From Norwich, its the film of the week

Posted on 3rd April 2025

Tucked away on a Wednesday morning there is often a treat to be had at the Corn Hall in a way that feels a little like bunking off school. This Wednesday, Creative Arts East filled the slot with a selection of archive footage from Anglia Television. The session was introduced by producer and director, Guy Martin from Reel Connections, who warmed up the audience with two short films, the first celebrating the youth culture of the region since the seventies, while the second showcased clips from home movies and educational films that focused on the very young.

After the break came what we had really turned up for, a look back at the regions independent television station. When visited Epic Studios in Magdalen Street those of a certain age might remember the quiz of the week, and perhaps feel a shiver as echoes of Sale of Century reverberate around the building. All long gone now, of course, so it was with a mix of nostalgia and curiosity – depending on your age – that we watched the launch night of Anglia TV. An exploration of local pubs followed, with Bob Wellings chatting to the locals while puffing on his cigarette, after which Fanny Craddock took issue with sliced white bread. Famous faces followed, including Steve McQueen and Alfred Hitchcock promoting their movie,  Ronnie Corbett and Morecombe and Wise during the high season at Great Yarmouth and Muhammad Ali flogging Ovaltine.

Guy Martin closed the session with what he thought would be a Q&A but which instead turned into a further fascinating trip down memory lane, as members of the audience revealed the part they played in the films we saw. Most memorably, Martin finally got to find out why the audience were so unresponsive on the launch night. “We didn’t have much room in the studio,” came the reply “They were just a huge photograph stuck on the wall.”