Grantham VE Day Celebrations

Description

The film uses descriptive intertitles throughout (some scrolling), which are summarised as follows. "For six long years we had awaited this momentous day...". "The outstanding event of the day was the thanksgiving service on St. Peter’s Hill under the chairmanship of the mayor..". We see the mayor, various dignitaries and members of the clergy standing on the steps of the Grantham Guildhall on St Peter’s Hill. "The choir was provided by King’s School boys and High School girls..." The choir is seen singing and a band from the Salvation Army is also visible; a crowd can be seen kept back behind a rope, the camera pans up the exterior of the Guildhall showing bunting and a banner which reads 'God Save Our King'. We see a crowd (mainly women, but with a few older men and young boys) singing from hymn sheets. "From the Guildhall window..." A view of the very orderly crowd standing below the Guildhall, some bunting and decorations are visible. "As one wandered round the decorated streets..." We see a street in Grantham bunting and union flags are visible and crowds mill about on the pavement. Next a large crowd is seen on the green on St Peter’s Hill and the statue of Isaac Newton can also be seen. This is followed by more shots of the crowded streets in which we see a woman with a little girl dressed in red, white and blue and a soldier in uniform. "Later there was a service at St. Wulfram’s..." We see a street decorated with bunting with the spire of St Wulfram’s church visible in the distance.

Credits

No credits specified

Notes

The film was shot by Walter Lee who was born in 1891 in Grantham in Lincolnshire. He had a photographic business in the town and during the Second World War he was the 'official' photographer for a number of organisations including a local munitions factory. He also took pictures in his studio that were used in passbooks and security and identity cards.

The Lincolnshire Film Archive holds the camera original of this title.