50 Pen-blwydd Hapus Merched y Wawr

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-It's a special year

-for Merched y Wawr...

-..as they celebrate

-their 50th birthday.

-50 years of tea, bara brith

-and meeting for a good chinwag.

-Help yourselves.

-There must be more to the story

-than that.

-They've been with us for 50 years.

-They've been with us for 50 years.

-

-We're still here!

-We're beginning a journey

-to find out more.

-I'm Jess Davies,

-a 24-year-old model and fashionista.

-Merched y Wawr

-has never been part of my world.

-There's some alcohol in that.

-I'm actress Hannah Daniel. I've not

-been linked to the movement either.

-You'll have your ball back now.

-Over a period of a few months,

-we'll join Merched y Wawr...

-..as they celebrate their

-50th birthday across the country.

-This is a real bra.

-This is a real bra.

-

-A real bra. Size 26.

-We'll look back at some

-memorable moments from the past.

-It was a battle.

-We'll ask if the institution

-is relevant to modern life.

-I caused long queues in M&S

-for writing a cheque in Welsh.

-Or is it all tea and bara brith?

-You're not meant to use these.

-You're not meant to use these.

-

-It's tense.

-Who are Merched y Wawr? Do they

-offer anything to today's Wales?

-Merched y Wawr.

-Merched y Wawr.

-

-Merched y Wawr.

-I don't know anyone of my age

-who's a member of Merched y Wawr.

-Tea, coffee, bara brith.

-Where does Merched y Wawr

-fit into today's world?

-What do they do?

-What do they do?

-

-Why are they relevant?

-Why did girls our age

-join them 50 years ago...

-..and why doesn't it happen now?

-I'm in my 20s, I go out a lot.

-I'm in the fashion world.

-I don't know

-where I'll fit in with the women.

-It'll be a bit odd initially.

-The members are a lot older than us.

-They won't know why we're there.

-Will they be drinking tea

-or cocktails?

-Long Island iced tea.

-There'll be a lot of tea...

-..bara brith, I hope...

-I'm not sure if I like bara brith.

-Good luck, Jess!

-Every journey

-starts with a single step.

-A Merched y Wawr branch is ready

-to welcome me to Gorseinon.

-I can't wait to meet the members

-and learn more.

-They have their purses out.

-I didn't know we had to pay.

-Is there a raffle every month?

-Is there a raffle every month?

-

-Yes, that's how we raise funds.

-There are 38-40 of us here and the

-money covers the teas and coffees.

-We also donate

-to different charities.

-That's brilliant.

-Can I borrow a pound?!

-Hi. Hannah.

-Hi. Hannah.

-

-I'm Betty.

-And Janet, nice to meet you.

-Hi, Kay. Are you OK?

-Good evening, ladies.

-Welcome to the April meeting.

-I hope you all had a good Easter

-and enjoyed yourselves.

-I hope you didn't eat

-too much chocolate, like some of us.

-We're welcoming

-a new member to the branch tonight.

-Hannah.

-A warm welcome to you, Hannah.

-It's a pleasure to have you here.

-I hope you'll enjoy your time

-with us.

-We're nice women!

-We organise different events.

-Craft competitions -

-one robin redbreast in any medium.

-Baking a loaf of bara brith

-without using yeast.

-They're a welcoming group.

-I'll take a coffee

-if there's one going spare.

-Cheers.

-They're a lively bunch.

-Plenty of characters.

-Mam and Dad spoke Welsh

-but didn't speak Welsh to me.

-I'd hear a lot of Welsh

-but I didn't speak it.

-You all sound fluent.

-If you attend this branch,

-you have to practise your Welsh.

-Does it help you to be here?

-Does it help you to be here?

-

-We speak Welsh here every month.

-We have regular events

-where we make things...

-..and they help us

-improve our Welsh.

-I still make mistakes but I like

-speaking Welsh, I like the language.

-I love the language.

-My Welsh isn't fantastic but

-don't worry about making mistakes.

-If you make a mess of it,

-just carry on.

-Yes, yes.

-They have Welsh learners here.

-They have a word of the week

-for the weekly walking club.

-They back each other up here

-which is lovely.

