A HISTORIC Haverfordwest building was the backdrop for a film crew bringing the story of the international struggle against apartheid to life last week.
The Old Post Office on Quay Street was used to house several film sets for The London Recruits between Monday, March 25 and Saturday, March 20, a film about the men and women from the UK who went to support the African National Congress in its struggle against the Apartheid regime in South Africa in the 1960s and 70s.
The interior of the 1930s art deco former sorting office was transformed into a series of 11 sets including a London pub complete with fake cigarette smoke, secret training rooms, and a series of budget South African hotel rooms.
Gordon Main, the film’s director who is from Roch, said it was a great experience to be able to film in his home county.
“I believe passionately in Welsh talent and I saw this as an brilliant opportunity to bring the production home,” he said.
“I know about the work at HaverHub and about Gitti Coats’ work to bring life back to the building so I gave her call about using it as a film set.”
Pembrokeshire on screen
Pembrokeshire has been a popular filming location for both movies and television, including:
- When Tenby's St Catherine's Island was a location in BBC's Sherlock
- When Sky's Britannia built a Celtic village at Broad Haven South
The London Recruits is based on book called the London Recruits, which tells the stories of the men and women who went out to South Africa from the UK after being recruited by activist Ronnie Kasrils, later a minister in Nelson Mandela’s first government.
These activists, mostly young people posing as tourists, spread anti-apartheid leaflets in suitcase bombs, primed with enough explosives to shower hundreds of leaflets into the air, but designed not to hurt anyone.
Gordon said he thought the story of the film was relevant today because of the return of the far-right in British politics.
“There is still racism, there is still an incredible lack of tolerance, so for people like me that thought these battles were won and thought we were creating a progressive society, we realise this battles are still to be fought,” he said.
The London Recruits will be filming throughout this year in the UK and South Africa before being released next year.
A screening will take place at HaverHub to help raise money for the building.
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