BUSTLING Victorian streets, jubilant VE Day celebrations, motorcycling at Odsal stadium and Eighties nightclub Blue Lace all appear in a remarkable film about Bradford life over a century.

Bradford on Film, from the Yorkshire Film Archive, journeys through the city from 1896 to 1998 and will be screened at Bradford Cathedral next month as part of its centenary celebrations.

The footage reveals over 100 years of moving image history, including Bradford’s Town Hall Square, shot during the earliest days of film-making, days out at Shipley Glen, Haworth and Saltaire, rare images of the city festooned in bunting for the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935, fresh-faced University of Bradford students of the 1960s and the colourful Festival Mela in 1998.

The film captures the excitement of VE and VJ Day celebrations in the city, followed by the post-war regeneration and renewal, including newly-built council estates, and the heyday of the textile industry.

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Selected from a fascinating collection of archive films from the 20th century, Bradford on Film features early moving image pioneers, local film-making companies, amateur productions and regional TV programmes, opening a window onto communities, landmark events, changing landscapes, industries and everyday lives.

Graham Relton, YFA manager said: “My biggest challenge curating the screening has been what to leave out; captured in the frames of films preserved in our vaults are thousands of moving images showing how Bradford people grew up, worked and played. It really is a privilege to present these films at the beautiful Bradford Cathedral. These images connect with audiences in a very special way and events like this are a perfect opportunity to share memories and possibly spot a familiar face on film."

Local filmmakers like Fred Dewhirst, commissioned to make films by businessman and councillor Bob Sharp, alongside professional companies like the much-loved CH Wood Ltd have recorded the changing face of the city, leaving a great legacy for us to enjoy.

Packed with unseen content, Bradford on Film features local characters like Mohamed Fazal Hussain, elder statesman of Bradford’s early Muslim community, known as ‘The Godfather’, and local heroes such as Stuart McCall and Terry Yorath, from poignant 1986 Yorkshire Television documentary Bradford City - A Year of Healing about the determination of Bradford to carry on after the Valley Parade fire.

The Very Revd. Jerry Lepine, Dean of Bradford, said: “Bradford Cathedral, as the oldest building in the centre of Bradford, holds the story of the city, so it is wholly appropriate that this screening all about the heritage of Bradford through film is shown here.

"I'm looking forward to taking a trip back in time to see how Bradford has changed over the last 100 years since the Parish Church of St Peter became Bradford Cathedral.”

Bradford on Film will be shown at Bradford Cathedral on Friday, October 4, 7pm. For tickets call (01274) 777720, visit the Cathedral office, 8.30am-5pm or go to eventbrite.co.uk/e/bradford-on-film-tickets-63042971224

To view the Bradford on Film trailer visit yorkshirefilmarchive.com/news/bradford-film