Episode 1 Connie's People

I'm on a very personal journey across Wales

in search of our most valuable resource - the people.

I've met an amazing range of individuals,

from the men and women who save lives in their spare time,

to the colourful,

and eccentric.

Hold tight and be prepared to be shocked...

..surprised...

or just plain grateful for their heroic effort.

As I introduce you to Connie's People.

'And today I'm knitting and wrapping to make hats for heroes.'

Come on, ladies.

In, around, off.

'And go dancing with Daleks in Prestatyn.'

Swing!

He exterminated my foot! Ow!

Daleks cannot dance.

But first I'm heading to the South Wales valleys to meet the men

who are the current members of an emergency rescue service

that has been saving lives for 100 years.

The Mines Rescue Centre is based in Dinas near Tonypandy

in the heart of the old South Wales mining industry.

-Hello!

-Hi.

-Hiya.

-Hello, Connie!

'The service was founded in 1912 and volunteers have been involved

'in some of the most tragic mining disasters throughout the past century.'

In 1913, Mines Rescue was called to one of the worst disasters

in British mining history.

At the Senghenydd pit, 439 men and boys lost their lives.

Men from neighbouring mines have always come to the aid

of their fellow miners when they're in trouble.

Their heroic efforts have saved countless lives.

..Get the reviver on the casualty.

And that tradition of miners helping fellow miners

is still the basis of the Mine Rescue Service,

as brigadesman Tim Carey explains.

All the people who come to us, the part-timers from the pits,

we train them to the highest level to make sure that

they can carry out a successful rescue in the mines.

We are there, we're on call 24 hours a day.

We've got a team of five men all the time, 24 hours a day,

and we can be called out to anything.

We all thought that these tragedies were part of history,

and thankfully not our present.

Then on 15th September last year, there was news that changed all that.

Breaking news this lunchtime -

Four miners are trapped underground in the Swansea Valley.

Three others have escaped.

Emergency services are at the scene as a rescue mission gets underway.

At the Gleision drift mine near Pontardawe,

an explosion trapped seven miners working in a narrow coal seam.

All the rescue men trained here at Dinas were there immediately.

Three of the miners had made it to safety,

and the information they could supply would help the rescue effort.

Les Jackson was part of the team.

It seemed to me that the adrenaline took over.

Everything was happening in front of you.

You just went through the routines we knew we had to do.

Checking for things while we were going down.

When we first arrived, we come across a casualty that had just got out.

There was one being taken to hospital

so a chance to talk to someone who had been down there and just escaped.

He told us that an area where the other person had got out of,

which was old workings, so we made up two teams,

one went straight down into the mine,

the other went into the left-hand side into old workings

and I was the ones who went into the old workings looking for the people.

Conditions were appalling.

Complete darkness, three-foot-high seams,

potential danger from gas or flooding.

And the men didn't know what they would be facing.

But Len and his team encountered the situation they'd been dreading.

At one stage, we stopped and there was concern about our safety,

but because there was life at risk, we pushed on, but when we came

to no oxygen, we had to pull back.

We put on our breathing apparatus and deployed again down into that area.

We went about 60 metres more down round a corner

and we just come to a reservoir of water,

so the water just rushed down and filled up to that area.

After a torturous wait through the night came the news that everybody had feared.

A search team had found the body of one miner in a flooded tunnel,

followed by another.

After two days of searching,

it was confirmed that all four had lost their lives.

You must talk about it after,

because the adrenaline will run inside you and it will bring you up,

it's like a high and you don't realise what you're going through.

After it's all over, then the adrenaline goes and it hits you hard.

And if you don't talk about it, it can build up inside you

and cause problems, but we was offered counselling,

but on this occasion no-one took the counselling because the men

around us were talking to each other, and we found that good enough...

-Sorry. I got a bit emotional there thinking about it.

-Aw, don't. OK.

'One thing was already becoming clear to me -

'these men support each other as much above ground as below.'

The camaraderie within the mines was second to none in the beginning.

Coming into the rescue service, it hasn't altered.

