Queen Mother

Home movie of Hunstanton Carnival, Queen Elizabeth II visiting Snettisham to see the destruction caused by the floods, a carnival in Kings Lynn and the Queen and the Queen Mother unveiling a portrait of Lady Fermoy.

A car drives down the country road and someone on a bike rides past it and towards the camera. A man walks towards an iron gate at the end of the drive. A car is parked outside the iron gate. Shot of sea waves followed by a shot of a family on the beach and a dog swimming in the sea. The family get into a rowing boat. Shot of a group of men gathered on the beach followed by shots of the sea and a pier. The group of men stand in a row and smile at the camera. One man steals another man’s hat. A group of men digging in an allotment. Shot of a crane being driven down the beach before the camera pans over the beach and a bridge to show the houses along the beachfront. People dressed up for the Hunstanton Carnival walk past the camera. Shot of a person riding a horse past the camera followed by a marching band and a group of people marching in fancy dress and waving flags. Various decorated horses and carts go past the camera in the carnival procession. Cars decorated with Union Jack flags drive past. The camera pans over the crowd watching the procession. Various shots of the carts and the crowd. Camera pans over the aftermath of the floods in Snettisham. Shot of the Queen standing with a group of people. A man talks to her and points to something in the distance. Camera pans over the destroyed houses. View from the train track of all the damaged houses. The film continues in colour. King's Lynn's civic dignitaries including the mayor lead a procession for the proclamation of the Mart Fair. A group of soldiers march past before the camera pans over the crowd. A marching band passes by followed by men in sailors uniforms. Men in Royal Air Force uniforms march past followed by more army soldiers, police officers, nurses, guides and scouts. The Mayor speaks the proclamation to open the fair. The camera pans over the crowd. The Mayor rides on a roundabout and waves to the camera. Children ride down a slide. Various shots of the fair and amusement rides. Shots of various carnival floats. Shot of pamphlets for the 1954 Kings Lynn Festival on the 25th-31st July. Shot of a church and people sitting in the gardens. Various shots of the gardens and the church. Shot of Union Jack flags outside buildings before the camera pans over the street decorated with red, white and blue bunting. A card reading, ‘Monday- H.M The Queen Mother Arrives To Receive The Freedom Of The Borough’. Camera pans over the crowd. As Queen Elizabeth II walks behind her, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother walks towards the soldiers who salute her. She greets various people in uniform and they bow to her. Queen Elizabeth shakes their hands. A card reading, ‘At The Corn Exchange.’ Shot of the crowds of people gathered outside. The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth get out of a car. Shot of a crowd. The Queen and the Queen Mother get out of a car outside St George’s Guildhall in Kings Lynn. They shake hands with a person standing by the entrance and go inside the building. Interior shot of the Guildhall with the Queen Mother talking to the audience. The portrait of Lady Fermoy is revealed. Close up of the portrait. A man holds an umbrella up for the Queen Mother as she leaves the Guildhall holding a bunch of flowers. The Queen and her mother get into a car and wave to the crowd as it drives away. Various guests leave the Guildhall and get into cars outside. The Queen Mother gets out of a car and shakes hands with a man who is standing in the doorway. Camera pans over the crowd before showing a folk dancing display at a festival. Shot of a boat, some flowers in front of a fence, cars, a beach and people sailing in boats on the sea.

Featured Buildings

St George's Guildhall in Kings Lynn.

Featured Events

East Coast Floods 1953 King's Lynn Mart Fair Presentation of Freedom of King's Lynn

Keywords

Army; Art; Beach; Boats; Celebrations; Carnival; Community; Family; Funfair; Navy; Nurses; Painting; Portraits; RAF; Rides; Royalty; Sea; Soldiers; Queen; Queen Elizabeth II; Queen Mother;

Intertitles

-Monday- H.M The Queen Mother Arrives To Receive The Freedom Of The Borough. -Arriving At The Corn Exchange. -Then- To St George’s Guildhall To Unveil The Portrait Of The Lady Fermoy. -A Visit Is Paid To An Afternoon Festival Concert. -The Festival Week Ends With A Folk Dancing Display.

Other Places

Hunstanton, Norfolk Snettisham, Norfolk