This film is one of very many produced by Mercury Movie Makers, a part of Leeds Cine Club who specialised in making 16mm film.  As with many of their films, the film was produced by Ken Leckenby.  Sometimes Ken would make films under his own name.  One such is Out and About, made three years earlier in 1973, which, among other things, shows the Leeds Caribbean Carnival on Out and About – for more on Ken see the Context for this film.  By and large Mercury Movie Makers (MMM) worked as a team,...

This film is one of very many produced by Mercury Movie Makers, a part of Leeds Cine Club who specialised in making 16mm film.  As with many of their films, the film was produced by Ken Leckenby.  Sometimes Ken would make films under his own name.  One such is Out and About, made three years earlier in 1973, which, among other things, shows the Leeds Caribbean Carnival on Out and About – for more on Ken see the Context for this film.  By and large Mercury Movie Makers (MMM) worked as a team, as is obviously the case here.  Another example of the documentary type films that they made is From Esholt To Beckindale about the making of the TV series Emmerdale in the 1980s.  For more on MMM see the Context for A Vision Fulfilled; which also has a Royal theme, featuring a visit to St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds, by Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1984.

The other half of Leeds Cine Club, the Super Eight Group, filmed the Lord Mayor's Silver Jubilee Parade in Leeds, which took place on the rain free Saturday of July 9th.  Other places celebrating the event, and of which the YFA has film, include: Menston, near Otley, Pickering, Smithy Moor, outside of Stocksbridge, and Walkington.  Unlike some other Silver Jubilee events that can be seen here, this is just the regular Lord Mayor’s Parade, which has adopted the Jubilee as its theme: the title, ‘Accession to Jubilee’, allowing for various meanings.  It may be that there were other events in Bradford in celebration of the Silver Jubilee, such as street parties, but unfortunately they do not feature here.  See the Context for Fearby Silver Jubilee for more on the celebrations taking place across the country.

As is often the case, the parade is led by a Highland band, which has become especially associated with the British Monarchy.  Bagpipes – an inflated leather bag as an air reservoir for a wind instrument – have been around from at least the period of the ancients Hittites and the Romans.  Although there is little evidence of the bagpipe before the 18th century – a lowly instrument that easily decayed – it seems that the bagpipe found its way to Scotland from England, perhaps by way of Ireland.  But although not a peculiarly Scottish instrument – being common across Europe, the Caucasus, the Persian Gulf and Northern Africa – the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe has been around for several centuries and has remained an important part of the musical tradition of Scotland.   As Highland regiments have been integral in the creation of the British Empire, so the Highland bands have become synonymous with the Royal family: Queen Victoria established the first personal Piper to the Sovereign in 1843. It has subsequently spread to many countries of the former Empire.

One aspect of the film which gives it a more professional feel is the commentary and the interviews.  One of those interviewed, Paul Hockney, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, fails to mention that he is the older brother of the much better known artist David Hockney.  Both of course hail from Bradford.  Paul lectured at Bradford Technical College from 1963 until 1966, before going on to teach at Leeds.  Paul certainly made the most of his year in office.  He helped to set up the Nell Bank Centre, situated on the outskirts of Ilkley, as part of his Appeal.  This continues to provide a range of award winning outdoor and educational activities for both children and adults – Paul, not looking a day older, recently paid a visit to the centre in 2010.  He was also a prime mover in the Twin Town Association, visiting Roubaix for a twin-town conference in September of 1977.

It is no surprise therefore, to see both Roubaix, close to the border with Belgium in France, and the twinned town of Mönchengladbach, near the Dutch border in Germany (and which is also twinned with Roubaix), heavily featured on the Parade.  This European contribution – Britain joined the European Union in 1973 – helps to take the edge off the patriotic fervour that the Jubilee inspired.  For those interested in the Jowett car section of the parade, there is much more of this in the Jowett Car Club Film Collection held with the YFA – see Jcc Annual Car Rally Bradford Diamond Jubilee (1983).

Another famous participant is the actor Patrick Allen (apparently no relation to the Project Director of the event, Robert Allen, who is interviewed in the film).  Patrick Allen was a very well-known face at the time, having appeared in many films and TV programmes.  He made his film debut in Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder in 1954, and during the 1970s starred in the TV series, Brett.  Later in his career he became especially involved in voice-overs ¬ –  voicing the notorious public information film on a nuclear war, Protect and Survive, in 1966.  It would have been in this connection, as the visible voice of the helicopter pilot advertising Barratt Homes, that he would be appearing here.  Also in 1977 he starred as Gradgrind in a four-part adaptation of Dickens's Hard Times.

The Bradford Lord Mayor's Parade is still going strong, supplemented by the more colourful events of the Bradford Mela, since 1988, and the Bradford Carnival, since 2003.  As well as the Lord Mayor's Carnival Parade there are many other events celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  It is questionable though whether this provides a theme around which Bradford’s diverse communities can be brought together.

References

Frank J. Timoney, The Concise History of the Bagpipe

Paul Hockney
Ilkley's Nell Bank Centre stages open day