Pennod 3 Huw Edwards a Stori Cymry Llundain

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-That's it from us.

-A first look at the papers on the

-BBC News channel in a few minutes...

-..but now it's time

-for the news where you are.

-And that's the end

-of another broadcast...

-..here at the BBC's

-main news studio in London...

-..watched by around five million

-viewers in Wales, England...

-..Northern Ireland and Scotland.

-The location of the studio

-speaks volumes.

-In the heart of London,

-the capital of the United Kingdom.

-However, the unity of that kingdom

-is a contentious issue nowadays.

-The heart of London is where

-the BBC's new news headquarters...

-..and the headquarters of Britain's

-influential companies are situated.

-It's been home to millions of people

-over the centuries...

-..including the Welsh, and the story

-of the London Welsh is intriguing.

-In the final episode, we focus

-on key individuals and institutions.

-From political giants...

-..to the fervour

-of the urban Welsh chapels.

-From the creativity of national

-figures to today's bustling city.

-It's a tale

-which sparks the imagination.

-In this series, we'll convey

-a little of that zeal...

-..and explain

-the influence of the Welsh...

-..on one

-of the world's largest cities...

-..as well as London's influence

-on Wales.

-The story of the London Welsh

-is relevant to everyone in Wales.

-It's here in London,

-in England's capital city...

-..that the foundations

-of the modern Wales were laid.

-In the 19th century,

-Wales was a country...

-..without national institutions,

-without a capital city...

-..and without official status.

-It was here that all those

-important foundations were laid...

-..to breathe new life into Wales.

-Many of the ideas...

-..and the zeal to create

-institutions for the modern Wales...

-..came from

-the Society of Cymmrodorion...

-..whose origins

-were in the mid-18th century.

-By 1873, it had been revived

-for the third time...

-..under the chairmanship

-of Sir Hugh Owen.

-One of the things

-which stems from...

-..all the zeal and enthusiasm

-of the Cymmrodorion...

-..in the last quarter of

-the 19th century, in my opinion...

-..is this drive

-to establish institutions.

-A national museum for Wales,

-a national library for Wales...

-..a royal commission to preserve

-Wales' historical buildings...

-..and that kind of thing.

-Their first attempt, during the

-1890s and 1890s, ended in failure.

-But by the beginning

-of the 20th century...

-..the ideas discussed in London

-and at the Eisteddfod bore fruit.

-The Cymmrodorion

-took it upon themselves...

-..to put pressure on politicians.

-You must come to an isolated spot

-to find the grave...

-..of a very influential Welshman

-of the Victorian era.

-There are buildings,

-memorials and statues in Wales...

-..that bear this man's name.

-I'm in Abney Park cemetery

-in north London.

-It's a Welsh Independents' cemetery.

-Among the thousands of graves

-in this jungle...

-..is the grave of Sir Hugh Owen...

-..the man who did so much...

-..to establish the University

-College of Wales in Aberystwyth.

-The name isn't very clear.

-You must look carefully.

-Sir Hugh Owen, here in London.

-In a meeting in London in 1854...

-..Sir Hugh Owen

-first discussed the idea...

-..of having a University College

-of Wales in Aberystwyth.

-On retiring,

-he spent much of his time...

-..fundraising

-for the new institution.

-When he campaigned

-during the 1860s...

-..to establish a college in Wales

-for the first time...

-..he was keen to ensure

-that the Welsh language...

-..wouldn't have a prominent place

-within that college.

-When it was founded in 1872, there

-was no place for the Welsh language.

-He's a complex figure...

-..but one who represents

-the outlook of the Victorian era.

-He did Wales many favours...

-..but not in terms

-of safeguarding the Welsh language.

-Hugh Owen

-worked at Somerset House...

-..as senior clerk for the

-Poor Law Amendment Act Commission.

-Like many Cymmrodorion of the time,

-he had strong ties...

-..with the London establishment.

-They had the means

-to use their influence...

-..to ensure these institutions

-saw the light of day.

