This Saturday, 2nd April Full Circle Senior Curator – Kay Ogilvie will be at The Public in West Bromwich. This is a special event to celebrate and share rare and unique moving images of The Black Country, jointly hosted by the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) and The Public.
We are looking for groups to join us in the search for film to help unearth some hidden treasures of our screen heritage.
Film and videotape have recorded images that are crucial to our understanding of the last 100 years and home movies especially have the capacity to reveal our way of life like no other records.
Saturday 2 April 2011
6pm – 9pm
Free event
Free refreshments and nibbles
Timetable:
‘The value of collecting Media’
Graham Peet, Exhibitions Manager The Public
‘The Full Circle Film project & how to get involved’
Kay Ogilvie, Senior Curator Full Circle/MACE
Short film screenings of archive footage from the Sandwell archives, Oldbury history society collection, 1960s ITV news items.
Archive extracts from the short film ‘Miracle in West Bromwich’
by Billy Dosanjh
Archive extracts from Malcolm X
by Steve Page
A personal tour of The Public facilities and exhibitions
by Graham Peet
After an invitation from Helen Cook, Programme Secretary, of Amblecote History Society, whom I first had the pleasure of meeting at the Dudley Archives and Local History Service a few months back, where I gave a presentation to local history societies about MACE’s new HLF funded Full Circle Project. Helen got in touch and asked me to come and visit the society and spread the Full Circle gospel.
[Amblecote lies immediately north of the historic town of Stourbridge. From the 17th century, there have been glassworks in Amblecote, including Thomas Webb and Dennis Hall, and together with the adjoining village of Wordsley, formed the main centre of the Stourbridge glass industry, now known as “The Glass Quarter”. The glass tradition was brought by Hugenot immigrants to the area. Glass is still produced to this day in albeit much reduced numbers following the deindustrialisation of the area in the 1980s and 1990s which saw the closure of many of the larger companies.] extract from wikipedia.
Amblecote History Society www.amblecote.org holds its meetings at the Amblecote Holy Trinity Church & Hall and has around 90 members. They also put on well attended talks and events throughout the year and also arrange coach trips and days out.
Fancy a trip to Bletchley Park? Contact the Amblecote History Society.
Helen was excited by the idea of getting the rest of their group members involved and wanted to share her enthusiasm for doing their very own film search in and around the Amblecote area. They have recently appealed for film in their local Stourbridge Newspaper and have had some interesting results!
Stourbridge News
I gave a short presentation to members of the history society and members of the public, which included a short screening of local ATV footage that is held at MACE Archive. The film showed clips of recognisable local industry, and life in the Black Country as it was some 40 years or so ago.
The Black Country 1969 DVD on sale at Amblecote History Society meeting £14.99
Chairman Pat Martin, who you will know as last years Mayor of Dudley, implored audience members to “Get it all out!”, asking them to make the effort to get their collections out of their lofts before it was too late. In order for us to be able to preserve these important pieces of social history, before they are lost forever.
Amblecote appeal for film
Members of the public and Amblecote History Society get settled ready for a MACE archive film screening
After watching the archive films, Pat stated “It seemed like a totally different world, but we were all around.” The screening provoked nostalgia and many fond memories amongst audience members who had either worked at the places featured or who remembered local celebrities such as Jumping Joe (Josie) Derby and the Queens visit. Health and Safety regulations have definitely changed somewhat over the past 40 years thats for sure!
Chair Pat Martin.
Amblecote History Society are appealing for members of the public who may live in their local area or who may have used to live in the area, who have footage or films, home-movies, that they have made of local events – to come forward and preserve these gems so that they can be watched again, enjoyed and celebrated by the local and wider midlands communities.
There was a wonderful moment when a gentleman came up to me at the end of the screening and explained that he had infact visited MACE’s website www.macearchive.org before and was astonished when he came across a Stourbridge clip that he didnt even know existed, that showed his late father. He went on to explain that when he met his wife, she never got the chance to meet his father – as he had sadly passed away – however, he was able to show her this clip and this rare piece of film that had managed to capture an image of his father that will forever be preserved in history.
It is occasions like this that make working in a film archive so worthwhile. To think that the material that comes into MACE may hold fascinating insights into the social pasttimes of many people from all over the midlands, and many treasured memories too, is a fantastic motivation to keep looking for more.
