ResearchBuzz: FirehoseNational Library of Wales: Explore Your Archive: Newly Catalogued Archives. “As well as the expertise of our staff, who have been exploring a variety of new cataloguing methodologies, we greatly appreciate the help of donors, owners, researchers, volunteers, students and external funding in enabling us to access, understand, arrange, describe and share archives. Here are some of the catalogues […]
Nation.Cymru: National Library of Wales helps preserve Wales’ audio-visual heritage. “A key output of the project will be the creation of publicly accessible documentation detailing best practice for the digitisation of historic film collections. This resource will be shared widely, supporting other heritage and archival organisations in adopting effective preservation strategies.”
EditorRugby legend Scott Quinnell discovers family secrets in S4C series
The former Llanelli, Scarlets and Wales No. 8, who won 52 caps for his country and toured twice with the Lions, travelled to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth to uncover more about his grandfather Stan, a Second World War veteran who rarely spoke about his experiences.
Family history revealed
Scott Quinnell points to a portrait uncovered during his visit to the National Library, part of his emotional journey through family history.Speaking to presenter Dot Davies, Quinnell explained that his motivation was to understand what life was like for young Welsh soldiers during the war. He was shown a never‑before‑seen video of an 80‑year‑old former Welsh prisoner of war in Germany, which painted a vivid picture of what his grandfather may have endured.
The Library’s family archivist Beryl Evans unveiled the Quinnell family tree, including a 1945 Llanelli Star report on his grandparents’ wedding, which left the former rugby star visibly moved.
Quinnell also discovered the Library’s vast collection on dogs — a subject close to his heart as the owner of four terriers and a Labrador — and was given a private viewing of an unseen portrait of his late uncle, Welsh and Lions fly‑half Barry John.
Dyslexia connection
Scott Quinnell with presenter Dot Davies in the Reading Room of the National Library, exploring rare archives and personal records.Quinnell, who has spoken publicly about his dyslexia, admitted that libraries were not familiar territory.
“I don’t read, I’m dyslexic. So why would I go to a library?” he said.
But in the Library’s grand Reading Room he was shown a 1917 book documenting dyslexia for the first time, alongside stories of others who had triumphed against the odds. The experience, he said, changed his perspective:
“I’m coming back with the family.”
Production team reaction
Executive producer Geraint Rhys Lewis of Slam Media described Quinnell as “a wonderfully warm, engaging and inspirational character” who was visibly vulnerable as he crossed the Library’s threshold.
“By the end Scott was a complete Library convert and self‑proclaimed spokesperson, making this episode not only the biggest emotional rollercoaster so far but also the most important and insightful,” he said.
S4C’s Head of Docs and Specialist Factual Llinos Wynne added:
“We’re used to seeing Scott tackling opponents on the rugby pitch, but here he tackles another subject close to his heart as he finds out more about the history of dyslexia.”
Family pride in a different spotlight
Scott’s son Steele Quinnell performing as drag artist Heidi Heights, carving out a career on the Welsh cabaret and theatre scene.(Image: Steele Quinnell)
Away from the rugby field, the Quinnell family name is also making waves in a very different arena. Scott’s son Steele Quinnell, 26, has carved out a career as a drag performer under the stage name Heidi Heights.
A personal trainer by day, Steele transforms into Heidi by night — a 7ft‑tall cabaret and musical theatre performer whose act has quickly become a fixture on the Welsh drag scene. His journey began after playing the role of Lola in a production of Kinky Boots, which led to a string of bookings from pantomime to residencies.
Steele has said his family have been fully supportive of his career choice, with Scott described as “incredibly proud” of his son’s success.
The Quinnell dynasty, long associated with rugby through Scott and his brothers Craig and Gavin, is now also linked to the world of performance and entertainment — showing that the family’s passion for hard work and courage extends well beyond the pitch.
About the series
A lighter moment during filming as Scott Quinnell is lifted by a fellow guest on the Library balcony, with presenter Dot Davies looking on.Cyfrinachau’r Llyfrgell blends storytelling, genealogy and archival discoveries to tell the stories of some of Wales’ best‑known faces through their family history. Previous episodes have featured former First Minister Mark Drakeford and actress Dame Siân Phillips.
The series continues on S4C, Tuesdays at 9pm until October 7, and is also available on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.
