Produced by Bryan McIvor the first holy communion for a young boy who attends mass at a local Catholic church with his parents followed by a party to celebrate the event at The Spitfire public house in Thornaby-on-Tees. The party is a double-celebration as it is also the 4th birthday of the boys younger sister. A semi-detached house in a suburban street. Inside sitting on a lounge chair a small boy wearing what appears to be a Spanish riding outfit with waist high trousers, frilly shirt,...

Produced by Bryan McIvor the first holy communion for a young boy who attends mass at a local Catholic church with his parents followed by a party to celebrate the event at The Spitfire public house in Thornaby-on-Tees. The party is a double-celebration as it is also the 4th birthday of the boys younger sister. A semi-detached house in a suburban street. Inside sitting on a lounge chair a small boy wearing what appears to be a Spanish riding outfit with waist high trousers, frilly shirt, bowtie, and wide brimmed hat. He holds his hands in pray while also holding a Holy Rosary. On the arm of his chair a small booklet; ‘Children’s Mission. Remembrance of First Holy Communion’. Leaning against a nearby radiator a well-dressed smaller boy and girl, they hold hands. Standing beside them in the doorway of the room a young man with a camera. The boy dressed in Spanish riding outfit stands with his mother, sister and father outside a Catholic church as other guests make their way inside. They head inside themselves. At the high altar the priest conducts holy communion holding a goblet of wine and a wafer of bread in the air before consuming them. A line of six children dressed in white gowns forms in front of the alter as the priest offers communion first to three helpers standing to the side of the altar and then to the line of children. The boy in the Spanish riding outfit comes forward for communion followed by the rest of the congregation. Following the service, a group of children pose for a photographs in front of the altar. The boy in the Spanish riding outfit poses with his sister beside the altar, he is holding his Holy Rosary and communion booklet. Other children come to pose with the boy, their mothers taking numerous photographs. The priest comes over and stands beside the boy as more photographs of the two of them are taken. Everyone leaves the church. The Spitfire public house on Trenchard Road in Thornaby-on-Tees. Inside children enjoying a birthday party with balloons and a large spread of food laid out along a table watched over by some of the children’s mothers. The boy in the Spanish riding outfit sits at a table with a friend eating, he sees the camera and waves. Hi sister sits nearby holding a balloon with writing on it to say, ‘Happy Birthday’. A woman sitting at a table using a brush to apply paint to the hands of a small girl, the girl’s friend stands beside her watching. On another table two cakes one with a crucifix on it and beneath it written in icing ‘Happy 1st Holy Communion Jimmy’. The second cake has an image of the fashion doll Barbie on it and the words in icing ‘4th Happy Birthday Chantelle’. The girl sits next to her cake. Everyone gathers around the cakes and ‘Happy Birthday’ is sung, at the other side of the room of the boy dressed in a Spanish riding outfit stands on a small stage thanking his guest for attending his first communion and wishing them a good time. A man in a red top, the DJ for the party, holds a microphone for the boy. The DJ stands and asks everyone to applaud the boy for his first communion and his sister’s 4th birthday. The woman and children sit around the bar area eating, chatting, and drinking happily. The woman seen earlier painting a girl’s hand is now painting another girls face. As the music plays the children run around in front of the small stage, some of them hit each other with balloons. The birthday girl stands on the stage with the DJ, her brother comes over and speaks with her. She wonders off. The party comes to an end as the women work together to clear the table of food wrapping what hasn’t been eaten. A still image of the boy and his sister standing at the altar. End title: When many years this day has passed, fondest memories will always last