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

The Iles - in the garden, at the seaside, at Christmas
Life with the Iles family: Summer is for cycling, the seaside, tending to tortoises and meeting delightful collie pups. Christmas is for crackers and the gift of a perfect doll.
From the collection of:

Overview
In the summer the Iles sisters – Monica and Gillian - are filmed in the garden bicycling and tricycling, attending to their menagerie (a budgerigar, 5 tortoises, a white rabbit) and being entertained by grandad and his false teeth. They visit the seaside and are delighted by collie puppies at a farm. Christmas brings visitors and presents, in particular a golden-haired doll, and dad – Reginald George Iles – is seen working the projector for a family film show.
Mr Iles, who died in 1961, lived with his wife – Vera Eileen – and two daughters at a house called ‘Branksome’ – 181 Heathwood Road, Cardiff. From Bristol, he worked for the Bonus Department of Imperial Tobacco in Cardiff and also filmed local shows for the South Wales and Monmouthshire Agricultural and Horse Shows Association [now the Wales and Border Counties A&H Shows Association] of which he was a founder member. His daughters, who are seen at the shows on horse-back, both became well-known horse breeders.
Related

Toys Will Be Toys Toys Will Be Toys
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1988 5 mins Location: South Shields
Barbie dolls in pink battle khaki killing machines in a Christmas animation that cocks a snook at the “Disney Doctrine”.

A Bronte Christmas A Bronte Christmas
Documentary 1980 14 mins Location: Haworth
Richard Whiteley joins children on the Worth Valley Railway Santa’s Special, while the Haworth Town Band sing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at.

Christmas in Belfast Christmas in Belfast
Government sponsored film 1977 2 mins Location: Belfast
Christmas in Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles'. Not the most wonderful time of year.

The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown
Musical 1964 70 mins Location: Liverpool
An incredibly joyous TV musical about a young woman's search for her long-lost cousin.

Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive
Public Information Filler 1963 1 mins
Ernie tells Eric to ‘be wise’ and not drive home after their Christmas party

Santa Claus Santa Claus
Fantasy 1898 1 mins Silent
These Victorian children's Christmas wishes come true in a very special early British film

Great Central Railway Great Central Railway
News 1962 5 mins Location: Chesterfield
Doctor Beeching sounds the death knell for the Great Central main line.

Americans Americans
Home movie 1942 2 mins Silent Location: Heath
John' and 'Johnny', two American GIs billeted in with the Iles family in Heathwood Road, Cardiff, enjoy a bit of fun with their new friends and neighbours.

Branksome', Heathwood Road, Cardiff Branksome', Heathwood Road, Cardiff
Home movie 1940 10 mins Silent Location: Heath
It's war-time and the garden, where the Iles sisters continue to play, houses an air raid shelter beneath the rockery, and Dad is a Civil Defence Warden.

"V.E." Celebrations "V.E." Celebrations
Amateur film 1945 11 mins Silent Location: Whitchurch
The war is over at last and Victory in Europe Day is celebrated on 8/5/1945 at the Iles home in Heathwood Road, Cardiff, and with parties in Heathway and Albert Street.

Removal to Trebettyn Removal to Trebettyn
Amateur film 1948 2 mins Silent Location: Cowbridge/Y Bont-Faen
The good life beckons: a week before Christmas, the Iles family's pack up their home in Heathwood Road, Cardiff, and are conveyed by Flays Removers to a farm in Cowbridge.

Around & About 1947 Around & About 1947
Amateur film 1947 18 mins Silent Location: Abergavenny/Y Fenni
Abergavenny, Cardiff, Llansamlet, Merthyr, Pengam, Taffs Well, Tonyrefail, Troedyrhiw – all around and about south Wales and all part of the agricultural/horse show season.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.

Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.

Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.

Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.

Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.