Pennod 4 Ar y Bysus

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-The wild west is home

-to several family-run bus companies.

-In this series,

-we follow three of them.

-Taf Valley Coaches, Whitland.

-Someone's sure to complain.

-Richards Bros, Cardigan.

-We talk on the phone, mostly.

-We talk on the phone, mostly.

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-Then we can't hit each other!

-And Midway Motors, Crymych.

-The bus is coming!

-They link rural communities...

-I used to follow

-a herd of cows down here.

-The drawbacks of country life.

-..with nearby towns...

-How are you, Tom? OK?

-..and run trips

-with some colourful characters.

-We're what's termed merry widows.

-We're the carers,

-they're from the care home.

-We won't get invited

-back to Newport for a while.

-Yes, there's lots of fun

-and laughter on the buses.

-It's another busy early morning

-at Richards Bros' yard in Newport.

-The service buses are being washed

-before another day's work.

-Malcolm, one of the brothers,

-is in charge today.

-He's keeping a close eye on things.

-I'm here by myself today.

-The other two have gone

-to Sherburn-in-Elmet near Leeds.

-They're picking up a new bus...

-..for a new run in Pembrokeshire

-and Carmarthenshire, Bwcabus.

-A brand-new bus.

-As well as service buses...

-..carrying schoolchildren

-is a major part of the business.

-Between 7.30am and 8.00am,

-a dozen buses leave this yard.

-It's pretty busy,

-then it's quieter by 8.15am.

-Most of these are going out now.

-Some service buses,

-some school buses.

-While Nigel is away in Leeds...

-..Malcolm makes sure

-that things run smoothly.

-But Leeds or not,

-Nigel likes to keep in touch.

-He uses technology

-to show off the new bus.

-Can you see the Optare name?

-Can you see the Optare name?

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-Yes, quite plainly at the top.

-I'll be careful here.

-He has a few pennies

-in his pocket to pay for it.

-Here's the interior.

-Leather seats, or E-Leather.

-Blue. They're blue.

-Dark blue, navy.

-Everyone seems happy

-with the new purchase...

-..and they can't wait

-for the bus to arrive in Newport.

-Meanwhile,

-at Taf Valley Coaches in Whitland...

-..they're preparing for a trip

-that's a bit further than Leeds.

-They're leaving for Belgium...

-..and a memorial service for those

-who fell during the First World War.

-It's a long trip, beyond the legal

-driving duration in two countries.

-A minute over is enough.

-Get caught

-and the police give you a fine.

-Lionel is first behind the wheel,

-and every minute counts.

-I'll pick everyone up, then Hubert

-will take over the driving...

-..all the way to Bruges.

-Off they go to Pembroke Dock.

-First on board are Geraint and Ann,

-who are used to making this trip.

-We've researched

-the areas we're visiting.

-My great uncle

-was injured in the war.

-The First World War.

-He was taken to hospital

-but sadly died.

-He was buried not far from Calais.

-The climax of the trip...

-..is the armistice memorial service

-at Menin Gate, Ypres.

-It's this service

-that usually ensures a full bus.

-Very emotional.

-One year,

-it was pouring with rain...

-..as the poppies fell

-from the tower, from the Menin Gate.

-It was like blood

-flowing down the road.

-It was very symbolic.

-It was...

-Well, a lot of people shed tears.

-Before venturing onto the M4,

-they stop at Morriston fire station.

-Waiting for the bus is Hubert,

-who will drive the rest of the way.

-I've done this trip now

-for about eight years.

-They ask for Hubert every time.

-We're going to Folkestone,

-then on the train under the sea.

-Then it's another two-hour drive

-and we should be in Bruges.

-The trip is organized by past and

-present members of the fire service.

-The journey

-has a special meaning for them.

-It's important for us because we've

-been coming now for over 20 years.

-There's a historic connection

-between the UK fire brigade...

-..and the fire service in Ypres.

-It first started in 1994.

-..when the chief fire officer

-of Dyfed Fire Brigade at the time...

-..got wind that this ceremony

-was held in Ypres every year.

-He asked us if we'd like to go.

-So, in 1994, we set off...

-..never thinking, 23 years later,

-we'd still be going.

-Gerwyn and his crew are based

-at Haverfordwest fire station.

-When they're not out saving lives...

-..they take part

-in ceremonies across the country.

-We go out to Ypres every November.

-We attend the funerals...

-..of any firefighters

-that lose their lives.

-Sometimes, we're even invited

-to attend weddings.

-If there's anything on, the service

-passes the information on to me.

-I then get in touch with Dai...

-..to see who we can get

-to turn out for the colour party.

-A mobile phone is very handy,

-and WhatsApp.

-The colour party boys

-all get a message on WhatsApp.

-Who's available? Let's get there.

