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
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Yr Urdd 1959
Children dance in beautiful national costumes and the tradition of wearing a hat is kept by the older generation of female eisteddfod-goers.
From the collection of:
Overview
Urdd Gobaith Cymru – the Welsh-language youth movement - holds its annual Urdd National Eisteddfod and this year it is hosted by Lampeter. The grounds of the town’s secondary school become the ‘maes’ where people meet and greet and eat ice-creams in the sun. Several babies in prams, and a toddler wearing walking reins, get their first taste of the festival, including a glimp of smiling farmer/bard, Dic Jones, winner of the Chair.
Dic Jones - Richard Lewis Jones (1934-2009) - won the Urdd Chair 5 times (1954-1957 and 1959), the latter win in the same year as his marriage to Siân Jones, with whom he had six children. In 1966 he won the Chair at the National Eisteddfod and again, almost, in 1976 but on this occasion he was disqualified, having been on the panel that set the subject for the Chair’s poem. The Chair went instead to Alan Llwyd (Alan Lloyd Roberts) who had also won the Crown that year. Dic Jones was Archdruid of the Gorsedd of Bards in 2008.
Related
Watch for free
The Great Dali's Horse Fair Lampeter May 1914 The Great Dali's Horse Fair Lampeter May 1914
Non-Fiction 1914 7 mins Silent Location: Lampeter/Llanbedr Pont Stefan
Experience Lampeter in Cardiganshire just before the outbreak of WWI
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.