The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Harold Wilson retreats to St Mary's
Former Prime Minster Harold Wilson seeks refuge on the Scillies after resigning office
In partnership with:
Overview
Harold Wilson resigns from a second term as Labour Prime Minster on 16 March 1976 in favour of his deputy, James Callaghan. Wilson retreats to St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly and is pursued by the hackpack of the day where he poses for the press with his dog, Paddy. During Wilson’s second term in office 1974-1976 the unemployment rate reached 1 million and there was a general loss of public confidence but Wilson maintained he always intended to retire at 60.
Wilson enters Parliament in 1945 before becoming Leader of the Labour Party in 1963 and serving as Prime Minister from 1964-1970. A grammar school boy, Wilson graduates from Oxford and styles himself as a man of the people with a Yorkshire accent, pipe and is a football supporter of Huddersfield Town. He returns to the House of Lords until his death in 1995 aged 79. He summered in the Scillies and St Mary’s became his place of residence and final resting place. There is a statue in his honour in St George’s Square, Huddersfield. One of the issues addressed during his second term is the country’s first nationwide referendum on membership of the European Economic Community.
Related
Watch for free
Jubilee Jubilee
Current affairs 1977 13 mins Location: Bath
A special report looks into the preparations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and her subsequent tour of the South West.
Watch for free
Scilly: a Self Portrait Scilly: a Self Portrait
Documentary 1977 48 mins Location: St Mary's
Scillonians of the archipelago of the Isles of Scilly narrate their stories in this documentary.
Watch for free
Women's Gig Racing Women's Gig Racing
Current affairs 1976 1 mins Silent Location: St Mary's
Women take the Bonnet gig out for a row off St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly
Watch for free
Queen Mother visits the Isles of Scilly Queen Mother visits the Isles of Scilly
Current affairs 1969 3 mins Location: St Mary's
Her Majesty The Queen Mother enjoys a rare visit to the Isles of Scilly after being warmly welcomed by the islanders of St Mary's.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.