-Back in Newport, the new bus

-reaches the Richard Bros' yard.

-It's a big family occasion.

-Marteine has even come from Cardigan

-to have a peek.

-Does it go well?

-I'm glad we didn't follow you

-all the way!

-What's it like then?

-Oh, leather seats!

-Leather seats!

-Instruction book.

-How To Drive In Five Easy Ways!

-A fine Bwcabus, and it's here.

-Leather seats. Posh.

-Pembrokeshire will be amazed!

-Good, isn't it?

-It should be for the price.

-110,000.

-Maybe you shouldn't have gone

-for leather seats then, Marteine!

-But everyone is happy

-with the latest purchase.

-Nigel has another toy to play with.

-I'm not sure how it works.

-Poppit Sands and the best village

-in Wales, or so I'm told.

-St Dogmaels next stop!

-Midway Motors in Crymych

-is an old family business.

-It was established

-by Stanley and Wyndham Rees.

-They've reached a milestone in 2017,

-the company's 60th anniversary.

-Many family members

-rely on the business...

-..so it's vital

-to make it a success.

-Things have changed

-since I left school.

-We didn't do MOTs then.

-The service and repair

-side of things has developed.

-Aled came back,

-and he sprays and repairs cars.

-You'd never think

-that would be as busy as it is.

-There's always someone

-who has a knock at Tesco...

-..or they kerb a wheel.

-There's always something.

-There are strict guidelines

-for driving buses.

-Every driver has a tacho card.

-You put this card

-into the machine on the bus.

-It records every hour you drive.

-That's the new system.

-The old system

-has paper tacho discs.

-We use both systems

-because we have older buses.

-You can work for 15 hours a day,

-but no more than ten hours driving.

-No single shift at the wheel

-can last longer than 4.5 hours.

-It can be a headache sometimes.

-Driving hours are also important

-to Hubert from Taf Valley Coaches.

-He's almost in Folkestone

-and the Eurotunnel terminal.

-It's dark and wet

-on the French coast.

-The destination, Bruges in Belgium,

-is still about 90 minutes away.

-This will be home

-for the next three days.

-The tiny pins in the backside

-have turned into nails!

-I'll be glad

-to sit in a comfy chair.

-I'm glad we've arrived

-but disappointed that it's raining.

-But it should improve

-tomorrow and the day after.

-We're here in one piece.

-At last.

-The weather's supposed to be OK now,

-but with some rain tomorrow.

-Hopefully, on the eleventh,

-it'll be nice.

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-Taf Valley Coaches

-have organized a trip to Belgium...

-..for the armistice service.

-After a good night's sleep,

-some of the passengers...

-..are going on an excursion

-to the WW1 museums and cemeteries.

-Hubert knows the roads

-better than anyone.

-I'm out here every year, and

-I've been twice this year already.

-When I started driving,

-there was no satnav.

-The satnav's in my head.

-You can't go wrong.

-The roundabouts

-are the same as they are at home.

-The road surface here is better.

-The roads are better than at home.

-It's important to keep to time.

-If you lose time, people

-have less time somewhere else.

-The first museum visited

-is Hooge Crater.

-It's a chance to experience

-that terrible time in 1914.

-Delyth and Ian

-are regulars on these trips.

-They never tire

-of seeing or hearing the story.

-This year, Ian is taking part

-in the armistice service.

-Ian has been seven times, I think,

-and I've been six times.

-No, it's a good trip.

-Having two boys

-in the Royal Welch, you know...

-..when I come round the cemeteries,

-I always look at the headstones...

-..and I think about the parents who

-watched their children going to war.

-It does get a bit emotional

-when you look at that.

-But at the same time, I'm proud

-to march and show my respect...

-..for the soldiers

-that lost their lives for the cause.

-You learn each time you come out,

-going to different places.

-We meet people on the coach...

-..from other trips,

-so it's like a reunion, in a way.

-Sometimes,

-people forget why they come.

-You end up in a bar and forget

-the real reason why we're here.

-Coming to the cemeteries and museums

-is a sobering thought.

-It keeps people on track

-to remember why we're here.

-The next port of call is a vivid

-reminder of the atrocity of war...

-..that affected so many lives

-during that time.

-Loss and sadness are evident

-in the village of Langemark...

-..where thousands of Royal Welch

-Fusiliers met their deaths...

-..the poet Hedd Wyn among them.

-No visit is complete without a visit

-to Artillery Wood cemetery.

-Hedd Wyn and hundreds of other

-Welshmen were laid to rest here.

-"The poet heavy under foreign soil,

-the hands that will not part again

-"Heavy eyes beneath a thick door,

-eyes that cannot open."

-I can't remember the rest,

-but that means a lot.

-When you walk

-through this cemetery...

-..you'll see stones marked

-"Known unto God".