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#Aberystwyth #CyfrinachauRLlyfrgell #dyslexia #genealogy #HeidiHeights #Llanelli #NationalLibraryOfWales #Rugby #S4C #Scarlets #ScottQuinnell #SlamMedia #SteeleQuinnell #tv #WalesRugby
National Library of Wales: It’s a wrap!. “On top of the already impressive number of items in the Broadcast Archive, the project has added 5,518 film clips and programmes, and 6,283 tapes to the mix, all available to view in the National Library Broadcast Archive room, and in Clip Corners across Wales. An exciting development means that additionally, for the first time, more than 5,000 of […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2025/05/18/national-library-of-wales-its-a-wrap/
National Library of Wales: Crowdsourced data enriching Welsh language resources. “The National Library of Wales has been working hard in this space too, crowdsourcing Welsh names for historic sites, improving Wikipedia articles about Welsh places and recording sound clips of local people pronouncing their place names. The Library has made all this data available via Wikidata, a sister project […]
Rita SingerReposting my #Introduction because there's a flurry of new folks -- and I'm an eternal optimist at finding fellow Welsh writing in English peeps. So here goes:
I work as the Community Outreach Officer for the Welsh Dictionary of Biography, more collquially called the #Bywgraffiadur, at the #NationalLibraryOfWales. Our goal is to close representational gaps and set the Dictionary on a course of recording the diverse lives of historical Welsh people in all their facets. https://biography.wales/
Otherwise, I'm working on #WelshWritingInEnglish mostly from the long #C19. Other research interests include #TravelWriting, particularly illustrated accounts and the history of the #VisitorsBook. I'm also into #PublicHistory and community outreach, sometimes abt #PortHeritage, #WW1 German submarine warfare and its effects on Welsh communities.
I share longer #WiP here: https://bydbach.hcommons.org/
Toots will be mostly in #English, but occasionally also in #Deutsch and #Cymraeg.
#Histodons
RichardNevell#What3Words is available in Welsh because of the work by the #NationalLibraryOfWales on Wikidata #CelticKnot2024
delythAs part of the #NationalGallery 200th anniversary celebrations, The Stonemason’s Yard by #Canaletto is back in Wales. The loan of this work to the #NationalLibraryOfWales in #Aberystwyth as part of the National Gallery’s #NationalTreasures project is a rare opportunity to see the work outside of London. The painting forms part of the Idyll and Industry #exhibition which runs until September. Highly recommended a visit if you haven't already been.
Sir LEONARD TWISTON DAVIES (d.1953), patron of the arts and of folk life studies, was born #OnThisDay 1894.
'His service and generosity to both the National Library and National Museum of #Wales were very remarkable. He was treasurer of the National Library of Wales and its vice-president when he died. He was president of the National Museum and the main instigator in establishing the department of Rural Life (1936) which led to the creation of the National Folk Museum (1947) (now Museum of Welsh Life) at #StFagans. He made very many gifts to the Library and the Museum; he also worked hard and successfully to raise the levels of salaries in both establishments.' -- Iorwerth Cyfeiliog Peate
https://biography.wales/article/s2-DAVI-TWI-1894
#Trefatdaeth #Heritage #NationalLibraryOfWales #MuseumWales #Bywgraffiadur
Darlun/Image:
Sir Leonard Twiston Davies
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, February 1939
image size: 197 mm x 140 mm
Commissioned, 1939
Photographs Collection
NPG x167035
CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Deed
'His service and generosity to both the National Library and National Museum of #Wales were very remarkable. He was treasurer of the National Library of Wales and its vice-president when he died. He was president of the National Museum and the main instigator in establishing the department of Rural Life (1936) which led to the creation of the National Folk Museum (1947) (now Museum of Welsh Life) at #StFagans. He made very many gifts to the Library and the Museum; he also worked hard and successfully to raise the levels of salaries in both establishments.' -- Iorwerth Cyfeiliog Peate
https://biography.wales/article/s2-DAVI-TWI-1894
#Trefatdaeth #Heritage #NationalLibraryOfWales #MuseumWales #Bywgraffiadur
Darlun/Image:
Sir Leonard Twiston Davies
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, February 1939
image size: 197 mm x 140 mm
Commissioned, 1939
Photographs Collection
NPG x167035
CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Deed
I work as the Community Outreach Officer for the Welsh Dictionary of Biography, more collquially called the #Bywgraffiadur, at the #NationalLibraryOfWales. Our goal is to close representational gaps and set the Dictionary on a course of recording the diverse lives of historical Welsh people in all their facets. https://biography.wales/
Otherwise, I'm working on #WelshWritingInEnglish mostly from the long #C19, so there is lots of overspill into #RomanticLit and #EdwardianLit, #CulturalHeritage and #History of this small nation. Other research interests include #TravelWriting, particularly illustrated accounts and the history of the #VisitorsBook. For recent projects, I've undertaken some #PublicHistory work and community outreach about #PortHeritage, #WW1 German submarine warfare and its effects on Welsh communities.
I share longer #WorkInProgress on my blog: https://bydbach.hcommons.org/
Toots will be mostly in #English, but occasionally also in #Deutsch and #Cymraeg.