A Record of a Street Party (reel 2)
Super 8mm film Colour Mute 1977 25:51
Summary: Second part of a two part amateur film of celebrations in Walthamstow for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Title number: 821
LSA ID: LSA/1091
Description: The Chester Road Silver Jubilee street party. Children sit on chairs positioned in the street to watch costumed entertainers and a Punch and Judy show on a scaffolded stage and to join in a sing-along. Parents and other adults stand further back. Everyone is in party mood, despite the umbrellas held by some indicating some inclemency in the weather. Inside one of the street's houses a man reads aloud from a piece of paper (there is no sound on the film). An onscreen title with a Union flag background announces the next section showing sporting events on the Elms sports field. Some women compete in an obstacle race, followed by children attempting the same course. The children also compete in a sprint, a three-legged race, and egg and spoon race. Back on Chester Road there is competition of another kind, with children dressed up for a fancy dress display - with costumes ranging from royal guardsmen, cowboys and hula girls to cats, a robot, Robin Hood and flowerpot men. A man dressed as Mickey Mouse brings children up on to the stage, where there are memorable appearances by girls dressed as Carmen Miranda and a cigarette puffing cleaning lady and a boy dressed as a sheik wearing a sign reading 'Would Jubilee V An Oil Slick?'. Every child appears to be given a prize of some sort. After the fancy dress, it is time for a meal, two large iced jubilee cakes are the centrepiece desserts for a communal lunch in the street on a line of trestle tables. The children get to eat first, with sandwiches, cold meats and soda pop drinks being devoured rapaciously. Then there is more entertainment form the stage, with amateur turns from local children. The children walk by some adults lined up behind tables, to have goody bags filled with a range of items from sweets and fruit, to a commemorative jubilee mug and a book on the royal lineage. As the day darkens all the residents raise a glass and some DJs set to work to provide musical entertainment. The film ends in a front room with a man reading aloud to the camera, perhaps summing up the events shown.
Credits: Filmed by: Bill Dilworth; Editor: Bill Dilworth
Further information: Film won first prize as the best film of Jubilee events in Waltham Forest. It is evidently supposed to have a soundtrack but this is missing.
Keywords: Anniversary celebrations; Royal jubilees; Street parties
In galleries: The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Waltham Forest; Walthamstow
Related
Comments