If you have any film that features Amblecote or the surrounding area, or film that relates to the Midlands in general, please contact: Helen Cook – Programme Secretary for Amblecote History Society on 01384 395034 or email: helenjoy.cook@btinternet.com
Before Christmas I was kindly invited along by the wonderful Stirchley Happenings Community Group, who also run the Stirchley Community Market, to come and talk about the Media Archive for Central England’s (MACE) Full Circle Film Search Project.
Stirchley Happenings Community Group
Film fans were greeted with smiles and the chance to purchase popcorn and cakes as refreshments for their film. The screening took place upstairs at Stirchley Community Church and enticed an audience of over 100 people, which was a fantastic turnout considering the treacherous weather conditions and icy streets outside.
Travelling Bug House Audience
Stirchley Community ChurchAs a way of letting members of the local community know about the search for film and home-movies in their area Stirchley Happenings and MACE were able to work together and arrange a short screening of local archive footage to feature as a short before the main festive screeening of Frank Capra's film - 'It's A Wonderful Life'.
MACE archive film screening
We Need Your Home-movies!!
Stirchley Happenings Members Chris and Roxie take money for tickets.
Stirchley Happenings are acting as a collection point for film and home-movies found in the local area.
By showing a selection of clips from the MACE archive which related to the surrounding areas was a great way of showing the Stirchley
Great feedback for Stirchley Happenings in response to the 3rd Travelling Bug House Screening. community what exists in the MACE archive at present and why it is important that we continue to add to it. A real afternoon treat!
Good Old Film!
If you have any cinefilm, or home-movies that you or your family have made and are interested in having digitised as part of the Heritage Lottery Full Circle Project please get in touch with your local group representative Chris Swann – 07966660771 or email: chrisstirchleyhappenings@gmail.com
For more information about MACE, or for advice on how to care for your films. Please check out our website: www.macearchive.org or call the MACE team on 0116 252 5066
Stephen Walters, nephew of filmmaker Norman Mellor with Norman's film collection. Stephen is depositing his uncle's film collection with MACE for future preservation
The late Norman Mellor of Belper, used to go to the old Ritz in Belper regularly where his father worked as the projectionist. This led to Norman becoming very interested in filmmaking, he bought himself a cine camera in the early 1950s and filmed many local events in and around Belper, Derbyshire. His nephew Stephen Walters has been clearing out his late uncle’s house and found Norman’s film collection.
Stephen said: “Uncle Norman worked at LB Plastics based at Heage and Norman took his camera on holiday with him and also filmed many Belper Town football matches as he loved football and went to most of their matches.”
Stephen told me how he went to the Belper Historical Society exhibition at the East Mill in Belper in October 2010 and picked up a Full Circle leaflet.
Norman Mellor’s film collection dating back to the 1950s
Stephen said: “ This is just what I was looking for, some advice on what to do with my uncle’s film collection and how to preserve it for the future.” We at MACE are very pleased Stephen has decided to deposit his uncle’s film collection and we will take great care of it so that future generations can enjoy watching old scenes of Belper.
Some of this collection is titled, but there are many reels that are unidentified, part of the remit of Full Circle will be to assess this collection for Midlands interest and help identify some of the footage. Once that is done MACE will make some of this footage available to the local community and make some copies onto DVD for Stephen and family to enjoy watching again.
If you know of anyone with a film collection that they may like to deposit with our film archive, please ask them to get in touch as film is a window into history and we would like to help preserve it for future generations to enjoy. For more details about the Full Circle project please contact Kay Ogilvie Senior Curator on kay.ogilvie@tiscali.co.uk or 01629 823495.
Bruckshaw Bakery Glossop prepare for Carnival 1966
Mike Brown of Glossop Heritage group is very pleased to have unearthed this rare piece of film dating from 1966. It makes an important addition to the collection of Midlands films in the Full Circle project. The footage shows the bakers from Bruckshaw’s Bakery making preparations for the 1966 carnival and decorating their float.
The Bakers from Bruckshaw Bakery Glossop in 1966
It was quite common in the 60s for local tradespeople to take part in carnival and use the opportunity to advertise their wares. Special point of sale boards were often commissioned and used each year.
The Bruckshaw Bakery float - Carnival time 1966
Another group interested in the history of Glossop are the Glossop and District Historical Society – established in 1966. It aims ‘to protect and preserve the historical record of Glossop, and to undertake research into the history of the area.’
The Society meets for lectures on the last Friday of months from September to April (except December) at 7.30 in the Central Methodist Church room. New members are most welcome.
