London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
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West Ham Town Hall & Newham Youth Orchestra
Reopened by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the borough's Centenary celebrations, the West Ham Town Hall hosts a Newham Youth Orchestra Concert.
From the collection of:
Overview
Although the film opens with some grim monochrome stills of the Town Hall in the middle of renovations, we are soon treated to shots of the venue in all its restored glory, with officials happily posing in the courtyard. Queen Elizabeth II reopens the Hall, joining in the Centenary celebrations to the great joy of local schoolchildren and flag-waving crowds. The final highlight is the Newham Youth Orchestra concert at the venue, rightly rewarded by a thunderous applause.
The Old Town Hall was reconstructed after its main part was badly damaged by fire on 26 June 1982. It is a Grade II Listed Building. This film was made by a keen East Ham and Newham Council filmmaker, local Councillor and later Leader of the Council. This film is from the collection of Newham Local History Resource Centre.
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