Emyr Davies Cefn Gwlad

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-When you visit a lovely area such

-as this - I'm in the Banw Valley...

-..you want to get to know the place,

-its people, and local events.

-I've discovered just the man

-to tell me about the Banw Valley.

-Emyr Davies is a historian,

-a poet, a singer...

-..and he was raised in this area.

-We'll have a great time

-in his company.

-April 2015

-On its journey through the Banw

-Valley in Montgomeryshire...

-..the old river passes

-through places like Llangadfan...

-..Llanerfyl and Llanfair Caereinion.

-Emyr Davies was born in the village

-of Y Foel, near Llangadfan.

-He takes great pleasure

-in driving along local roads.

-You've lived in this area

-all your life.

-You were born in Y Foel

-and you still live locally.

-Did you ever move away to work?

-I've spent just two years

-away from the area...

-..when I was in the army.

-I was in the Army Catering Corps.

-Preparing food?

-Yes, food for the soldiers.

-It must have been

-an unusual experience.

-If you enjoy breaking eggs,

-you should join the army!

-We had to fry 600 eggs

-every morning.

-Six hundred eggs?!

-Six hundred eggs?!

-

-Yes.

-Six hundred eggs!

-You got used to it.

-Then you came back.

-Yes.

-I worked in a bakery in Llanfair

-for many years...

-..baking bread and cakes

-for local people.

-In 1964, I think it was...

-..I was offered a job

-with the Pearl insurance company.

-I worked with the company

-for almost 30 years.

-Really?

-I became a deputy manager,

-covering a very wide area.

-In this area, there's a valley

-with a very strange name...

-..considering it's located in Wales.

-It's called Cwm Canada.

-The origin of this name

-is uncertain.

-But for Emyr,

-it's a very familiar spot.

-Are there any famous people

-who lived in the area?

-Famous people and characters -

-and there was also a king.

-A king lived in Cwm Canada -

-John Evans, Ffridd Newydd...

-..located down there.

-John Evans

-was called King of Pencoed.

-He was in charge of deciding

-when to burn gorse...

-..and when to cut rushes.

-He had to take nesting birds

-into account...

-..so they wouldn't be disturbed.

-He supervised grazing rights.

-Everyone's sheep would graze

-in the same places every year.

-You'd know where to find your sheep.

-Sheep grazed on land around Pencoed.

-I have a list of the holders.

-It's strange, after spending

-six months on lowland...

-..the sheep knew where to go

-when they returned to the mountain.

-Yes, sheep are clever!

-That's very interesting.

-There should be someone acting

-in that capacity nowadays.

-Gorse needs burning.

-Land covered in gorse, left unburnt

-for years, is no use to anyone.

-It wouldn't cost much

-to employ such a person.

-One person could look after

-an area such as this.

-It would make a better system.

-In those days, he supervised

-common land rights.

-That's the important thing.

-That's the important thing.

-

-There are no boundaries.

-But you must have rules.

-I remember, back in the 1970s,

-common land was registered...

-..and people wanted to erect fences.

-There was huge opposition to this.

-This piece of common land

-covered 750 acres.

-It had to be a person

-who knew how to deal with people.

-After retiring

-from the insurance business...

-..Emyr had a lot more time

-on his hands...

-..to dedicate to his main interest -

-writing poetry about his area.

-He has published a superb collection

-of his work - O Ben y Foel.

-With this book

-and my previous book...

-..I tried to make my poems

-intelligible.

-In my opinion, there's no purpose

-in writing poetry...

-..if people can't understand it.

-If you want people

-to read in Welsh...

-..they must be able to understand

-what they read.

-I record deaths and marriages...

-..I record, you know...

-..eightieth and ninetieth birthdays

-and so on...

-..and landscapes.

-I enjoy describing

-something that I see.

-One of the most notable features

-of the Banw Valley...

-..is Moel Bentyrch.

-The landscape is impressive and

-it has had a great impact on Emyr.

-"From the top of Y Foel,

-you can see the world

-"The lovely valley,

-its length and breadth

-"Behind you stands Yr Aran Fawr

-"And the rocks of great Cader Idris

-"Before you, there is golden land

-"And the glories of our dear shire

-"From the top of Y Foel

-on a pleasant evening

-"You'll see perfection all around

-"But the east wind is blowing in

-"Corrupting and defiling

-the language

-"And if, from Y Foel,

-you can see the world

-"Do you feel it changing?

-"From the top of Y Foel

-on a quiet day

-"I imagine hearing the tower bell

-"Calling brave soldiers to battle

-"To fight for our country's survival

-"And to crush the enemy

-"That corrupts

-and destroys our language

-"From the top of Y Foel,

-I can still see

-"What is, to me, an ideal world

-"And I dream, a foolish wish

-"For an age that shall never return

-"And I, the watcher

-"Deceive myself

-"That the picture

-remains unchanged."

-Good gracious!

-What on earth are we looking at?

-Dei, let me tell you first of all...

-..that this is a dream come true,

-for me.

-It's been 44 years

-since I last visited this place.

-I climbed up another way, that time.

