±«Óãtv

In 1968, Sir John Betjeman, the poet and architectural critic, was asked by the ±«Óãtv to make a television programme about Leeds.

The result was a half-hour film in which he explored the city's Victorian heritage and lamented the destruction of the city's past in favour of new tower blocks.

For reasons which are still unexplained, Sir John's film was never broadcast.

Now, 40 years on, extracts from the film will be broadcast for the first time on Inside Out on Wednesday 18 February at 7.30pm on ±«Óãtv One Yorkshire & Lincolnshire.

The existence of the film came to light when a copy was found on top of a cupboard in the offices of Leeds Civic Trust.

The Trust was given a copy because, in 1968, it contributed 200 guineas towards the cost of the film and co-operated with the ±«Óãtv during its production. It was passed to the Yorkshire Film Archive, where it was restored.

Kevin Grady, Director of Leeds Civic Trust, said: "When I became Director of the Trust 20 years ago, I was searching round the office and I found this cylindrical tin. I was told it was the Betjeman film."

Binny Baker, Head of Access at the Yorkshire Film Archive, said: "It's just so exciting to find a treasure like this. We've got a star – Sir John Betjeman – and nobody's seen it. That for me is a real find."

On Inside Out, reporter Nicola Rees follows in Sir John's footsteps.

Her first stop is Temple Mill, in Holbeck, Leeds, a 19th century flax mill built in the style of an Egyptian temple.

In 1968, Sir John was filmed walking across the roof of the mill which, after it was first built, was covered with grass on which sheep were allowed to graze.

It was announced in 2005 that the mill would be part of a £180m development scheme, including shops, art and sculpture. Work is still to start, and now the roof of this Grade One listed building has collapsed.

Writer Martin Wainwright, said: "It's appalling to see how it is now. This is one of the most important industrial buildings in the whole country. If Betjeman came back now he’d be aghast to see what's happened."

John Mapplebeck, the ±«Óãtv producer who made the film with Betjeman in 1968, is filmed by Inside Out watching the programme for the first time in 40 years.

He said: "He was delightful. He taught me the pleasures of drinking champagne at 11 o'clock in the morning, which was the way his day used to start.

"He had a great deal of knowledge but, more than knowledge, he had tremendous affection for the city. I think that's one of the things that still comes out after 40 years."

It's still not clear why the film was never broadcast. A copy of the programme exists in the ±«Óãtv's film library, but no paperwork has survived.

AB2