Scotland's Moving Image Archive at National Library of Scotland preserves over 100 years of Scottish filmed history reflecting 20th century social, cultural and industrial heritage. The films capture the lives of ordinary people across the generations and celebrate the achievements of Scottish based film-makers.
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Children's Excursion 1952
Classic 1950s buses take the children of Moniaive for an adventure in Edinburgh, in this wonderful amateur film complete with fizzy pop, elephants and steam trains.
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Overview
Board a beautiful 1950s bus bedecked with streamers for an unforgettable day out with the impeccably-dressed children of Moniaive, Dumfries and Galloway. Mischievous boys in shorts and Fair Isle jumpers drink fizzy pop whilst girls in print dresses and hair ribbons ride elephants at Edinburgh Zoo. Steam trains pass over the Forth Rail Bridge, and there’s time for an ice cream before returning home through idyllic Lanarkshire villages in this enchanting amateur film.
This film was made by local amateur film-maker Bill Richardson, who travelled around the area showing films in local halls under the name Glen-Galloway Cinemas. On his death, he gifted his films for the use of the village, which were in turn donated to the Scottish Screen Archive. His films depict a number of events around Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire, including the Dalry Annual Grand Collie Dog Trials, the New Galloway Gala, the Thornhill Agricultural Show and various local football matches and parades. These were no doubt popular with his audience at the time, who would be able to spot themselves, their friends and relatives on film, and to re-live the popular events of the day.
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