Bill Adams - Hands Over (1926)

Bill Adams is the famous Coxswain of the Goodwin Sands (officially the North Deal) lifeboat. Pathe records Bill's last trip. Goodwin Sands, Kent. L/S of the lifeboat crew taking the tarpaulin off the boat. Camera pans across to show many men at work. M/S of three men hoisting a sail. The men put on their life jackets. M/S of the boat being launched. It moves out to sea. Shot of the boat at sea, not far off the coast. Shots of the boat from another boat as it moves through the water. C/U of some of the crew. M/S of the boat moving through the water. The boat comes back to shore. Intertitle reads: "Only Bill knows what a wrench it is to leave his boat - which has saved so many shipwrecked crews from the storm's fury." M/S of large number of men pushing wooden winding device which is presumably pulling the boat into shore. L/S of the boat being pulled up the beach. M/S of Bill handing over his key of office to the new Coxswain. The two shake hands. "But back home he shows his grand-daughter some of his hard-won honours - the watch given him by an American President for saving 30 lives - " C/U of Bill holding up a watch while his daughter (?) holds his grand-daughter. C/U of the watch. Then extreme C/U of the inside of the watch which carries an inscription - dedication to William Adams Bill also shows off "...medals and clasps earned by conspicuous gallantry round the dreaded Goodwins." C/U of four medals on Bill's chest. Extreme C/U of the medals. C/U of Bill with medals attached to his big fisherman's polo neck jumper. Was item in Pathe Pictorial issue number 412. Note: nicely shot and structured film. FILM ID:884.16 FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/