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

Taking the Plunge
Cardiff City Council promotes the attractions of The Wales Empire Pool, which has “everything”, including Turkish Baths where the camera happens to turn up on Ladies Day.
From the collection of:

Overview
The Wales Empire Pool, built to provide facilities for the VIth British and Commonwealth Empire Games held in Cardiff in 1958, is here shown off by Cardiff City Council, from its 55 yard pool (suitable for international swimmers like Ian Black and fun-seeking local adults and children) to its lighting, tiles and asbestos sound-proofing. The main attraction, however, is Ladies Day at the pool’s Turkish Baths which are ‘modelled’ by Virginia Jones and Eira Roberts.
Made for Cardiff City Corporation, this film is narrated by John Darran, a BBC Wales Today presenter and Pat David who ran the Pat David modelling agency in Cardiff - Virginia and Eira were probably on her books. The footage of Ian MacIntosh Black swimming in the pool was probably filmed between 1958 and 1960. In 1958 he won 3 gold medals at the European Championships in Budapest and a gold and two silvers for Scotland in the VIth British and Empire Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. That year he was declared BBC Sports Personality of the Year, aged just 17. He went on to represent Great Britain at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Related

Sunshine Girl Sunshine Girl
Advert 1959 12 mins Location: Merthyr Tydfil
What makes a South Wales Sunshine Girl? Well, the answer may vary depending on whether you ask a chauvinist or a feminist!

The Boat Builders The Boat Builders
Documentary 1963 16 mins Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
A boat is a work of art, as this film illustrates so beautifully.

J.G. - John Ivor Golding J.G. - John Ivor Golding
Biopic 1973 14 mins Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
A glimpse of the life of a chain-smoking, proud-to-be-gay raconteur-of-sorts and resident of Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff.

The Opening of the Prince of Wales Hospital at Cardiff The Opening of the Prince of Wales Hospital at Cardiff
Non-Fiction 1918 13 mins Silent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
Miss Clara Deacon, matron (or 'commandant' as the press refer to her) of this pioneering hospital, accompanies the royal patron on his visit.

From Dyserth to Llandudno and Cardiff From Dyserth to Llandudno and Cardiff
Home movie 1958 4 mins Silent Location: Llandudno
Donald Duck comes home with the Sunday School trippers from Bethel Chapel, Dyserth!

Encil Yr Haul/ The Sun's Retreat: an example of art in the environment Encil Yr Haul/ The Sun's Retreat: an example of art in the environment
Documentary 1978 19 mins Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
A mechanical grave digger is co-opted to help with the creation of a garden at Glan Ely High School, Cardiff.

Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.

Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.

Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.

Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.

Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.

Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.