The full programme of events. Anyone remember them?
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Liverpo...eLiverpool.htm
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The full programme of events. Anyone remember them?
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Liverpo...eLiverpool.htm
.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ged
You'll be telling us next that you weren't even born! :PDT10
I was in very short trousers!
Yet another one you were able to attend that I possibly couldn't ;)
Makes interesting reading to see some of the venues such as the pro cathedral in Copperas Hill - pre Metropolitan.
The Harold Davies Baths that was in Dovecot was used for a swimming gala.
Palais De Luxe showing a film festival etc etc...
Excellent, Ged. I was age three at the time so don't remember it... the first I remember of such national events was the coronation of the Queen in 1953. I did know about the Festival of Britain though from stamps when I began to collect them. Great to see the line-up of concerts, etc. There was a wonderful array of offerings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ged
Chris
This was me in August 1951 photographed on the beach at Laxey, Isle of Man, at the time of the Festival of Britain. :PDT_Aliboronz_24:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/...1e0bde8c66.jpg
Boy on the Beach
August 1951, era of the Festival of Britain,
which I do not remember. . . do you?
As the British pulled themselves up
by their shoelaces after World War II--
I was on a brisk beach at Laxey, Isle of Man,
dressed for warmth. Although some brave souls
ventured into the rolling Irish Sea. . . not me,
content to dig the wet sand
with my bucket and spade.
Christopher T. George
London's part (cover of the South Bank Exhibition programme). . .
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/...530042bc_b.jpg
Photograph from Wikipedia entry on the Festival of Britain where you can read up on the background and features of the festival.
As Wiki notes, "The graphic designer for the Festival of Britain was Abram Games who had been Official War Poster artist and whose iconic Britannia symbol of the Festival remains memorable."
How the Wellington Column was lit up for the celebrations.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3...lingtonqs3.jpg
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3...363671d05f.jpg
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Great to see. Thanks, Ged. :PDT11
Chris
Great photo. Thanks Ged.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/...85fd7691_o.jpg
''Interior at Paddington" (1951), by Lucian Freud -- commissioned in connection with The Festival of Britain in 1951. Now one of the prized artworks at Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery whose website states: "The Arts Council of Great Britain invited a selected group of 60 artists to produce a painting each for inclusion in a projected national touring exhibition. Freud was one of those selected. During 1951 the pictures travelled throughout Britain. Typically the exhibition stayed in a location for about one month. The tour included Liverpool where, in September 1951, the pictures were shown at the Walker. Other places that the exhibition visited included Leicester, Bristol, Norwich, Plymouth, Leeds, Brighton, York, and Preston. This painting was one of five pictures from the group of 60 that were selected for purchase by the Arts Council."
:PDT_Aliboronz_24: Great and happy photo there Chris.. :rolleyes: Thanks for sharing.. Made me smile and remember how fun it was just to play in the sand..Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisGeorge
Some more about Liverpool's part in it here:
http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server...&chapterId=994
and here:
http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server...chapterId=1096
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Thank you, naked lilac!Quote:
Originally Posted by naked lilac
Chris
I was about 10 at the time and remember a street party with the street roped off at either end so no traffic could come through. Not that there was much in those days! I lived in Dawber Street Liverpool 6 and everyone either made some food or provided drinks (soft drinks of course) and we had all the tables laid out with treats such as jelly and custard, fairy cakes and fizzy lemonade! We had competitions and games with a small prize for the winners, I remember winning a packet of embroidered handkerchiefs! I could run in those days!
Happy days indeed.
I remember the rehearsals at Tiber Street school, we were going to create a battleship in the playground,the children were formed up in two curved lines,each taking the shape of the port and starboard side of a ship. Mr Bath,who was deputy head at the time,had us training to move across the yard,keeping in shape,simulating the movement of a ship. They were going to create a painted hull out of canvas,replete with portholes bow anchor and the bow wave. A superstructure would be created to resemble the centre castle of a great warship,and atop this would be seated one of the girls ,dressed up as Britannia. As the months passed we children would see the Festival of Britain Logos make their appearance in magazines and comics as well as the newspapers. In the cinemas the newsreels showed the progress being made on the South Bank in London,then as distant as Disneyland is now for poorer folk. The future was being born and we in Liverpool were going to play our part.............................................. ....... I missed it,............................... it was history by the time I returned from Llandundno,where I had had an "accident". I still regret not being there,I never got to see that battleship cross the Tiber Ocean,missed the citys' celebrations,street party,even missed the newsreels. That year was a blackhole for me. The incoming Conservative government could'nt wait to rid Britain of the Festival site,all we have left is the Festival Hall on the South Bank,Battersea Funair lasted until the 70's and I was able to get a small taster of what it could have been like in !951. In this time of doom and gloom it's time for another Festival of Britain, I think it would be great,just imagine your year as European City of Culture magnified so that the whole country was celbrated.
Coronations and Festivals are what we do well ,I hope we see another before I cash my chips in,
BrianD
Hi seasidenanQuote:
Originally Posted by seasidenan
Thanks for sharing your memories of having a great time at the street party. There are some photographs of the Liverpool street parties at the time of the Festival of Britain here--
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/local..._parties.shtml
All the best
Chris