-I'm 104 years old

-in six weeks' time.

-104 years old in six weeks' time?

-Wow!

-What brings you back here

-every month?

-It's the interesting things

-that we do.

-Everything that happens here

-is very interesting.

-It must help you to stay young too.

-Probably.

-We did yoga last year

-and we had to raise our legs.

-Who was the first one to do it?

-She was!

-We have fun. We do silly things.

-I heard a lot of laughter here

-tonight.

-As people get older,

-they get lonely.

-This is a way

-of maintaining friendships.

-They meet new people...

-..they keep fit,

-they keep their brains ticking over.

-I'm a Ceredigion girl.

-I'm going closer to home,

-to Aberaeron...

-..to meet members

-of the Cylch Aeron branch.

-Is the branch ready

-to welcome someone in their 20s?

-What age range

-do you have in Merched y Wawr?

-Do you welcome young women? Or don't

-young women think they can join?

-Any one. We encourage women

-of all ages to join the branch.

-There's a big emphasis

-on socialising and enjoyment.

-This year, to celebrate our 50th...

-..we'll visit St David's College

-in Lampeter and we're having tea.

-We have a lot of fun participating

-in different competitions.

-We compete against

-other Welsh regions.

-We're very angry if we don't win.

-I'll tell you that now!

-What kind of competitions

-are available to your members?

-We play Scrabble, that's fun,

-and tippit.

-There are golf

-and bowling competitions.

-Cooking competitions

-are very popular...

-..especially with members

-in our branch.

-Delyth Jenkins

-is a member of our branch.

-She's a world champion...

-..bara brith maker.

-I've just heard about Delyth, the

-bara brith making world champion.

-I didn't know there was

-a bara brith world championship.

-I want to know more about it.

-I visited Gorseinon.

-I was warmly welcomed

-by the members.

-I detected a spirit in them,

-a fighting spirit.

-I want to know if that's something

-at the core of the movement.

-So, I've driven to North Wales...

-..to meet Sylwen, Lona and Zonia...

-..who started Merched y Wawr...

-..to try and find out more

-about what inspired them initially.

-The story started in

-the village of Parc, near Bala...

-..51 years ago..

-..in 1966.

-A farmer's wife came to me and said

-she was thinking of starting...

-..a WI branch in Parc.

-She said it would be

-a Welsh language branch...

-..so I joined.

-The WI told us that it was

-an English language movement...

-..and it would be too expensive

-to include Welsh in the magazine.

-Mrs Edwards from Parc suggested

-we start a Welsh language movement.

-That's when the seed was planted.

-Zonia came up

-with the name Merched y Wawr.

-Merched y Wawr?

-We all loved the name.

-We all thought it was a good name

-and it was a good name.

-It sounds like an exciting time.

-It was exciting.

-Merched y Wawr grew rapidly

-across the country.

-Merched y Wawr,

-the new women's movement...

-..whose activities take place

-entirely in Welsh.

-There've been lots of enquiries

-from potential new members.

-When the story broke...

-..within a week another branch

-had started in Ganllwyd, Dolgellau.

-Before the end of the first decade,

-there were 250 branches.

-Members from Parc.

-Thank you. Ganllwyd.

-Llanuwchllyn.

-A lot of it was down

-to the spirit of the '60s.

-Saunders Lewis gave his

-Tynged Yr Iaith radio speech.

-Cymdeithas Yr Iaith was established.

-I don't think the support for

-the Welsh language continues today.

-It was an era of protest,

-fighting for the language...

-..and the right to speak Welsh and

-they were filled with an energy...

-..which doesn't exist anymore.

-Zonia said it doesn't exist

-in our generation today.

-It sounds as if

-the women of Wales were ready.

-That was important.

-It was an opportunity

-for Welsh women to play their part.

-Had it not started in Parc, it

-would have started somewhere else.

-Did you think the movement

-would last 50 years?

-I hoped it would.

-I think the Welsh language

-is more important than the movement.

-Our language was given to us by God.

-It's our duty to keep it alive.

-Our generation

-needs more of that passion.

-Yes indeed.

-The movement was formed to

-safeguard the language and culture.

