It’s beginning to look a lot like a 1950s Christmas
IT WAS a time of wearing school uniforms on Christmas Day, homemade decorations and enjoying a very modest stocking from Santa.
Christmases in Cardiff during the 1950s were a very different proposition to those typically experienced today.
And now identical twins have lifted the lid on the festive season of years gone by after looking back at home movies shot by their dad.
Paul and Terry Brenig-Jones will featured on BBC Wales show Wales’ Christmas Home Movies this weekend. Their dad was a high-ranking civil servant and cine-enthusiast who documented the family’s Christmases in the Heath area of the city from the 1950s onwards.
Dad-of-two Terry said: “As a child Christmas was something to really look forward to – a time when decorations were homemade streamers hung from the ceilings, real Christmas trees with breakable baubles and my father spending hours getting the Christmas tree lights to work.
“After the build-up, which as a young child seemed to take an age, Christmas eventually arrived with stockings being discovered at the foot of the bed containing some small sweets, fruit and small novelties.
“After mass on Christmas morning, it was time to start opening presents which was by far the most anticipated and exciting part of the whole Christmas experience.”
And after a day of turkey, trimmings, pudding and cake, he added: “On Boxing Day the Monopoly board would be set up and serious gaming commenced.”
In one home video shown on the documentary, Terry and Paul can be seen opening their Christmas presents while wearing their school uniform – which Terry describes as their “best clothes”.
“Growing up in Cardiff was a pretty good experience,” said the 73-year-old, who also has a younger brother Martin and sister Carmel. “Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, we were somewhat privileged given that my parents could afford quality housing looking out over Heath Park and send us to prep schools.
“Having the park on the doorstep provided a ready-made playground for us children, particularly during school holidays. We would literally spend days playing outside, climbing trees and building dens.
“In those days very few people owned cars. There was none of today’s morning and afternoon congestion from all those cars on school runs.” Paul went on to have two sons, Mark and David, with his wife Judi and the family now live in Warwick. After moving to work in England, Terry now lives in Penarth with his wife Mary who trained to be a nurse at Cardiff Royal Infirmary.
The couple had two children together, Louise and Stephen and are now grandparents to Owen and Milli.
Talking about his family life, Terry said: “My father worked in the Welsh
Office as the head of finance. Originally from Pentre in the Rhondda, he went to Porth Grammar and then into the civil service.
“Our house in Cardiff was new, built in 1953. My father helped commission the house on King George V Drive and helped design the plans.” Since the 1950s Cardiff has undergone a dramatic transformation but, for Terry, the city still has the same character.
“It still retains its central character with the civic centre, shopping streets, parks and the wonderful arcades,” he added.
“All this is enhanced by what we knew as ‘down the docks’ being regenerated to become Cardiff Bay. I can remember the Empire Pool being built – we visited almost every Saturday. I was sad to see it go.” ■ Wales’ Christmas Home Movies is on BBC One Wales at 5.05pm tomorrow