Rocesi Llif a Morthwyl Cefn Gwlad

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-This programme

-is a little different from usual.

-I'm in Pembrokeshire

-to meet three women...

-..who carry out work which

-isn't usually associated with women.

-Come with me to see what it is.

-Women Who Saw And Hammer

-April 2010

-This is Margaret Rhys

-from Dinas Cross.

-I'm used to seeing Margaret

-as an accompanist...

-..at eisteddfodau and concerts.

-I've had the honour

-of singing with her many times.

-Margaret, I never thought

-I'd see you doing this!

-Neither did I!

-What are you doing?

-Are you making some kind of joint?

-Yes. They're called dovetails.

-I've measured them out.

-This helps.

-It doesn't take

-so much manual effort to cut them.

-This helps a little.

-Did you get the pattern from a book?

-No.

-There are machines

-that can make dovetails.

-But I had to measure this along the

-side, to fit the side of the drawer.

-This is a drawer.

-It's a lot of work

-which involves manual work.

-But it helps to use this machine

-at the beginning to start off.

-How did you become interested

-in this?

-You've been doing it for a while.

-You've been doing it for a while.

-

-About four years.

-You've made many pieces of furniture.

-Yes, many.

-You come here once a week, do you?

-You come here once a week, do you?

-

-Yes, on Tuesdays, usually.

-I arrive in the morning

-and stay all day.

-I go home about 6.00pm.

-I'd better go now,

-before you tell me off!

-When I sang a wrong note years ago,

-you told me off!

-That was many years ago!

-That was many years ago!

-

-But we're still friends!

-Yes!

-Marian, you look fearsome

-with that heavy hammer.

-This can be dangerous.

-I can well believe it!

-This is Marian Rogers.

-I know her husband well.

-I didn't know you did this.

-I didn't know you did this.

-

-I've been doing this for years.

-I enjoy it very much.

-You must have made a lot

-of furniture over the years.

-Yes. I started - when was it?

-In 1998.

-Really? You follow instructions

-to make the items.

-This looks very well made to me.

-But it doesn't fit properly.

-But you'll get it to fit.

-Look at it. But it'll come.

-So long as I don't hinder you.

-It fits on that side.

-And it fits...

-..on that side.

-Do you follow plans or do you rely

-on your own measurements?

-From the outset...

-..you work out what's needed

-and what the measurements should be.

-It must be a long working day.

-No, the day passes quickly

-as I'm in good company.

-Harry Wears organized

-the furniture-making courses.

-His son, Nick, has now

-taken over as the instructor.

-Cut the dovetails out on this end.

-Betty Howells, you're making

-something rather unusual.

-Yes, a sheet music cabinet.

-Yes, a sheet music cabinet.

-

-Is it for a family member?

-It's for me.

-For your home?

-For your home?

-

-Yes.

-My sister-in-law has one...

-..and it's so handy

-for storing sheets of music.

-So I thought I'd try to make one.

-It has lots of drawers.

-Yes.

-One of the drawers

-will be different from the others.

-It will look like three drawers,

-but it's one big drawer.

-Instead of opening downwards,

-it will open out a little...

-..so that I can then pull it out.

-It will make it easier

-to get into the drawer.

-I won't have to rummage around.

-You obviously enjoy this

-and look forward to coming here.

-Yes.

-It's lovely. It's really nice

-to be able to come here.

-This smallholding

-is called Glanduad Fach.

-It's in Felindre Farchog

-in Pembrokeshire.

-It's the home of Marian Rogers

-and her husband Alan.

-Marian has a collection

-of fine pieces of furniture...

-..that she herself has made.

-She lives

-in a wonderfully peaceful location!

-Hello, there!

-Hello, Dai.

-Hello, Dai.

-

-You got back safely.

-Did you make the bench

-and the table outside?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-Won't they rot outside?

-No, they can withstand the weather.

-The wood is well oiled.

-The wood is well oiled.

-

-This is a beautiful place.

-You live in an ideal place.

-You live in an ideal place.

-

-Yes, it's a beautiful place.

-I've travelled past many times...

-..unaware that a female

-cabinet maker lived here.

-Did you make this dresser?

-Did you make this dresser?

-

-Yes, I made the dresser.

-I needed a dresser, but there was

-no room in the old kitchen.

