LH1276 - Litherland Gala 1972

1972 - THE PENULTIMATE LITHERLAND GALA For those born mid-seventies onwards, Litherland Gala (sometimes called the Carnival) ...would mean very little. To those born in the sixties or earlier, you would recall it as an event where the whole town turned out to line the streets between Hatton Hill and Moss Lane. You would see a colourful assembly of dancers, troops, marching bands and floats all creatively themed. It was a superhuman effort all invested in one day when you hoped the sun shone. I felt quite privileged in Hatton Hill because from about 12 noon you'd see signs of activity as captured here culminating in the go for marching through the streets. It was born out of post-War victory galas (programmes for which will be posted here soon) which gave a splash of colour and excitement to austere times. Everybody did a little bit for everyone elses entertainment. If you followed it up the road you could spend a day at the fair in Moss Lane. When Litherland council was abolished it all went to pot, we lost this symbol of our own identity. The one that followed in 1973 was the last. Many more gala pictures exist in the archive from over the years, but this is the best surviving film of the event. Have you got any photos or stories from the Gala years? Taken from a spot at the corner of Hatton Hill and Sefton Road, I had just turned 14 years old and it was my second film with my Chinon Colt 70 camera (see pic in comment). Digitised from the 8mm cine film original item LH1276