"The hard winter of January and February 1940". We see ice floating under a bridge on the River Wye. "Home Guard Parade". Colour shots of a parade of soldiers in Hereford followed by a shot of a cat sitting on the bonnet of a Home Guard car. "Dancing High Town 1942". b/w views of American soldiers dancing outdoors with women in High Town. This is followed by views of American soldiers marching past the Cathedral and more dancing taking place in Cathedral Close. We then see views of the River Wye and another US soldier talking to local children. "Ambulance Services". This sequence shows another parade with people in uniform marching up to the Cathedral.
(The remainder of the reel is colour). "Queen Mother's Visit to Blue Coat School 23 June 1960" (another caption gives an incorrect year of 1966). We see the Queen Mother meeting staff outside the school. "ERNIE is started High Town July 2nd 1960". We see a marching pipe band, small convoy of tractors and speeches from a stage to mark the drawing of Premium Bonds (used the Electronic Random Number Indicating Equipment or ERNIE - the button which was linked to the computer in Lytham St Annes is pressed by Leslie Goodwin who was the 1958 World Champion ploughman). A person dressed in a robot costume also makes an appearance (newspaper coverage has the date as 1 July and not 2nd). We then see flowers in Castle Green, canoes being paddled along the Wye and traffic on Broad Street in Hereford. "May Fair 1963". Dodgem cars, a coin rolling stall, novelty stalls and various rides including children on a helter skelter. "Regatta 1963". We see oarsmen rowing on the Wye and outside a boat house. "Bank Holiday 1963". Views of a funfair including swings, stalls and boys sailing model boats. We then see traffic passing St Peter's Square.
A City of Hereford sign indicates the start of a sequence showing the visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Hereford on 23 April 1957. We see buildings decorated with union flags (including the Odeon Cinema) and crowds gathering outside the cathedral. There is also a shot of High Town and the Old House. The Queen is seen inspecting livestock at the cattle market with the Duke of Edinburgh and we also see the arrival of the royal motorcade at the cathedral. "Presentation of Freedom of Entry to Hereford to the RAF". A mayor inspects the RAF men (who were based at RAF Credenhill and received the Freedom of the City on 23 April 1959). The men stand to attention in High Town. "Opening of Bishop's School, Tupsley May 2nd 1959". Dignitaries are seen looking at artwork inside the school and then standing outside the building chatting. The final sequence shows another visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Hereford Cathedral to present the Maundy Money on 15 April 1976 including crowds behind barriers and her walk-about. Home movie of the event cuts to coverage of the event filmed from a television screen.
Filmed by Rev Preb. E.G.T. Simey, MA
The film is captioned as containing material from 1936 to 1963 however some subsequent editing has taken place and events appear to cover 1940 to 1963 with additional 1976 shots at the end.