-Another important aspect

-of their contribution...

-..was their sense of duty...

-..to the Wales

-from which they were exiled!

-In order to understand

-this important process...

-..of creating

-national institutions in Wales...

-..we must focus

-on the work of Westminster...

-..and acknowledge

-one man in particular.

-His name was Tom Ellis,

-the MP for Merionethshire.

-He was one of the first students

-to attend Aberystwyth.

-He was a very influential politician

-and chief whip of the Liberal Party.

-He campaigned diligently

-for a parliament for Wales...

-..a Welsh university...

-..a national museum

-and a national library.

-He made a very important

-contribution to Welsh life.

-TE Ellis was one of the main figures

-of the Cymru Fydd movement...

-..which campaigned

-for self-government for Wales.

-He backed the measure

-for national institutions...

-..which was introduced

-to parliament in 1891.

-The bill called for a Welsh office,

-a parliament for Wales...

-..and many other

-national institutions.

-Many Welsh people within Wales...

-..were very interested

-in their religious denominations.

-The London Welsh saw the need

-in Wales for secular institutions.

-They had a broader outlook because

-they had a universal view of Wales.

-They were able to make

-a valuable contribution.

-London operated as

-the unofficial capital of Wales...

-..at the end of the 19th century.

-The pillars

-of modern Wales were built...

-..on the ideas, energy

-and enthusiasm of the London Welsh.

-Though the Cymru Fydd movement

-failed to inspire the nation...

-..it's hard to imagine Wales

-without its universities...

-..museum and national library.

-One of Cymru Fydd's young leaders

-set his sights...

-..on political power on a British

-and international level...

-..in the early 20th century.

-For tens of thousands of tourists

-around the world...

-..Parliament Square

-is the centre of London...

-..a stone's throw

-from the Palace of Westminster.

-It has been a focal point

-for major protests.

-Keeping a watchful eye...

-..are some of the most influential

-leaders in the history of the world.

-Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln

-and Sir Winston Churchill.

-Also here is the charismatic

-Welshman David Lloyd George.

-There's no shortage of prominent

-Welshmen in Westminster's history.

-Pacifist Henry Richard,

-devolutionist Tom Ellis...

-..and health wizard Aneurin Bevan.

-But it's only Lloyd George who earns

-a place here in Parliament Square.

-That shouldn't come as a surprise.

-Few politicians have influenced

-the history of the world as he did.

-A statue of Lloyd George should

-have been erected 50 years earlier.

-If we can't pay homage

-to such a prominent Welshman...

-..there's something wrong.

-He should have been

-commemorated sooner.

-He made a great contribution

-to social issues.

-Insurance, pensions,

-fighting injustice.

-Aside from that, he was

-the prime minister during WWI.

-He reached the House of Commons

-at the age of 27...

-..making Lloyd George

-the youngest MP at the time.

-In 1906,

-he was the first Welshman...

-..to join the Cabinet

-in more than 50 years.

-He was also

-one of the first in Britain...

-..to reach that status

-as a commoner.

-His success was a source

-of great pride for the Welsh.

-The remarkable thing about him

-was his ordinary background.

-He was raised by his uncle,

-Richard Lloyd...

-..who was a cobbler in Llanystumdwy.

-The family was by no means rich.

-Lloyd George hadn't attended

-a grammar school or a public school.

-He hadn't been to university

-and gained a degree.

-He got there through his innate

-ability as a politician...

-..his strong personality and his

-astounding ability as an orator.

-When Lloyd George arrived in London

-for the first time...

-..as a young solicitor...

-..he took full advantage

-of the London Welsh network.

-It was a formidable network.

-It was a combination

-of the old and the new...

-..consisting of affluent businessmen

-and their grandiose shops.

-Lloyd George was solicitor for

-the drapers' chamber of commerce.

-But it's important to remember

-that amid this urban jungle...

-..the old Welsh traditions

-were still alive.

-He attended chapel services

-at Castle Street in London.

