An amateur film recording events taking place as part of the High Spen Community Association 5th Annual Carnival on the 6th June 1968. The film shows a parade of five local juvenile jazz bands marching along Strothers Road and Ramsey Street in High Spen to a large exhibition fields where they perform in competition. There are views of a children’s fancy dress competition and the film ends with medals and trophies being presented for both the fancy dress and jazz band competitions.   The film...

An amateur film recording events taking place as part of the High Spen Community Association 5th Annual Carnival on the 6th June 1968. The film shows a parade of five local juvenile jazz bands marching along Strothers Road and Ramsey Street in High Spen to a large exhibition fields where they perform in competition. There are views of a children’s fancy dress competition and the film ends with medals and trophies being presented for both the fancy dress and jazz band competitions.   The film opens on a large poster attached to a brick wall that reads: ‘High Spen Community Association. Come to High Spen for the 5th Annual Carnival on the Playing fields Saturday June 8th 1968’. Credit: Filmed by Ron Harper. Credit: Directed by .J. Teasdale. The film cuts to a man in a dark jacket and white trousers speaking with members of the Sunderland Juvenile Jazz Band before the parade gets underway. They are all standing in an alleyway across from their banner which is standing against a brick wall.    Watched by crowds from the pavement the Winlaton Vulcanaires Jazz Band in blue and white uniforms marches along Strothers Road in High Spen behind their banner and baton twirling majorettes. The crowds begin to clap as a second jazz band wearing shiny green and red uniforms march past in front of their banner and majorette.  On the back of a decorated lorry sit a number of small children in various costumes. A number of the children have blacked up faces. The Hedworth Legionnaires Jazz Band march past in green and white uniforms behind their banner and majorettes. As they approach the shop of Storey & Taylor heating engineers they turn right into Ramsey Street watched over by a large crowd. The Burnmoor Coldstreamers Juvenile Jazz Band dressed in red and black with Beefeater style tall hats march along Ramsey Street behind their banner and majorettes. People stand along the pavement and in the doorway of ‘Gendinnings’. A decorated lorry turns into Ramsey Street. A Union Jack flag hangs over the front of the lorry and a sign on the cabin roof reads: ‘1st Hookers’. Standing on the back of the lorry are group of young children dressed in various historic and nationalistic costumes. One young girl is dressed in hair curlers and apron and has a cigarette hanging from her mouth. Around her neck is a hand-made sign that reads: ‘Hilda Ogden’.  The Sunderland Juvenile Jazz Band turns into Ramsey Street. Marching beside them is the man in dark jacket and white trousers. As they march along the road a police van and Morris Minor car drive slowly behind them. Along the pavements the onlookers begin walking along the road. The film cuts to a man in flat cap leading the various jazz bands onto a large field. An ice cream van and swings can be seen in the background. A majorette twirls her baton and throws it into the air. General view of various jazz bands marching onto the field. On the field surrounded by a large crowd, a group of costumed children stand in lines. A small girl holds the trail of a wedding dress being worn by another young girl. Costumed children of various ages walk around the field in front of the watching crowds. A toddler poses for the camera wearing a yellow dress and hat. The dress is covered in photographs of a small child with the number ‘2’ printed beneath each picture. Two young girls pose for the camera; one is dressed as a nurse in a Red Cross uniform and holding a baby while the other is bandaged around the head and arms. Over her shoulders is a hand-made sign that reads: ‘Look Right, Look Left. I did not’. General view of a line of girls dressed in various costumes including a small girl dressed as a pink fairy, another dressed as a black cat and another dressed as a pirate. A young girl writes on a pad. She is wearing a dress covered in bingo strips and a sash that reads: ‘Miss Bingo’. On her head is a hat that says: ‘Full House’. Two men and a woman stand together talking. One of the men is writing in a notebook. Behind them stand a line of costumed children. A small girl in a silk Chinese outfit waves her fan. Around her neck a sign reads: ‘Miss China’. General view of another line of costumed young girls including the girl seen previously dressed as Hilda Ogden. Beside her is another girl with a blacked up face and the girl seen previously in the wedding dress. The film cuts to a young girl presenting a bouquet to an older woman. They hug and the girl walks away. General views of the woman presenting small envelopes to various costumed children including the girl dressed as Hilda Ogden and a boy and girl dressed as old people. He is wearing a flat cap and is walking with a stick. Awards are presented to a number of adults in various costumes including a woman dressed as a school boy and another wearing stockings and suspenders. The crowds around the edge of the field begin to clap The film cuts to a trellis table being brought onto the field. Two women and a man sit at the table making notes on yellow paper. Next to them a man speaks into a microphone. General views of the five juvenile jazz bands marching onto the field to perform a routine for the surrounding crowds. Each band is seen marching in unison around the field following their respective majorettes who twirl and throw their batons into the air.  A small group of people stand around the trellis table speaking. Members of the Sunderland Juvenile Jazz Band stand beside their banner. Beside the table an older man presents various medals to member of each of the five jazz bands. He shakes their hands and poses with them for the camera. A trophy is presented to a member of the Burnmoor Coldstreamers. Overhead view of the exhibition field on which all of the jazz bands are standing. Suddenly the Burnmoor Coldstreamers band begins to jump and clap. Back at the table the man tosses a coin in the air and presents another medal to a member of Sunderland Juvenile Jazz Band. Holding their trophy the two majorettes from the Sunderland Juvenile Jazz Band lead their band off the exhibition field. They are followed the Burnmoor Coldstreamers whose majorettes are also holding a trophy. The film cuts to another part of the field where members of the High Spen Whippets Club prepare to race. Three whippet traps are laid out on a field. Beside them can be seen two men with their whippet dogs on leads. Two of the dogs are loaded into their traps ready to race. The film cuts to the lure beginning to run along the ground, the traps open and the three whippet’s race after it. As the rush across the field a small crowd of people can be seen watching the race.   Two men stand with their whippets beside a fence as the three racing dogs come into view and race towards them. As they pass the dogs catch the lure and have to be pulled back by a man and young girl who picks her dog up and carries it away. The film cuts to show The Burnmoor Coldstreamers posing for a group photograph in front of their banner. Following the photograph they all get up and climb aboard a double-decker bus which is parked nearby. The film cuts to various general views of people standing or sitting around the field eating or drinking tea. Three women stand behind a table on which sits a tray of pies. A woman opens a soft drinks bottle with an opener, puts a straw into it and gives it to a boy. At another table children select sweets from boxes and jars and at another table are given jelly and ice cream. Two young girls pose for the camera eating jelly from a paper dish. Two men secure screws into a plank of wood. The film ends on a number of people of various ages coming together to pose for a group photograph. Title: The End.