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.
This film is part of Free
Freedom of Bexley Heath
Prime Minister Edward Heath becomes the first recipient of the Freedom of the Borough of Bexley
From the collection of:
Overview
Dignitaries look on as Prime Minister Edward Heath accepts the casket and scroll from the Mayor of Bexley to become the first Freeman of the Borough. 'Ted' Heath, who was elected to parliament in 1950 as MP for Bexley, was one year into his Prime Ministership at the time this film was shot. The ceremony took place at the Sidcup and Chislehurst Grammar School on Friday 30th April 1971.
Just days after the ceremony, four home-made bombs thought to be planted by the Angry Brigade were found nearby the school. The Brigade was a left-wing revolutionary group in the late 1960s and early 1970s who took direct action to demonstrate against various government policies at home and abroad including Britain's entrance into the European Economic Community which was overseen by Heath. They were responsible for a series of bomb attacks in England between 1970 and 1972 and sent a number of communiques to the press threatening Heath and other officials. . This film is from the collection of Bexley Local Studies and Archives, a member of the London's Screen Archives Network.
Related
Watch for free
Christmas 1970 Christmas 1970
Amateur film 1970 4 mins Silent Location: Bexley
Join a Bexley Family for all the traditional Christmas trimmings in this rare example of filmmaking inside the home.
Watch for free
New House New House
Amateur film 1969 8 mins Silent Location: Bexley
Welcome home a new arrival from Bexley Maternity Hospital and share in the joy it brings a South London family
Watch for free
Michelle's Sports Day Michelle's Sports Day
Amateur film 1970 5 mins Silent Location: Bexley
Danson Park, Welling, is the setting for a quintessential sports day featuring egg and spoon, sack and parents race.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.