-He was faithful to the services

-and prayer meetings.

-He attended the meetings of

-the Royal Society of Cymmrodorion.

-After he moved

-to 11 Downing Street...

-..as Chancellor of the Exchequer...

-..Lloyd George and wife Margaret

-made a special effort...

-..to employ maids

-who were fluent Welsh-speakers.

-Welsh was the everyday language

-of 11 Downing Street...

-..during Lloyd George's time

-as Chancellor.

-Might, religion and wealth.

-Those are the main characteristics

-of this wonderful building...

-..in the heart of London.

-Lloyd George's family

-has strong ties with this chapel.

-This is the Welsh Baptist Chapel

-of Eastcastle Street...

-..central London's Welsh church.

-As you can see, it's busy here.

-They're renovating

-the entire chapel.

-A sign of faith

-in the future, if you will.

-Imagine the scene back in 1917.

-This chapel would have been full.

-One of David Lloyd George's

-daughters was married here.

-Olwen Lloyd George's marriage

-took place...

-..in the middle of WWI

-when her father was prime minister.

-The occasion was used

-as part of the war effort.

-Munitions factory workers

-and wounded soldiers...

-..played a part in the ceremony.

-During his career,

-Lloyd George fought...

-..for self-government for Wales...

-..laid the foundations

-of the welfare state...

-..and served as prime minister

-during WWI.

-Sadly, it's his lively private life

-that still draws most attention.

-It's a tragedy that Lloyd George's

-colourful life...

-..has cast a dark shadow over

-his achievements as prime minister.

-He changed the system of government.

-It's as simple as that.

-He created a War Cabinet...

-..and a department

-for the prime minister himself.

-When you combine

-his ability to govern...

-..and his aptitude

-for public speaking...

-..the result is simply spectacular.

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-Gray's Inn is one of the four

-Inns of Court in London.

-Historically, it has attracted

-the most Welsh solicitors to London.

-In one quiet corner is a plaque...

-..which testifies to another

-Welsh connection with this area.

-One that was established

-during the First World War.

-The military connection

-between Gray's Inn and Wales...

-..was incredibly close.

-The London Welsh Battalion of the

-Welch Fusiliers was recruited here.

-It was also here

-that those soldiers were trained.

-The battalion that was

-recruited on Gray's Inn square...

-..would fight with the rest

-of the Welch Fusiliers...

-..in battles such as Mametz Wood.

-It was in this exact spot that the

-soldiers received their training.

-Major social changes ensued

-as a consequence of WWI.

-Though young Welsh women

-had come to London for many years...

-..in search of work as maids,

-another wave followed...

-..in the years

-between the two world wars.

-On the one hand, work in the

-munitions factories had ceased...

-..but on the other, a recession

-was biting in the industrial areas.

-The effect of this migration

-was evident in west London.

-The streets of Paddington

-at the turn of the 20th century...

-..were home to thousands

-of Welsh people...

-..most of whom were workers.

-But among them

-were a few wealthy families.

-A family from Aberystwyth

-lived here, in Formosa Street.

-The husband was a tax inspector.

-They had a maid

-called Elizabeth Pugh.

-She was my grandmother's aunt.

-No doubt she worked downstairs

-in the kitchen.

-She met her husband here in London.

-He worked in the dairy business.

-She was one

-of the huge army of Welsh maids...

-..who were in service

-in these large London residences.

-Poverty in Wales was responsible

-for driving many women to London.

-During the 1920s,

-training bases were set up...

-..in towns like Aberdare,

-Pontypool and Merthyr...

-..to train girls in domestic skills.

-The vast majority of them

-went to work as maids.

-When you look back

-on the 1930s Depression in Wales...

-..many people moved to London

-from areas like the Rhondda.

-It wasn't their choice to move...

-..but they felt they had to move...

-..in order to find employment.

-For them, London

-was considered a long way from home.

-Some people

-who had moved from Cardiganshire...

