Film buff notches up world record

Gwilym Hughes says he watches about 10 to 14 films per week

If you fancy seeing a good film and are not sure which one to pick, it might be worth asking Gwilym Hughes.

After all, a Guinness World Records certificate says the retired painter and decorator from Gwynedd has watched more movies than anyone else.

He has watched at least 28,075 films since 1956, which works out at about two movies every three days.

Remarkably, Mr Hughes, 63, has kept a record of every film he has seen in the cinema or at home.

Mr Hughes, of Dolgellau, has been in love with moving images since he was a child, when illness left him in hospital for two-and-a-half years, for a time strapped to an iron frame.

A children's cinema visited once a month and he clearly remembers watching King Solomon's Mines.

He said: "You can imagine what it was like. I could only waddle my feet and move my hands and head.

GWILYM HUGHES' TOP FIVE FILMS Lawrence of Arabia (pictured - 1962) Hedd Wyn (1993) Zulu (1964) The Dambusters (1955) The Sundowners (1960)

"I was in an iron frame, and you saw these moving things in front of you. You just couldn't wait for the next time.

"They were so wonderful. It was just clicked my imagination."

The first film he remembers was when he was aged about four. It was a black-and-white Popeye story which a neighbour played from a projector set up on his kitchen table.

But his passion for film was fired by his experience in hospital and after returning home he began touring the cinemas in Dolgellau, Barmouth and Porthmadog, often seeing double features.

He kept detailed records of what he had seen, including a cast list and often a photograph or newspaper clipping about the film.

His passion led to him collating his own "books" of actors such as Richard Burton, Stanley Baker and John Mills.

The development of video and DVD meant he was able to watch more films at home but he insisted cinema did not rule his life.

He said: "People think that I'm glued to the television set 24 hours a day but I'm not because I'm a member of about 10 organisations.

"I watch films from about 9pm until about 12. Sometimes I could set up one on the televisions in the study. It works out about 10 to 14 films a week."

Mr Hughes, who had a triple heart bypass last year, said his hobby works out well with his wife, Eirlys.

He said: "She watches her soaps downstairs and I watch my films upstairs. She may see the odd one."

Oscar-laden

His favourite is the Oscar-laden Lawrence of Arabia, from 1962. Its creator, David Lean, who also won an Oscar, is his favourite director, and he believes Charlie Chaplin was a comedy genius.

His claim to fame is playing a part in the campaign to have the 1993 Welsh-language film Hedd Wyn (his second favourite) nominated for a best foreign film Oscar.

The film is the story of the Gwynedd poet who posthumously won the bardic chair at the Eisteddfod after he was killed in World War I.

Mr Hughes said: "It's a shame Welsh filmmakers have got to work with the budgets they've got. If they ever get enough money, we will win an Oscar."

His favourite comedy is Carry On Nurse, helped by the sight of "matrons like the Hattie Jacques character approaching down the ward."

A Guinness World Records spokesman said Mr Hughes would appear in this year's publication, which will be published this autumn.