Detail

Collection Tomes Family

Summary

A collection of travelogues and family films taken in the UK and abroad made by the Tomes family in the 1950s and 1960s; featuring, among other events, the Festival of Britain and 'Atoms for Peace' conference.

Collection ID	1232	Reference code	SE 100716
Title	Tomes Family
Dates	1950s - 1960s
Production	Gilbert Tomes Richard Tomes
Materials	VIDEO FILM 16mm DOCUMENTATION
Access status	Contact Screen Archive South East for details

Description

The Tomes family made many amateur travelogue, documentary and social history films featuring locations from the UK and abroad from the 1950s to late 1960s. Films include: a record of a visit to the 1951 Festival of Britain on the South Bank in London; compiled highlights of the first 1955 'Atoms for Peace' Conference in Geneva, Switzerland and several films featuring the Sanderstead Youth Fellowship from their local United Reformed Church.

Gilbert Tomes kept many diaries, with the family later compiling the entries into one volume entitled: 'Jumbo's Diary'.

Gilbert Tomes was born in Dulwich, London but lived in several towns in the South East of England including Croydon, Bromley, Tunbridge Wells, Brighton and Bournemouth. Tomes had been interested in film from an early age, working with John Logie Baird on Baird's development of television; he studied at the School of Kinematography, at the Polytechnic Institute (now part of University of Westminster); later becoming a BBC cameraman. Gilbert Tomes founded 20th Century Electronics in 1945 (with Alec Tidmarsh - later to be known as Centronic Ltd), developing and producing Cathode ray and Geiger-Muller tubes for radiation detection and optical sensing. Gilbert Tomes was also one of the founding members of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, London. In 1965 Gilbert Tomes was made a Freeman of the City of London.

Gilbert Tomes' son Richard attended the Whitgift Independent Boys School, South Croydon, becoming a member of the Whitgift Players (theatrical society) and Whitgift School Combined Cadets. Upon leaving school, he attended Battersea College of Technology studying Human and Physical Sciences graduating in 1967 (now the University of Surrey), and joined the Photographic Society of Great Britain. In addition to creating his own films, which focused on activities at school with the Whitgift Film Unit and later documenting student life at college, Richard also assisted his father on many of his films.

Films in this collection:

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Showing 1 to 15 of 20 results.

Wheels

Date	1934	ID	9719

This is a silent version of a black and white documentary film documenting the process of making wooden cart wheels, in detail, from tree to finished product.

[Gilbert Tomes Wedding; Houses and Gardens]

Date	1939; [ca. 1942 - 1955]	ID	9720

A black and white film of Gilbert and Mary Tomes' wedding reception at Welton Hall, (Camberwell, London or Keswick ?) on 9th September 1939. This is followed by a much later colour film of their two of the family homes - West Wickham and Bromley, Kent, showing the gardens and two children, Barbara and Richard, playing together.

[Brixham]

Date	1951	ID	9278

A family holiday in Devon, showng village and countryside views in various locations including Brixham, Dartmouth, Plymouth. Family members Mary, Richard and Barbara all appear. South Sands Hotel is shown.

[Festival of Britain]

Date	1951	ID	9273

This colour film provides highlights of the 1951 Festival of Britain - South Bank Exhibition, held at Waterloo in London. The sights include many of the exhibition buildings, sculptures and art displays, set among the landscaped gardens adjacent to Festival Pier on the South Bank.

[Atoms for Peace]

Date	8th-25th August 1955	ID	9724

This edited colour film shows highlights of the 'Atoms for Peace' conference and exhibition (International Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy) in Geneva. Exhibitors, equipment and demonstrations are shown in detail. Additional black and white footage shows shots of Radiotherapy / Radiationtherapy equipment and views of the Genevan countryside.

Venice

Date	1956	ID	9721

This colour travelog style documentary film, made with commentary and music, shows highlights of a three day visit to Venice, by Gilbert and Mary Tomes aboard a gondola, touring the Piazzas, Campi and historical buildings along the Grand Canal.

Garden of Formentor

Date	1957	ID	9725

This narrated colour film shows a family holiday to 'Majorca', staying at the Hotel Formentor with coastal landscape shots and a tour of local villages and attractions. The film has opening titles, voice over and music throughout. Narrated by Gilbert, Richard and Mary, with dubbed sound from Barbara (young girl).

[Beaulieu-Sur-Mer and Surroundings]

Date	1958	ID	9722

This edited colour travelogue made with commentary and music, documents a family trip to Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Laghet and Eze in France and Monte Carlo in Monaco. The film features Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco at the christening of their second child.

Eastbourne

Date	April 1958	ID	9726

This black and white film shows the second Youth Fellowship weekend in Eastbourne in April 1958, where the group go on an organised walk over Beachy Head and Cuckmere Haven, play on the beaches and attend a church service at St Andrew's Presbyterian church.

The Youth Fellowship Banquet

Date	1 February 1958	ID	9727

This black and white film shows highlights from a Youth Fellowship hosted formal dinner, with the attendees dressed up as lords, ladies, surgeons, judges and celebrities; with a comedy themed menu served silver service. The meal is followed by group choreographed dancing. The event took place on 1st February 1958, at the Youth Fellowship Hall, Sanderstead, Surrey part of the local Congregational Church.

Whitgift at Cranwell

Date	August 1958	ID	9728

This black and white narrated film shows highlights from the Whitgift School Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at RAF Cranwell in 'August 1958' featuring the cadets undergoing formal training exercises, sports events and watching a passing out parade. [Music has been removed from online clip for copyright reasons]

Roman Holiday

Date	1958-1959	ID	9730

This edited colour travelogue style film with music and narration, tours the monuments and ruins of Rome, the Vatican City and the surrounding environs of Lazio and Tivoli. The film also shows Pope John XXIII at Castel Gandolfo performing a blessing and on a street tour.

[Grandparents in Hill Barn Garden]

Date	4 May 1958	ID	9749

This colour family film shows the gardens and grounds at the family home, Hill Barn in Sanderstead and of Gilbert Tomes' parents sitting together in the garden. Barbara and Richard walk in the garden with their grandparents and Sprinter the poodle. The gardens and trees are in full bloom, as the family tour the garden. The film has music throughout and recorded voices which are out of sync.

The Prince Abroad

Date	May 1960	ID	9723

This black and white film shows highlights of the Whitgift School Dramatic Society's 15 day tour of Southern Germany and to Ostend, Belgium in May 1960. Highlights of sections of the performances of Hamlet are shown, as are pre-show preparations in wardrobe and make up, along with the group on leisure and sightseeing activities.

[Hill Barn Theatre; Morse Brown Portrait]

Date	4 June 1960	ID	9731

This colour film shows views of the family home, gardens and grounds at Hill Barn and shots of Albert Tomes sitting for a portrait by British/Bermudan pastel artist Sam Morse Brown.

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Showing 1 to 15 of 20 results.