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Jubilee Newsreel

Pomp and pageantry reign and St George is resurrected for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in this colourful newsreel from 1977

Amateur film 1977 6 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for London's Screen Archives

Overview

The summer of 1977 was dominated by the Queen's Silver Jubilee and this splendid amateur newsreel captures events in vivid colour including the Foot Guard's Parade in Central London and one of two hundred patriotic street parties held in Harrow. George and the Dragon also make an appearance as a young theatre company tour the borough in horse and cart. Later, the Harrow Show features an acrobatic dog jumping through rings of fire!

12,000 street parties were held during the Jubilee and the Harrow example captures the patriotic community spirit of the period as families gather in streets adorned with festive bunting and children sport miniature crowns. The sharp, bright images demonstrate what could be achieved with the 8mm system, bringing to life the film's subjects which include a 30-foot bonfire in Old Redding built by local Scout groups, the annual Harrow Show and a motor show where the latest Ford Capri is on display. The removal of the bell at Mount Vernon Hospital marks the end of an exciting summer. This film is from the collection of Harrow Local History Library, a member of the London's Screen Archives Network.