Made by Dennis Leather, a member of Vixen Films and the Stocksbridge Cine Club, this is the first of three films featuring a collection of events in Stocksbridge and the local area, with several openings, including the opening of Stocksbridge College in Hole House Lane by the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1966. The film begins with a view of sailing boats out on Underbank Reservoir, followed by a street sign for Stocksbridge. Intertitle – 1965 There is a view over a factory with a...

Made by Dennis Leather, a member of Vixen Films and the Stocksbridge Cine Club, this is the first of three films featuring a collection of events in Stocksbridge and the local area, with several openings, including the opening of Stocksbridge College in Hole House Lane by the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1966. The film begins with a view of sailing boats out on Underbank Reservoir, followed by a street sign for Stocksbridge. Intertitle – 1965 There is a view over a factory with a large sign on it for Samuel Fox Company Limited. Intertitle – College of Further Education A large block is being constructed as a bus passes and two women each pushing a pram.  There is then a view down onto the town market, with shoppers looking around the stalls. Intertitle – Mangle Row A row of terraced houses, Mangle Row in Deepcar, are seen with a billboard for Tetley’s beer, opposite a petrol garage. Intertitle – Opening of new clinic Johnson Street A group of people, including the Mayor, pose in front of the new clinic.  Inside various speakers – including County Councillor Mrs Thompson, who performs the opening ceremony, Dr Main-Russell, the area medical officer and Tony Sweeney, Chairman of Stocksbridge Council – address those in attendance. Intertitle –  Opening of the Inman Pavilion Outside in the street a crowd has assembled to listen to Albert Davies presiding at the Opening, with Mrs Inman unveiling the plaque.  She is presented with a bouquet of flowers by a girl in a white dress.  Inside it is crowded with people buying food from the stalls. Intertitle – Sheldon Rest Home Above the doorway of an old building there is a plaque for Joseph Sheldon Rest Home, built in 1938.  There is a line of shops on the New Parade, with a long queue of shoppers outside ‘Buy-Wise’ store where there is a sale on.  Intertitle – Official Opening of the new sewage works Councillor Davies, Chairman of the Health Committee, introduces the Chairman of the Council, Clifford Batty, addresses a crowd in the rain at the works, unveils the plaque, draped in a Union Jack, after which they do a tour of the works. Intertitle – 1967 Intertitle – Civic Sunday The Oughtibridge Brass Band march down a main street followed by local civic dignitaries and girl guides, arriving at a church. Intertitle – Church Garden Parties Bolsterstone & .  . Peter Eustace, Sheffield Wednesday footballer, opens Bolsterstone Village Fair, where food and drink are for sale as people mingle around the stalls. Intertitle – Deepcar Church Garden Party The village Sunday School Queen, along with adults and children in fancy dress, parade down a street to the church where the queen is crowned by Mrs Hawkins, mother of the local vicar. Intertitle – Scout Fayre A group of scouts and adults, including Scout Commissioner Goldthorpe, are addressed by Bob Bavister, the General Manager of Stocksbridge Works, from a platform and a woman hands out white carnations.  There is a board for a game called ‘Catch a Rat’, 4 rates for 6d.  The toy rats are put down a tube where a boy on the other end tries to hit it as it emerges.   Intertitle – Hike Children and adults are given coloured bands to wear for the walk at a stall.  Walkers wearing the band are marked off a sheet as they walk over a bridge on the 26 mile walk around Bradfield.   Some of the film is speeded up.  At the end of the walk they all sit down for refreshments in the Welfare Hall (having raised £600 divided equally between the swimming baths and Deepcar Playgroup.) Intertitle – Prime Minister’s Visit. A crowd of spectators have lined the street waiting for the arrival of the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. The street is scrubbed.  A long line of children wait also and police officers chat among themselves as dignitaries, including local MP John Mendelson, arrive followed by Harold Wilson who unveils a plaque.  They then make their way to a hall, where flowers are presented.  The vicar leads some singing and Harold Wilson, introduced by County Councillor Mrs Fitzpatrick, makes a speech, followed by Councillor Tony Sweeney of the Board of Governors.  Harold Wilson is presented with a carving set by James Bashforth on behalf of the students.  They take a tour of the College led by the Principal Mr Hewitt, being shown some of the facilities.  Harold Wilson leaves, waving to the crowd and is driven off. Intertitle – Remembrance Day A brass band marches down a main street followed by local civic dignitaries and girl guides and scouts, arriving at St Matthias Church.  The town clock show 11 o’clock and wreathes are laid at the war memorial. Intertitle – 1968 Bathes Intertitle – Turf Cutting Ceremony With a small crowd watching, and a playground in the background, Councillor Arthur Hawley digs a piece of turf at Oxley Park, the site of the new swimming baths, and is then presented with the spade. Intertitle – Start of Wilson Flats An area of land has been levelled ready for building. Intertitle – New Market Shoppers walk around the stalls of the first day of the new market. Intertitle – New Library Guests are sat at the opening of the new library, by local MP John Mendelson, and being addressed by the Lady Mayoress.  Then then look around the new library. Intertitle –  Deepcar Playground. Divisional Education Officer Mr D Foulds and Mrs J Farnley, Area organiser of the playgroups association, address a room full of people in a school room. They praise the efforts of Mrs Betty Johnson and her team of helpers for being the first to build their own playgroup in the north of England.  A group of small children bring in carnations and sing. Intertitle – Rogation Sunday A procession emerges from a St Mary’s Church in Bolsterstone and proceeds to the village square where they hold an outside service.   Intertitle – Parish Market People mill around Stocksbridge market, one woman with a Great Dane, and a line of children hold flowers while the Rev. Hawkins makes a speech, followed by Mrs Forder, who opens the new market.  Some children then play games, like rolling marbles on a board dotted with nails.  There is also a game of throwing hoops onto hooks on a board and there are stalls selling food and other items. Intertitle – Festival of Flowers A girl twirls a basket of flowers and there is a sign on St Mary’s Church in Bolsterstone for the Festival running from 30th Aug. to Sept 3rd.  The church is shown inside decorated with flowers, and some small models are shown close up.  There is a board for a Church appeal fund for repairs, aiming at £13,500 and having raised thus far £8,500.  Two men and the vicar walk past. Title – End of Part One