Surfing Scenes

Lewis Rosenberg and his mates try out the beaches of Cornwall and the Channel Islands in this remarkable record of British surfing in the 1930s

Lewis Rosenberg fascinating film begins with surfing scenes at Holywell Bay near Newquay. The party of friends also indulge in games, hula dancing and playful silliness. On Guernsey, we're introduced to Mrs Martin, who catered for the friends and drove them to St Peter Port for sightseeing. They visit the St Martin Chapel, made from crockery, Pleinmont and Torteval. A short bus and a boat trip takes them to Sark where, once again, the boys head for the beach and a swim.

Lewis Rosenberg was born in London in 1906, to working class Polish Jewish immigrants. When he was in his twenties he bought his first cine camera and, despite a lack of formal training, took it with him when he went on holiday with his friends. Every week Lewis and his pals each saved 2 shillings and were thus able to afford annual camping holidays, using home made tents, mostly in Cornwall and Guernsey.