A new documentary from 73 Degree Films celebrates Wrexham through skateboarding, street art and the ancient tradition of bell ringing.
Three Generations is a new documentary celebrating the people, passions and culture of Wrexham. It tells the story through the lives of three generations of people from the city. The film follows Joe, a local skateboarder, artist Liam Stokes-Massey and bell ringer Peter.
Three Lives, One Common Thread
The three subjects could hardly appear more different. Even so, the film finds a common thread between them. Each has found a way to express themselves, connect with other people and build a community around something they care deeply about.
The film is available to watch now on YouTube.
Skateboarding Against the Odds
First, Joe takes viewers through his life and commitment to skateboarding. Wrexham does not always offer the easiest conditions or facilities for the sport. Despite the difficulties, his perseverance has helped him to build lasting friendships. As he says, the cool thing about skating in Wrexham is “that you have to be so committed to keep going with it.”
From First Drawings to Giant Murals
Commitment is a key theme for Liam Stokes-Massey too. He shares his own journey, from his earliest drawings to creating giant murals across Wrexham. In fact, his work has helped shape the new look and feel of the city centre. It has also become a key part of Wrexham’s bid to be crowned UK City of Culture in 2029.
Friendships High Above the City
Finally, Peter introduces viewers to the world of bell ringing at St Giles’ Church. There, the film meets members of the bell ringing team as they practise their skills and build friendships high above the city.
Peter has now retired from bell ringing, as climbing the many stairs inside the famous tower is not as easy as it used to be! Still, he fondly explains how bell ringing helped bring him, his wife and his friends closer together.
Together, their stories offer a portrait of a Wrexham that exists beyond its famous football club. They showcase some of the alternative passions and traditions that make the city such an interesting and culturally rich place.
Made by Wrexham’s Documentary School
Participants in 73 Degree Films’ Documentary School created Three Generations. The free course took place in Wrexham earlier this year. It brought together more than 30 people of different ages and abilities to learn documentary filmmaking from professional filmmakers. Among them was Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Leighton Cox, recognised for his work on Welcome to Wrexham.
Robert Corcoran, producer of the course, explained the thinking behind it. “Over the last 5 years, thanks to Welcome to Wrexham and other shows, Wrexham has become renowned for documentary filmmaking, so we really wanted to create a fun and free way for local people to be able to gain new skills and try it out themselves, led by those working at the cutting edge of the industry,” he said.
The Next Documentary School
Supporters Ymddiried, Wrecsam2029, Arts & Business Cymru and The Foundry made the Documentary School possible. Now, 73 Degree Films hopes to run another free course in 2027.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the 2027 school can email [email protected]. Meanwhile, anyone who would like to take part can register their interest online.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Three Generations. Click here for more articles about culture in Wrexham.
