0:00:00 > 0:00:00- 888
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- 888- - 888
0:00:07 > 0:00:09- 888
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0:00:41 > 0:00:44- This area has always been my anchor.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- I've moved around...
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- ..and I've lived in other places - for short periods.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- This is where I always wanted to be.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55- I lived in America for a time.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58- Coming back - after living in America...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- ..I soon realized - there was no comparison.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05- This is my heaven.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27- This is my home. This is Gardden.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30- It's a very special place for me.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34- It's been in the family - for generations.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39- The James family - has been here since 1756...
0:01:39 > 0:01:41- ..and we're still here.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- There's an old fort near the house.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58- The house was named - after the fort - Garthan...
0:01:58 > 0:02:01- ..the old word for hill fort.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05- That has become Garthen, - due to the local accent.
0:02:07 > 0:02:13- We believe the house was built - with stones from the fort.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29- It's hard to explain the emotional - ties I have with this land.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- It's deep in my blood.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- My family have lived here - for generations.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42- They first moved into the farmhouse - to the left of Gardden...
0:02:42 > 0:02:43- ..Castell Mynydd.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46- They had just escaped from Flanders.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- We've lived here - for many generations.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54- It's left its mark on me - as a person evidently.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57- Can you see that white house - over there?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01- Do you know what it's called?
0:03:01 > 0:03:03- Gyfylchau.
0:03:03 > 0:03:10- That's where Nain Bryn Tanat, - my mother, stayed during the war.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16- She'd stay in Gyfylchau with her - Auntie Maggie and Uncle Ifan John.
0:03:16 > 0:03:22- Being here with the children - reaffirms my love for this place.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26- I have the opportunity...
0:03:26 > 0:03:30- ..to pass on - the family stories to them...
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- ..stories of my mother's childhood.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- And then ours.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43- I don't think ours is as big.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- Caeffynnon is big. - Can you see Caeffynnon?
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- Can you see Bryn Tanat?
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- Oh, yes. Over there.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- I was raised in the village, - in a house called Bryn Tanat.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- Nain and Taid lived here.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07- This is where I would come - for peace and quiet.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10- I used to walk up to see Nain.
0:04:10 > 0:04:15- I would walk across the fields - from Bryn Tanat...
0:04:15 > 0:04:19- ..just to have a chat - with Nain by the Rayburn.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27- Nain passed away - towards the end of the 1980s.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31- I inherited the house, - my brother inherited the land.
0:04:33 > 0:04:34- We had a home here.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38- I loved the house.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41- This is where Nain and Taid - had lived.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43- When we had children...
0:04:43 > 0:04:47- ..it was a natural step - to set up our home here.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- It was originally a small cottage.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- I'm not sure - how my great-grandmother...
0:04:54 > 0:04:56- ..raised 14 children here - but she did!
0:04:57 > 0:05:03- As we renovated the house, - we found so many fascinating items.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09- We found some children's shoes - buried in the hallway.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- They were tiny shoes, three of them.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19- Young families had a tradition - of burying shoes in the ground...
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- ..to bring the house good luck - and plenty of children.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- The latter was certainly a success!
0:05:28 > 0:05:33- I also discovered - my great-grandmother's wedding ring.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- She'd raised 14 children here.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39- After enquiring within the family...
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- ..it appears that she'd lost - her wedding ring for years.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- There was a lot of embarrassment...
0:05:46 > 0:05:51- ..because she didn't have - a wedding ring on her finger.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- When we were renovating - the floors upstairs...
0:05:56 > 0:06:01- ..we discovered a round ring - which was totally black.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- We washed it in the well - and the gold shone through.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- After making the enquiries...
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- ..we realized we'd found - the long-lost ring.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- The house is full of music - all the time.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- The children play - musical instruments...
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- ..guitars, drums and the piano.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- They even play the harp sometimes.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00- It's a special feeling for me - because music is my life.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- It also acts as a link to the past.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- Dad's family was very musical.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- I imagine there's been music - and singing in this house...
0:07:11 > 0:07:12- ..for generations.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- It's an ideal place.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33- Just seeing the scenery from Gardden - is enough to inspire my music.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47- She's unique, in some ways. - There's no-one else like her.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52- She can sing like an angel, and she - could have performed worldwide...
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- ..but she chose to return - to her home.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01- She's very proud of her roots - in the Banw Valley.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- There are drawbacks - when you live in the countryside.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09- I don't want to romanticize - too much...
