London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free

Easter Parade
All things bright and beautiful: flowers, floats, fire engines and the football World Cup burst into colour at the Easter festivities.
From the collection of:

Overview
Peer through the crowds at the annual Easter Parade in Battersea Park and watch the floats go by. In the procession are the Royal Life Saving Society who brave the early spring weather in swimming costumes while London beer company Watney's marks the 1966 World Cup with their World Cup Ale, the official beer of the tournament. Look closely and spot the Cup's first ever mascot, World Cup Willie.
Easter Parades are held throughout Britain but the pageant held at Battersea Park was one of the largest. The procession was usually sponsored by the London Tourist Board and the theme linked to the city's past, its attractions and traditions. For example, featured in this amateur film are the Pearly King and Queen who have been part of London's working-class culture since the nineteenth century. Also seen is the Easter Princess with her two ladies-in-waiting and an amazing flower arrangement of the BT Tower. This film is from the collection of Redbridge Museum, Local Studies and Archives, a member of the London's Screen Archives Network.
Related

May Day Ponies May Day Ponies
News 1974 4 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.

Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village
Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion
An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.

The Legend of the Good Beasts The Legend of the Good Beasts
Children's 1956 24 mins
Fabergé animals in a Russian influenced Easter tale narrated by Peter Ustinov

Welcome Spring Welcome Spring
Amateur film 1952 9 mins Silent
Spring comes to Scotland in the 1950s: feed playful lambs, pick a host of glorious daffodils, and harness your faithful horse to the plough in this lovely amateur colour film.

Avalanche of Lambs Avalanche of Lambs
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins Silent
A fluffy white blizzard - of hundreds of newborn lambs - hits a Reading farm, keeping the shepherd's hands full.

Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.

London Adventure with the Wetton Family: Wetton Personal Film London Adventure with the Wetton Family: Wetton Personal Film
Amateur film 1951 12 mins Silent Location: London
A break from post-war austerity as the Wetton family explore Battersea Pleasure Gardens and the South Bank.


Festival of Britain London Exhibitions Festival of Britain London Exhibitions
Amateur film 1951 20 mins Silent Location: Battersea Park
Lights and laughter at the Southbank as Londoners marvel at the 'Festival of Britain'.

Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A) Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A)
Inside Film 2014 45 mins
Afrika Bambaataa and DJ, musician and filmmaker Don Letts discuss the development of Afrofuturism and its key artists.

Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.

Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.

Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.

Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.

Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.