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65 Plus

1960s early , Colchester (Essex)

Cat no. 1130

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A recently retired husband attempts to keep himself busy, only to take on a job of secretary.

The film begins showing an elderly couple in their sitting room. The husband is reading the Essex County Standard. The front page lead headline of this reads, University - A New Town. His wife moans at him for sitting around all day. Her suggestion is that he should find a part time job because he's so good at paperwork. (We learn that he worked for the tax office.) He claims that he is going to spend his retirement doing what he wants to. At the moment that appears to be sitting around reading the newspaper. His wife suggests that he visits the Civil Service Club and he agrees. At the Civil Service Club, he looks at the notice board. There are classes available in old tyme dancing and dancing, first aid. There is a hobbies shop and a cine section. 'Charles' tries the old tyme dancing. He enters the classroom where people sit around chatting. People introduce themselves and the teacher demonstrates a new step. Our 'hero' throws a tantrum, not considering this to be ballroom dancing and then storms out of the room. He meets someone he knows and they go to the bar. There are some bar scenes including a drunk creating a spectacle. Charles visits the hobbies shop where he meets the teacher and watches some of the other students. Some are doing radio work. Charles burns his hand on a solder iron. He goes along to first aid where the most incompetent group of first aiders imaginable choke him with water, dress the wrong hand and then use him for various experiments. He storms out of that class too. In the corridor the drunk re-appears to discover his pint of bitter. Back at home Charles informs his wife that he has had a 'marvellous' evening. He's taken on the job of secretary - to revel in the paperwork.

Keywords

Retirement

Manifestations

65 Plus

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