Bro... Nefyn Bro

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-# There's a sound in Porthdinllaen,

-the sound of sails being raised

-# All the blocks are squeaking,

-Dafydd Jones is shouting #

-Shan, Shan, Shan, stop, stop.

-Yes, we're in Porthdinllaen

-but we're heading for Nefyn.

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-Nefyn - a coastal town

-on the Lleyn Peninsula?

-Well, yes nowadays.

-Its natural harbour made Nefyn

-an important town in its day.

-Back in 1284...

-..King Edward

-held a tournament in Nefyn...

-..to celebrate

-his conquest of Wales.

-The Celts realized the geographical

-importance of the landscape...

-..three centuries

-before the birth of Christ.

-From a hill fort on Garn Boduan...

-..they had splendid views

-across Lleyn.

-They could defend themselves

-from attacks from land and sea.

-Fishing, sailing,

-boatbuilding on the beach...

-..the sea has influenced Nefyn's

-history and economy for centuries.

-Of all the boats built in Nefyn...

-..75% were lost at sea.

-Many were lost with all hands -

-everyone on board died.

-In 1851...

-..it was recorded that

-there were 152 sailors in Nefyn...

-..according to the Census that year.

-That didn't take into account

-the sailors who were at sea...

-..when the Census was taken.

-The main industry in Nefyn in 1851

-was the maritime industry.

-On looking at the gravestones,

-especially on this side...

-..there are many sea captains.

-Captain John Williams,

-Captain this and Captain that.

-There were a lot of captains

-in one town.

-It was recorded that there

-were 252 captains' names...

-..on gravestones

-in Nefyn's cemeteries.

-I feel it's an incredible number.

-Such a small town

-has produced so many captains...

-..let alone rank and file sailors.

-This white one here

-is rather majestic.

-Capt. John Lloyd,

-The Moorings, Nevin.

-(Late of Rio De Janeiro.)

-They travelled around the world.

-Yes, they travelled

-all over the world.

-Some were at sea for three years.

-It was a perilous occupation...

-..sailing around South America,

-South Africa and Australia.

-They would sail into ports...

-..which were overrun

-with plagues and diseases.

-It was an awful occupation.

-It was an awful occupation.

-

-It's a lot easier now.

-It's great to be on dry land.

-Come on.

-Richard Davies

-was one of Nefyn's captains.

-His daughter Gwenda

-still lives in the town.

-In 1926, Richard was a sailor

-on the Monkbarns...

-..the last sailing ship

-to carry cargo around the Horn.

-It was a fully rigged sailing ship.

-Here's a photo of the ship as it

-embarked on its final journey...

-..from Birkenhead to Australia.

-Here's a photo of the crew.

-Is your father there?

-Here he is.

-That's the captain.

-After travelling around the Cape

-of Good Hope and Roaring Forties...

-..they encountered a raging storm.

-The ship turned on its beam ends...

-..and the cargo moved.

-The sails were ripped to shreds

-and the mast broke.

-There were further problems

-on the voyage...

-..after stormy weather, they were

-becalmed - the sea was too calm.

-There was no wind

-to drive the sails.

-Your father became captain

-at one point...

-..as the ship sailed home.

-The captain was taken seriously ill

-so they docked in Rio.

-They took him to the hospital

-and he died within three days.

-My father took command of the ship

-and sailed it back to London.

-A welcome awaited the crew

-on the Thames.

-All the ships sounded their sirens

-as the ship sailed in.

-The story of the voyage

-had been covered by the newspapers.

-There was also a great welcome

-in Nefyn when they returned home...

-..even though the captain

-never returned home.

-It must have been a strange feeling

-for your father.

-It's a strange location for a tower

-such as this - the middle of Nefyn.

-What was the purpose of this tower?

-It was probably a watchtower

-for the fishing industry.

-The fishing industry

-was very important...

-..particularly herring.

-In 1771,

-it was a lucrative industry.