-We weren't boring,

-we had a lot of fun.

-We haven't made that much jam

-in 50 years!

-I think Merched y Wawr has helped

-the Welsh language greatly.

-Its status is far higher.

-Thanks to that fighting spirit.

-Yes, thanks to that fighting spirit.

-Visiting Parc

-has left its mark on me.

-I feel slightly ashamed...

-..as someone

-from an apathetic generation...

-..that takes these things

-for granted.

-We forget that people

-battled so hard in the past.

-We're not doing much to safeguard

-the language for the future.

-So, yeah.

-You hope the battle will continue...

-..and that spirit of the '60s

-can be discovered again.

-Hopefully.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Merched y Wawr is celebrating

-its 50th birthday this year.

-Myself, Jess Davies...

-..and Hannah Daniel

-are on a mission....

-..to discover the true meaning

-of the movement.

-While talking to members

-from Cylch Aeron...

-..I heard about one member who's

-an expert at making bara brith.

-Delyth, world champion bara brith.

-Well, I couldn't believe it.

-After they'd said my name

-the third time, it sunk in.

-This is the winning recipe.

-I'm not giving you the recipe!

-I hope to sell it in shops.

-Can you teach me

-how to make bara brith?

-I'm not a great baker.

-The fruit's soaking in tea

-and a spoonful of marmalade.

-How long do you soak the fruit?

-How long do you soak the fruit?

-

-Overnight. There we go.

-Bara brith is easy.

-One of the easiest cakes to make.

-Add the flour. Self-raising flour.

-Mix it all together.

-A lot of people use these papers.

-If you're competing,

-you can't use them.

-Not at all.

-Leave what's left or you'll

-see it on top of the cake.

-Delyth's tips.

-Into the oven at 170 degrees

-for 90 minutes.

-We can forget about that now.

-I want to taste

-the world's best bara brith.

-Good. Delicious.

-Thank you.

-Good, nice.

-I'm on my way to Machynlleth...

-..to Merched y Wawr's

-summer festival...

-..one of the highlights

-of the annual calendar.

-There'll be plenty of tea

-and bara brith there.

-I've heard that there are some

-unexpected events taking place too.

-We're on our way to see Elizabeth

-to learn more.

-I'm looking forward to this.

-Elizabeth,

-you're the county's organiser.

-Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

-You also organise the sports.

-For many years. It's convenient

-since I live close to Machynlleth.

-What will I be doing with you today?

-A round of golf. You can join

-the ladies on the golf course.

-We'll soon see

-if I'm a golfer or not.

-Good luck.

-Good luck.

-

-Thank you, I'll need it.

-I feel nervous.

-I've never played golf before apart

-from Crazy Golf in St David's 2.

-I have a handicap of 36

-which sounds quite impressive.

-Am I on your team?

-Dorothy, Ruth, Hannah.

-Doreen.

-Not Dorothy. Ruth.

-I have no idea what I'm doing

-so bear with.

-Do I have a ball?

-Thank you.

-Completely prepared.

-This'll be so embarrassing.

-OK.

-Practise.

-I can't hit it

-Thank you.

-I won't play for long. Promise.

-Thanks for the clap.

-I won't be able to keep up with you.

-Eye on the ball.

-Oh, Ruth,

-you can have you ball back now.

-Oh, yes, good shot.

-They're energetic.

-They're determined.

-That must be why

-they're still going 50 years later.

-Hey.

-It's not something I'd associate

-with Merched y Wawr.

-We have a tea and bara brith

-stereotype of Merched y Wawr.

-It shatters that image

-which is great.

-Hole-in-one!

-Hole-in-one!

-

-Well done.

-Well done, me. I've carried this

-around half the course.

-Well, I'm not a natural golfer.

-It's nice to know that there are

-other activities in Machynlleth.

-Even though it's an annual event,

-this year is rather special.

-Everyone's really excited about it.

-They've been busy preparing.

-Delyth's appointed me

-as a bara brith judge with her.

-I'm an expert.

-I know what to look out for.

-I'll hide from the golfers

-after yesterday's embarrassment.

-It might be an eye-opening

-new experience.

-Hopefully.