-So I told Alan, "If we have

-a new kitchen, I'll make a dresser."

-Tell me more about the dresser.

-What wood did you use?

-It's maple wood.

-A young lad from Beulah

-made the kitchen.

-He used these decorations

-in his work...

-..so I decided to use the same

-pattern as a finishing touch...

-..at the top of the dresser.

-How long did it take you to make?

-Oh, it must have taken about a year.

-I finished and brought

-the lower part home first.

-Then I made the top part

-and brought it home and attached it.

-I did that after bringing it home.

-The drawers have dovetails,

-as they call them.

-Those were the most difficult part.

-Those were the most difficult part.

-

-How many are there?

-There must be lots.

-There must be lots.

-

-Six of them.

-Is it easy to work with maple?

-Is it easy to work with maple?

-

-No. It's similar to oak.

-It's a hardwood.

-Mahogany is a softer wood.

-But it marks easily.

-If you make mistakes,

-the marks are worse.

-With maple, you can rub marks away

-to make the surface smooth.

-I suppose you must use wood

-that can tolerate a lot of heat...

-..so that the joints

-don't work loose over time.

-You have to be careful.

-Maple is worse than oak

-in that respect.

-If you use a piece of wood

-to hold the top together...

-..to affix three pieces of wood,

-for example...

-..I had to work

-on those three pieces together...

-..to stop them from warping.

-It's worse than oak for warping.

-Well, it's an excellent piece.

-I'm quite proud of it, I must say.

-I'm sure there are more. Excellent!

-Right, Dai. Come in here -

-there are more pieces in here.

-What about this?

-What about this?

-

-This is a table.

-It's called a console table.

-It's made from oak.

-It's made from oak.

-

-It's sturdy, isn't it.

-A corner cupboard.

-Well, half a corner cupboard.

-I didn't make a top for it.

-It's nice as it is.

-It fits in the corner.

-Very good.

-Come in here, Dai.

-Here's a wooden horse.

-This was the first item I made.

-This was your first piece, was it?

-It took me about a year.

-Making this horse gave me more

-pleasure than making anything else.

-Is that because you made it

-for the grandchildren?

-I think that may be the reason.

-It makes me emotional,

-"Oh, the poor dab!"

-I can imagine your grandchildren

-saying, "Mam-gu made this!"

-Yes, that's right!

-There's a time capsule

-inside the horse.

-We put items

-relating to the family's history...

-..in the time capsule.

-Items such as family photos

-and pre-decimal coins.

-Alan has plenty to spare!

-The horse has a big belly!

-The horse has a big belly!

-

-They're inside its belly!

-And a copy of that week's Tivyside

-Advertiser and a Western Mail.

-So if anyone takes it apart,

-it'll be interesting.

-This horse has such character.

-It's hard to believe

-that it's the first item you made.

-Yes. And it can take

-the weight of an adult.

-It's strong enough

-to carry an adult.

-There's a lovely piece of furniture

-behind me.

-It's a hi-fi unit.

-Is it made from a different wood?

-Is it made from a different wood?

-

-Yes, it's mahogany.

-There are other nice pieces

-in this room too.

-I made every single piece

-in this room.

-The television stand

-is made of mahogany.

-The other pieces are made of oak...

-..apart from the coffee table,

-which is also mahogany.

-Let me show you one more room.

-The gaffer is home!

-The gaffer is home!

-

-Hello, Dai. How are you?

-Very well.

-Aren't you working today?

-I hope the others

-are doing some work.

-It's amazing, what your wife can do.

-It's amazing, what your wife can do.

-

-She's clever, isn't she.

-Do you knit or sew?

-Do you knit or sew?

-

-I'm good at sewing.

-After selling machinery all day,

-it makes a change.

-It's rare to see

-so many home-made pieces.

-I'm proud of what she's done.

-The dresser is amazing.

-She made two other dressers, for our

-daughters in Llanelli and Eglwyswrw.

-They're very similar.

-Tell me about these pieces.

-This is a computer desk.

-The door opens like this.

-Can he use a computer?

-Yes, he can!

-I haven't used it today, though.

-Well done!

-That's mahogany,

-like the other pieces.

-There's a sideboard over there...

-..and a table

-with room to store wine bottles.

-It's a large console table.

