This film produced by R & B Productions records the opening of the Siemens microchip factory at Wallsend on North Tyneside by HRH Queen Elizabeth II on the 23rd May 1997. The film has commentary by Tomorrow’s World presenter Howard Stableford who also acts as master of ceremonies at a hall providing film and musical interludes by Kathryn Tickell playing Northumbrian small pipes and a performance by members of the Northern Sinfonia orchestra. The film opens in a crowded hall. On a wall...

This film produced by R & B Productions records the opening of the Siemens microchip factory at Wallsend on North Tyneside by HRH Queen Elizabeth II on the 23rd May 1997. The film has commentary by Tomorrow’s World presenter Howard Stableford who also acts as master of ceremonies at a hall providing film and musical interludes by Kathryn Tickell playing Northumbrian small pipes and a performance by members of the Northern Sinfonia orchestra. The film opens in a crowded hall. On a wall is the Siemen’s logo and the audience are listening to Northumberland musician Kathryn Tickell play traditional music on the Northumbrian smallpipes. Title: Kathryn Tickell Images of Hadrian’s Wall are projected on a nearby screen. Other views of the local landmarks follow with a view of a Tyne ferry at dusk and St Mary’s lighthouse at Whitley Bay. Applause from the audience is followed by Howard Stableford from BBC television’s Tomorrow’s World programme acting as master of ceremonies. The film cuts to the approach of Queen Elizabeth’s motorcade as it makes its way to the Siemen’s plant, crowds line the approach with children waving small union jack flags. Some wave flags with the brand name ‘Siemens’ printed on them. The Queen’s motorcade arrives at the factory entrance and she steps out of the car. With the sound of the Northumbrian smallpipes in the background, the Queen meets with officials near the entrance. Off camera Howard Stableford talks about the people she will meet today including the managing director of Siemens Microlectronics Dr Adolf Scheiber, who welcomes her to the plant. Inside the foyer she meets with other members of staff and officials. Again off camera Howard Stableford describes the moment the Queen receives a posy of flowers from the youngest employee at the plant 19 year old Tracy Pass. The Queen then looks at a display of photographs with explanatory notes next to each image. The managing director explains to the Queen the significance of these images which illustrate the development of the company background and its production processes. Howard Stableford continues his commentary as Prince Philip arrives outside and in turn greets the dignitaries and onlookers. He joins the Queen at the exhibition as Howard Stableford states that this live broadcast will be the first Royal visit ever to be transmitted over the internet. A world first for North Tyneside, as it allows the event to be seen in the region and other Siemens employees around the world. Title: Northern Sinfonia In the presentation hall seen earlier members of the Northern Sinfonia play music for the audience. The Queen on her tour of the factory is shown an area where new recruits are using advanced electronics to detect faults in microchips. Howard Stableford outlines the difficulties in this work. The Queen leaves the wafer test area to go to a special viewing area overlooking the clean room. A group of visitors walk through the clean room dressed head to toe in white protective clothing. One of the visitors clothed for this part of the tour is Prince Philip, as he is taken on a tour of the clean room which has row upon row of operatives working at desks using electron microscopes and computers. Howard Stableford describes the clean room and the stringent requirements for cleanliness and the provision of super-filtered air. The Queen is guide to the viewing gallery, and she looks down from the gallery while senior staff describe for her what she is seeing. The film follows the visitors through the clean room, as Howard Stableford announces that the Queen is now being shown the physical failure analysis laboratories. She is with Alan Lesley section head of the process and she speaks with one of the employees who uses an electron microscope in his work. The Queen speaks to one of the female employees in this section, then Prince Philip joins her. They leave that section and members of staff line the corridors and stair wells applaud as the party walk by. They pass the exhibition area seen earlier and head towards to the reception hall. The Queen meets Tony Wells facilities manager at the factory and Andrew McAlpine director of the construction company who built the factory. She also meets other officials. Title: Juergen Gehrels – Chief Executive, Siemens PLC At the lectern Mr Gehrels welcomes the Queen and Prince Philip to the factory. He invites the Queen to the lectern to make the dedication and declaration. The Queen gives her speech in which she mentions that despite the complexity of the processes involved she is impressed at the speed of the building of the factory. She also values the opportunity the couple have had at meeting employees. She says how important this investment is for the north-east and for all of the country. She declares the Siemens wafer fabrication facility open. The dedication is displayed on what appears to be a glass wall which reads ‘Siemens – To commemorate the opening of this plant By Her Majesty the Queen – 23rd May 1997’. Title: Dr. Heinrich von Pierer, President and Chief Executive – Siemens AG Doctor Pierer gives a speech of thanks from the lectern. He mentions that this year is also the 150th anniversary of the founding of the company and it is also the 100th anniversary of the identification of the electron at Cambridge University. He concludes his speech by giving the royal couple commemorative gifts. The Queen leaves the factory carrying her posy as children and other well wishers gather behind security barriers. She says goodbye to the Siemens officials then she goes and talks to some of the crowd made up mostly of the families of factory employees. With Howard Stableford adding commentary, the royal couple get into their limousine and move off passing a cheering crowd. An aerial view of the factory follows along with the sound of Northumbrian smallpipes playing traditional tunes including ‘The Keel Row’. End title: Siemens – North Tyneside 1997