Description: There is a scale model of a selection of buildings, slowly there is a closer look at each building in turn. Each building is clearly labelled and we see an office block, council chamber, library, theatre and halls block, and a staff block. Then we see the Harrow Borough Council crest with the motto "Salus Populi Supreme Lex" written underneath which translates as "the well being of the people is the highest law". Then we see the following titles and words on screen: "London Borough of Harrow". "The New Civic Centre". "filmed in colour by R W RABY, TD., MIPR". "The 11 acre site of the complex was previously occupied by residential units, most of which had deteriorated to a very low state, and the construction of the Civic Centre at one stroke cleared a dilapidated area and injected new, vigorous life into the environment". "The Council acquired the site over a long period and much of the cost was financed from revenue, thereby avoiding debt charges. The design of the Civic Centre was selected from 68 entries in open competition, in July, 1964". "The entry of Mr. Eric Broughton was selected by the appointed Assessors, Sir Basil Spence, Sir Hugh Casson and Professor A. Douglas Jones. Sir Basil, who presented the Assessors' unanimous report, commented 'We looked for a group of buildings which would be a true Civic Centre of Harrow, a group of buildings to which people would be attracted and not just a place in which one paid rates!'". "Construction work on Phase 1 commenced on 2nd February, 1970, and Departments took up occupation on 27th November, 1972. The building contract, worth nearly £1-8m, was awarded to Messrs. F.G. Minter Ltd...this is the story of the work between 1970 and May 1973".

The mayor is encircled by a small crowd, coats are worn and people are hunched up. The mayor digs up a shovel-full of dirt and holds it up proudly to the audience. People clap and he goes in for a second and third shovel before handing the yellow spade to a man next to him. There is a large sign which reads "London Borough of Harrow. Erection of Civic Centre Phase One. Incorporating Council Suite, Offices and Library for completion late 1971". There is a row of stern but smartly dressed men standing in front of the sign.

The mayor looks up to the sky, there is a fire next to him. A wrecking ball smashes into a building. A school crest can be seen. The wrecking ball continues to demolish the building. "Bridge School was demolished leaving a pile of very useful [the rest of the title is indecipherable]". Rubble can be seen in a very large pile. A small wall stands among the rubble.

Builders work on constructing the buildings foundations, most men are working topless, the weather appears to be warm. Hot tar is poured onto the ground. Then hot tar is painted onto the foundations. An excavator makes its way through the rubble. It then scoops up a pile of the rubble. "Heavy machinery was [indecipherable] to dig out the fallen remains...but some footwork was still needed". We see men digging in square holes in the ground. Another man digs up dirt. "[Indecipherable text]".

A large blue water tank with the name F G Minter on it sits on the building site. A man clambers underneath it. A woman with white gloves on holds an official looking piece of paper, it reads "London Borough of Harrow. Laying of Commemorative Plaque at the Civic Centre. Thursday 2nd July 1970 at 6:30pm". The mayor stands a blue clothed table with microphones on, giving a speech. The audience are very smartly dressed. School boys in uniform are amongst the crowd. A member of the church in ministerial dress now says a prayer as the men around him bow their heads. The mayor taps the commemorative plaque with a trowel. A man takes a drag of a cigarette as a crowd gathers around the plaque. The crowds merge, people shake hands and stare at the camera.

Construction workers lay cement in the foundations. A calendar displays the date "1970 December 16 Wednesday". We see another construction worker laying cement foundations. A bright yellow cement mixers spins. "A large crane came into its own when shuttering was placed into position for floor construction". A crane with a sign saying F G Minter looms in a purple sky. The concrete skeleton of the building is beginning to take form. Construction workers are busy on site. Brick layers are lining up bricks. A crane lifts a large slab into place. "Roads were prepared..." Gravel is laid out on the road and shovelled into position by two men. Two other men hold a large pipe and stare at the camera, one of the men is smoking. Now we see a selection of buildings in various states of construction. There is a group of men gathered outside the a hut. Men is hard hats wearing shirts stare at a group of topless men working on the building site.

Corrugated metal is now being put into place. A red bus, white Avon van, and a line of cars drive across a road. An excavator sits amongst a pile of dirt. Three men stare at a white wall. A red bus goes over a bridge over the construction site. A busy road has a sign warning "temporary road surface". A truck empties dirt onto the ground. "...and with car parks almost completed the building was nearly ready for occupation". Topless men shovel dirt. The building looks nearly finished, though there is still construction going on in front of it. More topless men stand around in front of an excavator.

The building is now bright white and appears finished. "London Borough of Harrow". "Council Departments". The outside of large white and red brick building can be seen, the sky is clear blue. Another grand house is shown. Two more houses, presumably council departments are shown, then a library. A large black truck with "Pickfords Office Removal" on it is parked on a street. The camera man can be seen reflected in the window. "Move to the...". "Civic Centre Station Road Harrow (Tel: 01863 - 5611)".

"The Official Opening of the Civic Centre Station Road Harrow 3p.m. Sunday, 6th May, 1973". A dimly lit mayor gives a speech in a very official looking ceremony indoors. The hall is full. Outside the building now, another speech is given and then a ribbon is cut. The large crowd outside makes its way into the building. Outside people stand around amongst bright orange plastic chairs. A union jack flag and a flag with the Harrow crest on it waves in the wind. "The end...". "The end...of the beginning".