Time stands still

Fascinating films of Renfrew people at work and play will be screened at a special event.

Some of the films include rediscovered footage of a sports day that was taken just after the war, while other films show the Queen when she visited Renfrew in the Sixties.

Richard Weeks, new media worker with Renfrewshire Leisure’s Creative Learning Team, said the footage was found in Paisley Museum’s archive.

“There had been a major clear-out of the museum stores, and they were found in the back of the shelf,” he said.

“There is footage of Renfrew and a Victory Sports Day from 1946. There is also a film of the Queen’s visit in 1966. There’s also footage of her at the Inchinnan tyre factory.”

Also featured is extraordinary wartime footage of an air raid precaution excercise that was carried out at the Babcock engineering works in Renfrew.

People can been seen being “rescued” and lifted in a stretcher that’s suspended on a winch.

“People are also seen bandaged up.

“Babcock produced a lot of munitions for the war, so it was a significant target, I suppose,” Mr Weeks added.

He is now sorting through the material and will be in talks with the national film archive maintained by the National Library of Scotland, so that the films can be preserved by future generations.

People will be able to see the films at a special screening at Renfrew Town Hall on Thursday, June 15, at 7pm.

Music will be provided by Renfrew Burgh Band, which features in some of the films.

Tickets are free for the event and can be obtained from Renfrew Town Hall or by visiting www.eventbrite.co.uk