0:08:09 > 0:08:14- ..because it can sometimes - be awkward living here...
0:08:14 > 0:08:19- ..for my career - and Gwyn, my partner's career.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- We have to travel everywhere.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- Having said that, - we have to adapt too.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- You have to work around - the difficulties.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- We decided to open a studio - in our home...
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- ..in the cowshed - that's a part of the building.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41- We made a lot of alterations.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46- There's something nice - about being able to work from home.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- # The valley springs to life #
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- Initially, - we created the studio for my work...
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- ..to allow me to record my music.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- I recorded - Pur and Y Ferch O Bedlam here.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- Nowadays, - young bands come here to record.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- Local bands, bands from afar.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13- We record choirs - and soloists here.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19- It's really great - having people here...
0:09:21 > 0:09:23- ..recording and sharing their music.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26- # I know
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- # Why I'm alive
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- # And I know #
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- When I'm up here...
0:09:39 > 0:09:40- ..I'm at peace.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- I can put everything in its place.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52- I find the peace - that all of us need.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55- It's very important for all of us.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- I'm a very fortunate woman.
0:10:10 > 0:10:11- .
0:10:12 > 0:10:12- 888
0:10:12 > 0:10:14- 888- - 888
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- Mam was a great influence on me, - throughout my life.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36- Mam's family comes from Llanon, - near Aberystwyth.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04- My forefathers were sailors - and ship captains in Llanon.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- This goes back to the 18th century.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- My grandfather was the first - to break the tradition.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14- He went to work in a bank.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- His father, my great-grandfather...
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- ..was captain of a ship - called Barbara.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- There's a house in Llanon - called Barbara House...
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- ..named after the ship.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- It's where my grandfather - was raised.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36- We had a connection to the house...
0:11:37 > 0:11:42- ..right up to Uncle Joe, - Mam's brother, until very recently.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50- Today, the connection - has disappeared.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- It saddens me - that I can't return to Llanon...
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- ..with the family still here.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06- Mam's mother, - Nain Sowth as we called her...
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- ..came from Carno.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15- After marrying my grandfather, - they moved to Llanybydder.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18- Mam and her brother lived there...
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- ..until they were - six and eight years old.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- In 1936, the family unit fell apart.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29- Nain Sowth decided - to divorce my grandfather.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35- It was a very unusual occurrence - at the time.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Mam would often tell me...
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- ..how she and her mother - travelled by train...
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- ..from Llanybydder to Newport.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- Her mother had family ties there.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- She fled to Newport...
0:12:49 > 0:12:53- ..and roamed the streets until - the early hours of the morning...
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- ..trying to find a bed - for the night.
0:12:56 > 0:13:03- They stayed there - during my mother's teenage years.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- Mam had a very difficult childhood.
0:13:09 > 0:13:15- She had very few opportunities - in her life.
0:13:16 > 0:13:22- That's why she was so eager to give - me the opportunities as a child.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43- Here we have Uncle Joe and Mam - in Newport.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45- Mam had just become a Brownie.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- Uncle Joe has joined the Scouts.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- They both look very happy.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- Here's a glamorous photo of Mam.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10- She's 18 years old in this photo.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15- She's wearing a green silk dress.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- There's a reference - in one of Nain Sowth's letters...
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- ..to this particular dress.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Apparently, it cost a lot of money.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29- Mam liked her clothes.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- I knew her as Sister James.
0:14:37 > 0:14:43- To be honest, - she was a rather flamboyant person.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48- She stood out in amongst - all the other mothers.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- She was a very special lady....
0:14:53 > 0:14:55- ..and very colourful.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- She often became wound up.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02- I was a very laid-back child.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07- Mam would get frustrated - as she tried to get me motivated.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- "Come on, come on, - you have to do this."
0:15:10 > 0:15:12- "OK..." That's how I was.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- There was conflict between us - at times...
0:15:18 > 0:15:21- ..but we were still - the best of friends.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- The best of friends.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27- Those are the treasured memories - I have.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38- Curiously...
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- ..Gwyn, my partner...
0:15:43 > 0:15:47- ..has strong connections - with this part of Ceredigion.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- When we became a couple...
0:15:50 > 0:15:56- ..Gwyn soon realized - that he knew some of my family...
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- ..particularly, my uncle, - Jones y Barbara.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04- As we went through some - of the items in Barbara House...
0:16:04 > 0:16:06- ..we found a photograph.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10- My great-grandmother - is in the photograph.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14- As we were looking at the - magnificent clothes they wore...