The camaraderie is still second to none and at the end of the day,

when we go out there, if you see us having a laugh and joke,

it's how we deal with the actual incidents that are put in front of us.

Although on the actual turnout to the incident,

it's a serious situation,

we are serious, but once we stand down from that situation,

we have the joviality and laughing and joking.

It's how we deal with the situations.

And to get just a small sense of that camaraderie and heroism,

the Mines Rescue Team are bending their rules

to allow me to be a part of their training exercise.

OK.

Ladies don't normally take part in this so it's quite unique.

Obviously, Connie, those clothes are not suitable.

What, heels?

No, all your attire. There's your protective equipment for the day.

Thank you very much.

'I'm going to be joining the team to find out how they train,

'and take part in a simulated rescue.'

What we've got to help you see in the ground,

and help you breathe in the ground in the event of an emergency,

we have a cap lamp and the self rescuer, which will protect you from the carbon monoxide.

The belt has been slightly adapted.

Why's that then?

Look at the shape of the lads up there.

Look, that's where they are!

That's where I am.

There we go. That's one part of you done.

Now we need to protect your knees.

Are you wearing these on your days off?

I try not to!

You can tell a miner when he's on holidays,

he's got marks from the rubber bands on the backs of his legs forever.

So now we'll take you through the breathing apparatus you'll be wearing today.

There's a face mask available for you.

If it gets steamed up, then we've got our own little personal windscreen wiper.

And this is oxygen inside here, OK, cos it's an oxygen rebreather.

These are heavy sets. 15.5 kilograms.

It's very heavy.

It's all very comfortable on you, is it?

-It's not very comfortable, no, but I'm all right.

-OK.

Again, Connie, if you think that's heavy,

you haven't put the ice cube in yet.

That's to cool your breathing down

when you're working for a two-hour duration.

-You have to put this in the backpack?

-Yes.

This is the set that you just had on your back

with the full contents and the weight that you felt.

If you open it up, we can see the oxygen cylinder in the bottom,

the breathing bag, the springs operate the breathing bag,

and you can see the crystals... absorbent granules inside there,

which actually absorb the carbon dioxide.

That's the weight, there and there.

Every exercise these teams undertake has to be for real.

Every piece of equipment is checked and double checked.

In a real disaster, their lives will depend on it working effectively.

We were preparing to be briefed by today's team leader.

These scenarios are all based on real-life accidents,

and potential life and death situations.

For today's exercise, the team and I

are going down the centre's own underground training complex

which replicates the actual conditions of a working mine.

Narrow, dark shafts, with many potential dangers.

The exercise today is we have a report of a deputy mine

supervisor that's collapsed.

We believe there's low oxygen in that part of the mine,

so we're going to take a team down and search down that leg.

OK, then, lads, if you'd like to get your masks on.

Gary, if you'd give Connie a hand,

make sure she's got everything that she should have.

Surely you have to do this in a certain time.

As quick as you can, cos a life is at stake.

We need to get under oxygen, we need to get our sets checked

and we need to get in straightaway

to give them the best chance we can of saving their lives.

-OK.

-OK?

The last thing I need off you team is a grid reading!

194.

-Connie?

-192.

193.

It's really claustrophobic wearing one of these masks

and I'm already feeling about two stone heavier with all this equipment on.

This is tough. Tougher than I thought.

Later in the programme, I'll be a part of the team in an exercise,

which for me was to prove incredibly real.

I can't imagine it being smoky in here, it's a nightmare.

Needles clicking at world-record pace,

a whirl of wool and seismic stitching,

is this the very latest Welsh government grey enterprise zone?

No, it's hats for heroes.

If you want to get ahead, get a hat or so the saying goes,

but what if you've got 400 hats in your living room?

Then you must be streets ahead!

I'm here in Penarth to meet a woman who is hat crazy.

-Nice to meet you.

-Come on in.

Welcome to Hat Central.

Thank you. I love your hat!

One of my many knitters has done this. Come on in!

Tina, why have you got so many hats in your living room?

We collect them and send them out to the troops in Afghanistan

as a sign of support from all the British people.

