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
Rhyl May Day Procession 1903
Rhyl's holiday season kicks off with a bang as residents and traders put their best foot forward for the May Day parade
From the collection of:
Overview
Dressed bicycles, bedecked wagons and bands draw large crowds to Rhyl seafront this fine May day and there is much relaxed milling around as one spectacle after another trundles by. The careful preparation of firemen's vehicles, traders' wagons (steam rising from one advertising 'Home Made Bread') and tableaux of costumed citizens reaps its reward on this day of enjoyable community celebration.
Rhyl's May Day festival was an annual event established in 1891 to celebrate the start of the holiday season, and Arthur Cheetham would have been keen to capture the 1903 occasion and to screen the film locally soon afterwards. Cheetham (1865-1937) was an entrepreneur, cinema proprietor and pioneer filmmaker - the first in Wales to film events for his own shows. 12 of his (at least) 47 films, shot mostly from 1898 to 1904, survive partly or wholly, including the oldest extant British short of a competitive football game (1898). From 1889 to at least 1919 Cheetham was based in Rhyl.
Related
May Day Ponies May Day Ponies
Non-Fiction 1974 4 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.
Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village
Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion
An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.
The Legend of the Good Beasts The Legend of the Good Beasts
Puppet (live-action) 1956 24 mins
Fabergé animals in a Russian influenced Easter tale narrated by Peter Ustinov
Welcome Spring Welcome Spring
Amateur film 1952 9 mins Silent
Spring comes to Scotland in the 1950s: feed playful lambs, pick a host of glorious daffodils, and harness your faithful horse to the plough in this lovely amateur colour film.
Avalanche of Lambs Avalanche of Lambs
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins
A fluffy white blizzard - of hundreds of newborn lambs - hits a Reading farm, keeping the shepherd's hands full.
Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.
Fun at Rhyl Fun at Rhyl
Advert 1962 0 mins Location: Rhyl
Cinema advertisement for Marine Lake & Ocean Beach, Rhyl, a popular destination for crowds set on a day's fun on free rides.
Children on Beach 1898 Children on Beach 1898
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent Location: Rhyl
Seaside play at Rhyl - charmingly filmed by Wales' first filmmaker
Hwn Yw Fy Nyffryn I Hwn Yw Fy Nyffryn I
Amateur film 1954 21 mins Location: Moel Famau
Hwn yw fy nyffryn I - This is my valley: proud inhabitants of Dyffryn Clwyd illustrate its bounty and its ancient and religious buildings.
Seal Ashore at Foryd, Rhyl Seal Ashore at Foryd, Rhyl
Non-Fiction 1920 1 mins Silent Location: Rhyl
A good deal for a stranded seal - fishy handout for Rhyl’s sleek and adorable visitor
St Asaph v. Rhyl Jolly Boys St Asaph v. Rhyl Jolly Boys
Non-Fiction 1920 2 mins Silent Location: Rhyl
Jollyboys’ japes v St. Asaph’s antics – this is more foolin’ around than football!
Prince Arthur of Connaught Arrives at Rhyl Station Prince Arthur of Connaught Arrives at Rhyl Station
Non-Fiction 1920 5 mins Silent Location: Rhyl
It’s all feathers, flags and finery at Rhyl for the welcoming of posh Prince Arthur
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.