Footage of the Queen's 1953 Coronation in Aylesbury has been remastered 70 years later
The archive footage has been remastered ahead of the Queen's jubilee
Last updated 30th May 2022
Archive footage of the Queens 1953 jubilee has been digitalised for improved quality.
Archivist, John Flewin, asked the Aylesbury Town Council to digitalise footage showing people celebrating in Aylesbury town centre in 1953.
The new and improved quality footage is available to view online courtesy of Flewin’s company, the Stewkley Film Archive.
Members of the Aylesbury Film and Cine Club, filmed the footage and the footage was found in a villager’s home at Stewkley.
After an appeal for a sponsor to help fund work on the digitization, Aylesbury Town Council allowed the project to go ahead.
"The visual story is compelling"
John Flewin of the Stewkley Film Archive said: “When you actually see a film of this age brought back to life in what is stunning quality it brings a tear to the eye."
"It’s not thought there was ever a soundtrack to the work, but the visual story is compelling."
“The contribution made by the Town Council in funding the digitisation of the material is a testament to how councillors value heritage assets, and this is certainly a valuable record of an important occasion, something that it may never be possible to repeat.”
The film is shot in colour which is unusual for most film shot at the time.
Stewkley Film Archive’s research suggests the film hasn’t been seen in the intervening 69 years.
Two versions of the film are available to watch online now, the full 40 minute version, which is a silent film, accompanied by a shot list.
The silent 16mm film was shot in full colour, and lasts for some 40 minutes.
And a shortened 15-minute film, which John commentates over.
They can be found on the Stewkley Film Archive YouTube page here.