-As part of the celebration...

-..every county has made an unique

-panel to reflect their area.

-It will be taken

-around the country...

-..before ending up

-in the Senedd building.

-It's nice.

-Every area has its own

-interpretation of Merched y Wawr.

-No-one knew

-what the others were making.

-There was no discussion

-between the counties.

-There's so much detail.

-There are people behind the mesh.

-I can't find myself!

-I can see myself right there.

-I thought that was you.

-I could see the resemblance.

-I was drawn to this masterpiece.

-There's something cheeky about it.

-It's a real bra.

-Size 26.

-Are you sure?

-Delyth is busy tasting the

-bara brith at the back of the hall.

-36 members have competed for

-the honour of winning best in show.

-There's a lot to taste today.

-It looks nice.

-This one's a little dry.

-Don't you think

-they all taste the same?

-Not quite.

-Some are drier than others.

-OK. Tips.

-Delyth is very serious

-about crinkles.

-If they have crinkles,

-they don't win.

-Here's an example

-of wonderful bara brith...

-..but they've used paper.

-She doesn't even taste some of them.

-She just looks at them.

-No, not good enough.

-A bit dry.

-This isn't my typical

-Saturday afternoon.

-Wine tasting, maybe.

-Ooh, I can taste alcohol.

-Looks nice. A lot of fruit in there.

-No crinkles.

-That's good.

-Which one's the best?

-Which one's the best?

-

-First goes here.

-Why - the flavour?

-Why - the flavour?

-

-It's nice and moist.

-That's how bara brith should be.

-The board game room

-is popular every year.

-Elizabeth organises

-the domino competition.

-It's very competitive.

-It's very competitive.

-

-Oh, yes.

-Especially north against south.

-Is that the case here?

-Which branches are competing?

-We're Nantgaredig, near Carmarthen.

-Llandrillo, near Corwen.

-North v South.

-It's non-stop here.

-Have you competed before

-in the domino competition?

-Once.

-Did you win?

-Did you win?

-

-No, we didn't.

-You're back

-and you won't stop until you win.

-It's moved along quickly.

-It's very tense.

-We're down to the final four.

-I didn't realise dominos

-was so competitive.

-Then I remember playing it

-during my childhood.

-It's the same now in Merched y Wawr.

-Finished?

-Wrexham!

-Victory for Wrexham.

-I'm sweating.

-I like the domino room.

-It's like a casino.

-Back in the hall, there's a sketch

-and presentation competition.

-We're each going to have a tattoo.

-One of the branches competing is

-Cylch Aeron - my new best friends.

-Hannah and I are this year's judges.

-No pressure.

-We're the gold of Wales.

-# Ffa-la-la-la-la-la-la #

-Confident.

-They spoke clearly.

-There was a definite plot.

-# Fine and pleasant is seeing

-# Migldi magldi hei now now #

-What struck me

-is how much fun they have together.

-There's a positive energy.

-No-one's holding a phone, no-one's

-on-line, no-one's on Twitter.

-They're just enjoying

-crafts and cooking.

-And each other's company.

-Now we can celebrate.

-All the scripts are nice.

-There's plenty of energy.

-There are exits there, there and

-there if you need a quick getaway.

-The standard was so high.

-So nervous.

-The dramatic presentation

-competition.

-In first place,

-Henllan by a whisker.

-The sketch is next.

-In first place, Cylch Aeron.

-It feels as if everyone's

-part of a community here.

-It does.

-There's not a drop

-of testosterone in sight.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Merched y Wawr

-has organised numerous parties...

-..to celebrate its 50th birthday.

-There's nowhere more suitable for

-the celebration than this location.

-We're in Parc, Bala.

-This is where the movement began.

-The women are here

-to celebrate and reminisce.

-# Our language and country

-# I'll love them more and more #

-A warm welcome to you.

-"Where we began, where we were born.

-"Our heritage and our Mecca too."

-The words on the wall

-outside this centre.

-Very few of the original members

-are here...

-..but the welcome has continued

-with the younger generation.

-There's always a welcome at Parc.

-This happened just before the Bala

-Eisteddfod in '67.

