National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Around & About 1947
Abergavenny, Cardiff, Llansamlet, Merthyr, Pengam, Taffs Well, Tonyrefail, Troedyrhiw – all around and about south Wales and all part of the agricultural/horse show season.
From the collection of:
Overview
Reginald George Iles, Acting Joint Hon. Secretary for the South Wales and Monmouthshire Agricultural and Horse Shows Association, shot this film with the avowed aim of showing people how integral the agricultural industry was to their lives. It features a number of shows/gymkhanas in south Wales, ranging from Cardiff Corporation's and Merthyr Tydfil's in May to that of Pengam and Fleur-de-Lys in July.
Whether or not this film succeeds in its declared intention of 'bringing to the notice of the general public the value of the agricultural industry to the needs of the people' it is certainly a good record of shows of the period. It is interesting that the association, should feel it necessary to highlight the importance of the industry so soon after the war when the rationing, food shortages and convoys would have impressed on people the importance of the food/agricultural industries.