The Brangwyn Hall is a concert venue in Swansea. It is named after the artistFrank Brangwyn, whose British Empire Panels, originally intended for the House of Lords, are displayed there. The Brangwyn Hall is part of the Swansea Guildhall complex, and is used for awards ceremonies and social events as well as classical music concerts and rock concerts. Among the ceremonies held at the Brangwyn Hall are the annual Chinese New Year celebrations and the graduation ceremony for students graduating from University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales frequently use this venue when performing in Swansea. Additionally, the BBC has filmed some scenes from the Doctor Who episodes "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead", as well as "The Big Bang". The British Empire Panels are sixteen large paintings by Frank Brangwyn which were commissioned in 1924 for the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, to commemorate the First World War. Brangwyn had worked as an official war artist, and was selected by the sponsor Lord Iveagh, an Irish peer. He chose to create a "decorative painting representing various Dominions and parts of the British Empire", and five finished panels were displayed in 1930. The work was completed in 1932, but the House of Lords had already rejected it as too colourful and spirited. The town of Swansea was in the process of erecting its new Guildhall, which included a large assembly hall. The ceiling of this room was raised in order to show off the panels, and the building was inaugurated in 1934. In 2018, Brangwyn hall hosted the progress test for the students of the Swansea University GEM students. In what later became known as the “Great Exam Irregularity” a large proportion of medical students were traumatised. The details of the event are hazy at best. Sources say that a technical issue with communication equipment caused delays of between to 30 and 1000 seconds in starting the examination. Those adversely affected campaigned for justice. Eventually they received the option of an uncapped resit, the only condition being the sacrifice of their previous mark and their dignity. Few accepted. To this day, students have nightmares of that fateful day.