-This is Ganllwyd,

-Wales' second branch.

-Parc was first

-and Ganllwyd followed.

-You'd never believe the animosity

-that existed at the time.

-Against...?

-Merched y Wawr

-breaking away from the WI.

-We were part of the WI...

-..and this woman

-would give us eggs every month.

-I went up to her and asked,

-"Have you got my eggs?"

-"I haven't got any," she replied.

-I looked in her basket

-and it was full of eggs.

-Because you'd broken away

-and started Merched y Wawr?

-"They're ordered," she said.

-She faced opposition

-because she wanted to join...

-..a Welsh language movement

-and wanted to learn Welsh.

-When I was 13, 14,

-I battled against speaking Welsh...

-..because I took it for granted

-and spoke English...

-..without realising how hard people

-have fought for the language.

-When did you campaign

-for breast cancer screening?

-In the '80s. We went to lobby

-in the House of Commons.

-300 members of Merched y Wawr

-from across went to London.

-That was a special moment.

-A campaign for...?

-To secure a breast cancer

-screening service for Wales.

-Back then, it didn't exist.

-Women went to Clatterbridge.

-After our campaign, the screening

-service was introduced in Wales.

-Breast Test Wales was established

-as a result.

-It's traditionally Welsh. They don't

-wear it as a badge of honour.

-I had to push them

-to tell the story.

-It's such a shame that I,

-and my generation...

-..regard Merched y Wawr

-as just bara brith and tea.

-Anyone else want a cuppa?

-No? Are you sure?

-My generation don't have an excuse.

-It's time we pulled our socks up.

-It's your turn next.

-It's your turn next.

-

-You've inspired me.

-Excellent.

-# Happy birthday to us #

-I'm getting a first-hand experience

-of these women's energy.

-The flame has certainly

-not gone out.

-If anyone hides,

-I'll get them out to the front.

-It was great to hear about their

-battles over the last 50 years.

-I want to hear more, especially

-about the breast cancer campaign.

-Mererid, nice to see you again.

-Buses travelled to London

-from every Welsh region.

-We gathered outside

-the House of Commons.

-300 members of Merched y Wawr.

-Actress Nerys Hughes

-became the face of our campaign.

-We attracted

-a lot of media attention.

-750 women die every year in Wales

-from breast cancer.

-When we joined together,

-we were a stronger lobbying force.

-You were national organiser

-from 1984 to 1991.

-Here you are in your office.

-That was a golden age

-for Merched y Wawr campaigns.

-There were campaigns

-for a new Welsh Language Act...

-..and the plight

-of the Welsh language in Wales.

-We take the language for granted

-these days.

-Back then, we fought for our rights.

-This is you at Westminster.

-The day we were lobbying,

-with the Plaid Cymru MPs...

-..Ieuan Wyn Jones

-and Dafydd Elis-Thomas.

-It must have been an exciting time

-and an exciting feeling...

-..that propelled you

-towards the next campaign.

-It was,

-when you look back at that time.

-It was exciting, very exciting.

-When Merched y Wawr started...

-..conducting our business in Welsh

-was revolutionary.

-Having a cookery demonstration

-in the Welsh language...

-You battled to secure that.

-These days,

-the battles have been won.

-The Welsh Language Act, the Senedd.

-I think a movement like Merched

-y Wawr gives women an opportunity...

-..to increase their confidence...

-..and do things

-they might not think they could do.

-Taking on roles within a branch

-increases someone's confidence.

-Public speaking.

-It gives them opportunities

-and teaches them new skills...

-..they would never have had

-had they not joined Merched y Wawr.

-I've been on this journey

-for a couple of months.

-There's a fashion show

-in the Royal Welsh Show next week.

-I'm meeting Margarette today.

-Margarette is a fashionable member

-of Merched y Wawr.

-I work in the fashion world.

-I want to know more about fashion

-in Merched y Wawr...

-..and how fashions

-have changed over the years.

-We've been invited

-to organise an event...

-..to show the fashions of Merched

-y Wawr over the past 50 years.

-They think I like fashion

-for some reason.

-I have no idea why!

-Merched y Wawr started in '67.

-Did you join way back then?

