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.
This film is part of Free
New Lives for Old
Nonagenarian croquet players and Brighton day trips feature in this study of social services in Croydon, focussing on help given to the elderly, lonely, sick and disabled.
From the collection of:
Overview
Starting with jaunty shots of Surrey Street Market, this patrician documentary – narrated by BBC radio announcer Andrew Timothy - looks at the work of the Croydon Guild of Social Service from Eldon House, Lansdowne Road. Also features the Citizens Advice Bureau, Meals On Wheels and SSFA, the armed forces charity. Includes several shots of Croydon locations, including sheltered accommodation at Westdene, Bardsley Court and the Red House.
Related
Task of the Teacher Task of the Teacher
School programme and Educational film 1973 43 mins Location: Northcourt
London’s school kids get to grips with teaching methods, technology and cows in this film from the 1970s explaining educational theories at different London schools.
District Nurse District Nurse
Government sponsored film 1952 27 mins Location: Wadhurst
Never a dull moment for a rural district nurse in the early days of the NHS.
Pakistani Bus Driver Pakistani Bus Driver
News 1974 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Bus timetables are sacrosanct to some but to others there are more important things in life - and faith is one of them.
Dustman Dustman
Documentary 1928 3 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
Refuse collection you cannot refuse with some state-of-the-art bin business in 1920s Sheffield
Mobile Shop Mobile Shop
News 1975 4 mins Location: Ullesthorpe
It's an Aladdin's Cave of household goods: Donald Sansome's travelling store is a lifeline for the people of rural Leicestershire
These Are the Hands These Are the Hands
Charity appeal 2020 2 mins
Beautiful NHS fundraiser, setting Michael Rosen’s poem to powerful archive images.
Croydon and Gatwick Airport Croydon and Gatwick Airport
Amateur film 1955 8 mins Silent Location: Croydon
Members of the Surrey Flying Club erect their clubhouse at Croydon aerodrome while a few miles to the south we see Gatwick's pre-war terminal
Croydon Flyover Croydon Flyover
Amateur film 1974 1 mins Silent Location: Croydon
Shot only five years after its opening, this film showcases the Croydon Flyover in all its concrete glory.
Holiday News of Bracklesham Holiday News of Bracklesham
Amateur film 1937 14 mins Silent Location: Croydon
Join the Hinchcliffs at Bracklesham Bay in this family film from 1937 - with beachside frolics, sand yachts and Uncle Bert’s fishing lessons
Jubilee Jubilee
Amateur film 1977 5 mins Silent Location: Croydon
It's all bell bottoms and bunting as families gather to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.
The New Croydon The New Croydon
1963 9 mins Location: Croydon
Jaunty, optimistic look at Croydon being reconstructed in the 1960s, with large concrete towers presented as a symbol of a bright new future.
Ross Family Pictures Ross Family Pictures
Amateur film 1933 17 mins Silent Location: Croydon
Join the Ross family and friends - and a frisky fox terrier - for fun in the garden, frolics on the beach and plane-spotting at Croydon Aerodrome
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.