Festival of Britain in Hull 1951

This week in 1951 saw the opening of the Festival of Britain, an event open to millions with the intention of it to be a catalyst for optimism and recovery after the dour years after the end of the Second World War when Rationing and bomb sites were still a fact of everyday life for a good proportion of the UK population. 

The Festival had been the idea of Herbert Morrison, initially as a commemoration of the Centenary of the Great Exhibition in the reign of Queen Victoria but it gradually became a beacon for national identity and enterprise rather than a showcase of Britain to the wider world. 

The emphasis was to be on industry, arts and science with exhibits and displays of the best that the nation had to date. The focal point of the Festival in London included the Dome of Discovery and the Skylon, a cigar shaped structure of steel giving the impression of a spaceship. 

There were also Regional Events with main Provincial Cities doing associated Festivals and in my home City, Kingston Upon Hull a number of satellite events were held or planned. 

Suggestions before a specially formed Committee included open days at Factories, a display by British Rail, shop window and public area floral displays, the illumination of buildings with floodlights, Festival Events for children in the City Parks and educational literature for Hull Schools.

Ambitious proposals for a £200000 budget on a 26 acre site on Bricknell Avenue on which to hold events never progressed beyond the tentative plan stage although there had been good interest from exhibitors and trades. The reasons for cancellation were rearmament, strain on the local economy and also the impact of climate on the actual site. It had been intended for the site to champion agriculture with the support of the National Farmers Union under the theme of "Country comes to town". 

There was a Festival of Britain Regatta in East Park, Hull and proposals were made to lay foundation stones for new Government Offices and a Technology College in Queens Gardens. 

Further industrial and agricultural shows and displays were planned as well as cultural events such as a Marine Art Exhibition. 

Perhaps the most interesting and unique event was for 6 sheep to be taken every day to City Hall where they would be sheared, the wool treated and made into garments on the spot.