Description: Opening title reads 'Planet Film Society' followed by 'Southgate's New Running Track'. The coat of arms of Southgate is then shown, with the motto 'Ex Glande Quercus' ('From Acorn to Oak'). The mayor of Southgate (presumably) speaks to a large crowd; he wears a livery chain and robe. The camera pans round to the running track. We then see two BBC cameramen with large film cameras on top of scaffolding. Four older men then address the crowd one after the other, all wear suits. Assembled dignitaries are then shown, including a judge(?) and women wearing hats and floral dresses; they hold programmes. Another shot of the park and spectators, who are sitting on a large spectator stand, with a large Victorian house in the background. Next is the 100 yards - under age 14 (an intertitle before the event tells us this, with names of the top three, same for all subsequent events). Six boys run around the track. Next: 100 yards - under age 16. Six more boys running towards the camera with the same large Victorian house in the background. A photographer stands at the finish line. Next: Putting the weight - Match. A male athlete wearing a white vest and shorts throws a shot put. Next: 100 Yards - Match. A man nails a starting block into the ground, then four runners take off and are shown from various angles. In second place, identified by the intertitle. is Norris McWhirter, television personality from children's programme Record Breakers and founder of the Guinness Book of World Records (born in Winchmore Hill in 1925). We then see the dignitaries again, including the mayor and his wife(?) who wears a smart dress suit with hat. Next to another man sits a woman in a dark fur coat and hat. Next: High Jump - Match. Three men do high jumps. Next 800 Yards - Match. Five men run past the camera, including one tall black athlete. Crowds watch from behind railings. Flagpoles, including an American flag. The black athlete seems to be winning but is overtaken by one of the white athletes at the very last minute. Another shot of a BBC cameraman on a platform; we can see some shop fronts behind the crowd. Next: 120 Yards Hurdles - Match. Three athletes run the race with one clearly in front. Next: Throwing the Javelin - Match. Two javelin throwers. Next 220 Yards - Match. Four athletes run this race, of whom two are black. Next: One Mile - Match. Four athletes, two lead by far. Next: Long Jump - Match. Only one jump is shown. Next: 2 Miles Steeplechase - Match - 3,000 Metres. Another shot of the crowd: men are all dressed in suits and women wear large hats with flowers, patterned dresses, and fur stoles. Six athletes run the steeplechase. Vests and shorts are variously white, black, or striped. Next: Throwing the Discus - Match. In four shots, men throw discuses and the camera swings left to follow it. Next: 440 Yards - Match. Three runners. Athletes then receive medals from the woman presumed to be the mayor's wife, who wears a smart coat and hat. Next: Two Miles - Match. Six athletes run past the American flag. BBC cameraman follows them. Next: Local Grammar School Invitation Relay - 440 Yards - 4 x 110 Yards. Next: Middlesex County A.A.A. Senior Relay Relay (4 x 110 Yards) Championship, 1950 - Final. Closing title shows the Southgate coat of arms with 'The End' written over it.
Further information: The following info is based on Richard Purver's research for his two-part article for the October 2019/January 2020 editions of the Southgate District Civic Trust (now Southgate District Civic Voice) newsletter, “The Greatest Collection of Athletic Talent Ever Assembled in this Part of North London”: The Opening of the New Running Track in Broomfield Park in June 1950.
The main competition at the Athletic Sports meeting held to mark the formal opening of the new running track in Broomfield Park, Palmers Green on 28 June 1950 was the match between the Amateur Athletic Association [77½ points] and Middlesex and Herts AAA [52½], with other events involving local schools.
The track was opened by the Mayor of Southgate, Councillor Arthur S Gray; the man in the wig is the Town Clerk, Gordon H Taylor; the building seen behind the spectators on the grass bank bordering the sports arena (rather than a spectator stand) is Edwardian not Victorian (Palmers Green was developed from 1902). The live BBC television transmission of the event ran from 7pm to 8.45pm.
The speakers were Alderman R S Pruden, Mr Jack Crump, honorary secretary of the AAA board, who also contributed to the BBC commentary, Mr A D G White, president of Middlesex AAA and Mr W Parkinson, president of Southgate Harriers.
