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
Last March of Mr. Jonah Rees at St. Clears
Mr Jonah Rees, 50 years a postman in St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, is transported on his last round before retirement in a chauffeur-driven car. But how will be spend his time now?
From the collection of:
Overview
Postman Jonah Rees was “never absent – never late” in all the 50 years he worked. On his last round before retirement he is, for once, chauffeur driven and his later appearance in suit and bow-tie suggests a celebratory dinner. But how will he spend his well-earned rest? The answer seems to be in sitting and reading by the fire in his shirt sleeves whilst smoking his pipe, his uniform a thing of the past. Title also includes other local events (football final, fire, carnival).
The Football Cup Final took place at St. Clears in 1930 and is complete with clown in drag and a man wearing a newspaper advertisement on his back for the following week’s match – ‘Docksmen v Cup Winners'. The fire is breaking news – it is taking hold of the milk factory in Station Road. Churns are rolled out of a shed, paperwork is thrown from an office window, a chain is formed for carrying buckets of water. The carnival shows people in fancy dress and includes a brief shot of Jonah Rees in postman's outfit with mail bag (post retirement?). Stanley W. Phillips, the film-maker, was a professional photographer (weddings a speciality) with a studio in St. Clears, supplying photos for local and national papers.
Related
Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Otter Hounds and Tivyside Hounds Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Otter Hounds and Tivyside Hounds
Home movie 1965 7 mins Silent Location: Ferryside
From otter hunting at Solva and Llanaeron (no otters seen) to shots of Hatty, the performing bulldog, owned by W Kemmis Buckley.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.