The annual membership fee of the society is £5. For further details please contact Dr John Smith 01457 853020. Forthcoming lectures are below:
February 25th Melandra Castle the development of a Pennine Roman Fort M.J.Wild
March 25th Films from Glossop Heritage Archives Mike Brown
Sarah and John from Belbroughton History Society visit the MACE archive
Merry Christmas Midlands from MACE’s Full Circle Project!
Over the past 6 months we have collected nearly 50 collections as part of the Full Circle Project’s search for Midlands home-movies! It has been a truly phenomenal response to an appeal for members of the midlands communities to search through their attics and dig out any old cinefilm or home -movies they may have stashed away.
As part of the project we are working alongside around 60 community groups from across the Midlands to search for these hidden gems. On Tuesday we had the pleasure of a visit from Sarah and John, members of Belbroughton History Society http://www.belbroughton.com/History.htm. They had expressed an interest in seeing what happens once the cine-film that has been found during their Full Circle Film search comes to the archive. It was a great day and we were able to explain the different procedures that the films must go through before they are copied and transferred into a digital format which the depositors and groups and members of the public can then enjoy watching for years to come.
When film initially comes to MACE it has to be assessed – the film collection and it’s containers will be inspected for titles or any other give away information to see if there is anything of particular social/historical relevance or value to the Midlands region.
Cinefilm collection
An accession number is then allocated to each item in the collection – e.g. 001/2010/020 – and this is then logged onto the MACE Accession log along with the date the film came in, the date it was accessioned, the depositors name & address, quantity, gauge and whether a personal file has been set up and a deposit agreement signed.
We then create a receipt listing of all the film titles in the collection, including any related materials that people wish to deposit – such as projectors, viewers or splicers. This receipt is then printed and sent out to the depositor/donator who owns the collection and also to the participating Full Circle Group to keep for their own records.
The receipt is also placed in their depositor/donator/owner’s personal file which is held at MACE alongside a copy of their signed donation agreement and any other information about the titles in the collection.
Any films that are in the collection that are deemed appropriate and need to be copied will then be prepared for copying: new white spacer is placed at the beginning and end of the reel and any torn perforations are repaired. So for example, if there are a number of smaller 50ft reels in the collection these will be transferred onto one large 400ft reel to enable the transfer process to be faster and more efficient.
Once the films are prepared a new entry is created in the MACE catalogue for each title in the collection, so that they will appear searchable on the MACE website: www.macearchive.org, at this stage there is no video clip attached to the catalogue entry.
The film collection then has to be put onto a priority copying list which MACE’s Full Circle Technician Andrew Jenkins then works his way through. Using the Flash Scan and Flash Transfer equipment purchased with Heritage Lottery Fund grant, awarded to the project which will run until March 2013, we are able to convert a number of film gauges: Standard 8mm, Super 8mm, 9.5mm, and 16mm cinefilm. We also have the equipment to transfer other moving image formats such as: Beta SP, 1 inch tape, D2, Mini-DV & DV-cam.
MACE's Full Circle Technician Andrew Jenkins
The transfer process can take some time, as films are copied in real time and any adjustments to colour, saturation, white balance and exposure also have to be considered during this time. Once the original material has been transferred into a digital format, an archival copy LTO tape is made and also a viewing copy.
Andrew then trims the footage to make sure that the clips appear as they should do once they are on burnt to a DVD. The owner (depositor/donator) and the Full Circle Participating Group can then choose to have a DVD of the material which will be playable on the majority of DVD players or they can have an editable version – should they wish to compile their own screenings of the material found for public viewing. Our cataloguer Catherine then looks through the material and keywords it as thoroughly as possibly to make sure that each title is accessible by members of the public. Eventually all material found during the Full Circle Project will be viewable online – on the www.macearchive.org website. Please visit our website if you require any more information about how to care for your cinefilm, or contact us here at MACE on 0116 252 5066 and we will be happy to help.
Full Circle Project - A public screening of archive material from the MACE archive.
If you know of anyone who has a film collection that deserves preserving, please get in touch with Full Circle Curator: Lucie Kerley on 0116 252 5931 or email lk99@le.ac.uk. If you are a local history or community group wishing to take part in the Full Circle Project and are interested in searching for old cinefilm in your area – please get in touch.
Yvonne Hithersay filming the Royal Shrovetide Football match - Ashbourne
When Yvonne took up filming the Ashbourne Shrovetide football match, she had to buy a pair of stepladders to get a good view.