-The herring industry

-was worth 4,000 that year.

-It was a huge sum for the time.

-In 1747,

-5,000 caskets of fish left Nefyn.

-Again, that's a huge amount.

-Herring catches have dwindled

-to almost nothing.

-The industry collapsed

-in the 1920s...

-..not only in Nefyn,

-but across Britain generally.

-Herring numbers deteriorated.

-It's a great place.

-It gives a lovely view of Nefyn.

-You can see all around Nefyn.

-# Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy

-# Do you know the way to Nefyn?

-# Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy

-# Party on the pavement

-# The Heliwr has closed down #

-This is nice.

-Doing your hair at home.

-I've washed it.

-I've washed it.

-

-Yourself?

-It's very knotty.

-Yes.

-Hello, how are you? Is Elfed here?

-After having my hair done

-by Nellie Trenholme...

-..who's been styling hair in Nefyn

-for over 70 years...

-..I went to look for Elfed Roberts

-who's quite an entrepreneur.

-There are plenty of Londis shops

-in north Wales...

-..but this one is rather special.

-Hello. Elfed? Is that you?

-Can I come around to see you?

-Hello. You're busy.

-Yes, as you can see.

-This shop is remarkable.

-It's also a nice shop.

-You're the owner.

-You're the owner.

-

-I'm the man who pays the bills.

-So they say.

-You also own the building next door.

-Llyr and I own it. He's the chemist.

-The chemist customers come here

-and the shop customers go there.

-It suits both of you.

-What do you sell here?

-I can see some lovely fresh food -

-especially the meats.

-We sell ready meals here.

-We cook all the meals upstairs.

-It's all home-made.

-The girls make sandwiches and baps.

-The girls make sandwiches and baps.

-

-How are you, girls?

-This shop's in the middle of Nefyn.

-What's the appeal of working

-in Nefyn to develop the business?

-I've always been closely connected

-with Nefyn.

-I wouldn't want to work

-anywhere else.

-It's nice to see

-local people employed here.

-That's what I'm trying to do.

-I employ a butcher on Mondays.

-We try and buy and sell

-local produce in the shop.

-In the future,

-I'd like to sell this produce...

-..to pubs,

-restaurants and local businesses.

-Hopefully, we can do that

-and I can employ more local people.

-The ultimate aim is to have

-a chain of four or five shops.

-The base will always be here for us

-to supply the shops from here.

-Branch out. I think

-you're a very competitive person.

-Yes, yes. I'm a very bad loser.

-Do you think Welsh people

-take risks when they get a chance?

-No.

-The English go for it. As a nation,

-we don't but I'll always have a go.

-Go for it. No matter

-what anyone tells you, go for it.

-Nefyn golf course must be one

-of the most dramatic in the world.

-My partner is one of

-the club's enthusiastic golfers...

-..Gareth Gruffydd.

-I don't think there's a better view

-anywhere in the world.

-It's wonderful.

-This attracts the visitors

-throughout the summer...

-..and throughout the year,

-to be honest.

-It's very narrow here. A few golf

-balls must end up in the sea below.

-More than a few...

-..especially on a windy day.

-Have you?

-Once on this hole.

-It's an interesting story.

-The ball landed on the beach.

-This is the 14th.

-Let's have a go. I'm not a golfer -

-I'm warning you now.

-I might lose a ball or two.

-Let's go.

-Well done.

-It's gone left.

-Well done. Very professional.

-When you hit the ball,

-from the 14th, towards the beach...

-..this is where it landed.

-It landed in a spot

-very similar to this.

-When it lands here, you have

-to hit it back onto the green.

-Or I'd have to start again

-from the tee.

-I decided to hit it from here,

-over the shed, onto the green.

-You did that in one shot?

-You did that in one shot?

-

-In one, yes.

-No word of a lie?

-Did you carry the ball up?

-I know how golfers work sometimes.

-One shot and it landed on the green.