-..had never been

-to Carmarthen or Aberystwyth before.

-London was a long way away.

-For many, working in service

-in London was a bad experience.

-Sending money or food parcels back

-to family in Wales was a feat...

-..for young women who earned

-as little as four shillings a week.

-They were plagued by feelings of

-loneliness and a longing for home.

-In 1925, in one extreme case...

-..a girl from Trefforest

-took her own life...

-..a mere ten days

-after reaching the big city.

-There were painful experiences...

-..but there were

-pleasant experiences too.

-A Christian committee was formed

-to protect the Welsh women.

-It was called

-the Fellowship of Reconciliation.

-They helped women

-from Wales' poorer areas...

-..to find work in service

-here in London.

-Their priority was to make sure

-the girls settled down...

-..and that the work was appropriate.

-Women from the London Welsh's middle

-classes who attended the chapels...

-..had established their own society.

-The London Welsh Friendly Girls' Aid

-Society would visit the maids...

-..and find

-appropriate work for them.

-The establishment's stamp

-was on this society.

-Lloyd George's wife, Margaret,

-was its president.

-By the start of the 1930s...

-..there were at least 10,000

-young women in service in London...

-..but things were changing rapidly.

-Domestic appliances and electrical

-gadgets were being invented.

-The demand for maids dwindled.

-On top of that,

-new jobs were available.

-Clerical work and factory work...

-..especially in munitions factories

-on the threshold of WWII.

-As the number of maids fell...

-..the number of teachers who came

-from Wales to London increased.

-Most of the city's 10,000 schools

-had a Welsh member of staff.

-In the case

-of author Hafina Clwyd...

-..she was one of six Miss Joneses

-in the school where she worked.

-It's not difficult to imagine

-the impact migration had on Wales...

-..as thousands of young people,

-including teachers...

-..flocked here to the city

-and enjoyed new experiences...

-..especially in the theatre world.

-They returned to Wales, taking

-those creative ideas with them.

-The theatre world in Wales

-benefited greatly...

-..from the experiences some of

-the young teachers had in London.

-Influential playwright, lecturer and

-drama producer John Gwilym Jones...

-..spent his early career

-teaching in London.

-He spent four years there

-at the end of the 1920s.

-The major advantage

-for John Gwilym Jones...

-..and his fellow young Welshmen

-in London...

-..was that they were in contact with

-a prominent and wealthy network.

-And here we are, in one

-of that community's main centres.

-This is the former Welsh chapel

-in Charing Cross Road.

-It's a very striking building.

-The chapel closed in 1982.

-The building was sold in 1984

-and turned into a nightclub.

-Now, it's vacant once again.

-Bear in mind that this chapel

-is in the heart of the West End.

-The theatre world

-is on the doorstep.

-John Gwilym capitalized on that

-before returning to Wales...

-..to become

-a prominent literary figure.

-But he wasn't the only giant

-of the Welsh literary world...

-..to be enticed to the city.

-Playwright Gwenlyn Parry

-spent four years in London too.

-The author of Y Twr and Grand Slam

-worked as a maths teacher.

-Like John Gwilym Jones, he spent

-much of his time in the West End.

-By getting involved with

-the London Welsh Dramatic Society...

-..he came into contact

-with Rhydderch Jones...

-..with whom he wrote

-the comedy series Fo A Fe.

-Rhydderch

-was an English teacher in London.

-He got to know the star

-of Fo A Fe, Ryan Davies...

-..who was a teacher in Croydon.

-Ryan had already studied at the

-Central School of Speech and Drama.

-He combined his love of performing

-with his work as a teacher.

-Ryan took a choir from the school

-to compete at the Eisteddfod.

-Many London Welsh stalwarts

-remember him.

-You said, "Shw mae?" and I felt...

-.."He can't be too bad,"

-I said to myself!

-In order to get a comprehensive

-view of London's contribution...

-..to the culture of Wales

-during the mid-20th century...

-..you must come here, to one of the

-most affluent areas of north London.