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- ..Gwyn saw someone rather familiar - standing behind her.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- He said, "I can't believe this.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- "That's my great-grandfather...
0:16:27 > 0:16:31- "..standing behind - your great-grandmother."
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- We were both gobsmacked.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- Fate had brought us together!
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- Composing was my main interest. - It's what I enjoyed doing.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03- I've been composing on the piano - since I was six or seven years old.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- I tried to write down the music.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- It developed further at school...
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- ..and then I wanted to come here.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- Coming to Bangor University...
0:17:34 > 0:17:39- ..was a huge step - for a girl from Llanerfyl.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43- I had no idea what to expect.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- I couldn't compare or talk - about it at home...
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- ..because no-one had been - to university...
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- ..before me.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56- I was breaking new ground.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06- I remember the first day.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- I came here with Mam.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- I felt, "Wow, this is it now.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14- "I've left home."
0:18:19 > 0:18:21- Mam was ill for many years.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26- Responsibility at home fell - on my father - he looked after Mam.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30- It was a very difficult situation - for both of them.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35- I felt drawn - by very strong emotions...
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- ..to return home to Bryn Tanat.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- I remember Sian turning up - on the first day.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03- It was an exception for a student - to turn up driving a car.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- More than that, - she had a Volvo and a harp.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- She was a gold-mine - for any Welshman!
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- There was also something mythical...
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- ..about the way - her blonde locks walked!
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- She came with some kind of drama.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26- There was a buzz around the place - when Sian James arrived.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- # To find another was her plan
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- # To find another was her plan- - # To find another was her plan
0:19:32 > 0:19:34- # But not one of the village lads
0:19:34 > 0:19:35- # But not one of the village lads- - # But not one of the village lads
0:19:36 > 0:19:37- # Ffol-di rol-di - rol-lol ffol-di rol-di ro
0:19:38 > 0:19:39- # Wanted to marry - Lisa from Yr Hendre
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- # Ffol-di rol-di - rol-lol ffol-di rol-di ro
0:19:43 > 0:19:44- # To find another was her plan
0:19:44 > 0:19:47- # To find another was her plan- - # To find another was her plan #
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- This is where Bwchadanas - was formed...
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- ..with friends I'd met - during the first year.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58- Young, like-minded musicians.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- That, in itself, was a huge step.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- It was something I'd dreamt of - before arriving here.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- "Ooh, I wonder if I could be - in a band?"
0:20:13 > 0:20:15- # An old maid lost her lover
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- # Ffol-di rol-di rol-lol - ffol-di rol-di ro
0:20:17 > 0:20:19- # To find another was her plan
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- # Ffol-di rol-di rol-lol - ffol-di rol-di ro #
0:20:21 > 0:20:27- The response to Bwchadanas - surprised me.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- I didn't know what to expect.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- Performing at gigs - and seeing people dance...
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- ..that was wow, it was great!
0:20:40 > 0:20:45- It was an opportunity for me to - express myself in a different way...
0:20:45 > 0:20:49- ..in terms of the way - I performed and used my voice.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51- That was a new experience for me.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- I'd been singing to harp - accompaniment since I was 14.
0:20:56 > 0:21:01- The concerts I'd attended - were rather respectable affairs.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05- In Bangor, - I was in a band with the lads.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10- They were influenced - by rock and roll music.
0:21:11 > 0:21:16- Further down the line, - we had drums and a bass guitar.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- That opened the floodgates for me.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- We played - rock musical instruments...
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- ..whilst singing folk songs.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- That was a huge influence on me...
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- ..especially later on, - with my folk songs.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- It was exciting, really exciting.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- I came back here in 2007.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04- I was invited to become - a fellow of the university.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- That was a huge honour.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- It was an emotional experience.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- I do what I do and that's it.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24- Having someone acknowledge that what - I've done has been worthwhile...
0:22:24 > 0:22:26- ..is very nice!
0:22:41 > 0:22:47- I don't think you can measure the - importance of going to university...
0:22:47 > 0:22:51- ..especially if - it's the right choice and it was.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- Not only did I develop musically...
0:22:57 > 0:22:59- ..although that was bound - to happen...
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- ..since I was studying - in the music department...
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- ..which was such a bustling place.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10- I also developed as a person.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- When I first arrived, - I didn't know how to write a cheque.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- I felt so naive. - I'd never had to write a cheque.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26- At the university, - I learnt a lot about myself.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29- So I'm very grateful to this place.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12- .