-Has Marian mentioned...

-..who carried all this furniture

-home from the workshop?

-No, but she said

-that was the easiest task!

-Really? I transported them all

-in an Ifor Williams trailer!

-We have to use a trailer.

-She spends just one day a week

-at the workshop...

-..yet she has managed to produce

-all this furniture.

-How long have you been doing this?

-How long have you been doing this?

-

-Twelve years.

-I do my carpentry work

-every Tuesday.

-I don't do anything else.

-If you had your own workshop,

-would you be there every day?

-Yes, I would.

-I'd be there

-whenever I had something to do.

-Extraordinary, fascinating

-and a pleasure to see.

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-This is the most enjoyable work

-I've done for ages...

-..looking at furniture

-made by these women.

-They've worked hard.

-Betty Howells lives here

-in Crundale in Pembrokeshire.

-Let's see if she's at home. Hello!

-Hello!

-Hello!

-

-How are you?

-Fine, thank you.

-Come inside.

-Come inside.

-

-There's furniture everywhere.

-That's a nice table.

-Did you make it?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-It's a big table.

-Yes. I wanted a large table.

-It's nice that the whole family

-can sit around the table for a meal.

-On a fine day,

-it's nice to go outside...

-..even if it's only

-for a cup of tea.

-It's awkward

-if the table isn't big enough.

-Did you design the table?

-Did you design the table?

-

-We designed it together.

-Nick is good.

-How long have you been

-taking these classes?

-Two years to last week.

-Really?

-You've done so much work already.

-Is it something

-you were determined to learn?

-No, it happened by accident.

-I wanted a table like that one,

-with a chess board on the top.

-I asked Nick

-if he'd make one for me...

-..and he said, "No, I won't.

-If you want it, make it yourself."

-I said, "I can't,"

-but he told me to try it.

-He promised me I could do it -

-and I did.

-It's a lovely piece.

-A lot of your work involves a lathe.

-Everything I've made so far,

-apart from the table...

-..has been made using a lathe.

-These have been turned.

-These have been turned.

-

-That kind of work isn't easy.

-No. The items must be held

-in a certain way.

-If you don't use the correct

-technique, the blade jerks back.

-I'm particularly impressed with this.

-It's well made.

-Nick wasn't sure what I wanted.

-I tried to explain to him

-and we drew a sketch together...

-..and here's the finished product.

-This was plain,

-but I said I didn't want it plain...

-..so we decorated it like this.

-Nick's sister did the upholstery.

-How long did it take you?

-You went to your first lesson...

-Did it last about an hour?

-I attended for half a day

-at the start.

-But I felt, by the time I got there

-and started to make something...

-..it was time to finish and someone

-else would take my place.

-After a term, during which

-I was making that table...

-..I felt it was too slow and I asked

-Nick if I could go full-time.

-I finished the table

-after three full days.

-It took me 17 days in all

-to make that table.

-And I had never done

-any carpentry before.

-You must feel tremendous pride

-when looking around your home.

-Well, sometimes you think,

-"Did I really make that?"

-Yes, it does give me pleasure.

-My favourite item, maybe, is this.

-I had to cut all this out.

-I had to draw the picture,

-then transfer it on to the wood...

-..and then I had to cut it all out.

-It's all a single piece.

-It's all a single piece.

-

-It's amazing.

-I enjoy seeing what you've done.

-These items

-have a certain character.

-After a hard day in the workshop...

-..Margaret Rhys and Marian Rogers

-occasionally find time to relax.

-What could be better

-than a golf course beside the sea?

-# Merch Y Mynydd #

-Lowri Evans

-# A maid of the mountain,

-that's who I am

-# A maid of the mountain #

-Ooh!

-Did you film that?!

-If that's not on film,

-I'll be furious!

-Is this where it's all happening?

-I could hear you laughing

-from down below!

-There's a strong wind.

-There's a strong wind.

-

-Yes. We're up high.

-How many times a week

-do you play golf?

-Twice, if we can.

-I don't play so often.

-You play more regularly.

-Wednesdays and Fridays, usually.

-I saw Margaret

-walking on the skyline...

-..and she looked

-like a proper golfer!

-I'm sure!

-Yes, indeed!

-You've been playing golf for years,

-haven't you?

-We've been playing for years,

-but we haven't made much progress!

