Hedd Wyn Enwog o Fri, Ardal Ni!

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-# Join us for a trip back in time,

-join us on our journey

-# Where famous Welsh people

-once lived

-# Renowned and revered

-# Jemima Nicholas

-# Gwenynen Gwent

-# Melangell

-# Hedd Wyn

-# Gelert

-# Rhys and Meinir

-# Y Ferch o'r Sger #

-Hello and welcome

-to Enwog o Fri, Ardal Ni.

-Welcome to our school,

-Ysgol Gynradd Bro Hedd Wyn...

-..in Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire.

-Our school is named after Hedd Wyn,

-a renowned poet.

-He came from Trawsfynydd and a

-statue of him stands in the village.

-Hedd Wyn was his bardic name. His

-real name was Ellis Humphrey Evans.

-Hedd Wyn was born in 1887 in this

-house, in Pen Lan, Trawsfynydd.

-This was his grandmother's house.

-When Ellis was only a few days old,

-he moved to the family home...

-..Yr Ysgwrn.

-It's a hill farm not far from

-the village in the Prysor valley.

-Why do we still remember

-Ellis Humphrey Evans...

-..or Hedd Wyn as he was known?

-Come and hear about Hedd Wyn,

-renowned and revered from this area.

-Ellis Humphrey Evans

-was the eldest of 11 children.

-Two of the children

-died at a young age...

-..which was a common occurrence

-at this time.

-Here they are,

-waiting to have their photo taken.

-A grand occasion.

-I'm the head of the household -

-Ifan Evans, the father.

-Stay still

-and look straight at the camera.

-Ready?

-From an early age, Ellis enjoyed

-spending time on the farmland...

-..with his sheepdog.

-He wasn't fond of the hard work

-on the farm.

-Yet, he liked spending time

-on the hills.

-Like many farm sons of the time...

-..Ellis had little education.

-He would miss school regularly

-to help his father on the farm.

-Despite having limited education

-at school...

-..as a young boy, his father

-taught him how to write poetry.

-Since Ellis

-was the eldest in the family...

-..he would stay up later

-than his siblings.

-There, by the fire, they would

-write poems and discuss poetry.

-Night after night, for many hours.

-Are you still writing poetry?

-Go to bed. It's late.

-Goodnight.

-Goodnight, Mam.

-Goodnight, Mam.

-

-I'll be up soon.

-With the tick-tock sound of the old

-clock keeping them both company...

-..hours would pass every night

-before they turned in for the night.

-What do you think of this poem?

-Let me hear it.

-It's about a peat stack.

-"From all directions people carried

-"To build once more concisely

-"Happily it was constructed

-"A wall of peat, so be it."

-Do you like it?

-Well done.

-Send it in to the eisteddfod.

-They'll give you

-a fair adjudication.

-From then on, at the age of 12...

-..poetry and competing

-in local eisteddfodau...

-..became part of his life.

-Ellis would write poetry

-about nature and his locality.

-"Only the purple moon,

-at the edge of the bare mountain

-"And the sound of the old river

-Prysor singing in the valley."

-Despite writing

-some excellent poetry...

-..he was never happy with his work.

-He was always looking to improve.

-Take a look at this 'englyn'.

-Well indeed, Ellis,

-you have a special talent.

-There's passion in your poetry.

-Submit a poem for the

-Bala Eisteddfod chair competition.

-I don't know.

-I'm not as educated as you are.

-Nonsense. I might have gone to

-university, but you have a talent.

-It's in here.

-If you persevere, you'll win

-the National Eisteddfod chair.

-You'll see.

-You'll see.

-

-That's my dream, one day.

-When Ellis wasn't writing poetry

-and shepherding the sheep...

-..he would spend time

-with his true love, Jini.

-They would have fun together.

-You can be so foolish, Ellis Evans!

-I'm a fool,

-hopelessly in love with you, Jini.

-I've written you a poem.

-Listen to this.

-"Pretty are thou

-with fairest of skin

-"Second to none, I am your fan

-"Tender, fine and cherished

-"Very sweet thou art.

-"Sian."

-Who's Sian? I'm Jini.

