At Wessex Film and Sound Archive you can see and hear history, from late Victorian times to the present day, through moving images and sound recordings. The Archive contains over 36,000 film and sound recordings relating to Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including film and tapes of local TV and radio.
This film is currently unavailable
General Election Slough 1950
A remarkable film showing the Municipal Borough of Slough's preparations for the 1950 General Election.
From the collection of:
Overview
Starting with newspaper headlines announcing the date of the General Election we next see election fliers from four of the main candidates. Then we're out on the campaign trail following the candidates as they speak to the voters. On Polling Day we see people arriving to cast their vote at various polling stations around the town, followed by the votes being counted. The Mayor reads out the result and the winner, Fenner Brockway, addresses crowds outside Slough Town Hall.
Fenner Brockway was an anti-war activist, anti-colonialist and politician. A member of the Independent Labour Party since 1907, he was imprisoned during the First World War for refusing to be conscripted. Brockway finally elected Member of Parliament for Leyton East in 1929. However, the Spanish Civil War marked a change in Fenner Brockway's pacifist views and he supported the struggle against fascism. An active supporter of Britain's role in the Second World War, he later became involved in various anti-colonial movements, being especially critical of Britain's handling of the Mau Mau emergency in Kenya. In 1950 he won the Parliamentary seat of Eton and Slough which he held until 1964.
Related
Currently unavailable
Vote for Froglet Vote for Froglet
Children's 1974 7 mins
As the general election is held in the UK, it's polling day for the Clangers on a small blue planet far away.
Watch for free
Sam Small at Westminster Sam Small at Westminster
Promotional 1935 3 mins
It's the 1935 general election and Stanley Holloway recites a comic monologue promoting the policies of the National Government.
Currently unavailable
Bristol Fashion Bristol Fashion
Party political broadcast 1959 25 mins Location: Bristol
The Labour Party takes a heartfelt look at Bristol council’s social(ist) housing and education agenda, spinning a 'new story from an old city'.
Watch for free
Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates
Documentary 1957 19 mins Location: Slough
Slough gets a resounding thumbs-up from a reluctant ratepayer in a surprising 1950s government film.
Watch for free
Socialist Car of State Socialist Car of State
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1930 9 mins Silent
Party-political hyperbole meets Wacky Races in this spirited cartoon produced for the Conservative Party.
Currently unavailable
Children and Politics Children and Politics
News 1964 3 mins
Some remarkably well informed (well, for the most part) children interviewed prior to the 1964 General Election.
Watch for free
Return to Action Return to Action
Documentary 1947 19 mins Location: Egham
Bricklayers, lawyers, teachers – disabled men and women are encouraged to retrain for new jobs
Watch for free
Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates
Documentary 1957 19 mins Location: Slough
Slough gets a resounding thumbs-up from a reluctant ratepayer in a surprising 1950s government film.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.