The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
This film is part of Free
Disabled Boy Invents Speech Machine
Anglia TV report on the young disabled entrepreneur that has invented the Lightwriter, a communication device that won a British Design Award
From the collection of:
Overview
Aged just 21, Toby Churchill became disabled and lost his speech after contracting encephalitis while swimming in a polluted river. Frustrated with the basic communication aids then available for people who cannot speak (the traditional method was the alphabet card), he designed the Lightwriter – a portable typewriter which instead of typing on paper, typed the message on a display.
In 1969 the Lightwriter won a British Design Award aswell as a number of international awards. In 1973, the company Toby Churchill Ltd was set up to manufacture the Lightwriter and make it available to other people with similar needs.
Related
Watch for free
Ian Dury Ian Dury
Biopic 1983 52 mins
Blockheads lead singer talks about how becoming disabled has affected his life and music.
Watch for free
Y Gwr O Gwr Yr Aran Y Gwr O Gwr Yr Aran
1978 29 mins Location: Llanuwchllyn
Teacher Frank Letch of Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd discusses his life and living with his acquired disability in this TV documentary. In Welsh with English subtitles.
Watch for free
A Day in the Life of Kevin Donnellon A Day in the Life of Kevin Donnellon
1972 28 mins
An episode of World in Action documenting the life of 11 year old Kevin and how he and his family live with the effects of the drug Thalidomide.
Watch for free
Disabled Graduate Disabled Graduate
News 1981 6 mins Location: Cambridge
Disabled graduate Peter Thweeney simply wants the opportunity to be economically independent, and has ambitions to become a lawyer.
Watch for free
Championship Swimmer Championship Swimmer
Current affairs 1967 1 mins Silent Location: Exeter
Champion swimmer Linda Hockworthy returns to the pool after a recent leg amputation.
Watch for free
Able Yachtsman Able Yachtsman
Current affairs 1983 3 mins Location: Plymouth
Para sailor Mike enjoys the thrill of the wind in his sails.
Watch for free
Pye Cinema & TV Advertisement starring John Cleese Pye Cinema & TV Advertisement starring John Cleese
Advert 1970 1 mins Location: Cambridge
Actor, comedian, and Monty Python, John Cleese plays to type as a sophisticate loony in this advertisement for Pye Electronics of Cambridge.
Watch for free
Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races) Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races)
Non-Fiction 1900 0 mins Silent Location: Cambridge
University teams navigate a bend on the river Cam in no ordinary rowing race.
Watch for free
Pig Farming Pig Farming
School programme and Educational film 1964 11 mins Location: Cambridge
First catch your wriggly pig! Pig rearing from birth to market, and the sale of pedigree pigs overseas. A classroom film by Hugh Brandon-Cox.
Watch for free
Stephen Hawking on Black Holes Stephen Hawking on Black Holes
News 1979 5 mins Location: Cambridge
How factually accurate is the 1979 American sci-fi movie 'The Black Hole'? Physicist Professor Stephen Hawking sheds light on the matter.
Watch for free
Disabled Graduate Disabled Graduate
News 1981 6 mins Location: Cambridge
Disabled graduate Peter Thweeney simply wants the opportunity to be economically independent, and has ambitions to become a lawyer.
Watch for free
Cambridge Cambridge
Documentary 1974 26 mins Location: Cambridge
Ray Gosling brings class consciousness and mischief to this study of the contradictions of Cambridge town and gown.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.