This film documents the day that H.R.H. The Princess Royal (Princess Mary, daughter of King George V and Queen Mary) attended the opening of Buttermere Youth Hostel in Cockermouth. She formally opened the building which was named as the King George VI Memorial Hostel in honour of her brother who passed away in 1952. Celebrations shown in the film include speeches by Mary, Princess Royal and also the Y.H.A. President Mr P.J.Clarke, followed by folk dancing and handbell ringing, whilst the...

This film documents the day that H.R.H. The Princess Royal (Princess Mary, daughter of King George V and Queen Mary) attended the opening of Buttermere Youth Hostel in Cockermouth. She formally opened the building which was named as the King George VI Memorial Hostel in honour of her brother who passed away in 1952. Celebrations shown in the film include speeches by Mary, Princess Royal and also the Y.H.A. President Mr P.J.Clarke, followed by folk dancing and handbell ringing, whilst the guests all enjoy themselves on the lawn outside the hostel. Title card - King George VI Memorial Hostel, Buttermere, Opening by H.R.H. the Princess Royal, 21st May 1956 Title card - Produced and photographed by W. Cowen & Son, Keswick, for Lakeland Regional Group Youth Hostels Association (England and Wales) A large group of well-dressed people are shown gathering outside of Buttermere Youth Hostel. A convoy of black cars is shown arriving, including a police escort. Crowds of people watch. One of the cars stops outside the Youth Hostel and the driver opens the passenger doors - The Princess Royal (Princess Mary) steps out, along with her chaperone. She shakes hands with an older gentleman (P.J. Clarke) and accepts some flowers from a young boy. The Princess makes her way around the crowd, shaking hands with other well-dressed men. She is then shown to some chairs which have been set out, outside the Youth Hostel entrance. Intertitle - ‘The Y.H.A. President Mr P.J.Clarke, O.B.E. welcomes the Princess’. The Princess is shown sat in a chair in the centre of the crowd, whilst Mr Clarke is stood in front, talking into a microphone. Mr Clarke finishes his speech and Princess Mary rises, along with the crowd. The crowd are shown sitting back down as they applaud. The Princess gives a speech into the microphone as Mr Clarke now stands behind her. Members of the crowd are shown mingling around the entrance to the hostel. Princess Mary, Mr Clarke and others lead the way across the road to a grassy area. The crowd is shown gathering on the grass, some sat down and others stood. Intertitle - ‘The Royal party is entertained by the Langdale Folk Dancers and the Crosthwaite Handbell Ringers’. Folk dancers are shown dancing in the centre of the grass, with the crowd surrounding them in a circle. Princess Mary, Mr Clarke and others are shown sitting in designated seats on the grass, enjoying the show. The folk dancers continue to dance for the crowd. Handbell ringers are shown performing to the crowd on the grassy area outside the youth hostel. They bow and the crowd applaud. Folk dancers enter the circle again and continue to perform for the crowd. Intertitle - ‘Her Royal Highness departs and the festivities continue.’ The Princess Royal is shown leaving in the black car as a policeman watches on. Many onlookers wave goodbye outside the youth hostel. The crowd is shown mingling, chatting and sitting on the grass - some people are dancing with each other, including the folk dancers.