Harry Hithersay holding the ball in the Green Man and Black's Head, Ashbourne
Yvonne filmed many Shrovetide matches dating back to 1986, including the one where Prince Charles tosses up the ball in 2003. She also filmed the making of the football.
Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Match 'Downards' goal 2008
Yvonne’s collection also includes musical events such at the Belper Folk Festival in 1994 and the Peasmoulder Folk Club (now closed) as well as the Longford Mummers 2004 and ‘Chip off the old Women’s Morris Side’ both still active. There is also some film of John Watts who is a violin maker made in 1994.
Gathering to commemorate the Bonnie Prince Charlie march on Derby
Other interesting items in the collection relate to the Derby Rams – interviews with players from the historic 1946 Cup game, the making and unveiling of Bonnie Prince Charlie statue at Swarkestone, Derby historic buildings, Kedleston Hall with Lord Scarsdale, Okeover Hall, helicopter ride with views over Ashbourne and Carsington Water before the dam, Ashbourne Centenary Show 1990, Steam Rally and Brailsford Ploughing and Hedgecutting in 1988.
Bonnie Prince Charlie gathering - Derby
Another interesting film is marked Donnington 1938 which we are not sure yet what this will reveal! Yvonne said “I was told this was shot at the race track which went through the farmyard in those days”.
Bonnie Prince Charlie gathering - Derby
Yvonne has also got copies of some of the Wright/Radcliffe collection on cinefilm dating from the 1920s. This is a really interesting find as we already have part of this collection which has been donated by Peter Frost, the grandson of Mr Radcliffe.
The Full Circle project is still searching for films, please get in touch if you have any films or moving image material that you would like to deposit with the film archive to preserve for future generations to enjoy. Contact the Senior Curator Full Circle Project Kay Ogilvie kay.ogilvie@tiscali.co.uk
Yvonne filming the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Match
Pat Majoram secretary of Belper History Group tells the story of the hidden film:
“The Working Group which cares for the archive material held at Red Cross Branch Headquarters, was delighted to be contacted by Keith Fisher who said he had four reels of ciné film which he had discovered when clearing out his late mother’s attic, one of which seemed to relate to the Derbyshire Red Cross Flying Column of which his mother (Mrs Ellen Fisher – ‘Nellie’) was a founder member.”
Belper Local History group join Full Circle. One of the rare films they have found relates to the Derbyshire Red Cross Flying Column.
“The film, possibly circa. 1943 demonstrates the Flying Column in action at a blood donor session held outdoors (possibly in or around Ashbourne) in the somewhat primitive conditions prevailing during the war. Notably, troops based at home were brought in to help the action, including American ones.”
“As the Flying Column only operated for four years, it is a remarkable and probably unique visual record, and a rare survival indeed.” said Pat.
Discovery Day in October when over 120 people visited Belper Local History Group's exhibition
Pat explains further: “The films were entrusted to MACE (Media Archive for Central England) for restoration, storage and reproduction, and we now have a fine DVD as a usable record for showing to interested audiences. Our original donor also has a moving image of his mother at work during the Second World War.”
“During our researches, we had come across references to this volunteer emergency unit which was equipped to attend the scene of bombing raids during the Second World War and to give support to the hospitals and ambulance service, particularly with wounded servicemen. “
“This unit also functioned as a mobile blood collection team between 1942 and 1945, and was instrumental in recruiting a great number of blood donors around the county. After the war, the vehicles were disposed of, but the Red Cross personnel continued for many years after that, making up the teams which tended the donors as they gave blood for the National Blood Transfusion Service.”
“The other three films show the staff of the ARP (Air Raid Precautions), Civil Defence, Red Cross and St. John’s Ambulance at the Littleover First Aid Post in Derby performing first aid, anti-gas and rescue procedures, probably as practice for competition work judging by the trophies displayed to the camera.”
Footage of Cromford Raft Race filmed by the late Fred Alvey
Footage of Cromford Raft race dating from the 1970s has been discovered in Alfreton. When Mr Nicolls of Alfreton Heritage Trust contacted Full Circle to tell us about the films he had discovered – I didn’t realize quite how many he was referring to – see the photos to get an idea of the size of this collection.
The filmmaker was the late Fred Alvey, who filmed many local events on his cinecamera. His brother Roy is depositing some of the collection with the Full Circle project. Local footage will be copied onto DVD for the whole community to enjoy.
Roy said his brother would be very proud to know that his collection is going to be stored and preserved for the future at the Media Archive for Central England film archive at the University of Leicester.
