This film is part of Free

Look at Leeds '78

A year in the life of Leeds, as viewed from the vantage point of Leeds amateur filmmakers, highlighting its ups and downs, and giving a flavour of the 1970s as they start to fade away.

Amateur film 1978 12 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Yorkshire Film Archive

Overview

This film journal of life in Leeds during the course of one year documents major events in the city. Kicking off with the Rugby team celebrating winning the Challenge Cup, followed by revolutionary new AstroTurf pitches, Quarry Hill flats being demolished, the Festival of Youth with Princess Margaret, John Noakes and Dickie Henderson, and, it being 1978, a seven week bus strike.

This is one of a large number of films made by Leeds Cine Club, who, although dating back to the 1930s, were especially prolific in the 1970s and ‘80s, documenting life in Leeds and making several comedies. Having minor celebrities in town always excited interest, on this occasion with local born John Noakes, about to finish his long stint with Blue Peter, and popular entertainer Dickie Henderson, by this time near the end of his career. The AstroTurf would have been a novelty in Britain at that time, yet it stayed at Fearnville for three decades. Leeds Rugby League Club regularly won silverware in the 1970s, on this occasion managing a record comeback from 10–0 down. The local bus strike was over new schedules.