London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
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Unveiling Katie and May Day at Headstone Manor
How not to unveil a statue – Harrow’s Mayor uncovers the ‘Katie’ sculpture in celebration of the town centre’s redevelopment
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Overview
Watch this amateur newsfilm closely and spot familiar sights of the 1980s high street from once popular brands to phonecard booths and shoulder pads aplenty. It captures the not entirely smooth unveiling of the ‘Katie’ statue erected in St Anns Rd to mark the pedestrianisation of the town centre and traditional May Day festivities at Headstone Park with a quirky elephant ride and obligatory Punch and Judy show.
Councillor Christine Bednell was Mayor of Harrow in 1987. Here, she tells the crowd that ‘Katie’, inspired by the daughter of sculptor James Butler, is the first statue erected in Harrow in living memory. A struggle with a sheet ensues as she and her French counterpart Jacques Vernier, from the twinned town of Douai, try to uncover the statue. The film ends with packed May Day celebrations at Harrow Museum and scenes of folk dancing and competitors going to great lengths to impress in a costume competition. The film was made by the Pinner Cine Society; set up in 1951 it is now the Harrow Film Makers.
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