An amateur film of King George VI coronation celebrations taking place in Newcastle upon Tyne in May 1937, produced by Leslie Greaves and Mr Bartlett, members of the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA). The film documents the decorated streets, a number of formal civic events, and a military review on the Town Moor. Less formal celebrations are also shown, including a children's street party, believed to have been filmed in Newcastle’s West End, and a...

An amateur film of King George VI coronation celebrations taking place in Newcastle upon Tyne in May 1937, produced by Leslie Greaves and Mr Bartlett, members of the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA). The film documents the decorated streets, a number of formal civic events, and a military review on the Town Moor. Less formal celebrations are also shown, including a children's street party, believed to have been filmed in Newcastle’s West End, and a massive bonfire built by the Newcastle Boy Scouts. Title: The Coronation: Newcastle Celebrations 1937 Credit: Photographers Leslie Greaves, Mr Bartlett Title: Newcastle was justly proud of her Decorations in the main streets A crown shaped hanging basket decorates the Theatre Royal on Grey Street. Three large flags fly from the top of Grey's Monument. General view from the top of the monument looking down Grey Street, and then Grainger Street. Flags and bunting and other decorations hang from buildings and across the street. The roads are busy with pedestrians, trams and other traffic. Traveling shot from car along Grainger Street where the Leeds Permanent Building Society and Isaac Walton's tailors shop are decorated for the occasion. General views looking towards Grey’s Monument from a heavily decorated Grey Street and another decorated street with a sign for ‘Woodhouse'. Title: - and equally proud of the smaller streets The camera pans left to right showing a back street wall, which has been painted in large decorated letters; 'God Save the King and Queen', a young lad at the wall watching the cameraman. Next, there are general views of some of Newcastle’s working class terraces decorated with bunting and coronation regalia, believed to be in the West End around Scotswood Road. Each street has erected a decorative temporary gateway. Children rush out into a street to be filmed. A young lad walks cheekily back and forth in one street, grinning, determined to be caught on camera. Title: May 12th 1937 Title: The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas A procession of civic dignitaries makes its way towards The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas. Title: The various contingents arrive prior to the Military Review on the Town Moor Soldiers on horseback gently trot across the Town Moor. Soldiers sitting in the back of a number of army lorries look towards camera. Gun carriages can be seen attached to each vehicle. The lorries drive slowly into position on the moor past a large crowd of people standing in the near distance. A military brass band marches onto the Town Moor behind two officers; one carrying a ceremonial sword. A regiment with rifles slung over their shoulders march across the Town Moor. They are followed by a platoon of men in civilian dress wearing medals, led by a man holding a flag. These former servicemen are followed by regimental pipers in kilts and bearskin hats. Title: The arrival of the Mayor The Lord Mayor of Newcastle and other civic dignitaries arrive on the Town Moor in a horse-drawn carriage. Title: The March Past Standing on a small raised platform, a senior army officer takes the salute as the platoon of soldiers marches past. A number of horse drawn gun carriages are next, followed by a Royal Navy regiment pulling their own gun carriage. The ex-servicemen and another troop of soldiers in wide-brimmed hats march past, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers bringing up the rear. A senior officer presents medals to individual soldiers. Title: 3 o'clock. Tea Time Local people parade up the street. A young lad rides a pit pony decorated with a Union Jack flag. He is followed by a small replica royal carriage pulled by pit ponies. There are touching scenes of children in Union Jack paper hats and crowns feasting at one of the many jubilant local street parties. Children are given Coronation mugs. A woman pours tea from a large glazed jug. They eat bananas, a real treat. The children grin at the camera and a boy waves his mug. Title: The Civic Inspection of the Newcastle Decorations A formal parade takes place in central Newcastle. Overhead shot of the Lord Mayor of Newcastle with other dignitaries travelling past by horse drawn carriage following a directional arrow, which has been marked on the road. Fire engines, with firemen in dress uniform hanging from the side, drive by in the parade. Police on horseback escort the Mayor’s carriage. Title: The bonfire .... lit by Newcastle Boy Scouts In the dark, a procession of torches moves towards a bonfire. A massive bonfire built by Boy Scouts burns at night. People in dark silhouette stand around the fire, policemen on guard for safety. Title: The End