-We had our children with us.

-We stood here, looking

-at this magnificent scenery.

-We're looking down

-on Llanfair Caereinion, are we?

-Yes, close to those dark trees.

-In the poem...

-..I refer to "the tower bell

-calling brave soldiers to battle"...

-..to fight against the extinction

-of our language.

-The east wind

-represents the English language.

-Moel Bentyrch stands

-as a kind of icon for the valley.

-It's situated between Llanfair

-and the Banw Valley.

-It symbolises the difference between

-the old culture of the valley...

-..and anglicisation

-in Llanfair Caereinion.

-Moel Bentyrch represents

-the separation of so many things.

-It's a special place.

-You've brought me here - I thought

-I knew every place in Wales...

-..but Dai Jones, looking over

-these valleys, is astounded!

-I've travelled through all of them.

-I must admit, I'm astounded too,

-as I look around.

-It's magnificent.

-All those fields.

-I know all these places well.

-I used to collect insurance money.

-All these places are familiar to me.

-Familiar places.

-Insurance collectors had a bad

-reputation in the old days...

-..they were called 'death hunters'.

-There was a gravedigger I knew

-who took out insurance.

-The insurance collector

-went to collect his money...

-..one Monday morning...

-..and the book appeared, out of a

-grave, in the gravedigger's hand!

-A passing wag commented,

-"They don't leave you alone...

-"..even when you're gone!"

-You used to sing at eisteddfodau...

-..back in the days when you were

-an insurance collector.

-Emrys Roberts called me a star

-of the insurance world!

-You mention singing.

-You need a lot of time

-to learn how to sing.

-Working in insurance and singing

-did not go well together.

-I would sing - I'd rehearse songs

-and practise my solos...

-..as I drove along in my car,

-on my travels.

-I'd sing Tyrd, Olau Mwyn

-and all the other songs.

-What else did I sing?

-Eri Tu - Maldwyn

-taught me to sing Eri Tu.

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-The John Hughes Memorial Chapel

-is situated in Pontrobert.

-It's a significant building in

-the history of Methodism in Wales...

-..the chapel where Ann Griffiths

-of Dolwar Fach worshipped.

-This place has had

-a great influence on Emyr.

-It's historic.

-Dear me, this spot has a great deal

-of history attached to it.

-Do lots of people

-still visit this place?

-Tell me about the interior.

-What are the tools and equipment

-on display?

-It was used as a carpenter's

-workshop for many years...

-..a long time ago...

-..before it was taken over

-by the current trust.

-Evelyn, my wife, can remember

-playing at being a preacher...

-..in John Hughes's old pulpit.

-It's very unusual.

-The atmosphere is peaceful -

-heavenly, even.

-I'd say that's the most

-striking thing about the place.

-It's as if the walls

-are permeated with history.

-Nia Rhosier has done incredible work

-in recent years...

-..and today it's a religious centre,

-a centre for prayer.

-Plygeiniau are held here

-at 6.00am on Christmas morning...

-..and they're a great success.

-But the old building

-is in a precarious state.

-There should be grants available...

-..such buildings

-are an integral part of our history.

-In my view, we Welsh people

-neglect our heritage.

-We neglect such things.

-We're willing enough to spend money

-on big sports events...

-..in Cardiff and in South Wales.

-But when it comes to Wales's

-true history and heritage...

-..we're very apathetic

-in our support, which is sad.

-Such places are important to us

-as a nation.

-Have you written a poem

-about this place?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-Will you read it for us?

-After one of my visits, I went home

-and wrote a letter to Ann Griffiths.

-A metaphorical letter, of course.

-"Dear Ann

-"Standing here among the myrtles

-"You saw Christ alive

-"The object of your love

-"In this place,

-the song of the worthy olive tree

-"And the tree well planted

-"Changed the course of your life

-"In this place,

-in Ruth and John's warm company

-"Your feelings of devotion

-were put into words

-"And as you knelt in this spot

-"God himself

-answered your fervent cry

-"In Dolwar, with your family

-"You often prayed

-that you might stay

-"Through all your days

-in Christ's company

-"And Calvary and its wound

-"Enabled you to continue

-carrying the cross

-"Tonight, I feel the warmth

-of your presence

-"Emanating from the walls

-"And into my soul."

-John Hughes served as a mentor

-for Ann Griffiths.

-He married Ruth, who worked

-as a maid at Dolwar Fach.

-She became the wife of John Hughes.

-There were rumours that John Hughes

-took a fancy to Ann.

-There was some gossip.

-But we certainly know

-that this is the place...

-..where she found the inspiration

-to write her hymns...

-..and John Hughes

-encouraged her to do so.

-The poem that you read contains

-a reference to one of Ann's hymns.

-"There he stands among the myrtles."

-The sonnet contains references...

-..to three or four

-of Ann Griffiths' hymns.

-"The tree well planted," "the worthy

-olive tree," "carrying the cross."

-They're woven into the sonnet.

-The Twrch river valley lies

-a few miles from the Banw Valley.

-There used to be a wooden bridge

-across the river...

