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 currently unavailable
Semper ad Lucem: Penrhos College
Semper ad Lucem: Always towards the light, and the highlight of the Coronation Year for this Methodist boarding school for girls in Colwyn Bay is the school photograph.
From the collection of:
Overview
By the time this Coronation Year production was screened at Penrhos College in 1953, the Methodist boarding school in Colwyn Bay had been educating girls since 1880. Speaking ‘received pronounciation’, the pupils introduce the school, the sporting and leisure activities on offer e.g. walking two-by-two along the promenade at Rhos, guided by the school motto: always towards the light. Places of interest to occupy visiting parents are also noted.
Penrhos College amalgamated with the local boys', private school - Rydal, Colwyn Bay - to become Rydal Penrhos School in 1999, offering a private, Methodist education to children aged 2½ -18.
Related
Watch for free
Aberdaron and Borth-y-gest - Whit Week 1951 Aberdaron and Borth-y-gest - Whit Week 1951
Home movie 1951 12 mins Silent Location: Abersoch
Holiday highlight: a beautiful horse named 'Battleship' carries Miss Healey round and round on Pat Collins' Colwyn Bay carousel.
Watch for free
Summer Holiday Summer Holiday
Home movie 1964 14 mins Silent Location: Colwyn Bay/Bae Colwyn
Sea, sand, sights and delights around every corner – there's something for everyone on a North Wales getaway!
Watch for free
Carnival - Colwyn Bay ? Carnival - Colwyn Bay ?
Non-Fiction 1920 5 mins Silent Location: Colwyn Bay/Bae Colwyn
A frisson of excitement is caused by a frightened horse, attached to a laundry van, rearing up during the carnival parade but there's no stopping the day's fun and frolics.
Watch for free
Among the Rails of Wales Among the Rails of Wales
Amateur film 1952 12 mins Location: Welshpool/Y Trallwng
Jim Fraser of Bristol, with great affection for his subject, introduces the viewer to the “quaint little railways and tramways” of Wales.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Watch for free
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Watch for free
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.