Detail
Collection Ernie Trory
Summary
Ernie Trory was a leading figure in the Sussex Communist movement in the 1930s, filming many of their activities and demonstrations.
Collection ID | 113 | Reference code | ES 990428 |
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Title | Ernie Trory | ||
Dates | ca.1930s - 1950s | ||
Production | Ernie Trory | ||
Materials | FILM 16mm 9.5mm Ephemera Books Video | ||
Access status | Contact Screen Archive South East for details |
Description
Ernie Trory was a leading figure in the Sussex Communist movement, joining the Communist Party at the age of 18 in 1931. He participated in the 1930s Hunger Marches, and was a Sussex Communist Party District Organiser at the time that he made his films. The films in the Ernie Trory collection include two films, which were made as "People's Newsreels", intended to promote and record the work of the Communist Party in Sussex. The films feature Communist Party demonstrations, marches, commemoration of Spanish Civil War fighters, and a party Congress. Consequently, these films represent an important part of the social and political history of the South East and offer a unique first-hand film record of communist activities in the region in the 1930s. Ernie Trory went on to write a number of books and texts on communism and other topics.
Besides his communist party and film-making activities, Brighton resident, Ernie Trory was also a keen swimmer and weightlifter; swimming in the sea off Brighton and weight lifting well into his 70s. A Pathé newsreel film held in the Archive captures Ernie Tory with members of the Brighton Swimming Club taking a swim in the sea during the winter.
Films in this collection:
Showing 4 results.

Sussex People's Scrapbook 1938
Date | 1938 | ID | 701 |
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A film illustrating and promoting the activities of the Communist Party in Sussex in 1938. The film includes scenes of demonstrations on Brighton's sea front; the anniversary of the Russian Revolution; and men returning to Brighton, from fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Intertitles are used throughout the film.
![[Advert for Daily Worker] A still from [Advert for Daily Worker] (1938) showing a man reading a the Daily Worker newspaper](/wp-content/uploads/films/702/image_a_thumb.jpg)
[Advert for Daily Worker]
Date | 1938 | ID | 702 |
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An advertisement for the Daily Worker communist party newspaper. The advert illustrates the variety of subject matter covered in the paper: news from industry, political cartoons, news for the housewife, gardening and sport.

Sussex, 1939
Date | 1939 | ID | 699 |
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A film illustrating and promoting the activities of the Communist Party in Sussex in 1939. The film includes the production of the party newsletter, a demonstration against unemployment, speeches at the Sussex Communist Party Congress, and a march in Eastbourne.
![[Brighton Swimming Club - Seaside Birthday] (1953) A still from [Brighton Swimming Club - Seaside Birthday] (1953) showing Ernie Trory and Brighton Swimming Club members](/wp-content/uploads/films/698/image_a_thumb.jpg)
[Brighton Swimming Club: Seaside Birthday]
Date | 1953 | ID | 698 |
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Pathé newsreel items showing "Ernest Trory and his friends" at the Brighton Swimming Club going for a winter swim in the sea off Brighton beach, to celebrate Trory's birthday. The group run across a snow covered beach and into the sea. After their swim, they record the sea temperature on a board and Trory celebrates his birthday with tea and cake on the beach.
Showing 4 results.