In 1987, the University of London Audio-Visual Centre (ULAVC) made a film called Not Just Another University. All of the 16mm footage was shot by the centre, which included this aerial footage, seen here in its uncut form.
Because I was making a video that would benefit from such footage, they kindly gave to me all of the material that they’d shot from a helicopter above Imperial and the surrounding area. The transfer wasn’t brilliant, but it’s better than not having it. The ULAVC opened in 1968 but was shut down in 1991, so it was fortunate that I was given this footage for our archive collection.
Note that at this time there is no medical school building, and that Dalby Court is still the splendid area of green and with trees too all prior to the Faculty Building (“Blue Box”). And of course it’s still the original main entrance and with Southside and Linstead buildings too. A lot has changed since this was filmed.
Colin Grimshaw June 2026