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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Five Weddings - Cardiff and area
5 gold rings, 4 sunny days, 3 long white dresses, 2 kilts and uniforms and a ceremony in Llandaff Cathedral.
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Overview
Five big days: D Spencer (uniform) and Joan Beecher (short dress) tie the knot at Llandaf Cathedral; L Evans and his bride Catherine (long white dress) make their vows at St Catherine’s Church, Canton; C Janisch (army uniform) and Peggy Merrett (suit) have chosen The Church of St John the Baptist, Porthcawl. The O’Driscoll girls – Pat (white satin, wet day) and Rosemary (oyster satin, sunny day) both have a reception in a marquee in the garden - Old Mill, Llantriddyd.
The brides/grooms are all friends and family (Peggy Merrett, for instance, is one of Catherine’s bridesmaids) and filmed by Cardiffian Herbert Henry Merrett who made a fortune in coal, having started as a junior clerk with Cory Bros. in 1899, aged 13. He rose to become chair of major coal company Powell Dyffryn Ltd and e.g. Life President of Cardiff City AFC, President of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, High Sheriff of Glamorgan. He was awarded a knighthood in 1950 for his public service in South Wales and this was followed in 1957 by France's highest honour – Chevalier de Legion d’Honneur - for forging economic and cultural links between France and Wales. This is a film from the Merrett Gridley Archive.
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