The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Blaydon Races Centenary Celebrations
Tyneside celebrates the Blaydon Races Centenary in raucous style.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Blaydon Races Centenary of 1962 was a spectacular week of street parties, beauty queens, cycle, road and sulky racing, sing-alongs, folk dance, juvenile jazz bands and fireworks - crowned by a 3 mile long parade to Blaydon from the legendary Balmbras Music Hall in Newcastle. Amongst the colourful and eccentric floats pictured, a jockey rides triumphantly through the street on a giant bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale.
This amateur film shot by Ron Harper captures the celebrations initiated by T. Dan Smith, Labour leader of Newcastle City Council, who harnessed the recent folk revival and media interest in the North Easts vernacular culture to encourage business and promote his big plans for a cultural renaissance in the region. Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell was the VIP guest. The centenary marked George Ridleys first Balmbras Music Hall performance of The Blaydon Races, long known as Tynesides national anthem, which tells in dialect the story of a mad-cap omnibus journey (filled with local characters) to the original horse race and fair on 9 June 1862.
Related
The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.
Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1964 11 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Is comedian Clive Dunn the Don Draper of the British advertising world? Watch this imaginative Tyne Tees TV marketing film and decide.
Andrews Liver Salts: Little Andy Andrews Liver Salts: Little Andy
Advert 1957 1 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Little Andy takes the speedy way to sparkling good health in a zippy 50s cartoon advertisement for Andrews Liver Salts.
Military Sunday in Newcastle Military Sunday in Newcastle
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A marching band leads the parades with the Boer War still raging
Town Moor Fair Scenes Town Moor Fair Scenes
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
All the fun of the fair in this Victorian film, made in the early years of Newcastle's famous Hoppings
Percy Hedley School Percy Hedley School
News 1970 17 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Being wheelchair users is not a barrier to these children doing slaloms or throwing javelins, gaining confidence and changing perceptions.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.