This colour film shows the Hansford family at Gumber Farm near Slindon, West Sussex. It features children greeting the postman; trips to the seaside, work on the farm, tobogganing in the snows of 1940 and new born lambs the following spring.

Gumber Farm

The farm seen from a distance and cows stand in a field.

His Majesty’s Mail

Children are seen running towards the postman. The children accompany the postman to the farm door, one of the small children sits on the postman’s bicycle. A woman takes the mail while standing at the door. Two boys go for a ride on the handlebars of the postman's bicycle. Two women walk and talk. A group sit and have a picnic. Chickens peck at the ground. Boys play by a well and children eat lunch.

Bognor Beach

A mother and children sit on the pebbles. Children dig in the sand. The family film the Bertram Mills Circus which includes an acrobatic act with a horse inside the tent. Back on the beach. The family sit; one child does some knitting, the family sit and children play on the beach.

Market day

The children get involved in work on the farm. A truck picks up sheep for transport to the market. The family ride in a horse drawn cart. A woman feeds the chickens. A Man shaves himself in the kitchen.

Washing Day

Some socks hang on a washing line. A boy plays with cats. A man drives a horse drawn cart.

The Dairy

Darker shots show buttermilk (?) being drained from a milk churn.

Part 2

Gumber Farm Autumn 1939

Tree branches covered in berries blow in the wind.

Uncle Leslie arrives

A car drives towards the farm, with Union flags flying from the car roof. Family members kiss and hug hello then sit outside eating and talking.

The rat trap

Four boys work together to building a trap. An adult couple walk along a path. This is followed by dark scenes of woodland and a sunset.

On Bignor Hill

Two men and a boy look to camera. The film pans across the landscape seen from the hill top.

Christmas Day

Indoors there are Christmas decorations and sparklers.

Winter

Sunrise is followed by scenes of cows and farm dogs in a snowy landscape. The boys throw snowballs and ride on toboggans (made from a Dutch egg boxes).

Spring on the Downs

Two girls feed lambs from a bottle. One cuddles a lamb. Shots of shrubs and trees on the Downs. A girl rides a Shetland pony.

The end of a perfect day

The pony rolls in a field.