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The Festival is the British showing themselves to themselves - and the world (Herbert Morrison in the 'Times Festival Guide')

By the end of September 1951, eighteen million people had taken part in the Festival of Britain. The task of overseeing the huge programme of nationwide activities had been handed, a little over three years earlier, to Herbert Morrison, M.P. Under the guidance of the Festival Council - a committee drawing together representatives from existing bodies working in Design, the Arts and the regions - he appointed a team of young, energetic and independent organisers to realise the Festival's aims.