A home movie donated by a Timperley resident is taking centre stage at a new festive exhibition in Trafford, offering visitors a charming window into Christmas life 60 years ago.
The seven-minute cine film, captured at a Sale family home during Christmas 1964 and 1965, was given to the British Film Institute by Mrs Alma Rice. The footage is now held in archives as a valuable example of everyday British life from that era.
The film opens with the stealthy arrival of Father Christmas before capturing three generations of one family enjoying their festive celebrations, complete with their pet budgie.
Viewers can watch the familiar rituals of opening presents, wearing paper hats, carving turkey and setting fire to the Christmas pudding, though the undoubted star is a new Dalek toy trundling across the kitchen floor.
The footage forms part of a winter-themed exhibition running at Trafford Local Studies and Archives at Waterside House from Monday 1 December to Saturday 3 January. Paintings, objects and vintage Christmas cards will also be on display.
The exhibition coincides with the service's popular annual social media advent calendar, featuring newly digitised images from across the borough.
Festive cards featuring 10 historic winter scenes from Trafford are also on sale, priced at £2 each or £4.50 for a pack of five.
Trafford Local Studies at Waterside House is open Monday 10am-7pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm, and Saturday 10am-4pm. It will close on Christmas Eve and reopen on Friday 2 January.
