Since posting my previous 2 blogs about Mavis Bacca and Hull’s dockers my continuing follow-up of their stories have produced two connections I want to bring to your attention.
Hull’s Dockers
As part of the East Riding Archives in Beverley (near Hull) I was able to identify, as part of the Goole Films and Sound Recording archive, a short film produced in 1988 entitled “Dockers”. The catalogue description explains that the film;
“Contains video relating to life on Hull Docks, made by Channel 4 in 1988 with a commentary by Don Henderson. The film shows footage of ports, dock workers and cargo-handling activities, with newspaper headlines and excerpts from the history of Hull docks. It also includes comments and discussions of retired shop stewards from Hull. The film tries to explain why dock workers may be seen as trouble makers. Duration: 51 mins.” [click here for the full description]
I had not identified this source whilst writing the Hull Dockers blog but it graphically illustrates some of the themes I highlighted, as well as providing much information about the history of dock work in Hull and the dockers’ collective organisation and struggles. Further, it explores the corrosive impact of a hostile press upon the image and reputation of dock workers generally in the UK – an important point not identified or touched upon by me.
The film is not available to be viewed online but can be purchased on request from the East Riding Archives, (archives.service@eastriding.gov.uk), giving the reference;
zDDX1646 – GOOLE FILMS AND SOUND RECORDINGS (FILMS TRANSFERRED TO YORKSHIRE FILM ARCHIVE), 4. ‘Dockers’ video recording, 1988
I obtained a copy of the film, sent to me on CD, for £5. The film is in .avi format, playable on Windows computers using Windows Media Player.
For me it was very evocative of my time living and working in Hull and I was very pleased to see both Walter Greendale and Walter Cunningham interviewed, along with other of their colleagues. Together with historical film footage in and around the docks, and photographs, the film tells the story of Hull’s docks and its dockers, plus the challenges faced by those working on the docks, with sympathy and a human face. A fine example of visual and recorded social history.
Mavis Bacca Dowden
Future researchers may discover that current societal challenges have led to an increase in hard-copy reading alongside the all too evident growth in on-line meetings and exchanges. Certainly for me the former has been the case …… I had never previously been motivated enough to give ‘War and Peace’ a go.
One of the other books that attracted my interest and attention provides a direct connection to the role of Mavis Bacca in Barcelona.
‘A Woman of No Importance’, written by Sonia Purnell (Virago, 2020, paperback edition) is an account of the role of Virginia Hall, an American woman, as a spy and resistance organiser in France during the second world war. Working first for the British secret service (SOE), and later for the fledgling American secret service (OSS), Virginia Hall was instrumentally involved in the functioning of the allied prisoners’ escape route from France into Spain, across the Pyrenees, which Mavis Bacca supported in Barcelona. They were in fact both engaged in clandestine activities at the same time. Whilst there is no evidence I have found that they ever met, this possibility cannot be discounted as they were both linked by the key SOE London based intelligence officer, Vera Atkins (no relation).
‘A Woman of No Importance’ is a well-researched and gripping account which again demonstrates the way the role of women in such perilous activities were and, for a long time remained, lacking public acknowledgement.
Since reading Sonia Purnell’s book I have discovered that a film, A Call to Spy (2019), with Virginia Hall as one of the main characters has been released. To be tracked down and viewed!