For more than half a century, a group of amateur filmmakers pointed their cameras at everyday life in Chingford: the shops, the streets and the people who made the place what it is. Now residents are invited to celebrate that legacy.
On Thursday 15 October, an evening marking 75 years of Acorn Films will be held at the Church of England Junior School on Shaftesbury Road, Chingford.
A book drawn from the archive
The evening includes the launch of From Little Acorns – the legacy of Acorn Films & The Chingford Newsreel, a new book by author Theresa Reynolds. It draws on the complete Acorn archive and includes interviews with local shopowners and politicians who appeared in the films. Reynolds will give an opening talk, followed by a presentation on the archive's history and how it has been restored.
A new film from old footage
Award-winning filmmaker Linda McDonald-Cairns will premiere a new documentary that combines original newsreel footage with present-day interviews with people connected to Acorn's productions.
Gary Stone, who restored photographs from the archive, said: "The Acorn Films archive is one of Chingford's greatest educational resources — a visual record of how ordinary people shaped the place we live."
David Boote, chair of the Chingford Historical Society, will open the evening.
Joining in from home
The whole programme will also be streamed live on Zoom for anyone who books through Eventbrite. Booking details, including timings, are on the Eventbrite page.
