An amateur film produced by local physician Dr Swindale of celebrations taking place in Wylam in Northumberland marking the Coronation of King George VI in May 1937. Title: Wylam Coronation Celebrations May 12th 1937 Title: Presentation of Souvenir Beakers at Wylam County School by C. Atkinson Esq The film opens with children standing in the school yard at Wylam County School, their teachers stand nearby chatting. A brief view of an older man, presumably Mr Atkinson [out of focus], changes...

An amateur film produced by local physician Dr Swindale of celebrations taking place in Wylam in Northumberland marking the Coronation of King George VI in May 1937. Title: Wylam Coronation Celebrations May 12th 1937 Title: Presentation of Souvenir Beakers at Wylam County School by C. Atkinson Esq The film opens with children standing in the school yard at Wylam County School, their teachers stand nearby chatting. A brief view of an older man, presumably Mr Atkinson [out of focus], changes to three King George VI Coronation beakers on a table. Mr Atkinson speaks with the children before, starting with the youngest, they form a line and collect their beakers as well as possibly a pencil from Mr Atkinson now standing beside a small table laid out with a Union Jack tablecloth. Another Union Jack flies from the metal fence behind them. Some of the children pose for the camera holding their beakers before they all stand together each holding up their beakers in the air. Title: The Fete Day A number of men stand beside a bus waiting for a parade through the village to begin. Some of the men wear medals, one man is carrying a flag or standard. A brass band marches through Wylam followed by a number of groups all walking behind their respective standards. At the front a number of men in bowler hats wear medals, possibly ex-servicemen, are followed by members of the Boy’s Brigade, Girl Guides and finally a large number of children. Outside the Fox and Hound public house on Main Street a crowd waits for the parade to pass. The ex-servicemen march onto a field passing by two large marquees. A man standing behind a rope barrier doffs his bowler hat as the men pass, some of the ex-servicemen salute. The other groups march onto the field passing the man. A crowd gathers around him as he leads them in a ‘hip hip hooray’, the men raise the hats in celebration of the Coronation. Children take part in various races on the field including a three-legged race, sprinting, egg and spoon race, a sack race and for the girls a skipping race. A crowd of mainly other children stands along the track watching. Two men sitting on a horizontal pole hit each other with pillows. The film ends on two men standing over a large hole that has formed around the foundations of a corrugated iron building.