The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
May Day Protest March
They're striking for pay and the Labour moment or they're "bleeding idle". Mixed opinions as workers take to Birmingham's streets to mark May Day in 1973.
From the collection of:
Overview
As 20,000 workers march past the Bull Ring and Rotunda in Birmingham city centre reporter Ruth Elliott attempts to find out the level of support for a national strike walk-out and the mood on the street towards the Conservative government led by Edward Heath. A few months later Heath would resort to the infamous reduced working hours of the three day week as more drastic measures were sought to combat rising prices and inflation.
The TUC called the one day strike in a climate of low pay settlements as the government fought to control inflation. The Midlands was the strongest area nationally in the walk-out with the Department of Employment estimating that 403,000 workers had come out in support of the dispute.
Related
Watch for free
Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Access
Magazine and Review show 1981 7 mins Location: Selly Oak
From Selly Oak to Birmingham's Head Post Office in a wheelchair - how hard could it be?
Watch for free
New Fifty Pence Piece New Fifty Pence Piece
News 1969 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Don't become a victim of the new fifty penny piece!
Watch for free
Arthur Dooley Arthur Dooley
News 1971 8 mins Location: Birmingham
A middle class designed city with no style - Arthur Dooley pulls no punches in Birmingham.
Watch for free
Decent Place with Hot and Cold Decent Place with Hot and Cold
Documentary 1970 27 mins Location: Birmingham
An impressively stark documentary study of Birmingham slums - past and present.
Watch for free
Pakistani Bus Driver Pakistani Bus Driver
News 1974 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Bus timetables are sacrosanct to some but to others there are more important things in life - and faith is one of them.
Watch for free
Indian Businessman Indian Businessman
News 1975 4 mins Location: Leicester
He arrived in Britain with £3 and went on to become one of the richest business men in the Midlands. How did Amrat Parmar do it?
Watch for free
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.