CARDIFF BAY LOCALS WANTED

A local production company, Hubbub Media, is looking for past and present residents of Cardiff Bay to come forward as interviewees for a not-for-profit documentary film about the Old NatWest Bank – the bank where the first ever million pound cheque is believed to have been presented.

The building, more formally known as 113-116 Bute Street, is currently owned by Saeed Shad, owner of Jupiter Properties, who acquired it in 2002. He said: “The architectural features are so unique and well-preserved I couldn’t resist buying it. As you step inside you really do feel as if you’ve travelled back in time.”

The film, due to be released online later this spring, is almost half way through production. Over the last few months the Hubbub team have collected footage and photographs of Cardiff Bay spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century up to the present day. However, their collection is still incomplete and they are keen to hear from anyone with information about the Old NatWest building.

The film’s director, Shaun Russell, is hoping to include as many local residents as possible in the making of the film and is looking for anyone with an interesting story to tell. He said: “We've already interviewed former NatWest employees and the present owner, but we still to speak to customers of the former bank. We hope to capture the sense of community that was an important part of the building’s character for so many years.”

The building boasts a number of distinctive architectural features including a spectacular banking hall, populated by columns of French Echaillon marble, as well as extensive underground vaults. Originally the Cardiff Docks branch of the National Provincial Bank, the building continued as NatWest until 2002, and is now used as office space for charitable and community-based organisations.

Excitingly, its unique features have also led to it being used as a filming location for a number of Doctor Who and Torchwood episodes for the BBC.

If you think you might be able to help with the making of the documentary, please contact Shaun or Justin at Hubbub Media on 029 2115 7202 or 07766 227 171.