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.
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Caldey Island 1955
The Wright family get full rations of sunshine whilst holidaying on Caldey Island, off Tenby, Pembrokeshire.
From the collection of:
Overview
Philip and Brenda Wright, from Bristol, together with Brenda's parents, start their holiday with a visit to Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire (where their youngest member, Nicholas, shares a picture book with a friendly spaniel) and then make their way by boat from Tenby to Caldey Island (Ynys B_r), for days of summer sun, paddling in the sea, picnics on the beach and hair washing in the sea! Sticks of Tenby Rock are a treat on the way home.
This footage was filmed by Philip John Wright, master printer, engineer and inventor, who ran the Bristol-based medical and scientific printers and publishers John Wright and Sons. The Wrights had a particular connection with Caldey via Brenda, daughter of William Leonard Roseveare and Marjorie Constance (nee Webb). Brenda's great-grandfather, the Rev W D Bushell (a teacher/chaplain at Harrow School and a keen archaeologist), owned the island 1897-1906. The family stayed in the island's guest house – St Philomena's, a stone house seen in the film – and also at times in one of the terraced cottages, also seen in the film, provided for the men who built the monastery in the 1900s.
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