A FILM showing a floral parade through Calne in 1951 to celebrate the Festival of Britain is to be featured in an HTV series, Now and Then, about life from 1950-60.

The footage was shot by amateur filmmaker Eric Powell, 80, of Ridgemead, Calne, and he is interviewed in the programme, which is due to be screened next month.

Floral Queen Pam Avery, nee Gee, 66, of Christchurch, near Poole, who lived in Derry Hill at the time, is shown on a float.

The film shows the procession, including The Calne Silver Band, led by Bill Broom, parading through the streets.

It also shows the boat race on the River Marden, which then used ping pong balls.

A beaming Mrs Avery, a pupil at Bentley Grammar School, then on The Green, is shown meeting Mayor Reginald Stokes, and being crowned.

She said the filming had brought back a lot of memories.

"I remember there was a big fete with dancing in the street and lots of people in fancy dress," said Mrs Avery. I was the first Floral Queen they had had in Calne."