Clan Cameron Gathering 1956

[Foxgun Tom]

This is how we used to get new's stories in the early day's from British Pathe most of these short films were shown in cinema's between featured films!!

Tom

Clan Cameron gathering 1956

http://backup.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=84

Gathering of the Clan's, Culloden and Inverness 1966

http://backup.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=44229

[Tim Little]

Wonderful; thanks for sharing!!

[Detroitpete]

These could have been filmed yesterday at any Highland Games/Festival here in the US.

[Grizzly]

excellent post although at the end its a shame that the film cut out just when its about to show the linesmen lifting a string of insulators up to a pylon. I work for National Grid as a Land Agent obtaining consent to do exactly what those chaps were doing back in the 50s. with all the health and safety laws in place now it would have been interesting to see how it was done back then.

[westy1970]

Awesome!

[OC Richard]

The 1956 film was very interesting. What lovely Highland Dress on display, check tweed kilt jackets and the like.

Very interesting to see the lefthanded pipers in the Pipes and Drums of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (the subject of its own thread elsewhere).

[sydnie7]

excellent post although at the end its a shame that the film cut out just when its about to show the linesmen lifting a string of insulators up to a pylon. I work for National Grid as a Land Agent obtaining consent to do exactly what those chaps were doing back in the 50s. with all the health and safety laws in place now it would have been interesting to see how it was done back then.

There's a search field directly below the video window, try "electricity" or similar term and then sort by issue date. Not sure if the exact one you're interested in will show up, but there's some great old stuff in there!

[creagdhubh]

The 1956 film was very interesting. What lovely Highland Dress on display, check tweed kilt jackets and the like.

And the wonderful use of day plaids! Fawn, or oatmeal/stone (beige), was also a very popular colour choice of kilt hose during the 1950's and somewhat prior to then. I agree, it was very nice to see this wee film and I am surprised I haven't seen it before. Is it me, or do these old films always seem to have the same narrator?!

Much of the Highland day attire featured in the newsreel is what I am rather fond of and often emulate. It is the simplicity, the understated elegance of the attire shown (especially by Lochiel), that in my opinion, is truly timeless.

I encourage forum members to view the stills of each video clip, as they show the Highland dress of the various individuals featured, in much greater detail.

It's time to assemble, Auld Crabbits!



Cheers,

[Chas]

I think context is always important when we look at events in the past.

In the UK, food rationing started in the First World War. It soon finished at the end of hostilities, but the idea of rationing and the inability to get what you want, was instilled in the minds of the British public.

A few years later and we see the Great Depression. A worldwide event that continued till the outbreak of the Second World War. Fewer jobs and less money about. So in that period of 1914 to 1939, highland dress would not have evolved too much. There just was not the money about to innovate with style. Yes they wanted fancy buttons, but after food and rent there was not an awful lot left.

The advent of the Second World War soon saw rationing re-introduced in the UK. Not just for food, but also for soap, fuel, paper and clothing. This time round there was money available, but nothing to buy. Again highland dress would have stagnated.
It wasn't till 1954 that rationing finally finished. But that doesn't mean that everything was suddenly available. There were no vast warehouses bursting at the seams ready to sell to the public. On the contrary, whole industries had to be re-built. And there were priorities - food, housing and social amenities were at the top. Clothing (for decency) was important, but where did fashion come. And what about fashion in a regional dress. Not even close to the top.

I could go on and on - things that were still in force in 1966. But suffice to say that the style of dress we are seeing in the two film clips was probably the same style worn by the common man all the way back to 1900.

Regards

Chas

[creagdhubh]

I think context is always important when we look at events in the past.

In the UK, food rationing started in the First World War. It soon finished at the end of hostilities, but the idea of rationing and the inability to get what you want, was instilled in the minds of the British public.

A few years later and we see the Great Depression. A worldwide event that continued till the outbreak of the Second World War. Fewer jobs and less money about. So in that period of 1914 to 1939, highland dress would not have evolved too much. There just was not the money about to innovate with style. Yes they wanted fancy buttons, but after food and rent there was not an awful lot left.

The advent of the Second World War soon saw rationing re-introduced in the UK. Not just for food, but also for soap, fuel, paper and clothing. This time round there was money available, but nothing to buy. Again highland dress would have stagnated.
It wasn't till 1954 that rationing finally finished. But that doesn't mean that everything was suddenly available. There were no vast warehouses bursting at the seams ready to sell to the public. On the contrary, whole industries had to be re-built. And there were priorities - food, housing and social amenities were at the top. Clothing (for decency) was important, but where did fashion come. And what about fashion in a regional dress. Not even close to the top.

I could go on and on - things that were still in force in 1966. But suffice to say that the style of dress we are seeing in the two film clips was probably the same style worn by the common man all the way back to 1900.

Regards

Chas

Well said, Chas. Thanks for your input.

Cheers,