A vibrant cavalcade of floats proceed through the centre of Belfast. The footage opens with the Lord Mayor and his wife meeting with members of the Royal Navy. The sailors parade along Ormeau Embankment. A colourful procession of floats, vintage cars and bands snakes through the city centre and past City Hall, as locals and dignitaries look on.

This film was digitised as part of the BFI's Unlocking Film Heritage project.

 

These colourful rushes are amongst a wealth of footage that was generated by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Amongst the eclectic range of floats were those for the 11th Hussars, Ulster Television, the Ulster Operatic Company, the Infantile Paralysis Fellowship, Coca Cola, Corry's Mineral Water and the Ulster Ferry. The Lord Mayor at this time was Robert Kinahan. A politician, businessman and senior member of the Orange Order, Kinahan was an intriguing figure in Northern Irish public life. He was known to deplore bigotry and was, reputedly, almost expelled from the Orange Order for attending a Roman Catholic funeral service.

• Britain on Film