-I didn't join until 1970.

-The maxis were in fashion then.

-I like maxis.

-I like maxis.

-

-This is a special one.

-It was designed by Gina Fratini. She

-designed clothes for Princess Diana.

-What kind of an era

-was the '70s for Merched y Wawr?

-It was exciting. It was a constant

-battle over Welsh language rights.

-We weren't allowed

-to write cheques in Welsh.

-We caused long queues in M&S

-for writing a cheque in Welsh.

-We were always campaigning.

-Merched y Wawr supported

-every Welsh language campaign.

-Whatever we wore,

-we all felt the same.

-We've met members

-from different branches.

-It's nice to see

-how different all the members are...

-..but they all fight

-for the same values.

-I had this when we went to Italy.

-There was a Valentino shop in Rome.

-The shop door was locked.

-You had to ring the bell

-if you wanted to see the clothes.

-Nest,

-my friend from St Clears said...

-.."Margarette, you're wearing

-his clothes. Ring the bell."

-Did you buy a dress there?

-Did you buy a dress there?

-

-I'd bought one in Carmarthen.

-I didn't have to go

-to Rome to buy a Valentino...

-..when I could buy one

-in Carmarthen.

-I work in the fashion world.

-I never think of Merched y Wawr as

-women who are interested in fashion.

-It's nice to see

-a different side to them.

-They're just like me and my friends.

-Other people have stereotyped us.

-Tell me, would you be willing

-to wear some of these clothes?

-In the fashion show?

-Yes. Well, I want to wear this one.

-Alright, OK.

-This is...

-This is...

-

-The best one.

-I like the flowers and this one.

-I like a lot of them.

-I'll wear them all for you.

-They'll fit you but I doubt

-they'll fit me anymore.

-I enjoyed meeting the Gorseinon

-branch at the monthly meeting.

-Brenda talked about the enjoyment

-of the weekly walk at the branch.

-I want to see

-if it's something I'd enjoy too.

-Can I enjoy the company

-of older women every week?

-The most important decision

-is where we stop for tea.

-That's an easy decision.

-We could write a book about

-all the cafes we've visited.

-You identify all the characters.

-I'll have the bara brith as well,

-please.

-Just after talking to them

-for 10 minutes.

-It's been a successful year.

-It's been a successful year.

-

-50 members.

-It's been a successful year.

-

-50 members.

-

-We attracted new members this year.

-They're slightly younger than us.

-So you do get new members

-joining regularly.

-We've had guest speakers.

-One thing is clear, they're worried

-about attracting younger members.

-I was 17

-when I joined Merched y Wawr.

-I had two children at the time.

-It was somewhere for us to go

-to socialise...

-..and leave the children at home.

-They take their children with them

-to pubs and restaurants these days.

-Men don't want responsibility.

-Some men say their wives

-are working...

-Ooh, dear! Hello!

-Are you on telly?

-Hello.

-She's camera-ready.

-When I moved to Gorseinon,

-I had no-one to speak Welsh to.

-That's why I joined the branch.

-I'm still a member.

-When was it - 1972?

-Almost 45 years ago later.

-That feeling of giving

-something back to society...

-..doesn't exist for my generation.

-It still exists for these women.

-50 years.

-We're still here.

-Thank you very much, both of you.

-Thank you.

-Ta-ra. Ta-ra, good luck.

-See you next time. Thank you.

-They found it funny to see me here.

-I'd love to join them every week,

-they're a lovely bunch.

-They have plenty of stories,

-they're very lively.

-They're a real laugh, but...

-I think everyone is aware

-that there's an age gap.

-Since the 90s, a stepping stone

-has been established...

-..to attract younger members

-to the movement - Clwb Gwawr.

-An energetic Clwb Gwawr

-meet every month in Abergavenny.

-Tonight's activity

-is a selfie treasure hunt.

-Hannah and I are eager

-to join in the fun.

-We'll take a walk down to the pub.

-We'll take selfies...

-..or if you're too shy,

-photos of what you see.

-Is that OK?

-Is that OK?

-

-Yes.

-Jess, you're an expert selfie taker.

-Against the light and up.

-From above.