-Someone at home has lost a loved one

-who's known unto God.

-It doesn't make sense...

-..that you don't know

-who lies under the soil.

-From memories in Belgium

-to memories back in Crymych.

-The family

-is taking a break from the buses.

-For the first time, they have

-organized a classic vehicles show...

-..in memory of two special men.

-The vintage show is in memory

-of my husband and my father-in-law.

-I've meant to do it for years,

-but today, it's happening!

-We have vintage cars,

-bikes and tractors coming.

-I hope it stays dry.

-Every member of the family

-has a job to do.

-We have six different bikes.

-That one there's from 1912.

-This one's from 1921.

-And this one's from 1928.

-They're the three oldest ones.

-Myself and my brothers...

-..ride them the 75 miles

-from Tenby once a year...

-..just to keep them turning.

-It's the first time we've held it.

-Hopefully, we can do it again

-if it goes well.

-Off they go, and the grandchildren

-pitch in as well.

-A David Brown and a Fordson Major

-also arrive.

-Shon has his hands full...

-..and Elan looks stressed

-trying to maintain order.

-Oh, hello.

-Some posh cars are arriving as well.

-This was Wyndham's special bike,

-so we've brought that out.

-And this was Stanley, Dadcu,

-this was his pride and joy.

-It was in better condition then,

-so we've brought those out.

-A bus is coming!

-Of course there is!

-And another one!

-This is a special one.

-It's going well.

-There are so many cars coming in,

-it's a job to control everything.

-It took a lot of planning...

-..but it's great even as it is now.

-We're expecting a hundred cars,

-if they all turn up.

-It's nice to see.

-We've always wanted to do it,

-and the sun's out, as a bonus.

-All the spadework has paid off.

-It's eight years almost to the day

-that we lost my father.

-He and Dadcu, Stanley,

-always wanted to do this.

-They spoke about it for years,

-but they both died at a young age.

-We're glad to do it as a family.

-It's taken us eight years,

-but we've always wanted to do it.

-If they were here...

-..they'd be all smiles

-and wouldn't know what to do.

-The show's a success,

-and it's a day to remember.

-I can see Stan

-and Wyndham's faces now.

-That was their hobby.

-It's great that the Midway boys...

-..did this in memory

-of their father and grandfather.

-It brings the community together...

-..and gives us a chance

-to display our vehicles...

-..and talk to others

-who share our interest.

-They'd have enjoyed something

-like this when they were around.

-The crowd here today

-shows what people thought of them.

-It's a pleasure to see everyone,

-and they would have loved it.

-It's fantastic and the sun's out.

-Someone's looking down on us

-and it's been great.

-In Belgium, it's Friday 11 November.

-A historic and special day

-for the group from west Wales.

-Every year,

-they travel hundreds of miles...

-..to be part of the Menin Gate's

-armistice service in Ypres.

-It's a world-renowned memorial

-for those who died in the Great War.

-The day has dawned.

-We'll get changed here

-and march to the Menin Gate.

-Yes, it's a huge occasion.

-I'm quite nervous, actually,

-even though we've done it so long.

-You still get the old butterflies,

-and there's a lot expected...

-..even after all these years,

-and the lump in the throat.

-It's an honour to do it.

-It is a big honour, and not many

-people get the opportunity to do it.

-Quick, march.

-I'm very proud to come over here

-and march with the fire service.

-Two boys with me were in the army

-and both went off to war together.

-I always think of people

-who went and never returned...

-..and parents who lost children...

-..when I'm up there at the memorial

-hearing the Last Post.

-The boys are clearly very proud

-of the duty that awaits them.

-The town square has been closed...

-..and the Menin Gate

-attracts a crowd...

-..to be a part of the event.

-Officers from all over the world

-take part in this unique service...

-..each remembering those soldiers

-who fought for their countries.

-Very memorable,

-and we've done it 23 times now.

-Every time we come,

-the emotion is there.

-It's different every time,

-it stirs the emotions.

-The atmosphere in Ypres is something

-special. Very, very moving.

-Especially when the Last Post goes

-and the poppies come down.

-Every time,

-it gets a lump in the throat.

-It all went to plan, very good.

-People come from all over

-to support the cause.

-We all want our children

-and everyone else...

-..to remember

-what happened in the war.

-We want to keep it going.

-Next year again,

-and the 100th anniversary in 2018.

-Next time on the buses...

-The Richards Bros' special bus

-for a special occasion.

-It's one of the perks,

-driving these girls.

-Clive Edwards is at his best

-entertaining a crowd.

-Special.

-We're here to have fun,

-and we're having fun.

-Fantastic.

-And Midway Motors

-celebrate 60 years in style.

-I'm chuffed to bits. It's lovely.

-Great.

-Great.

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-Come for a spin on the buses.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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