense of community. The residents finish work and go to the dining room. They are seen eating their dinner. Time start: 00:05:54:20 Time end: 00:10:48:02 Length: 00:04:53:07 Segment 3 Female residents are shown knitting, and other residents are shown painting. These are hobbies and evening classes taught at the centre. The bedrooms are seen, including one of a young, male resident who is a short-wave radio fanatic. Residents are shown listening to music and watching TV. At the end, a social evening is organised, with a live band. Local youth clubs and other organisations also attend, and residents and other young people are shown dancing to the music. Time start: 00:10:48:02 Time end: 00:16:40:08 Length: 00:05:52:06
Credits: Presented by the South Humberside Spastic Society. Directed by Frank Thompson.
Further information: This film was donated to Wellcome Trust by Scope.
Keywords: Cerebral Palsy; Disabled Persons
Locations: United Kingdom; England; Scunthorpe; Lincolnshire
Related
Comments
I moved on after a year and went to work at the Belfont Hotel in Clacton-on-Sea. More important experiences to gain, but my thoughts of Scunthorpe and the people there remained with me.
One great memory was when the Small Faces came to visit the Centre (meeting a real rock band was something terrific at my young age - Rod Stewart of course)
This week sees the centres 50th anniversary! Terry is now 68 and so sadly, John passed away yesterday which leaves just a few of the residents on the film still with us.
I had forgotten how quickly Terry typed with his nose. He is obviously slower now but since this was made he has been an active member of what is now Lincolnshire House, and an extremely clever and popular man.
An incredible change occured when Ian Millard took over as manager, the residents went from institutionalised beings into people with a voice who were the most important part of the place. Brilliant.