An amateur film made of events and activities taking place as part of the centenary celebrations for Ryton Urban District Council in 1963. Events featured include a swimming competition at the open air pool in Ferndene Park, a formal dinner dance with a bagpipe marching band and a procession of miners banners, decorated floats and a juvenile jazz band along Main Road in Ryton. The presence of the centenary queen features at many of these events watching over proceedings or presenting prizes....

An amateur film made of events and activities taking place as part of the centenary celebrations for Ryton Urban District Council in 1963. Events featured include a swimming competition at the open air pool in Ferndene Park, a formal dinner dance with a bagpipe marching band and a procession of miners banners, decorated floats and a juvenile jazz band along Main Road in Ryton. The presence of the centenary queen features at many of these events watching over proceedings or presenting prizes. The film opens on a sign that reads: 'Ryton Urban District Council Centenary Celebrations 1863 - 1963'. There is a second sign that reads: 'Ryton U.D. Council Centenary Gala'. The film cuts to Ferndene Park where a man stands behind a table on the edge of the open air swimming pool giving a speech. Around his neck is a chain with a silver medallion attached to it. On the table in front of him is a silver trophy. Sitting beside him is a young woman in a white dress wearing, a tiara and a blue sash across her right shoulder; the centenary queen. He stops talking and the audience begin to applaud. The centenary queen smiles at the camera. Sitting next to her is the man with the silver medallion who is now wearing sun glasses. The words that can be seen on her sash are: '1963 Ryton Cel...'. A young girl in a swimming costume comes and sits on the ground in front of the table. Around the edges of the pool is a large seated crowd. Various flags hang across the water. Sitting to the right of the centenary queen is a woman in a spotted green dress and sun glasses speaking to a man in uniform. Two young men in swimming trunks and caps stand on a their starting blocks. Beside them a man fires a started pistol and they dive into the pool and begin to race down the length of the pool doing the butterfly stroke. At the far end they turn and swim back. The man in the far lane wins and the crowd begin to clap as he and the other competitor climb out of the pool. Swimming one behind the other three young women do the breast-stroke. The rear two women are holding onto the the hips of the two women in front of them. They come to the end of the lane and the one in front stands up and picks up a rubber ring from the side. The three women begin to swim back towards the other end of the pool sitting on their rubber rings. One of the women falls out and has to stand up. In unison, and still sitting in their rubber rings, the three women do the backstroke down the pool. On the far side of the pool three young men also swim in rubber rings as part of a race. Standing on a wooden plank across the pool a young boy and girl hit each other with rubber rings trying to knock the other off the plank. The girl loses her balance and jumps into the pool. On a white wooden table a man writes a note in a book. Beside him is a starter pistol and ammunition box. A man in a white shirt speaks into a megaphone. The centenary queen presents a silver trophy to a young man and woman. The man shakes the queens hand and poses with her. A group of photographers take their picture. The film cuts to a vicar standing on a decorated podium speaking into a microphone. Behind him a Salvation Army brass band performs for a crowd. General view of the large crowd, some seated others stand at the back, in front of the podium while listening to the vicar give a sermon. There is brief shot of a stone cross. The film cuts to a large hall where a line of men in dinner jackets and women in brightly coloured dress greet a series of dignitaries who are entering the hall. One of the greeters is the centenary queen in a long white lace dress. A band of kilt wearing bagpipe players march into the hall. Around candle lit tables guests enjoy a meal and chat. To the music of the bagpipe band guests perform the 'Gay Gordon' Scottish dance. They are then shown doing the Twist including the centenary Queen who is dancing on her own. Hand-in-hand around the hall they sing 'Auld Lang Syne'. Twirling his baton a member of the bagpipe band leads the centenary queen and the man with the silver medallion out of the hall. Behind them comes the rest of the bagpipe band. The film cuts to two policemen on horseback leading the bagpipe band as they march along a road [possibly Main Road in Ryton]. On the pavement crowds watch as they pass. In the back on an open-top horse drawn carriage the centenary queen sits beside a man in Victorian costume. A black and red painted open-top horse drawn carriage drives slowly past. Inside the passengers in Victorian costumes wave at the crowds. Driving slowly past on the back of a flat-bed lorry a group of young people are seated wearing various costumes. Above them are two signs