A LOCAL woman has given us these historic photos, which show West Belfast's response to the British queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

While many people's protests against the event were limited to buying the Sex Pistols single 'God Save the Queen', much of West Belfast took to the streets to voice their objections to the queen’s  involvement in Ireland, during her visit here.

Geraldine Crawford, who supplied the fascinating pictures, said they were taken as a protest march against the Jubilee made its way through West Belfast towards the city centre. 

"The first photo shows the front of the march just before it passed the Busy Bee in Andersonstown. You can see all the men are wearing big platform shoes – they kept getting arrested because they couldn't run when they were wearing them!

“The second one is of a British military ambulance being hit with a paint-bomb. It was the people of the Whiterock and St James' way of telling them what we thought of their Jubilee,” said Geraldine.

The third photo shows the same ambulance beating a hasty retreat a short time later.

The photos are part of a private collection belonging to Geraldine's brother David, a keen amateur photographer.

Geraldine and her friend, Breige Brownlee, recently released a calendar featuring some of Gerard's dramatic, previously unseen photos of West Belfast in 1969 to raise money for a local charity.

Each photo was carefully chosen for its historical significance, and the calendar provides a series of fascinating snapshots of everyday life in West Belfast in the early days of the troubles.

Breige said they are selling fast, and will make a fantastic present for anyone with an interest in local history.

The Lenadoon Living History Project is currently compiling a book on the history of the troubles, and have appealed for anyone who is interested in contributing photos to contact Geraldine or Breige on 90315777.

The calendars are available for £5 from the West Belfast Taxi Association depot in King Street or the Sinn Féin Arts Shop on the Falls Road.

Alternatively if you have photos or a story relating to the conflict in West Belfast phone Joe on 90608812.