-Nine women started playing

-at the same time.

-Nine Welsh speakers.

-The golf club here in Newport

-is convenient for you.

-And look at the view!

-It's magnificent.

-It's magnificent.

-

-Who'd want to go anywhere else?

-You have the sea and the hills.

-And the wind!

-Marian, don't you travel around,

-playing golf? Come on!

-You travel around.

-I'm going tomorrow.

-I'm going tomorrow.

-

-Alan told me.

-I'm going away tomorrow

-for three days.

-To Caerphilly.

-Bryn Meadows in Caerphilly.

-I'm going with other women.

-It's an all-female group.

-I've played golf once or twice.

-It's something I'd like to do.

-It keeps you fit.

-The views are magnificent.

-All golf courses have fine views,

-though not as fine as these.

-These buggies

-mean you don't have to walk so much.

-We walk, we don't use a buggy.

-Not yet.

-Perhaps I won't use a buggy

-when I play golf.

-# In my mother's little border

-# The prettiest flowers grew #

-This is the home of Margaret Rhys

-and her husband Morys.

-Y Sgubor is in Pembrokeshire.

-These flowers are lovely.

-Let's go and see the furniture.

-Hello, hello!

-Hello, hello!

-

-Hello!

-Blimey!

-Margaret,

-there's furniture everywhere!

-Yes.

-And outside in the back garden too.

-It's hard to believe you were able

-to handle those large chairs.

-They're heavy.

-They're heavy.

-

-Those are very heavy.

-The wind will never blow them over.

-Where do you get your ideas?

-I was discussing this with Marian.

-You have a young grandchild.

-Is that the reason

-why you're driven to do this?

-I think so.

-The item that's given me the

-greatest pleasure over the years...

-..is this box for Gruffudd,

-my grandson.

-He can use that to play draughts.

-That's right.

-What's the purpose of the box?

-What's the purpose of the box?

-

-It's a toy box.

-It's a toy box.

-The lid lifts off like this.

-I thought it looked a bit boring,

-just a box.

-But you can remove

-the sides as well.

-I've carved his name on here -

-Gruffudd.

-Well done!

-In case he forgot!

-It's a very large box.

-Yes.

-The back comes off too.

-Your next problem...

-Your next problem...

-

-It's heavy.

-Your next problem

-is to fill it with toys.

-I thought it would be nice for him

-to be able to get in and out of it.

-He can pretend it's a farm,

-or sit in it, or whatever.

-I'm very proud of this.

-It's such a clever idea.

-And look at the skilled work

-around the corners.

-Don't look too closely!

-It's superb.

-It was hard work, I must admit.

-A lot of work.

-What's that behind you?

-What's that behind you?

-

-No, this was a wedding present.

-From someone else.

-I must say, your work

-doesn't look out of place.

-Fair play.

-I think that cupboard may have

-sparked my interest in carpentry.

-A member of the chapel made this

-when Morys and I got married.

-I love it.

-I love its colour

-and the grain of the wood.

-It was a very special gift

-to receive.

-Yes.

-If it inspired Margaret Rhys to make

-furniture, it's done a good job.

-I'm behind you.

-This is the first piece I made.

-A piano stool.

-I didn't have a piano stool

-and I needed one.

-I hadn't seen one I wanted to buy,

-so that was the first thing I made.

-I'm proud of it.

-Next door to the place

-where the classes are held...

-..my sister does upholstery.

-She helped me with this.

-So you did all of it.

-So you did all of it.

-

-Yes. She just showed me the way.

-What a good start.

-I'm not surprised that you chose to

-make something to go with the piano.

-It was something I needed.

-Oh, here we are!

-A remarkable room!

-Well, I don't know.

-There's this.

-I have to admit,

-I nearly gave up on this.

-The drawers.

-I spent three whole days

-fitting this drawer alone.

-But they're such useful pieces.

-All the items you women have made

-are pieces in daily use.

-And there's this.

-This is handy.

-For about two months,

-when I slept in this room...

-..I kept a mallet

-by the side of the bed...

-..because I couldn't open...

-..because I couldn't open...

-

-Because of rats?

-No! Because I couldn't

-open or close any of the drawers!

-I wonder how Morys felt

-about you and your mallet!

-He had to behave himself!

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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