-Are you going to have a go today?

-What about health and safety?

-I might damage the building.

-You could hit the windows

-or the people on the green.

-For once, and don't tell anyone...

-..come on -

-they'll be none the wiser.

-We'll walk to the green.

-That was a good shot. Well done.

-When you hit it back

-from the beach...

-..did it land on the green

-like this?

-Yes. It wasn't this close, though.

-That was a good shot.

-Fair play to you.

-Do you think you can putt it

-from there?

-Let's give it a go.

-Let's give it a go.

-

-I'll take the flag out.

-Par 3, down in three.

-Excellent. Well done, sir.

-Well done, Gareth.

-The next hole is the 15th.

-Off we go.

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-Wow.

-Hello there.

-Hello, Meinir. How are you?

-Is this for me?

-It goes with my red coat.

-It's nice to come in

-to shelter from the wind.

-Wear that. When the wind blows,

-debris falls off the ceiling.

-It's usually safe here.

-Tell me the history

-of this little church.

-We're trying to reopen

-the church as a museum.

-It was opened in the 1970s.

-A group of keen,

-well-informed people came here...

-..acquired the lease of the Church

-and opened it as a museum.

-It closed down because the roof

-was in such a poor condition.

-We're trying to reopen it.

-You're leading the campaign.

-You're leading the campaign.

-

-I don't know about that.

-Great. What's this?

-We're protecting these

-from the dust.

-These are photographs

-of the old captains.

-Ships' captains?

-They're all from Nefyn.

-What else is here?

-These are tools

-used by the ships' carpenters.

-How important is it

-for these treasures remain in Nefyn?

-I think it's very important.

-People show a lot of interest

-in their history.

-The people of Nefyn

-want to keep these treasures here.

-Pieces such as these could not be

-kept at home.

-There'd be a lot of dusting to do.

-But they shouldn't be thrown away.

-They're a piece of history.

-This is rather substantial.

-This only arrived in Nefyn

-relatively recently.

-It was given to us

-by Antur Waunfawr.

-Part of their work

-is to recycle furniture.

-They found this chair

-and phoned us...

-..to see if we were interested

-in keeping it.

-It was awarded in the Nefyn

-Young Men's Eisteddfod in 1910.

-It's screaming out

-for someone to sit on it!

-Can I?

-"The truth against the world -

-is there peace?"

-Hello, lads. How are you?

-What's going on here?

-Someone's stuck at the bottom.

-We've sent one man down to help him.

-This is a training exercise.

-This is a training exercise.

-

-Yes.

-Our lads are rescuing a casualty

-at the foot of the cliff.

-It takes a lot of people for

-this rescue. You use a lot of ropes.

-We need eight for this rescue.

-It's part of the rules.

-If we have a cliff rescue,

-eight rescuers are required.

-Can I help?

-Can I help?

-

-We're one short over there.

-With the ropes?

-What's happening here?

-I'll grab this and pull.

-Stop.

-What's happening? Is it stuck?

-Can you take that piece down there

-but not too far?

-Then we can start pulling again.

-Is medical attention needed?

-Ready to come up.

-Ready to come up.

-

-OK.

-Are you going to tell him off

-for going too close to the edge?

-We told him off at the bottom!

-What area do you cover?

-From West Point in Pontllyfni

-down to Porth Iago.

-There's another team beyond that.

-There's another team beyond that.

-

-Yes, the Aberdaron team take over.

-There are teams all along the coast.

-You're all volunteers.

-Yes.

-Do you enjoy it?

-Yes.

-You're the only woman

-in a group of men.

-They support me all the way.

-They support me all the way.

-

-They were pulling your leg earlier.

-It must be a great feeling

-to rescue someone...

-..but it must be hard for you

-when you're out here regularly.

-It's hard in some ways, especially

-in the middle of the night.

-It's not pleasant.

-A lot of the crew like

-to give something back to the area.

-We're not firemen

-or ambulance drivers.

