Where Broadland Meets the Sea

Registered:  16th February 1959
Duration: 17 minutes
Feet: 1509 feet
Board of Trade Certificate number: BR/E24101
Production Company: Harold Baim Productions Limited

Various scenes of the marshes and sea at Lowestoft.

Title and Credits:
David Gell takes you to..
WHERE BROADLAND MEETS THE SEA
  
Photographed in Eastmancolor by: Eric Owen
Research: A.W. Beckett
Continuity: Glenda Baim
Music: De Wolfe
Editing : G. Levy, D. Lanning
Recordists: Bob Allen, John Cape
Produced and Directed by: Harold Baim

SCRIPT

Suffolk is in the heart of East Anglia in Great Britain. A county with an area of 1469mi² in which live almost half a million people amidst wide landscapes enriched by trees, lovely commons and delightful resorts.

Oulton broad is one of the finest stretches of navigable inland waters in the British Isles, covering some 130 acres. A starting point for Broadland with its 200 miles of rivers and lakes, Oulton always presents a picture of nautical activity.

Here can be seen craft of all kinds large and small. Cabin cruisers, motorboats, dinghies and almost anything that can float.

Above all, it's a yachtsman's Paradise and sailing vessels of every type move gracefully over the placid waters of this inland lake.

And under the waters moving just as gracefully are pike, roach, bream and perch just asking to be caught by the thousands of anglers who come here.

A minute or two away is Nicholas Everitt Park, with its lovely swimming pool where contests, games and galas are regularly held. And for those who do not care to get wet, there are always boats whose motors are driven by electricity. The power being obtained through the medium of trolleys linked to overhead wires.

It's at this lock, with Oulton Broad on the one side and Lowestoft on the other, that Broadland meets the sea. The fresh water flowing into the ocean. The lock was built early in the 19th century to enable ships to sail right up to Norwich in Norfolk, which today they can do.

Lowestoft is in the most easterly part of Britain. Once a tiny cluster of fishermen's huts, today it's become one of the country's most attractive resorts, as well as a valuable fishing port.

And here's the Ness which actually juts out into the North Sea, a very exposed location with invigorating and health giving breezes.

Through the Lowestoft Swingbridge, considered to be one of the finest swing bridges in the country, come cargo boats and trawlers of all kinds. Some to unload and others into the refitting and repair yards.

The bridge is 116ft long, with a width of 22.5ft, has a maximum capacity of 16 tons and was officially opened in 1897. Always fascinating to watch, It's one of the landmarks, or river marks in this thriving East Coast metropolis.

Jubilee parade, with its gardens and promenades on the one hand and the ocean on the other, thronged with visitors strolling in the sunshine or indulging in the many outdoor activities makes a wonderful picture.

Close by the promenade is a perfect scale model of a steam driven locomotive. It's correct in every detail and carries passengers through stations, signal boxes and model villages.

The 1300 feet long South Pier has a fine observation tower, which is actually a part of the pavilion opened in 1956 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

There is quite a lot to see from the platform, and one can look out over the 130 year old harbour of 63 acres and 6000ft of quayside.

Founded in 1859, the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club has the Duke of Edinburgh as its patron. It's probably one of the oldest clubs in the country.

Into the Lowestoft docks come the trawlers to unload their catches, Operated by some 47 boat owning firms who hand over their catches to nine fish selling concerns. The catch is then distributed by 67 wholesalers and 40 retailers who trade at the Quaysides.

It's a fishy business, all right. And in Lowestoft, one of the largest fishing ports in Great Britain, it's big business.

And where there's fish, there's ships. Besides being a thriving seafood industry town, Lowestoft recently secured a large order for the building of fishing vessels. Here, the yards of Brooke Marine. The work of assembling the massive sections can be seen.

90ft to 120ft long and powered by the most modern engines of British production, the vessels are fitted with every latest aid to navigation.

From Brooke Marine came this newly built Russian trawler. A ship of superb design and proportions.

Richards yard is another trawler building location and today a new one is ready for launching. The baptism of champagne is carried out and down the slipway she goes.

Looking for all the world as if it were resting on the roof, and I give you my word. It isn't, is Lowestoft highlight with 1,300,000 candle power.

The name Score may be corruption of the word to scour, alluding to the effect of the flood water, which in times long since gone, rushed down to the sea.

The parish church is dominated by a medieval spire. It was built in the 15th century.

One of the town's loveliest parks is Belle Vue. Here stands the Royal Naval Patrol Memorial, which are inscribed the names of 2385 officers and men of the service.

Another beautiful park has the delightful name of Sparrows Nest. Originally the summer home of a Mr Robert Sparrow, during the last war it was the headquarters of the Naval Patrol Service and known as HMS Europa. Now given over to the visitor's leisure hours, Sparrows Nest is a beautiful haven indeed, broken only by the chorus rehearsing for their performance at the Sparrow's Nest Theatre, where each evening a first class variety show can be enjoyed. Keep in step, you're enough to make the rest of the cast laugh.

Caravanning is always lots of fun in the sun for those who like the outdoor life. That's right, let dad have it!

The seafront is over four and a half miles long, and the beaches are ever a tremendous attraction.

Always clean and tidy, their the first part of England to greet the rising sun. And here's a spectacle calculated to draw the crowds. Find the perfect fit.

If you have a perfect figure, this is what you have to do. Stand within the framework cut out to form the perfect figure and the one who conforms nearest, of course, wins. Tight fits are disqualified.

The winners and a pretty good fit too!

Not far from Lowestoft is Blundeston Church in the village Dickens, made famous in David Copperfield. It's a remarkable building with Norman walls and Saxon tower. It's said to be nearly a thousand years old.

Nearby is the rectory where Copperfield was born. And the Plough Inn, where Mr Barkis, the sweetheart of Peggotty, started his journeys. Barkis, you remember, was always willing, but Barkis was slow, and his horse was the laziest in the world. But he travelled with David Copperfield from this place to immortality.

Now to Broadland, where, at the boatyard a journey into adventure always begins.

It's here and we leave our car behind and take over the cabin cruiser, already shipshape, ready and waiting.

The sense of anticipation of spending time afloat has to be experienced to be believed. Cruisers are luxuriously fitted and contain every aid to modern living.

Stores are taken aboard. One's appetite seems to know no bounds after a day or so.

And the way they go through Oulton Broad on the first lap of their Broadland adventure.

Out into the River Waveney at quite a reasonable speed. The cruisers are extremely easy to control and after about 15 minutes or so at the helm, one is apt to think that there's very little one doesn't know about ships. The control of the Queen Elizabeth must be child's play.

They have no problems.

What could be nicer than to tie up at a chosen spot and cool off a little? Can you tell me a better way?

We'll call you when lunch is ready. Are they hungry? Mhm. Mhm.

It'll certainly give them something to remember when winter comes.

Back to Oulton Broad where the crowd is already assembled for the weekly speedboat race meeting. Mechanics tune the engines, the drivers adjust their helmets and padded suits, and do they need them? You'll see.

It leaves me almost breathless to watch it. It's thrilling to take part in and exciting to look at. So let's sit back.

His motor's packed up. No wonder he looks crestfallen. Never mind.

After that, we feel the need for a little speed ourselves and at the same time, with a host of pleasant memories, take our leave of Lowestoft - where Broadland meets the sea.

[End Credit]