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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Life goes on in Cardiff: war-time wedding and sailors at home
Eileen Fawcett and her soldier boy embrace love and gamble on hope in 1942, vowing “to love and to cherish till death us do part”.
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Overview
War-time in Cardiff: 2 sailors have been billeted at the Jenkins' house and provide some fun. The film-maker's 3-year old nephew also dons a sailor suit. Despite the privations of the period, Eileen Fawcett (cousin of the film-maker's wife) has acquired a long, lacy dress for her marriage to a soldier. There is footage of Roath Park (bandstand, bathing stage, ducks) and Gladstone Primary School, Whitchurch Road, Cardiff, and introductions to a stirrup pump (for use with incendiary bombs) and a beloved bull.
Chris Jenkins, who shot this footage, was a keen amateur artist and astronomer and a stalwart of the Cardiff Amateur Ciné Society. He owned and ran a hair salon – 'Vanda's', named after one of his daughters - in Charles Street (later Dumphries Place), in the city, his son Ken joining him in the business although a mechanic at heart. Chris is seen at the back door of their house, wearing glasses, shirt and tie. Beatrice, his wife, is seen there laughing, the sailor causing some hilarity – she wears a geometrically patterned dress with white collar. She is also seen at the wedding, coming around the corner of the church with 2 other women, all 3 wearing dark suits/coats and hats.
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