Watch the clip on the MACE website
This analysis will focus on the Rutland protest march at Leicester during July 1960. It will also provide insight into why this clip was filmed by ATV news and how it was significant to the overall struggle for Rutland to retain their independence. There is not an overwhelming amount of research that has been conducted on the campaign that existed alongside this protest however, this analysis will attempt to provide insight into the historical context of this television news broadcast and how it was received by the public.
It is important to first identify what is being filmed during this clip before analysing the historical significance to Rutland in order to evaluate who was involved in the protest march and why they were involved. This clip shows a protest march in the centre of Leicester with both men and women holding signs that state ‘Rutland fights for minority rights’, which is in reference to their unitary status being attacked in the 1960s. This protest began the fight for Rutland County Council to remain responsible for almost all local services in Rutland and the campaign was created to prevent it being reconstituted as a district of Leicestershire. It is clear to see from this clip that the individuals protesting were local to the area of Rutland with a population at this time of 3,500, showing that it was, and still is a small county.[1] The contribution of local people to this protest alongside the involvement of the Rutland County Council shows that they were invested in keeping their community positive and close.
Both regional and national television found the struggle for Rutland’s independence to be newsworthy. BBC and ATV cameras were present for a clear majority of campaigns, protests and public meetings regarding the unitary status of Rutland. This issue was seen as important to broadcast to the public as it directed public opinion across the nation toward a sympathetic approval of Rutland’s struggle to retain independence.[2] This is shown by some of the letters received from Britain and overseas in correspondence files.[3] These letters show an outcry of support for Rutland and shows the approval of the people of Rutland continuing under unitary rule.
The significance of this protest in 1960 cannot be underestimated as it began the continuing campaign for Rutland to remain independent spanning from 1960 to 1972. Throughout those years Rutland remained independent from Leicestershire. However, in 1972 it was reconstituted as a district of Leicestershire leading to the defeat of the campaigners of the 1960s and to the devastation of the councillors in Rutland as they believed that they had secured the independence until the local government act came into force in 1972.[4] The reason why this clip was significant was due to the media coverage that they received leading to more support developing for the county.
ATV provided an alternative to other commercial television and included Midlands News which broadcast footage of the protest march. Part of the appeal for this television broadcaster was the division of the UK. Separate regions could access programmes that were designed for more local viewers. This made the protests in Leicester more accessible to the locals interested in the fight for independence in Rutland from home.[5] This gave them a sense of pride and belonging to their own county. This was extremely significant to bringing the people of Rutland together over a mutual campaign that improved the lives of the individuals in Rutland.[6]
To conclude this brief evaluation of the protest for Rutland’s independence this clip is significant to aiding the continued struggle to retain this independence from Leicestershire. It began the discussion of the reasons for the people of Rutland to be invested in creating a county community for themselves and their families. It was believed by the protesters that remaining separate would lead to a better quality of life during the 1960s as the county council could remain responsible for all of the local services, leading to local individuals being employed by the council of Rutland. Historically this protest is celebrated in Rutland to this day, as is evident from the Rutland Living magazine released in 2017.[7]
[1] Rutland Living: Anniversary special, celebrating 20 years of Rutland’s independence (2017): https://issuu.com/bestlocalliving/docs/rl_april-2017_/21
[2] H. Crowden, ‘Rutland: The development of a county community within the modern age’, unpublished PhD thesis (Leicester, 2017).
[3] Uncatalogued file of letters and press cuttings kept at Rutland County Museum. 1980/62.
[4] LGCE, Final recommendations for the future local government of Leicestershire (1994).
[5] D. Buxton, Transdiffusion Broadcasting System: the independent broadcasting authority since 1954 (2008): https://www.transdiffusion.org/2008/05/11/atv_today_a_mid
[6] Crowden, ‘Rutland’.
[7] Rutland Living.
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