John Tomkins was born in the United Kingdom but came to Ireland as a child.
In the late 1940s he established JET Film Services and made and screened films throughout Ireland until the early 1950s, some of which were entitled “Country Magazine”. He also acted as assistant cameraman on a Rex Roberts Studios Production for CIE entitled "Ireland - Land of the Welcomes" (1949) and a production for Aer Lingus entitled "Irish Holiday" (1950).
During the 1950s he was also a camp photographer for Butlins at Mosney, Co. Meath and filmed the campers' activities each week, processing and projecting the short films entitled "Movienews", and projecting other films when required.
He was also involved with the Scouts and produced short films about the scouts in the late 1940s-early 1950s. He was scoutmaster of the Dundrum troupe and from 1948 was organising secretary for the Dublin Scout Film Group. Tomkins returned to the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, where he produced wildlife films and worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. He later worked at Border Television for nearly 18 years.
Archival History ↴
Donation
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Donation
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: John E. Tomkins ↴
The collection consists of papers relating to Tomkins’ work as a cameraman, his film company JET Film Services, and the Dublin Scout Film Group. The papers relating to Tomkins’ work and film company include an employment agreement with Butlin’s, a contract for hire of a parish hall, commentary scripts for two scouting films, correspondence with Redler Conveyors Ltd. regarding a production by JET Film Services of an advertisement for the company, and publicity material for JET Film Services. The papers relating to the Dublin Scout Film Group include a record book, a committee minute book, a file of film listings and promotional and membership cards for the film group. Also included in the collection are two National Film Quarterly Journals and a scrapbook containing clippings regarding the Irish Film Industry and the establishment of a national television station.
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Arrangement ↴
The collection consists of papers relating to Tomkins’ work as a cameraman, his film company JET Film Services, and the Dublin Scout Film Group. The papers relating to Tomkins’ work and film company include an employment agreement with Butlin’s, a contract for hire of a parish hall, commentary scripts for two scouting films, correspondence with Redler Conveyors Ltd. regarding a production by JET Film Services of an advertisement for the company, and publicity material for JET Film Services. The papers relating to the Dublin Scout Film Group include a record book, a committee minute book, a file of film listings and promotional and membership cards for the film group. Also included in the collection are two National Film Quarterly Journals and a scrapbook containing clippings regarding the Irish Film Industry and the establishment of a national television station.
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
Accessible at the Irish Film Archive with an appointment.
John Tomkins’ film collection is also held at the Archive, including material on Butlin’s Mosney holiday camp, and Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in Dublin.
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Niamh Collins; Rebecca Grant
Rules/Conventions
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
