The Hawick Pictorial was an annual snapshot capturing events of public interest, presented in chronological order, made between 1965 and 1980 by Hawick Film Group. A group of amateur cineastes formed as the cine-arm of Hawick Camera Club, HFG made Sons of Heroes in 1964, and with proceeds from screenings of that film were able to convert a former sweetie shop into a 42-seat cinema on Croft Road, which still operates today.
Unlike other Pictorials, which covered the full calendar year, the first ever Pictorial begins in July 1965. It was filmed on 8mm and is narrated by James Palmer-Douglas, the 23rd Laird of Cavers. Footage covers the Vertish Hill Sports procession and races; a motorcycle scramble at Stobs; a cycling race from Thornwood and back via Cavers and Bonchester; the civil defence exercise ‘Operation Overturn’ at Shankend; Hawick Theatre Group’s productions of Salad Days and The Heiress at Hawick Town Hall; Hawick Operatic Society’s production of Bitter Sweet; and the opening of Evergreen Club Hall.