that reads: '1863' and '1963'. General view of large crowd of men marching behind three miners banners along the road. At the rear of each procession men lead a number of pit-ponies. A number of decorated horses are lead past the shop of 'A.E. Raine'. Behind them a man and young girl riding a horse-drawn delivery wagon being pulled by a decorated shire horse. On the back of a Scottish and Newcastle Breweries Ltd flat-bed lorry a group of of people in Victorian costumes wave as they pass the Co-Operative Cleaners store. One of the men is ringing a hand bell. The Newbiggin Sea Shanty juvenile jazz band march past behind the banner and a baton twirling majorette. A small crowd standing on the pavement clap as they pass. A man wearing an oversized head waves from the back of a float. Along the side of the lorry is a sign that reads: 'V.G. Means Value and Good Service' Girls from The Burnside Highlanders juvenile jazz band march past behind their banner and majorette. A number of musicians in Victorian costumes perform from the back of a float. Beside them sit three women also in costume. A sign about the lorry reads: '1858 A Small Band of Pioneers'. General view of two juvenile jazz bands marching behind their banners and majorettes. The first band are wearing red and white while the second are in blue and white. A group of children in various costumes, including a boy and girl in wedding outfits, walk past. Members of a local Judo club perform various throws on the back of a flat-bed lorry. Another juvenile jazz band wearing red and blue with white trim uniforms come to a halt in front of the camera. A small girl standing in front of the groups banner and beside two small boys twirls her baton in the air. A horse drown Rington's Tea delivery van drives past. Members of the St John's Ambulance march past carrying a folded stretcher. The Felling Fusiliers juvenile jazz band march along the road behind their banner and majorette. A red followed by a green vintage cars drive passed slowly followed by a green delivery van for 'J.L.Morley'. A flat-bed lorry drives past with a group of young people in bathing costumes sitting on the back. Towels and coloured flags hanging from a line. One of the young boys in holding a silver trophy. A second flat-bed lorry drives past on which a group of young people are seated and standing in Oriental costumes. Along the side is a banner that reads: 'The World for Christ'. A third flat-bed lorry comes to a halt. On the back a group of children all dressed in various brightly coloured costumes. The flat-bed truck seen previously with the group of young people in bathing costumes drives past the Ryton Hotel on Main Road in Ryton. The film cuts to the centenary queen who is standing next to a group of men in Victorian costumes. In a field a small boy and girl eat pink candy floss from a stick watched over by an older boy and two women in bright coloured dresses. General view of a calliope steam organ and crowds walking around the large events field. Around the edges of the field are a number of large marquees. The film cuts to a show ground where a horse and rider complete a jumping course. They jump two gates. The film cuts to The Burnside Highlanders juvenile jazz band performing for a large crowd on an piece of ground. On the back of a flat-bed lorry seen previously with a banner over it saying: '1858 A Small Band of Pioneers' the three women in Victorian costumes perform a dance to the music being played by the musicians next to them. The women are holding up their dresses to show their bloomers.  The film cuts to the centenary queen who is speaks to a man who is holding a camera. General view of the crowds around the field; some in Victorian costumes. A representative of The Burnside Highlanders comes down a long set of steep steps holding a silver trophy. At the top of the steps is a small platform on which stands the centenary queen. General view of various other members of juvenile jazz bands coming down the steps. Beside a bowling green a group of people, including the centenary queen and the man with the silver medallion, sit behind a table. On the table are various items including two sets of bicycle wheels and a set of three plastic bottles. A set of wheels are presented to a man by the centenary queen. She and the man shake hands and pose for a camera. The film cuts to the green of a golf course where the centenary queen putts a ball. It misses the hole. She is standing beside three men one of whom is holding his golf club in the air as she makes the shot. Watched by small group a man and centenary Queen a man tees off. The camera pans down the course past a number of sand traps. A ball is putted into a hole. The film cuts to a group of smartly dressed people walking through a churchyard behind three men; two of whom are carrying long staffs with silver heads. A number of the group are led into a building by the two men with staffs while the remaining members of the group stand outside. The film ends with view of a stone cross intercut with the sign seen at the beginning of the film that said: 'Ryton Urban District Council Centenary Celebrations 1863 - 1963'. Title: The End