The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
This film is part of Free
The Traditions of a Surgeon at Christmas
The filmic memoirs in Cambridgeshire of heart surgeon Christopher Parish and his family, beginning with Christmas traditions, and including a royal visit. The year is 1962.
From the collection of:
Overview
Scenes captured by heart surgeon Christopher Parish of family occasions, also events at Papworth and Addenbrooke’s Hospitals. Opening with the nurses at Papworth on Christmas Day – it was customary for the surgeon to carve the turkey! A parade of guests at the filmmaker’s home. Winter weather allows for skating at Bury Fen. There’s also a royal visit by Her Majesty the Queen. Despite the wobbly filming, we are assured Christopher had a stable hand when wielding a scalpel!
Heart surgeon Christopher Parish was a keen home movie maker capturing key events in the family calendar every year. He also recorded some of his innovative work in theatre, including of open heart surgery. Here we see, Papworth Hospital - Christopher would often visit on Christmas Day. Ice skating takes place at Bury Fen. The windmill is Cattell’s at Willingham. The pheasant shoot is at Glatton. The horse riding is at Highfield Farm, Swavesey. Cyril Young is the farmer with the carrots. Christopher in fact performed surgery on Cyril, removing one of his lungs, which sealed their lifelong friendship! The Queen visits both Addenbrooke’s and Papworth Hospitals. The Parish family picnic at Glyndebourne.
Related
Your Very Good Health Your Very Good Health
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 9 mins
Long before the ‘Charley Says’ campaign of the 1970s and ‘80s, another cartoon Charley was used to demystify the newly created NHS.
The Dentist The Dentist
1993 15 mins
This 1993 profile of local dentist, Brian Harvey, shows how he splits his time between a local practice and an advisory role - while leaving ample time to socialise at the local rotary club.
Life in Her Hands Life in Her Hands
Instructional 1951 55 mins
Kathleen Byron - of Black Narcissus fame - stars in one of the most ambitious recruitment films ever made.
Natural Born Smoker Natural Born Smoker
Public Information Filler 1985 1 mins
A sense of 1980s stylistic sheen filters through this sci-fi-tinged anti-smoking advert.
The Strange Case of Penny Allison The Strange Case of Penny Allison
Training 2002 18 mins
Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie as you've not quite seen them before: in a comedy training video for Britain’s National Blood Service.
Polio - Diagnosis and Management Polio - Diagnosis and Management
Government sponsored film 1948 59 mins
Britain’s first Polio epidemic in 1947 demanded a coordinated response, and this film was a key part of readying postwar doctors for a new fight
Pye Cinema & TV Advertisement starring John Cleese Pye Cinema & TV Advertisement starring John Cleese
Advert 1970 1 mins Location: Cambridge
Actor, comedian, and Monty Python, John Cleese plays to type as a sophisticate loony in this advertisement for Pye Electronics of Cambridge.
Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races) Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races)
Non-Fiction 1900 0 mins Silent Location: Cambridge
University teams navigate a bend on the river Cam in no ordinary rowing race.
Pig Farming Pig Farming
School programme and Educational film 1964 11 mins Location: Cambridge
First catch your wriggly pig! Pig rearing from birth to market, and the sale of pedigree pigs overseas. A classroom film by Hugh Brandon-Cox.
Disabled Boy Invents Speech Machine Disabled Boy Invents Speech Machine
News 1973 5 mins Location: Cambridge
Anglia TV report on the young disabled entrepreneur that has invented the Lightwriter, a communication device that won a British Design Award
Stephen Hawking on Black Holes Stephen Hawking on Black Holes
News 1979 5 mins Location: Cambridge
How factually accurate is the 1979 American sci-fi movie 'The Black Hole'? Physicist Professor Stephen Hawking sheds light on the matter.
Disabled Graduate Disabled Graduate
News 1981 6 mins Location: Cambridge
Disabled graduate Peter Thweeney simply wants the opportunity to be economically independent, and has ambitions to become a lawyer.
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.