Several Olympic and European athletes took part, including the (winning) athlete shown putting the weight, John Giles and Harold Moody, who came second in this event and in the discus, where he is the black man shown throwing second; the black athlete who is overtaken in the 880 yards, Arthur Wint and the winner John Partlett; Jack Parker and Peter Hildreth (first and second, 120 yards hurdles); Malcolm Dalrymple, winner of the javelin; E McDonald Bailey, the black athlete who had to drop back in the 220 yards and was unplaced after leading because of the risk of pulling a muscle and Derek Pugh (third in the race); Bill Nankeville, second in the mile; Harry Askew, winner of the long jump; John Disley, winner of the 2 miles / 3,000 metres steeplechase in 9 mins 18.4 secs, the fastest time recorded by a British athlete over the latter distance, and Rene Howell who came second. The winner of the 2 miles was Valdu Lillakas, a ‘displaced person’ from Estonia.
As well as the Mayoress, Mrs Gray, who is shown handing out medals during the course of the film, at the end Councillor Mrs Ruth Winston is seen presenting the Laurence Winston Trophy, in memory of her husband, to the winners of the annual competition between local grammar schools in the 440 yards (4 x 110) relay. She is followed by Beverley Baxter, MP for Enfield Southgate presenting the Baxter Trophy for the winners of the Inter-Team competition to the AAA’s representative. (Also awarded were the Herbert Wauthier Trophies for the Borough of Southgate Championships 100 yards under 14 and under 16, presented on this occasion by Mrs Herbert [Annie] Wauthier.)
Keywords: Sport; speech; Exercise; Athletics; multi-racial; competition; running
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Enfield; Southgate; Broomfield Park
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Comments
The main competition at the Athletic Sports meeting held to mark the formal opening of the new running track in Broomfield Park, Palmers Green on 28 June 1950 was the match between the Amateur Athletic Association [77½ points] and Middlesex and Herts AAA [52½], with other events involving local schools.
The track was opened by the Mayor of Southgate, Councillor Arthur S Gray; the man in the wig is the Town Clerk, Gordon H Taylor; the building seen behind the spectators on the grass bank bordering the sports arena (rather than a spectator stand) is Edwardian not Victorian (Palmers Green was developed from 1902). The live BBC television transmission of the event ran from 7pm to 8.45pm.
The speakers were Alderman R S Pruden, Mr Jack Crump, honorary secretary of the AAA board, who also contributed to the BBC commentary, Mr A D G White, president of Middlesex AAA and Mr W Parkinson, president of Southgate Harriers.
Several Olympic and European athletes took part, including the (winning) athlete shown putting the weight, John Giles and Harold Moody, who came second in this event and in the discus, where he is the black man shown throwing second; the black athlete who is overtaken in the 880 yards, Arthur Wint and the winner John Partlett; Jack Parker and Peter Hildreth (first and second, 120 yards hurdles); Malcolm Dalrymple, winner of the javelin; E McDonald Bailey, the black athlete who had to drop back in the 220 yards and was unplaced after leading because of the risk of pulling a muscle and Derek Pugh (third in the race); Bill Nankeville, second in the mile; Harry Askew, winner of the long jump; John Disley, winner of the 2 miles / 3,000 metres steeplechase in 9 mins 18.4 secs, the fastest time recorded by a British athlete over the latter distance, and Rene Howell who came second. The winner of the 2 miles was Valdu Lillakas, a ‘displaced person’ from Estonia.
As well as the Mayoress, Mrs Gray, who is shown handing out medals during the course of the film, at the end Councillor Mrs Ruth Winston is seen presenting the Laurence Winston Trophy, in memory of her husband, to the winners of the annual competition between local grammar schools in the 440 yards (4 x 110) relay. She is followed by Beverley Baxter, MP for Enfield Southgate presenting the Baxter Trophy for the winners of the Inter-Team competition to the AAA’s representative. (Also awarded were the Herbert Wauthier Trophies for the Borough of Southgate Championships 100 yards under 14 and under 16, presented on this occasion by Mrs Herbert [Annie] Wauthier.)
Richard Purver
July 2023
Based on the research for my two-part article for the October 2019/January 2020 editions of the Southgate District Civic Trust (now Southgate District Civic Voice) newsletter, “The Greatest Collection of Athletic Talent Ever Assembled in this Part of North London”: The Opening of the New Running Track in Broomfield Park in June 1950.