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
Hwn Yw Fy Nyffryn I
Hwn yw fy nyffryn I - This is my valley: proud inhabitants of Dyffryn Clwyd illustrate its bounty and its ancient and religious buildings.
From the collection of:
Overview
Denbigh Amateur Film Society members were overwhelmed by the response to their Welsh language film in praise of the Vale of Clwyd. Intended as a contribution to local Festival of Britain festivities, it was 3 years in the making owing to difficulties with the weather! Including superb shots of a kingfisher, a limestone quarry and changing farming practices, the professional quality of this film was commented on at the London studio where sound and image were synchronised.
Based on a script that Gwilym R Jones had written for a BBC radio programme about the River Clwyd, the film was previewed 20/1/1954, the screening attended by the county’s Director of Education, Edward Rees. As reported in the Denbighshire Free Press 23/1/1954, Rees blamed scarce resources for the lack of Welsh language films. He praised the film society for producing a film of such a high standard, in Welsh and about an aspect of Wales. The society’s President, Rev Hywel Davies, stressed how the need for Welsh language audio-visual materials for use in education had informed the making of the film. Council for Wales and tourist board representatives attended the public screening at the Town Hall 30/1/1954.