Why not you? (1972)

[Music] the old pond at ricep with its 16th Century Barn and memories of the time when the village was half a day's journey by a coach and four from Marble Arch London today it would take you only half an hour by car along the A40 that is if the traffic will let you rice lip has its own Leo where many national and international water skiing championships take place today only the hulls of the local Sailing Club break the calm surface [Music] it's a short bus trip from here to the High Street it's just like many other high streets in many other parts of the country but in the summer of 1972 rice lip became a town with a difference for the people of ricep under the aices of the ricep Christian Council and the British Red Cross Society set out to give 20 children the holiday of a lifetime [Music] children who are not so fortunate as many in rice able to enjoy a holiday abroad or in this country with their parents there are over 30,000 children in the country today all of them needing constant attention and help in their attempt to lead as normal a life as possible posible this restricts not only their way of life but also that of their parents and often their brothers and sisters too so on the 28th of July 1972 when 20 of these children from all over Great Britain arrived in ricep High Street an exciting and memorable 10 days was about to start for 12 boys and eight girls and for the residents of ricep it was the end of months of planning and discussing and the moment when they would discover if they had remembered everything from the largest to the smallest detail [Music] the children were to stay in a local church Hall this would be home and over 200 residents would be coming and going all helping with the many jobs to be done some would drop in on their way to work to help with the morning chores others after work in the evening on their way home all help was rostered so that the most hands were available at the peak times such as the arrival meal times and bedtime it was also necessary to have a doctor available if required and a nurse in attendance at night 30 beds had been loaned by the locals complete with sheets and blankets and in addition shops and businesses helped with food and other items to make the stay [Music] comfortable now the first job was to settle in and get to know each other and to make sure mother had packed everything especially the favorite toy with the younger members of the rice lip community at hand Keen to see that no one was lonely everyone soon settled in and the holiday of a lifetime have [Music] started many outings and events have been organized by the many people involved in the project there was a a boat trip on the temps a visit to wen Abbey Pinewood film studios London and many others this film covers just a few of these outings in an attempt to show what can be arranged for handicapped children with a very small budget £310 in fact and a lot of enthusiasm and cooperation enthusiasm and cooperation not only from the residents but from local shops and businesses too the loan of a TV set and a radio a discount on food and drink and so [Music] on a trip to anywhere is likely to be exciting and offer something new to see to someone normally restricted by a wheelchair or crutches but when it's a trip to Buckingham Palace to see The Changing of the Guard it's something really special and for our 20 children an extra favor was granted for they were to be allowed inside the palace grounds to see this event for Lawrence there would be so much to remember no one could remind him or describe this again for he was both deaf and dumb but regardless of the thoughts the extra large bag of sweets was bound to make the outing a considerable success this trip was a good demonstration of what can be arranged through official channels and was typical of many visits that were to take place during the 10day holiday past Big Ben and the houses of [Music] Parliament up White [Music] Hall past horse guards parade and the next turning on the left revealed the view all had been waiting [Music] for that rather special piece of paper produced just the right reaction and they were through the gates of bucking and Palace and they're changing the guard of Buckingham Palace well in about 20 minutes to be precise [Music] [Applause] [Music] Robert came from Worthy well they don't change the guard there so this was quite a novelty [Music] Susan who lived in Cambridge was holding on tight those soldiers weren't going to put her in the Tower of London Sharon from Barnett had seen all this on television but nothing can beat the real [Applause] [Music] [Applause] thing as an extra special honor they even receive a royal Sal [Applause] Duncan came from Yorkshire he was going to have a lot to tell him when he got back [Music] home but today home was London and there was still so much to see and do the people of rip had given a holiday like this before and they had learned a lot from their first experience meals for instance were best made simple anyway eating out in London can be expensive so a picnic is a cheap way around the problem and the attractive surroundings of a London Park can provide an extra bonus at no additional cost the lunch boxes contain sandwiches sausage rolls cakes fruits and sweets a lot not much was left over [Music] by now friendships were being made with the youngsters of ricep taking their companionship role very seriously but nevertheless also getting great fun from the occasion young Paul demonstrated that he was here to see London and to see London he Jolly well would [Music] because you are a does not mean that you can only stand and watch the water many vacated their chairs and their sticks and into the water they [Music] went the local swimming pool at rice has a handicapped member section and experienced people were around to help home most of the children went in but most of them that is except Paul for he came on holiday to see rice and to see rice Le Jolly will [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] would for the organizers the problem is always to provide a variety of both things to see and do sometimes the children's Ingenuity was enough but a little thought by anyone on what happens in their locality can usually throw up some novel idea for instance not everyone gets the chance to try his hand at Town CER especially when an authority on the subject is around to advise on the procedure [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] meal times given some thought could also be turned into an event even the old English favorite fish and chips especially when it becomes a fish and chip picnic [Applause] [Music] and at the end of each day after the letter writing and for some the phone calls if they still had the energy there were games to play and stories to be told whilst waiting for a turn with the soap and water [Music] [Applause] [Music] all that was left now was to be tucked up for the Night by The Young and The Not So Young helpers who were becoming firm friends as well as a substitute for Mom and Dad this of course was a holiday for the moms and dads of the children too for it was a relief for them from this kind of work work they had to do day after day week after week year after you [Music] [Applause] [Music] not every part of every day had to be organized there was plenty to do at the local park and providing there was someone on hand to see all was well the slide the swings and the roundabout are always was old faithfuls for some fun at least Paul thought so and he wasn't going to miss a thing [Music] not quite a par but looking a little like one inside is Pinewood film studios a few miles away from russling [Music] here was a chance to let the imagination Take Wing and fly to all sorts of fascinating places all for free the technicians were not filming that day so there were no great stars to talk to but who needs Stars when you can become one yourself charen [Music] perhaps or the first of the [Music] few or even Pinocchio [Music] or perhaps you'll just sip a martini and wait for Don Carlos to [Music] appear it's all imagination but it's fun even if it only lasts a short [Applause] while and reality is just around the corner [Music] but sometimes things seem real and yet they're not if only all our problems could be solved with a magic [Music] wand an open air party in a local Garden when the magician really has to work very hard to beat the quick eye and the alertness of our 20 friends and their escorts [Music] and for the organizers a short while to relax and join in the fun [Music] we [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] we [Music] for many of these children from all parts of England this was their first real holiday and being away from home without Mom and Dad could present problems but there were few tears the children were taken into individual h hes and many firm friendships were struck for the organizers the rewards were to be found in the faces of the children who were to become more than just a person these were children with great courage and a wonderful humor children who one will remember for many years to follow [Music] oh [Music] [Music] rice lip will be doing the same again next year why not you [Music]