British Pathé recently uploaded 85,000 historic newsreels to YouTube. STEPHEN LEWIS enjoys watching York City in training during their 1938 cup run - and York sea scouts setting sail in their new boat the Catherine Rose in 1939.

LIFE on the ocean wave, says a hearty voice in cut-glass English tones. "It isn't exactly the ocean, but it is a small trip for the sea cadets. They are pushing the boat out for the first time on the River Ouse."

The boat in question was the Catherine Rose, a specially-adapted barge fitted with radio and searchlights which, in 1939, York's sea cadets were taking for her first outing on the river.

British Pathé were there to record the event, that voiceover accompanied by a jaunty tune and wonderful moving images of scores of York sea cadets climbing aboard the boat, hauling on ropes and flags, and keeping a lookout (what for, exactly?) through an antique eyepiece.

Admiring crowds lined the riverbank as the Catherine Rose passed the Guildhall and sailed beneath Lendal Bridge.

"The boys have put all they have learned about seamanship into practice - and there's a future skipper at the helm," says the presenter.

In 1939, this newsreel would doubtless have been screened at cinemas up and down the country. Today, you can see it - and thousands more like it - for yourself, on YouTube.

British Pathé announced recently that it had uploaded its entire collection of 85,000 historic films to its YouTube channel.

Visit the site, type 'York' in the search engine, and it brings up scores of priceless archive newsreels showing events from York's past: all narrated in that same cheery, jocular style.

There's a lovely piece about York City's 1938 FA Cup run. "The eyes of the world are on York City, the last Third Division club left in the cup," says the voiceover, to the accompaniment of another jaunty tune, and images of the City team in training.

In the third round, City beat second division Coventry. "Then in the fourth round they achieved the seemingly impossible by beating West Bromwich Albion, conquerors of the Arsenal."

To find the secret of their performance, a Pathé cameraman came to York to film the team in training. "He found there isn't any secret, just hard work, more hard work and team spirit," the voiceover says. It was that hard work and team spirit which took City to the FA Cup quarter final that year - where they were eventually beaten 2-1 by Huddersfield after a replay.

Other stunning Pathé footage on YouTube includes newsreel of Princess Mary the Princess Royal being cheered by crowds as she arrived in York in 1934 to open 'extensions' to the County Hospital; the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) visiting HMS York at Chatham docks; and grainy images (no sound, this time) of Dr William Temple being enthroned as Archbishop of York in 1929.

The footage of the Archbishop's procession to the Minster is desperately murky: the result, a note explains, of the poor weather.

British Pathé has kindly provided us with some still images from these newsreels and more to reproduce in the newspaper: but you can watch the originals on our website or on British Pathé's YouTube page - see details below.

The archive spans the years from 1896 to 1976, and the collection includes footage, from Britain and around the globe, of major events, famous faces, fashion trends, travel, sport and culture - not to mention, in this 100th anniversary year, newsreel from the First World War.

“Our hope is that everyone, everywhere who has a computer will see these films and enjoy them,” says Alastair White, British Pathé's general manager.

“This archive is a treasure trove unrivalled in historical and cultural significance that should never be forgotten. Uploading the films to YouTube seemed like the best way to make sure of that.

“Whether you’re looking for coverage of the Royal Family, the Titanic, the destruction of the Hindenburg, or quirky stories about British pastimes, it’ll be there on our channel. You can lose yourself for hours.”

And so you can.





• To watch further videos, visit British Pathé's YouTube page www.youtube.com/user/britishpathe