Forum

[wilf]

It's a bit of a coincidence that my mate Tom had an AJS 250 and Tom in the film was riding a Matchless. My bike before passing my test was a Tiger Cub, same as Toms pal in the film. The Tom I know was, and still is a very safe rider, whereas back in the day I was known to have my wilder moments. Lord knows how I managed to walk away from attempting to take the Huntercombe roundabout flat out in third on my Ariel Arrow!

[Adam]

Hi Scalyback, that is one cracking little film. By the look of it some of it could have been filmed in Slough, the twin cooling towers could be those on the Slough Trading Estate but I’m not wholly sure. The final shot is definitely the M4 elevated section at Chiswick, Tom and his ‘friend’ are heading west, the arched structure in the bottom right corner is a very distinctive clock that still stands to the north of the M4. Perhaps Wilf has a better idea of where it might be? Adam

[Scalyback]

I should have added the following, I added the roads after much research.




Set in an around Harlow and Wembley, London, this Public Information Film concerns motorcycle road safety by following the journey to work of Tom, who follows road safety procedures, and his friend, who does not.



The commentator is PHILIP JAMES, Production is HARRY FIELD, the cast are unknown.



00:00 The film opens showing Tom and his friend as young children in woodland, riding their tricycles. There is a quick timeline as they grow up as Tom switches between a child’s bicycle, a larger bicycle, and lastly, a Matchless Motorcycle. Tom’s friend comes along on his Triumph Tiger cub motorcycle and proceeds to ride and slide recklessly around the woodland.



01:03 A quick shot of the factory that they both work in, including the first showing of a much repeated shot of the clocking-in time-clock and a close up of the Work’s Keeper’s somewhat stern face.



01:10 Tom leaves home (unknown) reasonably early, whilst his friend is only just getting up.



01:38 Tom carefully overtakes a lorry, whilst his friend rushes to eat breakfast including another shot of the time-clock and Work’s Keeper, then he rushes out of the house and grabs his motorcycle. A quick shot of Tom riding steadily whilst the commentator explains that he is not in a hurry, before cutting back to his friend who pulls into the road from the side of the house with hardly a glance, then proceeds to ride fast and recklessly along his route to work.



02:52 Tom is riding along Eliot Drive, South Harrow and then shows us how to negotiate a crossroads with Scott / Coles crescent, as the commentates tells us to “Never rely on signals given by anyone, except a policeman.”.



03:29 Tom’s friend is still tearing down the road, whilst Tom is riding unhurriedly.



03:34 Tom turns left at a T junction.



04:06 Tom’s friend is stopped by a red traffic light. There is another time-clock/Works Keeper shot to emphasise that he is worried about being late as he looks at his watch. He takes a shortcut but because of his speed and careless braking, his motorcycle crashes into some road works. The narrator explains about correct braking and the previous shot is repeated, but showing another Matchless, braking correctly and avoiding the road works. The scene of Tom’s friend riding into the road works is repeated with another shot of the time-clock/Works Keeper, before his friend remounts his motorcycle, kick starts it and then tears off again.



04:58 Tom is riding unhurriedly again, whilst the narrator explains that Tom is in good time to get his paper this morning. Tom turns right out of Rayner’s Lane into Alexandra Avenue, towards the newsagents. At 05:34, Tom passes a pedestrian, waiting to use a zebra crossing, but neither Tom or the narrator seem to notice.



05:42 Tom stops at the newsagents at 212 Alexandra Avenue, whilst the shot zooms in on a blank newspaper headline board on which the words ‘LOOK’, ’SIGNAL’, ‘MANOEUVRE’ appear one by one as the narrator points them out.



06:06 Having got his newspaper, Tom does a U turn and rides back down Alexandra Avenue whilst the weather has suddenly changed from sunny, to very cold and foggy. At the previous crossroads, he turns right into Warden Avenue. Meanwhile, Tom’s friend is still riding fast to try and make up time.



07:09 Tom does a final left turn into the factory premises. He safely passes and oncoming lorry. By now, very close behind, Tom’s friend is tearing along, full of bravado, and takes the final turn too fast and too wide, hitting the oncoming lorry. we are looking up through his eyes at several people who are looking down with concerned expressions.



07:30 Tom pulls up outside the hospital casualty department, and his friend appears around the corner, limping with a stick. He has a right plastered foot and left arm. The narrator explains that tom’s friend does not have a bike anymore, just a summons for careless driving, as the shot changes to a doorbell button being pressed and then switches to the stern looking face of a policeman.



07:47 travelling along Wyld Way, Wembley, we see Tom on his Matchless which is now minus the L plates, followed by a girl on a scooter. The narrator tells us that Tom has made a new friend who is quite an improvement, and as Tom says, “You should see her at a T junction, there’s no need to teach her to look, signal, manoeuvre.”



08:03 Whilst they ride along what is presumalbly the elevated section of the A40, the narrator sums up, explaining that by riding correctly, you can get a lot of pleasure, as well as having a quick and economical means of transport. Then he adds, “As long as you remember road safety.”



08:20 End credits:



Slide 1 “Produced by associated British Pathe” “RCA Sound Recording”



Slide 2 “Cameraman GEROGE STEVENS Editor FREDERICK IVES Sound GEORGE NEWBERRY TREVOR PYKE”



Slide 3 “Written and Directed by HUGH GLADWISH”



Slide 4: “A CENTRAL OFFICE OF INFORMATION FILM for MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT”



08:41 END

[Adam]

Well researched Scalyback, you must have put a great deal of time into road research. However, I think the final shot is heading west on the elevated section of the M4 rather than the A40. I can’t think of any elevated section of the A40 that would give such a view of a gas holder as you can see in the final scene, I believe that is Brentford Gas Works. Also as I mentioned before, the distinctive, curved structure in the bottom right corner of the final scene is a clock that still stands beside the M4 Chiswick flyover. Adam (If I were able I would put up a piccie of the clock)

[Scalyback]

Ah! M4!



I will ammend my notes, thanks!

[Scalyback]

[center]


You are correct, M4!



here is shot from film...







I think that may be a water tower, as it is next to the old lakes at kew bridge pumping station. It's gone now, along with the lakes.








Shot taken on M4 (google earth)









This is actually 1945, but you get the idea.






this is now.




Thanks Adam YAY!

[Adam]

Hi Skalyback. Definitely a gas holder, the proportions are wrong for a water tower. The gas works was adjacent to the water works, see photo from 1931 here:- http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/imag ... tabs-image .Best, Adam

[wilf]

Scalyback/Adam, you chaps surely produce some impressive stuff. Wish I had your patience and know-how. Keep up the good work. Definitely the M4 by the way.

[Adam]

Thanks Wilf, very flattering, but I will always be in Scalyback’s shadow on this kind of stuff. Adam

[smiffy r]

My Enfield in the valley of the Dinasours,Spain