-I always take about 50

-and choose one!

-How long does that take?!

-OK?

-OK?

-

-I didn't get that treatment!

-What a lovely night

-for a selfie treasure hunt.

-From above.

-I'm just copying Jess.

-Clwb Gwawr.

-I've been a member for five years.

-Before that, I was a member

-of Merched y Wawr in Brecon.

-The activities were different...

-..but the enjoyment

-was just the same.

-What did you do?

-Wine tasting, cheese tasting, walks.

-Food and drink

-dominate our activities.

-We visit wonderful places to eat.

-Is it different to your

-preconception of Merched y wawr?

-Yes, well, for me Merched y Wawr

-is women older than me.

-I'm getting older

-but I'm not that old.

-I didn't want to do crochet,

-knitting and jam-making.

-I wanted to meet others

-who spoke Welsh in this area.

-This is a very Anglicised area.

-We create our own agenda.

-We do what we want to do.

-We visit vineyards to taste wine...

-We visit vineyards to taste wine...

-

-There's a lot of wine involved!

-It's very nice.

-Or doing something like this

-in the middle of summer.

-It's different.

-It's different.

-

-And you socialise in Welsh.

-Got it.

-I like doing it from above.

-It's a lot better.

-Tips.

-How do you feel

-it's helped your Welsh?

-You're a learner, like me.

-Do you think coming together

-as a group has helped your fluency?

-Yes, definitely.

-I can speak Welsh more fluently now.

-I meet a lot of Welsh speakers.

-Meeting and socialising in Welsh is

-like campaigning for the language.

-The fact that we socialise and speak

-Welsh keeps the language alive.

-In a community

-that doesn't speak much Welsh.

-In a pub, in a restaurant.

-Everyone hears us speaking Welsh.

-In the vineyard!

-I've really enjoyed myself.

-Me too. They gave us

-a warm welcome and they're a laugh.

-That appeals to people

-and makes them want to join.

-It's an opportunity to speak

-Welsh in the pub...

-..not only in work or at school.

-Here's another selfie opportunity.

-A selfie of yourself with a drink.

-Ready? Hang on.

-Volume.

-Clwb Gwawr!

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-The Royal Welsh Show is an important

-event for many national societies...

-..including Merched y Wawr.

-The stall is a hive

-of social activity every day.

-I can see men.

-I didn't expect to see any.

-Everyone is ready to take a shift

-serving tea and Welsh cakes.

-As part of their

-50th birthday celebration...

-..the women have organised

-their own show.

-As a professional model,

-I can't wait to help.

-We're here for the fashion show.

-The Merched y Wawr fashion show.

-I've been rehearsing

-with Margarette.

-Lots of designer clothes.

-And you're modelling.

-I'd heard. Are you modelling too?

-I'd heard. Are you modelling too?

-

-I am, I am.

-I'll copy you.

-I have shoes this colour.

-I knew, I knew.

-That's fantastic.

-I love it.

-It brings out

-the colour of your eyes.

-Everything's designer, Margarette.

-These are all your clothes.

-Don't break anything!

-We don't have enough

-statuesque models.

-What are you trying to say,

-Margarette?

-Ouch!

-This is the '90s, according to

-Margarette. I'd wear this out now!

-This is like hanging out

-with my friends, it's brilliant.

-Margarette is so much fun

-and her clothes are incredible.

-Modelling tips. Shoulders back.

-Blue steel.

-Be confident. If you're not enjoying

-it, the crowd won't enjoy it.

-Here they are -

-please welcome the models.

-Hannah's coming in wearing a dress.

-I told Hannah

-it was my going away dress.

-She asked,

-"What a going away dress?"

-Doesn't Jessica look beautiful

-wearing this?

-You wouldn't usually associate

-Merched y Wawr with fashion.

-It's important. There's been

-so much fashion over the 50 years.

-Minis, maxis, flamboyant hats.

-Fashion gives me confidence.

-That's the most important thing.

-That shows what kind of effect

-clothes can have on a person.

-I've had a great afternoon.

-I've enjoyed their company.

-I've been part of their circle.

-Just watching them enjoying

-themselves through fashion.