-St John's Wood.

-It was on this street,

-Carlton Hill...

-..that one of the nation's

-most talented writers lived.

-Caradog Prichard, a crowned bard...

-..and author

-of the famous Un Nos Ola Leuad.

-I was talking to someone from the

-Western Mail about it last night.

-Yes, if you got enough men

-with plenty of money...

-If you consult

-the closest census...

-..to the time Caradog and Mattie

-moved from Cardiff to London...

-..almost 60,000 Welsh people

-lived in London.

-The fact that they moved there

-wasn't unusual in the least.

-Caradog was looking for a change.

-He was tired of working

-for the Western Mail in Cardiff.

-Mattie had heard a lot

-about London from her family.

-Her parents had met in London

-when they were young.

-Mattie's father

-was a tailor at the time...

-..and had trained in Savile Row.

-In terms of earning a living,

-Caradog Prichard was a journalist.

-He initially worked

-for the News Chronicle...

-..and then the Daily Telegraph.

-He failed to find a job

-back in Wales.

-In his own words, he compromised.

-He was an Englishman at work

-and a Welshman at home.

-Hello. What do you want?

-Right. It's ready now.

-He held his work as a Welsh writer

-and poet in higher regard...

-..and sometimes considered

-being a journalist...

-..as something superficial,

-temporary and meaningless.

-The Welsh literary

-and poetic world...

-..had more substance and value.

-It caused him a lot of tension

-throughout his life.

-At the time, Caradog Prichard

-and his wife Mattie...

-..were the king and queen

-of the London Welsh.

-They held literary

-and musical soirees at their home...

-..that went on into the early hours.

-The guests included some

-of the biggest names of the day...

-..including Richard Burton

-and Stanley Baker.

-Wales' renowned singers

-have been here.

-I've been fortunate to meet them

-and help them, if I can.

-Even those who are starting

-their career have come here.

-People came and went all the time...

-..because Mattie

-liked organizing these soirees.

-They were regular occurrences.

-People like Ryan Davies

-and Rhydderch Jones dropped in.

-The playwright Gwenlyn Parry

-and Hafina Clwyd were others.

-We used to sing hymns all night.

-I remember one time...

-..when everybody had a hymn book...

-..someone was at the piano,

-and we sang hymns...

-..until four or five in the morning.

-Imagine that! How silly!

-Caradog's wife Mattie

-was quite a character too.

-During the Second World War...

-..she worked for MI5...

-..censoring

-international phone calls.

-It's said that she stopped

-Churchill mid-sentence...

-..in case he revealed a secret.

-If you phoned someone in New York...

-..the enemy out in the Atlantic

-could pick up that conversation.

-You had to know

-when people were speaking.

-You had to be discreet.

-Who did you hear speaking?

-Mr Churchill.

-He sat here at the time.

-I'd listen to him

-and I'd listen to Mr Roosevelt.

-I'd listen to Mr Eisenhower

-talking to Churchill.

-Montgomery speaking to Eisenhower.

-I listened to them all.

-Mattie wrote a weekly column

-in Y Cymro newspaper...

-..Colofn Mati Wyn o Lundain.

-Caradog edited Y Ddinas,

-the London Welsh periodical.

-This is a building which embodies

-strength, power and influence.

-It's the former home of the

-Daily Telegraph on Fleet Street.

-A Conservative newspaper

-which still exudes Englishness.

-It's odd to think...

-..that one of Wales' brightest

-poets, Caradog Prichard...

-..worked here for many years...

-..as a night editor

-among colourful hacks.

-He was a respected journalist...

-..but none of his fellow workers...

-..had any idea of his achievements

-as a poet and author.

-The worlds of Fleet Street

-and the Eisteddfod...

-..did possibly come together

-on one occasion.

-After Caradog won the Chair

-at the 1962 Llanelli Eisteddfod...

-..a fake chairing ceremony was held

-in the Daily Telegraph office.

-Are you going to return to Wales?