-Have you knitted all of these hats yourself?

-No.

I've got knitters from all over the UK,

from one end of Scotland right down to Penzance and all that lot.

All over the country, people send me hats.

From Land's End to John O'Groats,

and not forgetting the local line dancing club,

Tina's so committed to her knitting,

she's even persuaded her fellow line-dancers to knit too.

We've got over 900 at the moment,

and since September, we've sent out 3,800.

3,800 hats?

Why do you do it?

I like to show support. They're our boys.

We might not agree why they're there,

but they're our boys and girls so we need to support them.

So send then each a hat.

With a bar of chocolate, yes.

If you're going to do it, do it properly.

We've had a phenomenal response.

We've got photos there.

They're the Queen's Dragoon Guards. They've all got Welsh hats on.

Fantastic! Dragons on their hats. Wales written on it, that's lovely.

We've had loads of letters saying how the hats have made such a difference,

how warm they are.

You wouldn't think a hat would make such a difference

but they really appreciate it.

It's incredible that they actually take the time to all stand together with their hats on.

-It's lovely.

-It's lovely.

And we've got a photo here.

Even Dusty the dog has a hat.

Oh! The dog's got a hat on! Fantastic!

I think we should go and meet some of these amazing knitters.

Follow me.

'Tina's taking me to the knitting sweatshop,

'and the word is, I can be allowed control of my own needles.'

All I can hear is clacking from the needles.

How many hours a week do you think you spend knitting hats for heroes?

About ten, 12 hours.

Ten, 12 hours a week?

A week.

So why did you give so much time to donate these hats?

It gives these soldiers a lot of pleasure, doesn't it,

when they receive their hats,

and I just think we're doing good for them.

So how long does it take you to make a hat?

Two nights?

Two nights. I think it would take me two years.

No, I don't think so.

Come on, teach me, ladies.

Yes. What you've got to do,

you hold your needle, you insert it into the stitch,

pull your wool around, pull it through

and push it off the other needle.

Go on, go on.

In, around, off.

In, around, off.

It's like a song, isn't it?

..around, off.

Five, six, seven, eight.

ALL: In, around, off.

Wooh!

In, around, off.

In, around, off.

Whoop, whoop!

In, around, off.

Get down with 'em.

In, around, off.

Come on, ladies.

In, around, off.

Yo, yo!

In, around, off.

I see you've got the hang of it now.

Come back in a year, you might have a hat.

I think there'll be one special hat made by Connie... Fisher.

Don't say Connie Francis! She didn't knit it.

LAUGHTER

'I'll definitely finish my hat for a hero but the way I'm going,

'it might have to be a Christmas present.'

I'm off to the jewel of the North Wales coast - Prestatyn,

to join people from every galaxy known to man and alien.

I've even been told there are people from Scunthorpe(!)

This is one of the biggest sci-fi conventions in the UK

but, for me, this could be a bit of a black hole.

I'm going to be honest with you, teleportation, space guns and intergalactic space travel

isn't really my forte.

I don't know my lightsabre from my sonic screwdriver

but it's OK, help is at hand at Pontins in Prestatyn.

I've come to the hottest event on the Welsh sci-fi calendar.

Fun, fun, fun!

Dum-dum-dum, dum-du-dum...

'My secret orders were to rendezvous at 1400 hours in chalet number 421.

'Is that a significant number?'

SHE SCREAMS

Power Rangers!

Hello. I'm Connie. Nice to meet you.

OK, they're mute.

I come in peace and I bring biscuits.

Aha, they let me in. Is this your TARDIS?

'My producer then made it clear to me that they weren't Power Rangers

'or characters in Doctor Who.

'With those weapons, I don't want them taking offence.'

I've established you're not Power Rangers. You are Stormtroopers, right?

What planet do you really come from?

-Planet Earth, and I'm James, by the way.

-And I'm Graham.

-How many people will be at this convention?

-Probably several thousand.

Several thousand people, all dressed like you are?

Yep. Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers, a few Daleks,

Jabba the Hutt, Chewbacca, Darth Vader.

