The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Jeremy Thorpe and Peter Bessell 1964-1967
The 1964 election of Liberal MPs in the South West is celebrated but beneath there is another side to the high level affairs of the Liberal Party.
From the collection of:
Overview
Jeremy Thorpe is elected to the House of Commons as member for North Devon in 1959 and serves as Leader of the Liberal Party from 1967 to 1976. Here we see Thorpe campaigning in 1964 and fellow member of the Liberal Party Peter Bessell who becomes MP for Bodmin. Both are to become embroiled in a scandal in the 1970s when Norman Scott accuses Jeremy Thorpe of being his lover in the early 1960s. Bessell stands down at the 1970 election and Thorpe goes on to stand trial in 1979.
Homosexuality is considered illegal before 1967 making the allegations against Thorpe even more scandalous to the general public. A curious incident involving the shooting of Norman Scott’s dog at Porlock Hill on Exmoor by Andrew Newton in 1975 leads to the 1979 trial at the Old Bailey but amid theories of police suppression of evidence and judicial bias Jeremy Thorpe is one of four people acquitted. The press has a field day. Bessell turns witness for the prosecution but pre-sells his story to the newspapers leading the judge to label Bessell’s statements “a tissue of lies”. Homosexuality is decriminalised after the 1957 Wolfenden Report leads to the passing of the Sexual Offences Act in 1967.
Related
Lady Pilots Lady Pilots
Non-Fiction 1935 3 mins Silent Location: Devon
Talented women become mistresses of the skies.
Jubilee Jubilee
Current affairs 1977 13 mins Location: Bath
A special report looks into the preparations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and her subsequent tour of the South West.
Daz with the Blue Whitener Daz with the Blue Whitener
Advert 1967 2 mins Location: Devon
Mrs Cross takes the Daz test but what will the outcome be?
One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred
Current affairs 1986 52 mins Location: Plymouth
This documentary charts the progress and challenges of disabled people living in the community.
One Per Cent of Us - Children No More One Per Cent of Us - Children No More
Current affairs 1976 45 mins Location: Plymouth
The TV cameras return to Downham School to see what has changed for disabled children since 1966.
Clothes to Please Clothes to Please
Current affairs 1963 1 mins Location: Devon
Responses to questions about dressing to please are of their day.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Luke Bean of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Samantha Arnold of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.
Horace Ové on Pressure Horace Ové on Pressure
Inside Film 2005 36 mins
The acclaimed director discusses his landmark film in this interview from 2005.
Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 28 mins
Directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor dig deep into their thrilling biopic Baltimore, in discussion with Nadia M Oliva.
Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film
Inside Film 2023 17 mins
Actor Herbert Norville discusses working with the pioneering filmmaker on his groundbreaking 1975 drama, Pressure.
Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective
Inside Film 2023 77 mins
An impassioned discussion on the life, work and legacy of the eminent filmmaker Horace Ové, chaired by Samira Ahmed.