Rebuilding Britain: The Laing Film Collection

Special presentation to mark one of the BFI National Archive's most important recent acquisitions.

This month's Total Recall marks one of the Archive's most important recent acquisitions. As one of Britain's major civil engineering firms, John Laing and Son has left an indelible impression on Britain's townscapes and landscapes. In the post-war era, in particular, the company played a central role in house-building, road-building, and the construction and reconstruction of everything from nuclear power stations to Coventry Cathedral. The company was well enough endowed to be able to run its own film unit, making documentaries, newsreels, promotional and recruitment films which together shed fascinating light on a changing society. The film collection has recently been donated to the BFI National Archive by the Laing Charitable Trust. This special presentation, by company historian Alan Thorpe, highlights a selection of the films, and delves into their intriguing history.