-It's an interesting way

-to look back at the history...

-..and celebrating the 50.

-Everyone looks brilliant.

-Hot on the heels of the Royal

-Welsh is the National Eisteddfod.

-It's an important event

-in the annual calendar.

-Their stall is an important stop-off

-for a welcome, a cup of tea...

-..and traditional Welsh cakes.

-It's my first visit

-to the Eisteddfod.

-I never went further

-than the Penrhyncoch Eisteddfod.

-Merched y Wawr is part of

-the furniture in events like this.

-It's a very special Eisteddfod

-this year.

-Four years ago,

-we had a national discussion...

-..to determine

-how we'd celebrate the 50.

-One of the ideas

-was to present the Crown.

-That dream has been realised.

-We're so excited it's happened.

-The band represents

-the Menai Suspension Bridge.

-It's the bridge that links Anglesey

-to the mainland and the world.

-A bridge gives people

-the opportunity to meet.

-That's what Merched y Wawr does too.

-Women meet and speak in Welsh.

-This crown is very relevant

-to Merched y Wawr.

-The blue cap, my missus

-is responsible for the cap...

-..blue is the colour

-of Merched y Wawr.

-I thought so.

-I'm a member of the Gorsedd.

-I'm interested to see

-who wins the crown.

-You're wearing wellies now but I'm

-told you'll be wearing gold sandals.

-I'll be wearing gold sandals - we're

-celebrating the golden anniversary.

-Tegwen is so happy.

-You can tell by her face.

-She's so proud to be part of this.

-I've never heard of this.

-What's all this dressing up about?!

-Look at you. I like the outfit.

-Very smart.

-And the sandals.

-The gold sandals.

-And the lippy. I can spot the lippy.

-You look lovely. How do you feel?

-Excited, nervous?

-Excited.

-I hope someone wins the crown.

-I really do hope so.

-Tegwen really wanted someone to win.

-She'll be happy. She feels

-she belongs to something special.

-Someone's won the crown.

-Tegwen will feel so pleased.

-Is there peace?

-Is there peace?

-

-Peace.

-You must be over the moon

-to see someone winning the crown.

-I was looking out at the audience...

-..and so many Merched y Wawr members

-were in the audience.

-They were so proud at that moment.

-You could see from Tegwen's face...

-..that it was

-a special moment for her.

-They'd had the chance

-to design the crown.

-I just feel glad for Merched y Wawr

-that people acknowledge their work.

-They do so much

-for the Eisteddfod and Wales.

-We're approaching the end

-of our time with the ladies.

-There's one important event

-to attend.

-The Merched y Wawr residential

-weekend, the highlight of the year.

-Aberystwyth is my

-old stomping ground.

-Merched y Wawr's residential

-weekend is an annual event...

-..and it's special this year

-because it's our 50th.

-We see the same old faces

-every year.

-It's nice catching up

-with old friends.

-Some members only meet once a year.

-We're celebrating together.

-We're so proud.

-A glass of wine...

-A glass of wine...

-

-There's no time for hangovers.

-We have a long day tomorrow.

-Who let you in?

-Journey's end.

-Journey's end.

-

-Journey's end, Jess.

-I feel sad that I won't see

-Margarette, Delyth and Tegwen.

-It's been an educational journey.

-We've learnt so much

-about the movement...

-..their political work,

-their language campaigns...

-..their work for women in Wales.

-We've had a wake-up call, Jess.

-When you feel ready to join Merched

-y Wawr, it'll be there for you.

-That's why the future is bright

-for Merched y Wawr.

-You'll join us again in the future.

-You'll join us again in the future.

-

-I don't want to say goodbye.

-Thanks so much.

-Good luck, enjoy the weekend.

-Ta-ra. Thank you.

-To Merched y Wawr.

-To Merched y Wawr.

-Cheers.

-Our work is greatly supported.

-We want more members to join us.

-It's a long but enjoyable journey.

-Everyone in Wales is part of it.

-I hope we're celebrating

-in 100 years' time.

-Cheers, Tegwen. To Merched y Wawr.

-Here's to the next 50 years.

-If I have this spirit in another

-50 years' time, I'll be happy.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

-.