🎬British Pathé – Fabulous item shows the filming of several veteran car tag pieces for TV series 'The Avengers'. At Lord Montagu's Motor Museum we see the filming of the 'tag' pieces for episodes of The Avengers television series, where Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee drive off in a vintage car - a different one each time. Several shots of the cast and crew in the grounds of Beaulieu; Patrick Macnee chats to Lord Montagu. Patrick and Diana get into a veteran car; Diana puts on a groovy kind of face/eye shield and they drive off; they stop and the director gives instructions to Diana; as they start off again funny business ensues as Diana puts her feet up, then jumps from the car, leaps back in, clutches her head and so on. Diana, in an evening outfit of a chiffon over harem pants, has her make-up touched up. Another sequence is shot with a different vintage car; when it doesn't start, Diana gets from the back seat into the front and prepares to drive while Patrick goes to the rear to push, and ends up with a blackened face from the exhaust. He gets in; Diana drives off. Commentator says the crew are trying to complete all these end sequences in one day's shooting. Diana, in a blue cat suit, chews gum while receiving direction. In this sequence, Diana and Patrick start to push the veteran car which zooms off without them as they chase after it. Note: according to a press release on file, this series was the first in Colour. More details in notes on the clothes worn and the filming of these tag pieces; Diana's costumes were designed by Alan Hughes; Patrick wore his own suits! Cuts exist - see separate record

🎬British Pathé – Scenic views of the Hampshire village of Beaulieu and the countryside around it. Story featuring scenes around Beaulieu. Part of the SAXON TO NORMAN issue. Various shots of this pretty Saxon New Forest village. A horse and carriage goes along a street. Various shots of the scenic countryside around the village, including Beaulieu Heath. Shots of the nearby river. Shots of Beaulieu abbey. Shots of the remains of the Cloister gardens

🎬 Ytene England's Ancient Forest. An NHU Production for BBC2. Filmed over two years by Manuel Hinge and narrated by John Nettles.

'Ytene' is an ancient name for the area now known as the New Forest. It was the site of the Jutish Kingdom and translates as "Jute", or "of the Jutes". An early Anglo Saxon tribe known to live in the southern parts of Wessex.

Ytene explores the wildlife found in the New Forest in southern England. The woodland, bogs and heaths of the area are home to wild ponies, fallow deer, badgers, foxes, wildfowl, and insects. Seasonal changes are shown, and some elusive species, such as firecrests, hawfinches, woodlarks and tadpole shrimps are pictured.

The programme is interwoven with historical re-enactments and describes the change in land use from mediaeval times.

Filmed and Directed by Manuel Hinge
Music by Martin Kiszko
Film Editor Martin Elsbury
Dubbing Editor Angela Groves
Dubbing Mixer Graham Wild
Unit Manager Christina Hamilton
Production Assistant Elizabeth Toogood
Field Assistant Len Mummery
Sound Recordist Nigel Tucker
Produced by Steve Nicholls
Executive Producer John Sparks
Originally broadcast in The Natural World series 1995

This is the version as aired on BBC in 1995.
Our thanks to The Natural History Unit for supplying the original master.
Film upscaled by New Forest Gateway (Media Archive).

🎬A look at Eric Ashby's commitment to the study & welfare of Badgers. Particularly those of the New Forest. Narrated by David Attenborough.

It looks at his ground breaking approach to filming badgers 'close up' in a purpose built Sett. He encouraged wild badgers to visit his sett and use it as if it were there own out lying retreat.

This is Eric's third noteable film for the BBC. Previous films: The Unknown Forest (1961). The Major (1963). Eric also wrote two books. The Secret Life of the New Forest (1989). My Life With Foxes (2000). Eric died on 6th Feb 2003.

Narrated by David Attenborough
Filmed and Directed by Eric Ashby
Film Editor Charles Aldridge
Sound Hugh Pearson
Series Editor Mick Rhodes
Produced by Caroline Weaver

🎬A ministry film documenting 'Special Weapons' tests on the wall targets at Ashley Walk Bombing Range.

Over 3,000 acres of Ashley Walk were fenced off during the Second World War. Within this area many types of air delivered bombs were tested. Special concrete structures were built to assess the various bomb's effectiveness. There is still visible evidence of these structures and the scars remain from the largest weapons.

"Highball" was considered one of the smaller 'special weapons'. These tests were using actual size casings but without the high explosive. The footage here is thought to be from late 1942 and early 1943.

🎬An unnamed local filmmaker set up his camera on the top deck of a Southampton Tram. The result is a wonderful window on life in the last year of the Victorian age.

Southampton 1900, A Tram Journey. Starting at North Gate, Bargate Arch. North along Above Bar Street. Finishing at The Clock Tower, Palmerston Park.