Step back in time to Stafford as town's history revealed on film

Photographer Robert Cartwright worked with Staffordshire Film Archive to put together a DVD which shows movie clips of Stafford from 1934 to 1982.

The film, called Stafford A Stroll Down Memory Lane, includes clips of a royal visit to Cannock Chase in 1942, Stafford Rangers at Wembley in 1972 and many more.

The footage pieces together a timeline of Stafford that also includes the hunt at Seighford Hall in 1934, the Stafford Pageant in 1936, M6 motorway construction, and the Queen Mother visiting the Lotus shoe factory in 1953.

Mr Cartwright said: "I have always been interested in local history and I came across so many interesting things.

"It was great to talk to people about the past as well because it is amazing how peoples' memories are so good."

It took a year of digging through archives and finding rare footage through word-of-mouth.

There are various black and white clips that were from individuals' personal collections and as part of the film, there are also interviews with residents who owned them in order to piece together the past.

He added: "It took a good year to piece all the material together. We had to find a starting point with old memories and luckily you come across someone who has an old film clip who possibly know someone else to get in touch with.

"Once you find someone with old material, you escalate from there but it can be a frustrating process because you still get the feeling there's some great material to get my hands on.

"I am over the moon with the end result and want to thank everyone who have helped me to make it happen."

Staff at Staffordshire University helped to edit the video together which is approximately 50 minutes long.

It can be bought online for £14.99 at www.filmarchive.org.uk or by calling Mr Cartwright on 01785 254283 or by emailing him at [email protected]