The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
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Welwyn Garden City - The War Years
A great example of ‘despite war, life continues’, Welwyn Garden City residents continue with annual traditions, festive occasions and celebrations, during wartime.
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Overview
Play-fighting using a police truncheon … showering a bride and groom with confetti. The constant threat of a nation at war does not dispirit the citizens of Welwyn Garden City as they continue with the traditions and commemorations typical of a community.
Scenes include the Special Police Force, portraying a somewhat happy-go-lucky approach to training; felling and erecting the first Christmas tree on the Campus; confetti-throwing at a wedding at the Free Church; the special opening of the Woodhall Shopping Parade; the old Welwyn Stores; the opening of the new Welwyn Department Stores; as well as showing the wartime precautions of boarding up, and army trucks driving along Bridge Road, and finally, V.E. Day celebrations. In addition, footage concludes (starting at 13:21) with a carnival procession along Ludwick Way, captured almost a decade later in 1952.
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