Fred's brother Roy, with some of Fred's film collection
Mrs Alvey, Roy Alvey, Mr Nicolls, Tony Fisher
Mr Nicolls with some of his vintage film equipment
Mrs Alvey, Roy Alvey, Mr Nicolls with Fred Alvey's film collection
MACE's Full Circle Project Technician - Andrew Jenkins sets up the Flash Transfer equipment to copy 16mm film.
Map of the Midlands showing which areas we currently have groups participating in the Full Circle Project.
In just 149 days… the 5 months that MACE’s (The Media Archive for Central England) Heritage Lottery Funded Full Circle Project has been running, Senior Curator – Kay Ogilvie and I have covered a HUGE expanse of the Midlands region. With the help of local history and community groups spread throughout the East and West Midlands we have received a fantastic response to the project.
MACE Director James Patterson uses the Steenbeck to view one of the reels of 16mm film found during the Full Circle Project.
MACE Viewing Room - Steenbeck.
The way that people from all areas of the Midlands have stepped in to help uncover the hidden screen heritage relating to their own communities has been phenomenal.
MACE's Cataloguer, Researcher and Programmer Phil Leach compiles footage for screening events which groups can hold to help promote their film search
In just the short space of time that the project has been running, with the help of these local groups we have uncovered 33 collections of film, with more collections popping their heads up each week.
Just this morning we received another collection of film found by The Brixworth History Society in Northamptonshire through the MACE office door.
A mixture of Super 8 & Std 8mm home-movie cinefilms
Instructions found in one of the film boxes for setting up the projector for family film showings.
The collection belongs to Mr. Rod King of Brixworth and comprises of 4 large 400ft reels of Std 8mm and Super 8mm cinefilm. I look forward to speaking to Mr King and finding out more about his films and how he feels about having them copied into a digital format that he and his family will be able to enjoy. Watch this space for more information on the Rod King Collection.
Moving image material found during the Full Circle Project's search is brought into the archive and then assessed for both cultural and historical relevance to the Midlands region. Here you can see a shot from a piece of 8mm film found by the Belbroughton History Society during their search - the film, which belongs to the Hadley's, is a 1950's farming scene.
Due to the brilliant response of groups wishing to participate in Full Circle’s search we have now almost reached our 60 group target, but are still looking for groups and are also interested in working with schools – particularly in the areas on the map that haven’t yet been covered – don’t worry if you still wish to join or have some film you wish to get copied, we are compiling a reserve list for groups to join in stage two.
Our hope is that more and more communities will be reunited with films and home-movies found in their area. Local screenings of footage found during the group’s search will take place throughout the project.
For more information please contact: Lucie Kerley – Full Circle Project Curator on 0116 252 5931 or 07919 896 505 or email: lk99@le.ac.uk
MACE's Head of Access and Learning: Richard Shenton - We hope to connect material found throughout the Full Circle Project with Schools in the Midlands area.
The Media Archive for Central England is the public sector moving image archive for the East and West Midlands. This means our focus is on moving images held on film, video, DVD or any other carrier that relate in some way to the Midlands.
Our primary roles are to provide:
A place where these materials can be preserved
Opportunities for the communities of the Midlands and beyond to experience and enjoy them
An information hub for all things relating to moving images in the Midlands
MACE is a non-profit making company limited by guarantee (no. 3172021) and an independent registered charity (no. 1100890). As such we are governed by a board of directors who are also trustees of the charity.
As a public sector archive MACE receives public money primarily through EM Media and Screen WM although we do have additional income streams.
MACE is part of a network of public sector moving image archives, which, between them collect, preserve and making accessible the national film collections of the UK.
MACE's Business & Commercial Development Manager: Emma Morley
Archives in the network adhere to a recognised set of principles and standards and are defined as:
Repositories for the custody and preservation of and access to the history of our times as recorded on film, videotape and other moving image formats. Such archives contain works made by amateur and professional producers for cinema, television and other purposes. These archives encompass the history and culture of moving image media and respect the integrity of the works above any commercial or short term exploitation. These institutions operate on a “not for profit” basis.
The complete network comprise the core membership of the UK Film Archive Forum, whose web site contains further information about the wider sector. You may also wish to find out more about the UK public film archives by visiting Moving History, which was created as an introduction to the sector.
This Saturday, 2nd April Full Circle Senior Curator – Kay Ogilvie will be at The Public in West Bromwich. This is a special event to celebrate and share rare and unique moving images of The Black Country, jointly hosted by the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) and The Public.
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