Festival of Wales in Dyserth: Cwm Annual Sports

Racing for victory – in a sack, as part of a 3-legged pair or with an egg and spoon - on Whit Monday during the Festival of Wales.

The annual sports always took place on Whit Monday, in Pentre field, by kind permission of the owners, Emrys Cunnah and his wife. This year – May 1958 - the sports were included as part of Dyserth and Cwm villages’ contribution to the Welsh Tourist Board’s Festival of Wales. Listed on the festival programme but not captured on film are an ‘Ankle Competition’ for ladies and a ‘Pillow fight’ for men. This year also saw the opening of Dyserth Bowling Club’s new pavilion.

Other events in the festival which ran from May to September were community hymn singing, a music recital, pageants and entertainments provided by the Women’s Institute and the youth movement Urdd Gobaith Cymru. The esteemed local pharmacist Rhys Roberts, who is commemorated by a bronze plaque on the wall beside his shop, filmed some of the festivities. The opening of the bowling pavilion attracted not only the local barber (Mr Wigley, seen walking across the green towards the camera) but also Mr Ellis, the Midland Bank manager, who with red tie and no hat is seen talking to another man (with hat) beside a small van.