Who should I be? I haven't come prepared.

-As we're the bad guys, we need somebody good.

-Princess Leia?

Oh, I've heard of her. OK.

My name's Connie Fisher and I think Princess Leia was played by Carrie Fisher.

-That works.

-That's only three letters away.

-That's the closest you'll ever come to Pricess Leia here.

-That'll work.

Love it! Let's get into costume.

The Stormtroopers took me to my dressing room...well, chalet 474.

A picture of someone I'm supposed to be.

Already, look at the likeness.

I could be on Stars in their Eyes as her...if she sang.

Ah...may the Force be with me.

'I've got the wig, the white lycra robe and an hour to get ready.'

I think I'm going as Cousin Itt!

Ma-ma-ma-ma.

He's sci-fi, isn't he?

'But a few twists later, I think I might be getting close to the Princess.'

We're going to get pulverised if we stay much longer. Worried look.

'Or maybe not.' Next!

-We're going to get pulverised is we stay...

-SHE LAUGHS

Sorry.

Right, next.

Oh...that is much better, isn't it?

This is the one.

I mean, originality, top marks.

Practicality, zero.

'Pastries gone, it's back to Plan A.'

If we stay out here much longer, we're going to get pulverised.

My mission today, to boldly go where no woman has gone before.

Well, the Entertainment Centre, Prestatyn,

to find out more about these alien creatures.

-Have you been dressing as a Dalek for long?

-I am a Dalek!

Of course you are. Stupid question(!)

-Doctor Who, yes. Sorry.

-"Doctor who" are you?

Just the Doctor. The one, the only, the best. That's me. Hello.

-Are you in character all day?

-Yes.

There's somebody behind you who's slightly upstaged you because he's cute and furry

and he looks a bit like Julia Roberts on the catwalk. Do you remember that?

Oh, that's normal.

Can I ask you... Aah, you're very cuddly.

-Who are you?

-GROWLS

He's a...grrrrgh.

-DALEK:

-Chewbacca.

-Yes, Chewbacca.

Helpful Daleks! They're not as bad as people say.

Thank you!

Wow! Look at this.

'Those boots are definitely not made for walking.'

-Are you a good guy or a bad guy?

-Good guy.

I can be good sometimes.

You can be good sometimes. I'm having to translate. He's from a different planet.

I'm Scar.

Scar? You sound scary.

-How much did your costume cost you?

-Erm, probably about £1,000.

No way. Mine cost about all of ten quid.

Do you speak? You've got very big hands.

'These space travellers have come from all over Wales and the UK.

'They spend a lot of their spare time and money being aliens and superheroes,

'often raising money for charity at the same time.'

What first got you into dressing up like this, as Spiderman?

As soon as I found out you can get suits like these.

When I was a child, I was always making stuff out of papier-mache and bits of paper and cardboard

and I found out you could do it for real.

-Have you always wanted to be a superhero?

-Always, yeah.

Shall we dance with the Dalek?

'I told you Daleks were gentlemen.'

# Sway me now, sway me... #

SHE LAUGHS

He exterminated my foot. Ouch!

Daleks cannot dance.

It's been out of this world, but now the pressure is really on.

I'm one of the judges in The Galaxy's Got Talent competition,

choosing the best alien in Prestatyn.

Taking it very seriously, I gave some advice to the hundreds of competitors.

Already I can see some brilliant costumes out there

but if you can sell it as an actor, I think you're a winner.

'Did I really just say that? Never mind. On with the judging.

'First up, a mini Stormtrooper from my film, Star Wars.'

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Good effort!

-Hello. What's your name?

-I don't have a name. I'm a number.

Seven!

'And this could be the Super Mario family, but isn't that a computer game?

'I must check the rule book.'

And they kept coming and coming

and coming.

But then there was something really special.

A family of aliens from the sci-fi cartoon, Futurama.

That is cute.

Can I ask you, did you make these costumes?

Yeah, my husband, he made all the costumes.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

My winner so far has got to be the frog family.

I don't know how they're sci-fi, but I'm going to say

they're futuristic frogs because I want them to win.

