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
Pushball Bouts and Boy Scout Camp in Brecon
The Pushball – an enormous sphere filled with hot air and advertising the ‘Daily Mail’ - comes to Brecon annually, as part of the carnival.
From the collection of:
Overview
Pushball teams get stuck into their games on The Rich Field as part of Brecon’s carnival, pushing and rolling the huge airbag which advertises the ‘Daily Mail’. This ball would be hired every year by the South Wales Borderers, the town’s regiment and carnival organisers, its arrival/inflation greeted no doubt with delight. After the massive inflatable are shots of rumbustious Boy Scouts encamped on the Brecon Promenade which runs alongside the River Usk.
Footage shot by Jack Clark who moved from Herefordshire to Brecon as a boy, setting up a photography shop and studio in the town in 1905, initially in Castle Street, later at larger premises in the High Street. He also worked, during the summer months, as a beach photographer all over Britain, using his skills as a ventriloquist and puppeteer to entertain children. The studio has become a toy shop but is still owned and run by his descendents.
Related
The Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary The Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary
Current affairs 1978 2 mins Silent Location: Ottery St Mary
Unique tradition of Ottery St Mary’s flaming tar barrels rolls on
Haggis Hurling Haggis Hurling
News 1980 6 mins Location: Belfast
Meet the president leading the haggis hurling revival and learn how delivering lunch became a sport for kilted gentlemen.
Pipe Smoking Contest Pipe Smoking Contest
News 1963 3 mins Silent Location: Rathfriland
A piano player, a magician or sandwiches, which would motivate you to smoke the longest?
Stuntwoman Human Cannonball Stuntwoman Human Cannonball
News 1975 3 mins Location: Knebworth Ho
Human Cannonball Mary Connors has the guts and determination of any Olympian, proving she really is a she performing at Knebworth House, 1975.
Cheese Rolling Cheese Rolling
News 1960 1 mins Silent Location: Cooper's Hill
Injuries abound as the annual cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill near Brockworth claims its usual victims.
Tug of War Tug of War
News 1975 5 mins Location: Leicester
Their training regime includes lifting a lump of concrete into a tree - meet the Leicester tug-of-war team preparing to take on the world.
Brecon Carnival Parade 1937 Brecon Carnival Parade 1937
Home movie 1937 2 mins Silent Location: Brecon/Aberhonddu
Brecon folk let their hair down on this carnival day – or else pile it under a funny hat or behind a jewelled crown…
Adventures on the River Usk - from Brecon to Usk Adventures on the River Usk - from Brecon to Usk
Amateur film 1954 8 mins Silent Location: Brecon/Aberhonddu
The warden of Tyn-y-Cae Youth Hostel gets his first taste of paddling his own canoe, thanks to Manchester Canoe Club.
Shows: Pentyrch, Wenvoe & District, Brecknockshire Shows: Pentyrch, Wenvoe & District, Brecknockshire
Amateur film 1949 14 mins Silent Location: Brecon/Aberhonddu
At the close of the summer: horse, agricultural and flower shows for Pentyrch, Wenvoe & District and Brecknockshire.
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.