Boulter Family Films: Family and Friends Christmas Party, Becontree (1965)

Two-minutes glimpse of an East London Christmas part, with a small amount of present-opening and a whole lot of hat-wearing and raucous dancing.

Taken from the Boulter Family Films collection, this shows a mid-60s Christmas party in Becontree. A guest opens a present before the floor is cleared for some energetic dancing, possibly the Twist. Almost everybody wears a silly hat, and bonus points to the chap sporting the ruddy cheeks and drooping fag. It all looks a lot of fun. Interestingly, there’s little in the way of decorations, bar a few balloons.

Barking & Dagenham Heritage and Archives Service