Come and join us for a special Filmshow in the Village Hall!

Richard Whitmore recently retired from the voluntary role as Film Archivist for the Hitchin Historical Society; during his tenure, he managed to locate and make copies of several short early films, with sound, of events in Hitchin. These films have been threaded together into two videos/DVDs, lasting in total about one hour. Sam Hallas has now taken over as Film Archivist, and will compere the evening for us.

The events portrayed include c.14 minutes on ‘The Town Pageant and Procession’ for the coronation of King George V in 1911, and c.13 minutes on ‘A century of cinema in Hitchin’. Some of us remember very vividly watching ‘The Hitchin Priory Pageant’ of 1951, a historical extravaganza involving c. 1000 local people, and arranged as part of the Festival of Britain’s national celebrations that year; unfortunately, only 7 minutes of film record that event. ‘How Hitchin got an airfield’ and ‘We make gloves’ by the Kir company from their factory in Burymead Road, are other topics covered.

Suitable refreshments will be served during the interval. To help with seating and catering, please let us know if you will be joining us. Just email prestonvillagetrust@gmail.com, or call 434403, or drop a note into Wal’s at St. Martin’s Place. Many thanks.

We do look forward to seeing you!

The Preston Trust committee