-Will you go for a pint

-after a rescue?

-Who's buying?

-You're part of the team -

-it's your round!

-The natural beauty

-of the Lleyn Peninsula...

-..has inspired many artists.

-Wini Jones Lewis loves painting

-in her studio in Morfa Nefyn.

-What technique are you using

-to create this painting?

-I'm using acrylic and a palette.

-It's a very basic palette.

-I've lost the handle but I like it.

-I've tried different palettes,

-I have around 20 of them.

-I always go back to this one.

-I'm building up

-the layers of paint right now.

-I don't want it to be dull.

-I like adding texture.

-You must spend hours in this studio.

-Yes. My husband is left in peace

-to watch football.

-It's a lovely house.

-You have a tea room downstairs

-where you sell tea and cakes.

-You also have an art gallery.

-I wanted to create a shop window

-for my own paintings...

-..and for the paintings of artists

-inspired by the Lleyn Peninsula...

-..and the landscapes of Gwynedd.

-I love seeing people

-coming here for their holidays.

-I like seeing tourists appreciating

-our village and coastline.

-It inspires me

-to go walking along the cliffs.

-Why deprive

-someone else of that pleasure?

-I want people to enjoy the area.

-I want them to come here

-and spend their money.

-Do you sell many paintings?

-Do you sell many paintings?

-

-Yes, yes.

-I don't expect everyone

-to like my work...

-..but I hope it appeals to some.

-I hope many visit the gallery.

-It's my way of brightening up

-their day. That's why I do it.

-Our journey ends where we started,

-back in Porthdinllaen...

-..as the fishermen return

-after a day out at sea.

-What have these lads caught, Owie?

-What have these lads caught, Owie?

-

-Whelks.

-They've caught quite a few.

-Where will they be taking them?

-A lorry will call here tonight to

-transport the whelks to Fleetwood.

-Where will they go from there?

-They used to be exported to Korea.

-Do the locals eat whelks?

-No, not many.

-They're not very tasty.

-They're like rubber.

-They're like rubber.

-

-Don't tell anyone that.

-Gruff, the harbour master.

-What exactly does a harbour master

-do on a lovely day such as this?

-I'm enjoying myself today.

-It's such a lovely day.

-I look after the place

-and fix the moorings.

-I just make sure

-everything runs smoothly.

-Are you here every day?

-Every day, yes.

-There's always something to do here.

-I'm forever

-sorting out the moorings.

-How do they catch the whelks?

-They have five-gallon drums

-with bait inside them.

-There are holes in the drums

-to help them float.

-They leave a dead crab inside

-to attract the whelks.

-That's the bait that attracts them.

-You'll also find them

-in lobster pots.

-They fill them up.

-What do you think of these whelks?

-Have you ever eaten one?

-No, and I never will.

-It's like a piece of leather.

-They're nice to look at.

-Well, yes.

-I wouldn't want to eat one.

-This one's been rather lucky.

-This one's been saved.

-I'm going to take it home.

-It can live in a tub in the garden.

-What are prices like nowadays?

-I don't really know. I haven't

-spoken to Ken for a while.

-What about lobsters?

-Prices are low.

-Last year...

-..I was talking to Ken one Thursday

-after the lorry had left.

-He said that the price was less

-than 4 per lb for the first time.

-When I visit Cardiff,

-I always visit the market.

-I know it very well.

-I noticed a lobster

-which weighed 1.5lbs.

-It was 23.95!

-Ken would have received 6 for it.

-That's a huge markup.

-Someone's making money somewhere.

-Do you like sunbathing at all?

-Not sunbathing!

-I go out in a boat...

-..to make the most of the sunshine.

-Wonderful.

-We have a whelk each.

-We need something

-to wash it down with. Ty Coch?

-If you're buying.

-If you're buying.

-

-We'll have half a shandy. Come on.

-S4C Subtitles by Simian 04 Cyf.