-London's not that far away.

-So many people have asked me

-if I'm going to return to Wales...

-..and I've decided

-to come back this year.

-If not this year, then next year.

-"I can already smell

-the sweet aroma of Wales

-"Blowing in the gentle breeze

-"The homeland is undoubtedly near."

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-The history of the London Welsh

-and the city's chapels...

-..have been interlinked

-since the end of the 18th century...

-..but reached a lively climax

-during the 1930s.

-This was the golden age in

-the history of the London chapels.

-Charing Cross Road Chapel

-is a perfect example.

-Eight hundred members during WWI...

-..and 1,200 members

-during the 1930s.

-The same was true of Jewin, Castle

-Street and King's Cross chapels.

-There were 30 Welsh chapels

-and churches across the city.

-But everything changed

-with the outbreak of WWII.

-The chapels have been key in

-the history of London Welsh life...

-..in terms of Welsh religion,

-language and culture in the city.

-They were the focal point

-of Welsh life...

-..for the migrants from Wales.

-They felt at home there.

-It was one of the rare opportunities

-to speak Welsh...

-..and worship in Welsh.

-When London's chapels

-were at their busiest...

-..they were social centres

-as well as places of worship.

-Activities were held

-every day of the week.

-We'd have a service in the morning

-for a handful of people...

-..who were all

-in the dairy industry.

-For Sunday school in the afternoon,

-more than 100 would attend.

-At night, 300 would attend.

-A prayer meeting

-was held on Monday night.

-There was a literature society.

-Thursdays

-were half-days for the dairies.

-Annual concerts were always held

-on a Thursday night.

-On Friday nights,

-there were classes for young people.

-Welsh classes were also held.

-There was something

-every night of the week.

-Young people sang in a choir

-and played table tennis.

-There was a table tennis league

-in London...

-..in which every chapel competed.

-It was a way for all the chapel

-members to get to know each other.

-We all know each other these days

-because there are so few of us.

-During the Blitz, many Welsh chapels

-were bombed, including Jewin.

-The congregation had to meet...

-..at the London Welsh Club

-on Gray's Inn Road for 20 years...

-..but many weddings

-were held in the chapel's ruins.

-The chapel that stood here

-before this one was bombed in 1940.

-It was almost totally destroyed.

-Very little of it remained.

-After the bombing,

-my grandfather, Reverend DS Owen...

-..was determined

-that the chapel would be restored.

-Like a phoenix from the ashes.

-When the chapel reopened...

-..they built it for a congregation

-of 1,100 members.

-They placed the organ

-in the gallery above...

-..because they needed

-more pews on the floor.

-Over 1,000 London Welsh attended the

-dedication service at Jewin Chapel.

-The modern building stands

-on the site of the former chapel...

-..which was destroyed

-by the enemy in the last war.

-Following WWII, chapel membership

-gradually declined.

-At one time, there were 30

-Welsh chapels dotted around London.

-These days, only eight

-hold any kind of service in Welsh.

-During my early years...

-..I received many families

-who had moved from Wales.

-During Elfed's era...

-..it was very common for him...

-..to receive 100 or more

-membership letters a year.

-But during

-the past quarter of a century...

-..the migration to London

-has become less and less and less.

-As the chapel's importance

-to the London Welsh waned...

-..their fervour was transferred

-to a different institution.

-The rugby club, the most famous

-of which is London Welsh.

-The club enjoyed

-a golden era in the 1970s...

-..but the Old Deer Park institution

-has a long and prosperous history.

-When the club was founded,

-we didn't play at Old Deer Park.

-We played for a while

-at Herne Hill...

-..and other locations

-in London before that.

-We've been at Old Deer Park

-for more than half a century.

-Our first game

-was against London Scottish.

-During the early years,

-we played against London clubs...

-..like Blackheath and Rosslyn Park.

-That's how we started out

-more than a century ago.

-The club was established in 1885.

-The Wales team trains at the ground

-before games at Twickenham.

