Rockets in the Dunes (1960) – Nostalgia Central

This Children’s Film Foundation (CFF) picture revolves around a group of children who race sand yachts on a North Devon beach and live in the adjacent sand dunes.

The kids – Joey (Christopher Witty), Vandra (Gena Yates), Celia (Heather Lyons), Bruce (Richard Adam), Ned (James Luck) and Andy (Peter Wood) – discover that the War Office plans to close the area for military training, and they try to rally the local community to stop it.

First, they have to raise funds by making and selling butterscotch sweets and giving sand yacht lessons, just to rent the village hall for a public meeting.

The kids enlist the help of ornithologist Dr Wallace (Geoffrey Wearing) and taxi driver Richard Clifford (Maurice Lane), but matters are further complicated when dangerous old unexploded World War II ordnance surfaces on the beach.

Joey Allen
Christopher Witty
Vandra Allen
Gena Yates
Celia Ashton
Heather Lyons
Ned Allen
James Luck
Mrs Allen
Hilary Mason
Mr Allen
John Lawrence
Andy Ryan
Peter Wood
Bruce Clifford
Richard Adam
Betty Bates
Fiona Davie
Richard Clifford
Maurice Lane
Cadet Tom
Anthony Bryant
Cadet Bill
Stewart Guidotti
Dr Wallace
Geoffrey Wearing
The Colonel
Joseph Wise
The Sergeant
Michael Stainton
Mr Grimble
Stanley Wright
Ruby
Fay Bura
Ruby’s Husband
E.P. Bizzell
Mrs Bates
Jill Aston
Mr Bates
Bob Aston

Director
William Hammond