Detail
Collection Pestalozzi
Summary
Films related to the work of the Pestalozzi Village Trust and its educational work (based near Battle) from around 1958 to the present day, applying the philosophy of Johann Pestalozzi, providing refuge and education in matters of integration, multiculturalism and overseas developments. The collection includes Thames Television and BBC footage as well as amateur material.
| Collection ID | 799 | Reference code | ES 060301 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Pestalozzi | ||
| Dates | 1940s - 2010s | ||
| Production | Pestalozzi Broadcast Television Material | ||
| Materials | FILM DOCUMENTATION VIDEO 16mm Super 8mm EPHEMERA Lantern Ephemera | ||
| Access status | Contact Screen Archive South East for details | ||
Description
The Pestalozzi Children’s Village in Sedlescombe was founded by Dr. Henry Alexander, a Jewish refugee from Berlin and Chairman of the British Pestalozzi Association and Mrs. Mary Buchanan, Hon. Gen. Secretary of the Association. This initiative followed on from the success of a similar village at Trogen in Switzerland, which was established by Dr Walter Corti in 1946 to care for war orphans from Europe, some of whom were from England as seen in Milestone: Children’s Village Trogen (1947?) & Three Swiss Newsreel Items: Pestalozzi Children Village in Trogen (ca. 1950).
Screen Archive South East's collection of Pestalozzi films is comprised of over 40 amateur and professional films that feature life at the Village since its early days and reflect the changes over the subsequent years.
In the early days, the village housed refugees from Displaced Persons Camps in Europe; however after the camps were abolished, the Trust changed its focus to provide educational opportunities for children from the poorest parts of the world. From 1963 until 1997, the Village welcomed Tibetan refugees from India who are seen in Two Way Ticket (1968) and performing for His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Dalai Lama visit to Pestalozzi (1973?) and later refugees from Vietnam, Palestine, Nigeria, Thailand, Nepal and India. These children attended Sedlescombe Junior School and later, Claverham College. During this time the Village aimed to promote the Pestalozzi "Head, Heart and Hands" approach and the children were involved in the building of houses and workshops and running the Village farm. Many of the films in the collection are from this period, including They Built It Themselves (1969-1972), Let’s Go Out (1975), Pestalozzi Children’s Village; Building work; farming; metal work (ca. 1977) & The Pestalozzi Story (1984).
Since 1997, the Village has welcomed students from Africa and Asia who would otherwise have had no opportunity for education. They study for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, which includes 'Creativity, Action and Service' components. A Year in the Life of a Pestalozzi Student (2000) records the daily activities and experiences of students as they study for the International Baccalaureate (IB). As well as helping young people from a wide variety of countries, the Village has also enabled the local community in East Sussex to learn firsthand about other cultures and continues to promote international understanding in the local community and beyond, through events such as the Festival of Culture as seen in UK Today Programme on Pestalozzi (1997).
The organisation is now called The Pestalozzi International Village Trust. Its website holds information about the organisation's history and the 'archive project' which gives a timeline and includes a series of archive photographs and documents. All organisational records and documents are now cared for by the East Sussex Record Office held at The Keep.
Films in this collection:
Showing 1 to 15 of 38 results.
[Milestone [?]; Children’s Village Trogen]
| Date | [1947?] | ID | 5779 |
|---|
A silent film documenting the founding of the Pestalozzi Children's Village at Trogen, Switzerland. The village is seen being constructed, children help to make furniture and a ceremony is held to mark its official opening. Children from abroad arrive at the village and take up residence in one of the houses, they are seen enjoying games and learning in the classroom. The film is intersected by titles, providing a narrative to the events.
[Three Swiss Newsreel Items: Pestalozzi Children Village in Trogen]
| Date | [ca. 1950] | ID | 5772 |
|---|
A compilation of three short films about the Pestalozzi village at Trogen, Switzerland accompanied by a German commentary. Celebrations are held to mark the opening of the village; children are seen making models and perform songs and dances; and English war orphans arrive in Switzerland and are greeted by the British Consulate-General.
BBC Home Service: Return to Pestalozzi
| Date | 15 October 1959 | ID | 8101 |
|---|
A radio programme, broadcast as part of the BBC's Home Service during 1959. The correspondent, Edward Ward returns to the International Pestalozzi Children's Village at Trogen in Switzerland to examine how it has developed since his last visit. The correspondent also talks to Dr Alexander about the development of the new British Pestalozzi Children's Village.
