An amateur film of an unemployment march in Gateshead in October 1971 starting at Saltwell Park and ending on High West Street. The film begins with protestors preparing to begin their march in Saltwell Park. Mounted police lead the protestors out of the park as they make their way through the town flanked by police. Many of the protestors carry placards while others march behind a variety of banners including a number of Durham miners lodge banners. Vic Feather, the TUC General Secretary, is...

An amateur film of an unemployment march in Gateshead in October 1971 starting at Saltwell Park and ending on High West Street. The film begins with protestors preparing to begin their march in Saltwell Park. Mounted police lead the protestors out of the park as they make their way through the town flanked by police. Many of the protestors carry placards while others march behind a variety of banners including a number of Durham miners lodge banners. Vic Feather, the TUC General Secretary, is believed to be amongst those leading the march. The film ends with the march making its way along High Street West towards the River Tyne. The march continued on to Newcastle [not pictured in this film]. The film opens in Saltwell Park in Gateshead, a large crowd of people some carrying banners stand around near to the boating lake. Two policemen stand nearby watching. On a path a bagpipe band all wearing kilts stand in a circle practicing watched by a man standing nearby. The film cuts to four policemen on horseback trotting slowly up and down a road outside the park. There is a brief shot of a man holding a film camera. The four mounted policemen come out of Saltwell Park followed by a procession displaying a banner. The film cuts to a three-lane street along which come the mounted police followed by the procession. A lone policeman stands in the middle of the road watching the marchers.  A group of men, some carrying placards, march behind a banner which reads ‘Demand Your Right to Work’. General views of the procession as it makes its way along the road. The film cuts to an overhead view looking down on the procession marching past with banners displayed. They are followed by a marching brass band with more protestors marching behind. Along the route pedestrians watch from the pavement. A number of miners banners are displayed by the marchers, passing the 1914-1918 War Memorial and continuing along Durham Road. From an overhead position more general views show the procession of people and banners making their way along Durham Road past the 1914-1918 War Memorial making their way towards the centre of Gateshead. The film cuts to ground level with more views of the procession making its way along Durham Road. A bagpipe band marching in front of their banner approach a junction. They turn left, followed by the protestors. Many are carrying placards for ‘Nalgo’. A number of banners pass including ones for ‘Nalgo’, another banner reads ‘At Ti North East’ and a third ‘ATTI Give Them work at a stroke’. A bright red banner reads ‘North East District Communist Party’ and behind that another red banner reads ‘People before Profits’. This is followed by two banners for ‘Teesside International Socialists for Workers Power’ and ‘Sunderland International Socialists’. The film ends with views of the procession making its way north along High West Street towards the centre of Gateshead flanked by police.