Diana's Communion Night and Snow Scenes
Standard 8mm film Colour Mute 1960s 4:51
Summary: February 1963 - The film starts with night shots of neon displays in the West End and the Davis family at a local communion service. There are also urban scenes within the immediate area, and some revealing shots of Trafalgar Square, as well as evocative scenes of snowy rooftops in central London.
Title number: 19570
LSA ID: LSA/25953
Description: The film opens with Piccadilly Circus at night, a number of advertising neon signs advertise BP, Skol lager, Players, Wrigley's Spearmint, Australia sunfilled food and wine, BOAC. The Talk of the Town Hippodrome theatre restaurant facade at night with the outside of Leicester Square Northern Line Neon sign in frame.
Two priests are entering Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, on a grey day, the outside of the church is viewed through bare trees. The congregation are gathered outside the church, wrapped up in coats, one of the priests is organizing a group of young girls all dressed in white Communion dresses, a couple of young boys in suits join them, the children are happy and smiling, and the congregation look on. The communion party then enters the church through a side door with one of the priests.
In the congregation is Mrs Davis(?) wearing a pink hat and fur coat, we see her walking by the side of the church carrying a handbag. On the side of the church is a white stone insert showing the virgin Mary and the baby Jesus.
On a rain soaked high street we see Mrs Davis(?) walking up and down a row of shops are viewed with a number of cars parked outside.
The younger daughter of Mrs Davis is seen in profile inside the flat the sun shines through the curtains and she is wearing her first communion dress, we then see her outside on the balcony.
Mrs Davis's daughter is walking outside the flats wearing a red and white woolen patterned coat walks towards the camera.
Next a high street adjacent to the flats, a number of shops-Bishop's, Matthews are seen, the daughter walks along the high street. Mr Davis comes into view, wearing a brown overcoat and carrying a brown case.
The daughter is seen in profile and smiles towards the camera, Mr Davis holds a black and white cat, and the daughter smiles again at the camera and looks around surveying the view.
An aerial shot of a modern school playground (now the Beis Chinuch Lebonos Girls School); pupils can be seen entering the gates and walking around between the different buildings. The black cat is on the edge of the balcony surveying the scene.
The next scene shows the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, with the crib at the base, the tree is then viewed from an aerial viewpoint, and we see the square in full view with traffic going around.
Three men are seen in profile. through an open window, one of the men is Mr Davis, another reads a paper, and one wears a beret and smiles at the camera.
Brief shot of the tree at night.
Two school girls in winter coats and hats are holding a tabby cat and smile at the camera. They are then seen walking down a road in conversation.
Winter scenes, the Davis daughter is lifting a large chunk of snow, and Trafalgar square is seen following a snow fall. We next see the Oxford Street/West End Christmas lights.
Mrs Davis is walking outside the flats following heavy show, she walks carefully dressed in a fur coat and boots, and is then viewed from the flat walking down the street, the snow has thawed and turned to slush.
Mr Davis is viewed in profile looking out of the window from his flat, a model boat is on the window sill.
Trafalgar Square fountains are completely frozen over, large blocks and chunks of ice can be seen all over the square, pigeons are looking for food and picking the chunks of ice.
Nelson's Column Column on a grey and misty day, two men can be seen walking up and down.
The Davis's elder daughter is seen with her boyfriend on the balcony looking at the view and smiling towards the camera, they are both smartly dressed.
Further information: Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church
http://parish.rcdow.org.uk/stokenewington/
Keywords: Church; Children; Advertising; neon lights; Trocadero; Coca-Cola; Wrigley's Spearmint; Skol lager; priests; cassocks; church goers; London High street; red buses; Christmas tree; snow; ice; pigeons; Nelson's Column; cat
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Manor House; Woodberry Down Estate; Trafalgar Square; Stoke Newington
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