BBC Panorama Programme
| Date | [ca. early 1960s?] | ID | 8681 |
|---|
A Christmas episode of BBC Panorama which includes a feature on the Pestalozzi village at Sedlescombe in East Sussex. The presenter, Richard Dimbleby, visits the village where he meets Pestalozzi staff and students who are preparing for their Christmas production.
Two Way Ticket
| Date | 1968 | ID | 5767 |
|---|
A promotional film commissioned by the The Pestalozzi Children’s Village Trust. Scenes of children at the Pestalozzi village at Sedlescombe are accompanied by a narrative about the work of the trust, its history and future work. The key message of the film is that Pestalozzi children are on a "two-way ticket [to] new hope and a brighter future".
They Built It Themselves
| Date | 1969 - 1972 | ID | 5769 |
|---|
A promotional film about the work of the Pestalozzi Children's Village, Sedlescombe. Richard Baker introduces the film with the aim of raising funds for, and awareness of, Pestalozzi. The children are filmed helping to construct a new national house to accommodate new arrivals at the village. At the end of the film Richard Baker makes an appeal for donations.
[Pestalozzi Anniversary Service]
| Date | 11 January 1970 | ID | 5777 |
|---|
A short silent film featuring scenes from a Pestalozzi anniversary service at the Pestalozzi village, Sedlescombe. A portrait and statuette of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi is displayed on the stage as the children, dressed in varying national costumes, sing together.
[Rushes and News Items: Classes and Leisure; New Home for Pestalozzi Village; London Line Programme; TWIB Programme]
| Date | [1970 - 1972] | ID | 5782 |
|---|
A compilation of films about the Pestalozzi village at Sedlescombe, East Sussex. These films include news items from television programmes London Line and This Week in Britain. Each item features scenes from life at the village and some include interviews with Pestalozzi staff.
Down Your Way: Pestalozzi Conversation
| Date | [ca. early 1970s] | ID | 8102 |
|---|
An excerpt from an edition of BBC radio 'Down Your Way'. The presenter visits the Pestalozzi Children's village at Sedlescombe where he interviews Errol Christie about Pestalozzi and the differences between the British and Swiss villages. The presenter also interviews students from the village about their experiences and the guests pick a song which is played in between the interviews.
[New Roof Construction: They Built it Themselves]
| Date | [1972?] | ID | 5770 |
|---|
Children at the Pestalozzi Village Sedlescombe cut up asbestos sheeting and place on rafters to form the roof for the new national house. The children prepare the roof for waterproofing. These scenes have been subsequently edited and form part of "They Built It Themselves".
[Treffpunkt; Pestalozzi School]
| Date | 11 November 1972 | ID | 5781 |
|---|
A compilation of silent scenes featuring the daily activities of the children at the Pestalozzi village at Sedlescombe. The children perform native dances, build a bonfire, help with construction work and take part in classroom activities.
BBC Radio Brighton: Christmas at Pestalozzi
| Date | 18 December, 1972 | ID | 8103 |
|---|
A BBC Radio Brighton edition of 'Sussex Scene' from 1972. The presenter, James Parr, visits the village to explore how the Pestalozzi children celebrate Christmas at the village.
Dalai Lama visit to Pestalozzi
| Date | [1973?] | ID | 5776 |
|---|
A compilation of films featuring life at the Pestalozzi Village at Sedlescombe. His Holiness The Dalai Lama arrives at the village and is greeted by a large reception. He watches on as children perform various national dances. The film concludes with an Arab dance. The film is intersected by scenes from a foreign documentary (?).
Let’s Go Out
| Date | 1975 | ID | 5768 |
|---|
A Thames Television production aimed at children encouraging them to go and explore the place in which they live. The programme features the Pestalozzi village at Sedlescombe. The Warden Mr Gale is interviewed about the work of the Pestalozzi Children's Village Trust which aims to foster a spirit of internationalism and service. Many of the children recall their own experiences of life at the village and the Headmaster of Claverham Community College speaks about their integration into the school.
[Pestalozzi Children’s Village; Building work; farming; metal work]
| Date | [ca. 1977] | ID | 5775 |
|---|
A silent film featuring the construction of a new building at the Pestalozzi Village, Sedlescombe. The children of the village are involved in the building work, mixing concrete, bricklaying and digging trenches. As the building work progresses, they are seen doing a variety of activities such as metalwork, farming, gardening and fencing.
Showing 1 to 15 of 38 results.