| Description |
The film alternates between black and white and colour throughout and uses occasional intertitles. It begins with the Shrewsbury’s Tercentenary celebrations in 1938. We see the civic procession leaving the Quarry, including the Mayor (Harry Steward) and other dignitaries. They are accompanied by a military band. We then see Sir Stanley Baldwin, Viscount Corvedale, and his wife Lucy (née Ridsdale) leaving the Council Chamber having been presented with the Freedom of Shrewsbury. This is followed by shots of the dedication of the new High Cross on Pride Hill in 1952, attended by the Mayor and Corporation. We then see scenes from the 1938 Carnival, showing floats (including that of the Shropshire Committee for Natural Fitness), decorated bicycles and The Band of the Life Guards (possibly the Blues) parading along High Street and Mardol.
This is followed by shots taken in September 1939 of air raid warning posters and call up notices for the Air Force and Army Reserves pasted on pasted on the old Sorting office in Castle Foregate , which is also sandbagged. We also see army recruits being drilled in the St.Michael’s Street Recreation Ground in St Michael’s Street, followed by shots of Bren Gun Carriers from the Sentinel Works. We then see an inspection of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAACS) by the Mayor, Harry Steward and in the next sequence, Shrewsbury’s Wings for Victory Parade in 1943 showing military bands and army and air force regiments marching past the Mayor and senior military personnel as they make their way from the Square to the Headquarters of the Land Workers in Princess Street. This is followed by scenes of an official visit to Shrewsbury by an unidentified male. We see shots of people outside an (unidentified) building waiting for the visitor and we see him and his female companion come out and get into a car before their motorcade drives off. This is followed by an intertitle, "Shrewsbury’s Police and Specials". We see uniformed police on parade and marching in formation, and this followed by the presentation of St John’s Ambulance medals at the Castle Grounds. We see Police officers in uniform and others (probably the ‘specials’) in civilian clothes queuing up to receive their awards from the Mayor (Harry Steward). A special award is also given and the recipient poses for photos. This is followed by "V.E.Day Celebrations and Decorations". We see a crowd gathered outside the Plough pub in The Square and a seated military band preparing to play. This is followed by shots of flags flying in Pride Hill (Morris's café) and allied flags flying from the Castle. We then see the march past by the Armed Services & Air Force. We also soldiers running into a cloud of smoke (possibly after a big gun salute) and a fly past. This is followed by the dedication of a wooden cross at Meole church. We see men in suits with medals marching to the Church, and also a large group of women and a uniformed youth group (possibly scouts). "The Frozen Severn". We see a woman with her children sliding on the frozen river in the big freeze of 1947, followed by shots of the devastation caused by the subsequent flooding, showing the Lion & Pheasant in Wyle Cop, the old Market Hall and a horse and cart wading through the flood. |