-The club was established

-through the efforts of Dr TJ Pryce.

-The Carmarthenshire rector's son...

-..ran a surgery

-behind the Palladium theatre.

-Pryce had already won two caps

-for Wales, playing on the wing.

-Another doctor

-was a key figure at the time.

-Dr RL Thomas,

-who'd won six caps for Wales...

-..and worked

-as Carmarthenshire's coroner.

-The team now plays many of its games

-in a modern stadium near Oxford.

-But they still return

-to their spiritual home...

-..of Old Deer Park for some games.

-The club's long history continues

-to attract young Welsh people...

-..to play for the men's

-and women's teams.

-One is Cai Griffiths

-from Bontnewydd.

-The club is steeped in history.

-144 players have played for Wales.

-Some 50 Lions players

-have played for London Welsh.

-The old greats have played for this

-club, which makes it really special.

-It's like a home from home here.

-If you want to speak Welsh,

-you've people to talk to.

-It's more than just a rugby club.

-It's shrouded in history.

-The club's most famous period

-was during the 1960s and 1970s...

-..when some of the giants

-of Welsh rugby played regularly.

-London Welsh

-has bred more Lions players...

-..than any other club,

-including the seven who played...

-..during the 1971 Wales tour

-to New Zealand.

-John Dawes, John Taylor,

-JPR Williams, Gerald Davies...

-..and Mervyn Davies

-played in every test.

-Edwards to John. The whole line out.

-Williams in again.

-Give it to Gerald Davies.

-These players' backgrounds reflected

-the composition of the London Welsh.

-Most were teachers, and JPR, like

-the club's founders, was a doctor.

-Tons of courage and guts.

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-During the 20th century...

-..one institution has regularly

-served the London Welsh community.

-It's on the threshold of a new era.

-Over the decades,

-thousands of London Welsh...

-..have climbed this staircase.

-Teachers, actors,

-singers, doctors...

-..solicitors

-and all kinds of workers.

-Everyone came here to socialize...

-..and enjoy the life

-of the London Welsh Club.

-This club opened in 1937...

-..thanks to the generosity

-of one man, Sir Howell Williams.

-He was a prominent builder

-and very wealthy.

-He was also a London politician.

-You'll notice that there's

-a large bar here nowadays.

-But when the club opened

-back in the 1930s...

-..the idea of having a bar here

-caused a scandal.

-One of Sir Howell Williams'

-stipulations...

-..was that no alcohol

-would be sold on the premises.

-By the 1960s, many people,

-including Dafydd Wigley...

-..campaigned to have a bar there.

-The centre

-isn't a club at the moment.

-People come here

-for various activities...

-..but don't sit down

-and socialize with one another.

-The situation is rather cliquey.

-People stick to certain groups.

-Usually, they disappear

-to one of the pubs across the road.

-Having a bar would mean

-that people could sit around...

-..and talk to each other, creating

-more of an atmosphere in the centre.

-It would go

-from being a centre to a club.

-We know that there's a demand...

-..for those facilities

-on these premises.

-We also know that many are opposed.

-These days, the bar

-is an integral part of the centre.

-The latest generation to take the

-reins want to develop the club too.

-They want to make sure

-that it meets the needs...

-..of the scattered London Welsh

-community in the 21st century.

-They're currently working

-on ambitious plans...

-..with the architect

-of the Millennium Centre.

-It fills me with pride that I'm

-the centre's first chief executive.

-The centre has greatly benefited

-from voluntary work over the years.

-People have given their time

-to ensure the centre's future.

-A young team came together

-as the centre's trustees...

-..and decided that someone

-needed to manage the centre daily...

-..to improve facilities

-and to widen its appeal.

-We're proud

-of the centre's heritage...

-..but it's an old building

-and improvements need to be made.

-We're planning

-to redevelop the centre...

-..but the challenge

-is to retain the balance...

-..of tradition and history...

-..whilst still

-looking to the future...

-..and accommodating

-the modern-day London Welsh.