And there's a baby. Could it be more cute?

'I thought that it was all over, but no...oh, no.

'There was going to be more competitions.'

I've just spent an hour judging a competition and I've been told it's going to go on for three more hours.

I just took a little phone call from the chief Jedi

and he's asked me to go and save a galaxy far, far away from here

so that's what I'm going to have to do.

I'm out of here.

SHE HUMS INDIANA JONES THEME

Earlier in the programme, I met the brave men of the Mines Rescue Service

who have been saving miners' lives for a century.

These men respond to any mining emergency.

Most recently, last year's tragic accident at the Gleision Colliery in the Tawe Valley.

And they made me a unique offer that I couldn't refuse.

Ladies don't normally take part, so it's quite unique for yourself.

And I was kitted out so I could take part in a rescue training excercise.

Quick as we can, as a life is at stake.

We need to get under oxygen, we need our kit checked

and we need to get in straight away to give them the best chance we can and save their lives.

We have to find a miner who has collapsed at the coal face,

assess his condition, and get him out as quickly as we can.

This is hard!

What we've got here is two sets of tunnels. The bottom one is very tight.

But the teams have to get used to crawling through these constricted spaces.

-OK.

-I'll lead the way. You follow behind.

'It's hot, clostrauphobic, and even though I know they're looking after me, I'm still frightened.'

This is really heavy and it pusheS on your helmet.

-We have casualty.

-Found the casualty here.

At this point, we'd have people designated in the team.

Les is out first aider.

There's no breathing, boys, at the moment.

Tilting the head back. Right, we've got some breathing.

OK, Dai. Get the reviver on the casualty.

We've got the oxygen cylinder turned on and the casualty is now in an oxygen environment.

Pulse is rapid and weak. He's unconscious.

Connie, if you'd be part of the team getting the stretcher ready?

Mark on the plan where we found him and get in touch with the base and tell them what we've got.

At this point we get him on the stretcher

and start evacuation of the casualty from the tunnel system.

Turn it over?

One, two, three. Woah! That's it.

We're getting the casualty onto the stretcher now. If we connect the straps up.

How do I thread it through there with these gloves on?

This what we've got to endure.

The sooner we get him in the stretcher, the quicker we can get him out of here.

It's like threading a needle. I can't imagine it being smoky in here. It's just a nightmare.

If we were in fire environment, we'd have zero visibility, so we'd just have to feel our way.

This is the point of knowing our equipment and how to use it correctly.

He's still in shock. We need to get him out of here as soon as possible.

-Wait a minute, Connie.

-OK.

I can't see a thing.

'We've had to manhandle the casualty onto the stretcher.

'Even in this controlled training environment, it's awkward and exhausting.'

-I can do it. I can do it.

-Here it comes.

-It's really heavy, isn't it?

It's so slippy.

'In this excercise, we only have to drag and carry the stretcher a few hundred metres

'but I'm getting some idea of just how difficult and dangerous it could be.'

This is going to be heavy now. Steady.

Steady. OK, down to the floor. Lower.

OK, rest. Out of puff?

I'm hanging in there. There's light at the end of the tunnel.

OK, our exit point is through this tunnel section here, OK, team?

Nearly there. All on your own now. You're dragging the stretcher on your own.

For these guys it was a light training excercise, for me it was a revelation.

Well, it feels good to stand up straight.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-Oh, and I'm out.

-You OK?

-Thanks, guys.

Wow, what an experience!

I feel really privileged. Thank you so much.

And it's really, really tough.

And at the end of the day, it's not just a wacky obstacle course,

-is it?

-No.

-It's saving people's lives.

-Yes, yes.

And it really does bring it home that this is serious work

and these are heroes in training.

So, thank you so much for letting me be a part of it.

And next time, I get cold on the outside, husky racing in West Wales.

And cold on the inside, creating Wales' weirdest ice cream.

The whole thing in one, that's not advisable.

And I spend a moving day with a volunteer army,

helping people across Wales.

SHE PLAYS THE PIANO

Bravo!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd