DVD Memories of The Vale of Leven Alexandria History Collection 1945-2000 Special 4 Disk Box Set. Save £17.97 versus individual DVD volumes.

 

Covering Alexandria, Balloch, Loch Lomond, Renton, Bonhill, Jamestown, Luss, Tarbert. A truly amazing historical account of the Vale of Leven and surrounding areas featuring rare archive scenes of faces, places and events of days gone by in one unique box collection. Total viewing time 220mins, Region Free, Amazing value! Disk 1 1945 - 1955 The lovely valley..."There's a Valley nestles neatly neath the shadow of the hills. Its beauty and its splendour with joy my bosom thrills. If you ask the lonely exile, who has left it for a while. To name the spot he loves the best, he'll answer with a smile. It's the Valley, the Lovely Valley, where the Leven flows". Rare footage reveals scenes,places and events from the late 1940's to the early 1950's of The Vale of Leven and its towns and places including Alexandria,Balloch,Renton,Loch Lomond and Bonhill. Running time 55mins Narrated by Ian Anderson BBC Scotland Disk 2 1945 - 1960 Continuing this nostalgic and fascinating look back at life, places and events in The Vale of Leven during the late 40’s and early 50’s. Extremely rare scenes, places in and around the Vale of Leven, Balloch, Bonhill and Loch Lomond during these post war years.

 

We relive key events including The Vale during the Silver Jubilee celebrations of 1952, the Coronation year of 1953 with all of the decorations, flags, street parties and we share the match and famous victory when The Vale of Leven football team won the Scottish cup at Hampden Park in 1953 in front of a crowd of 58,000. Recall scenes of local landmarks including The Christie Park in the 1952 Jubilee celebrations with Bonhill Pipe Band, RNBR concerts in the Bandstand and dancing displays from Stewarts School of Dancing. Rekindle memories of well known places around the Vale including Davidsons Stores, Bank Street, Burnbrae, Bonhill’s “new” prefabs, Naperston Road and Levenbank Terrace and Bridge Street as they were in 1953. Running Time 55mins Narrated by Ian Anderson BBC Scotland Disk 3 1955 - 1975 The 1950’s sees us arriving by steam train at Renton Station to revisit the “Roxy Picture House”, Tontine, Veterans and Renton Bowling Clubs, join Bonhill Pipe Band as they lead a parade through Renton to Renton Parish Church.. We witness later in this journey some of the subsequent redevelopment of Renton including the demolition and replacement of Renton Public School and the demolition of the Cordale housing estate. We continue our journey back in time visiting Bonhill’s then newly built “pre-Fab” houses, Dillichip Terrace and Bonhill Parish Church. Some of the local businesses we visit along the way may jog some happy memories, Biaji’s Fish and Chips, Busby Wood’s Cosy Corner and MacLean’s newsagent. Bank Street Alexandria still boasts The Strand and Hall Cinemas and we catch sight of the steam train from Glasgow leaving the Vale station where its next stop is Jamestown and Jamestown Parish Church.

 

The late 1950’s see us at arriving by steam train at Drumkinnon Bay Balloch to catch a cruise on the Paddle Steamer “Maid of the Loch” for our scenic sail to Balmaha, Rowerdennnan, Inversnaid and Tarbert. Running Time 55mins Narrated by Mark Gray Disk 4 1950 - 2000 In the early 50’s key employers of Wiseman’s, Burroughs and Westclox General Time feature when at 5 o’clock we see crowds heading home across the “New Bridge” at Renton. 1953 and the Vale celebrates the Queen’s Coronation in style with streets decked in bunting and street parties in full swing. 1955 and a fire at “Black’s Farm”, Argyll Street. 1960 at Balloch Station where the last of the steam trains pulls in to allow passengers to board, including members and bikes of the Loch Lomond Motor Cycle Club.1962 sees the opening of a brand new Vale of Leven Academy with the previous academy now becoming Christie Park Primary School. 1963 sees walkers, motor bikes and prams walking across Loch Lomond which has completely frozen over leaving the Maid of the Loch icebound at Balloch Pier. Gala days in 1965 in the Christie Park Alexandria with all of the displays and events and Bonhill Gala Day of 1969 with all of the floats and pageants 1970’s and local talent including Jean Graham’s Choir, Stewarts, School of Dancing. 1981 and a cruise on the Maid of the Loch which sadly was the last time that she sailed before tying up at Balloch pier on 21st September 1981.We visit Luss Highland Games 16th June1982 with all of its events, piping and dancing.We remember with fondness and maybe some sadness changes within the Vale including the closure and demolition of some familiar landmarks like Bridge Street Church and the new “Rainbow” Bonhill Bridge and many more changes. We see the Maid of the Loch much restored and out of the water for the first time in 25 years and looking good.

 

Running Time 55mins Narrated by Colin M Liddell Total Running Time 220mins. Region Free Price £44.99. SAVE £17.87 versus purchase of individual DVD volumes below.