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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Kench Family Films: 1966, Redbridge and West End (1966)
Ilford parades, Post Office Tower views as well as weddings, birthdays and Christmas all feature on this fantastic home movie from Redbridge in 1966.
From the collection of:
Overview
There’s a wonderful selection of clips in this home movie, including some marvellous shots of London taken from the top of the recently opened Post Office Tower and also of a parade through the centre of Ilford featuring splendid decorated floats. Also captured are several family occasions, including a 21st birthday, a wedding and Christmas.
There’s a lot to enjoy on this 16-minute film. The Ilford parade is one highlight, showing what seems to be Scouts and Guides in well-decorated floats passing Ilford’s rare regional branch of Selfridges. But the undoubted highlights are the shots from the Post Office Tower – first filmed from a distance on Tottenham Court Road – which show landmarks such as Regent’s Park, Euston Station, Senate House and Centre Point from the top of the tower. There’s also a nice shot of the viewing platform interior, showing people taking photographs of the view.
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