We want to get to know you more to help improve our service. Please take 2 minutes to fill out our survey here. Thank you! test2

Discover content and watch films on our latest and improved iOS app. Download it here!

This film is part of Free

Caldey Island 1955

The Wright family get full rations of sunshine whilst holidaying on Caldey Island, off Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

Home movie 1955 6 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales

Overview

Philip and Brenda Wright, from Bristol, together with Brenda's parents, start their holiday with a visit to Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire (where their youngest member, Nicholas, shares a picture book with a friendly spaniel) and then make their way by boat from Tenby to Caldey Island (Ynys B_r), for days of summer sun, paddling in the sea, picnics on the beach and hair washing in the sea! Sticks of Tenby Rock are a treat on the way home.

This footage was filmed by Philip John Wright, master printer, engineer and inventor, who ran the Bristol-based medical and scientific printers and publishers John Wright and Sons. The Wrights had a particular connection with Caldey via Brenda, daughter of William Leonard Roseveare and Marjorie Constance (nee Webb). Brenda's great-grandfather, the Rev W D Bushell (a teacher/chaplain at Harrow School and a keen archaeologist), owned the island 1897-1906. The family stayed in the island's guest house – St Philomena's, a stone house seen in the film – and also at times in one of the terraced cottages, also seen in the film, provided for the men who built the monastery in the 1900s.