Andrew Monkhouse sent a copy of these amazing Sutton scenes, originally captured on cine film by Allen Chapman and subsequently transferred to video.

Shot in 1959, they show the Whitsuntide Walk around the village (Easter Sunday in 1959 fell on 29th March, so Whit Sunday would have been 17th May) and the Sutton "Country Fair" held on Saturday 13th June in Thompson's Field, adjacent to the Baptist Church.

The procession has Reverend E (Ted) Pilling officiating, and starts off on Holme Lane between the old Baptist Church and Bridge Road. One of the floats has a banner saying "The World Council of Churches" and another "John Bunyan". Next it moves to Main Street and then the congregation gathers where the old fountain was at the bottom of West Lane and spreads to Hall Drive. Finally they move off down High Street.

The first clip of the Country Fair shows the date as Saturday 13th June and the year has been confirmed as 1959 by Alan Pickles, who was celebrating his 21st birthday on that day and is shown in one of the clips with his future wife Pauline (clip 8, 1:06-1:12). There are delightful scenes of displays by Saltaire Ladies Gymnastics Team, 100 yard races, tug-of-war, greasy pole competition, high jump etc. Several now demolished buildings are also shown, including the old Baptist Chapel and Bairstows Mill with its old black chimney.

If anybody can confirm or correct any details, or remembers these events and can provide more information, please get in touch either on the forum or by email.

The playback time of each clip is between one and two minutes. An old time musical accompaniment was added to the footage when it was transferred from cine to video. This wasn't present on the original film, but does help create the mood when watching.