-# For the sake of your Son

-# Who died upon the cross

-# Create a land

-# In His name #

-For those who claim that

-the London Welsh need more energy...

-..then come here,

-to another 20th century institution.

-This is the London Welsh School,

-which opened in 1958.

-It's an island of Welshness

-in northwest London.

-Sustaining this school

-financially and practically...

-..has been an enormous challenge

-over the years.

-It was a speech

-by the patriotic Meredydd Evans...

-..that inspired a group of fathers

-to establish the school.

-They used to meet

-on Saturdays during the 1950s.

-They heard Mered giving a speech

-about Welsh education.

-By 1958, they came together...

-..and founded the school

-in that year.

-The school was initially situated

-on Hungerford Road...

-..but most of the time...

-..it operated from a Welsh

-chapel vestry in Willesden Green.

-It stayed there

-from the 1960s to 2000.

-The Welsh School is held here,

-in Willesden Green Chapel.

-It is testament to the perseverance

-of a handful of parents.

-They don't receive a penny from

-public coffers to run the school...

-..and pay its two teachers.

-When Willesden Green was sold...

-..it was difficult

-finding a new home for the school.

-Weeks before the school opened

-in September 2000...

-..we found this site

-in Stonebridge.

-We've been here for almost 15 years.

-There are currently

-37 children on the register.

-It's more like a rural Welsh school

-than an inner-city school.

-Sometimes, we worry

-about pupil numbers...

-..but when you consider there were

-once only five, we're doing well.

-Sadly, pupil numbers

-will always be up and down.

-But I'm confident we'll be here

-for a good few years yet.

-The school is growing and evolving.

-But the London Welsh community

-is scattered all over London.

-Every family can't send

-their children to a school...

-..that's situated in the northwest.

-There's also a financial challenge.

-Parents must pay fees

-of 800 a term.

-However, the Welsh Government offers

-the school financial assistance.

-More recently, the Assembly

-has been very generous...

-..and raised its contribution.

-Without that,

-the school would have had to close.

-Financing the school

-is a constant challenge.

-We rely on parents paying fees...

-..and there are always

-fundraising campaigns going on.

-Without the parents,

-the school wouldn't survive.

-They do lunch duties and help

-with maintenance and upkeep.

-The parents are very important.

-In the 21st century,

-the relationship...

-..between Wales and London

-has fundamentally changed.

-But thousands of young Welsh people

-still flock to the city...

-..to capitalize on opportunities

-that aren't available in Wales.

-New movements are emerging...

-..which promote Wales' interests

-across the world.

-One of the latest

-is Wales In London...

-..a forum that promotes Wales

-in Europe's business capital...

-..providing a chance to network...

-..and a platform to discuss

-issues important to Wales.

-It's an institution

-that was founded in the 1990s...

-..and has gone

-from strength to strength.

-We meet once a month,

-where possible.

-There's a close link

-with the business world.

-Many London Welsh hold prominent

-positions in business and banking.

-We promote

-our associations with them...

-..and ask them to explain their

-success in the business world...

-..or the world of commerce.

-As directors,

-we try to encourage Welsh people...

-..to use the capital as a platform

-for business and institutions.

-Recently, it's happening

-more and more with charities too.

-The good thing about the members...

-..is that they're

-from different backgrounds.

-There are solicitors,

-doctors, politicians...

-..civil servants and people

-from the wider business community.

-The events vary

-from social and creative ventures...

-..to economic, business...

-..and the ever-popular

-sports-orientated events.

-But we get down

-to some serious business...

-..when these events take place.

-Many of the members...

-..use the events to network...

-..and develop relationships

-in various fields...

-..that the members represent.

-The London Welsh

-have a very rich history.

-There have been five centuries of

-coming and going, of ebb and flow.

-They are Welsh exiles,

-to some extent...

-..but they are Welsh people...

-..who have always made

-a generous contribution...

-..to their nation's culture.

-And their story continues.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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