-Sian rhymed! You're my Sian.

-If you say so.

-Come with me

-to the Bala Eisteddfod next week.

-A special occasion?

-A special occasion?

-

-Maybe, Jini. We'll see.

-The following week,

-the Bala Eisteddfod was held.

-The hall was full

-with everyone waiting eagerly...

-..to see the winner of the chair

-for the best poem

-It's my pleasure to announce that

-one poem stands out from the rest.

-In my opinion,

-this poet has a bright future.

-The poet's nom-de-plume

-is Bugail Prysor.

-At the sound of the fanfare...

-..can Bugail Prysor,

-and only Bugail Prysor...

-..stand up.

-Sit down.

-I want to see who's won the chair.

-Me. I've won the chair.

-Everyone was so happy. Everyone

-who knew Ellis was so happy for him.

-Oh, Ellis. I'm so proud of you.

-The name of the winning poet

-is Ellis Humphrey Evans...

-..eldest son of Yr Ysgwrn,

-Trawsfynydd.

-Yes, Ellis won his first chair

-in the Bala Eisteddfod.

-Soon after,

-he became known by all as Hedd Wyn.

-Hedd Wyn became a local star...

-..but his dream was to win the chair

-in the National Eisteddfod.

-Winning the main competition.

-Next year's National Eisteddfod

-in Birkenhead is the target.

-That's my dream.

-Then everything changed.

-The Great War had begun.

-World War One.

-Hedd Wyn didn't believe

-in fighting and killing.

-Many young men from Trawsfynydd

-had already joined the army.

-Soon, Hedd Wyn had to choose.

-In 1917, he joined the Army.

-Look. Finally, the great poet

-has decided to join the Army.

-I had no choice. I hate fighting,

-I hate being a solider.

-I'm a pacifist.

-That's your name. Hedd Wyn!

-Before setting off for the war,

-Hedd Wyn visited Jini.

-I'll write to you

-at every opportunity.

-Have you written a poem for

-the Birkenhead National Eisteddfod?

-You can win this time.

-I've written most of it

-but the war is on my mind.

-It would be such a pity

-if you failed to finish it.

-You've worked so hard.

-That's your dream.

-I'll try for you, Jini.

-I'm not sure if I can finish it.

-I'm sure you will.

-I'm sure you will.

-It was the summer of 1917.

-Be brave, my son.

-Be safe, Ellis.

-Love you forever, Jini.

-He went to fight in Belgium.

-There were fierce battles.

-Many soldiers were killed.

-One of them was Hedd Wyn.

-He died a few weeks

-after setting off...

-..on the final day of July.

-So far from his home in Trawsfynydd.

-"The two eyes that remain closed."

-A month after his death...

-..the Birkenhead

-National Eisteddfod was held.

-Who had won the chair?

-I have some sad news.

-Ellis Humphrey Evans, Hedd Wyn

-from Yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd has won.

-He was a young, talented poet

-who was killed in the Great War....

-..a few weeks ago.

-Even though he is not here, his

-poems will stay with us forever.

-This empty chair

-was called the Black Chair.

-In Yr Ysgwrn's kitchen,

-nothing has changed...

-..since Hedd Wyn

-wrote poetry on this table.

-Everything has remained the same

-and the old clock is still ticking.

-Yes, Hedd Wyn's dream came true.

-He won the chair

-at the National Eisteddfod.

-Even though he was not there,

-his poems live on

-Hedd Wyn, renowned and revered,

-from our area.

-# We are children

-from Hedd Wyn's locality

-# Remembering his life

-# The talented poet and shepherd

-# We'll treasure your poetry

-# We named our school after you

-# Your statue stands on our street

-# Your heart is in Yr Ysgwrn

-# You will remain

-a son of Trawsfynydd

-# You are renowned and revered

-# And we will remember

-# The talented poet and shepherd

-# Hero of our land

-# We named our school after you

-# Your statue stands on our street

-# Your heart is in Yr Ysgwrn

-# You will remain

-a son of Trawsfynydd

-# You will remain

-a son of Trawsfynydd

-# Hedd Wyn, Hedd Wyn #

-.