Images of Bedford, England, in the 1980s.
Following on from our look at old photos and vintage film of Bedford, here we move our attention to the 1980s people and places of the popular Bedfordshire county town. What can you spot that has changed dramatically – or are you surprised by how much is still the same?
Bedford River Festival: 1984
Crowds turned out in force to enjoy the 1984 Bedford River Festival parade.
Bedford River Festival 1984Pt1 – Emerton321 on YouTube
More of the entertainments taking place at the River Festival back in 1984.
Bedford River Festival 1984Pt2 – Emerton321 on YouTube
Bedford in 1985
Back in 1985, a young man held a JVC video camera with a cable connector to a full-size VHS recorder running a 12v lead-acid battery. Meanwhile, his cousin Lee, bass player with Bedford band ‘The Life of Riley’, drove the car.
They pass the embankment site of the demolished Plaza. It was also known at various points as the Century, and The Nite Spot. There is red paint on the wall, the last remnants of the projection room.
The museum makes an appearance too. You can also see it from the other side of the river in a YouTube video called “Bedford River Festival 1984 raft race”.
“Further to other enquiries, I have no idea who the singing students were, we told them we were making an avant-garde film and recorded what they did!”
Emerton321
Bedford UK Town Centre 1985 full version. – Emerton321 on YouTube
Bedford Town Centre in 1985
See what the town centre looked like back in 1985.
Bedford UK 1985 town centre – TVBedford on YouTube
Bedford UK Town Centre 1985 Part 2 – Emerton321 on YouTube
Bedfordshire Gifts
Gifts for the loveliest grandma in Bedfordshire, from Redbubble.
More about Bedfordshire
- Old Images of Sandy, Bedfordshire
- Old Images of Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
- Old Images of Luton, Bedfordshire
- Old Images of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
- Old Images of Dunstable, Bedfordshire
- Old Images of Bedfordshire, England
- Old Images of Linslade, Bedfordshire
- Bedford In The 21st Century
- Videos Of Bedford In The 1980s
- Bedford Gifts: Online Presents & Gift Ideas
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