-..providing access

-to Nant yr Helig Farm.

-Emyr is very fond

-of this peaceful valley.

-I'm a poet.

-A poet of my area.

-I believe my function is to record

-local events and places.

-I chronicle these things

-as a record for the future.

-I'm not saying they're important

-poems, or anything like that.

-But I hope they're understood.

-They're combinations of words...

-..that serve

-to express your feelings.

-I listen...

-The book contains a poem about

-listening to the tranquillity...

-..by Nant yr Helig bridge.

-It's a spot for listening.

-All you hear

-is the sound of the river.

-Lower down,

-there are natural cascades...

-..the river descends step by step -

-the steps are about three feet high.

-When it's in full flow,

-the water foams and bubbles.

-It's these sounds that make

-different places so distinct.

-You hear birds - birds' wings...

-..fluttering in the air.

-There aren't any other noises.

-None of the noises of ordinary life.

-"Feeling the tranquillity

-by Nant yr Helig bridge

-"One evening in May

-"Eagerly anticipating

-the cuckoo's two-note call

-"From the pine trees

-on the hillside

-"Listening to the tranquillity

-by Nanty yr Helig bridge

-"And a lark hovers above

-"A breeze whispers

-through the copse

-"Woolly clouds sail the sky

-"Sitting quietly

-by Nant yr Helig bridge

-"Listening to the water's babble

-"As it falls like silver

-in a shower of cascades

-"And the breeze is a tranquil balm

-"As I listen to the tranquillity

-by Nant yr Helig bridge

-"With bluebells on either side

-"Bees gather nectar,

-humming contentment

-"Notes of melodies

-pipe from the hedgerows

-"The tranquillity I feel

-by Nant yr Helig bridge

-"Makes me contented and happy

-"I can daydream

-and wander in my imagination

-"Old paths where my father walked."

-Llys Mwyn, where Emyr

-and his wife, Evelyn, live...

-..stands above the village

-of Llangadfan.

-They provide a welcome and food

-for the area's wild birds.

-You're very kind to the birds, Emyr.

-Look at this.

-Do you know what it's for?

-Keeping pheasants away?

-Keeping pheasants away from the top.

-But we haven't been able to keep

-grey squirrels and doves away...

-..those ring doves, collar doves.

-They can get in and out.

-You provide food and water.

-We provide food and water

-every morning.

-Evelyn brings the water.

-I put balls of food out.

-It's an expensive job.

-I can imagine.

-I've seen how much

-a bag of bird food costs.

-It's cheaper than it used to be.

-It comes from Brazil.

-It's impossible to exaggerate

-the beauty of this spot.

-The house has lovely views.

-We have to put up with this view

-every morning!

-Amazingly,

-it never remains the same.

-It looks different each morning.

-There's a limerick I wrote.

-"One morning I rose very early

-"The valley below looked so lovely

-"The shadow of dawn

-"Enshrouded the morn

-"Spring scents filled the air

-with their beauty."

-This is your chapel, Moriah.

-Yes, Moriah in Llanfair Caereinion.

-Is it old?

-Is it old?

-

-This chapel was built in 1872.

-There had been an earlier

-Methodist chapel in Llanfair.

-David Davies of Llandinam

-contributed generously...

-..towards building this chapel.

-After you, sir.

-After you, sir.

-

-Thank you.

-We don't use this entrance much,

-these days.

-I'll open the door.

-My father was a deacon

-at this chapel.

-He chewed tobacco.

-When he entered the chapel...

-..he'd reach the top step,

-have an extra chew...

-..then he'd remove the tobacco

-from his mouth...

-..and put it on a little table.

-One day, I looked - and there were

-20 lumps of tobacco, all in a row!

-Chewing tobacco

-was popular at that time.

-Yes.

-Shall we go in?

-The chapel is well-maintained.

-Yes, the women do an excellent job

-of looking after the chapel.

-Let's find a place...

-..somewhere for you

-to rest your feet.

-There's an organ, too.

-There's an organ, too.

-

-A piano and an organ.

-How many people attend this chapel

-on a Sunday?

-About 35 of us.

-That's including the minister.

-But special services

-can attract about 80 people.

-The singing is always good.

-It's a good chapel for singing.

-How long have you been a member?

-I was accepted as a member in 1943.

-I've attended this chapel regularly

-ever since.

-I wasn't so loyal

-during my teens, though.

-Other things demand your attention.

-But I like being a member,

-and I'm the current treasurer.

-I also write the announcements.

-It's getting more difficult

-to arrange preachers.

-They're becoming a rare breed.

-But services still take place

-every Sunday.

-I've always known you

-as a soloist...

-..and I'm sure you're one of the

-leading singers at this chapel.

-Yes, I do my best.

-What's your favourite hymn?

-Here's one of them -

-I have several favourites.

-Don't sing all of them!

-Anadla, Anadl Ior...

-..Breathe On Me, Breath Of God,

-sung to the melody Trentham.

-Let's hear it -

-and you have a pitch fork!

-EMYR HUMS

-# Breathe on me, Breath of God

-# Fill me with life anew

-# That I may love

-# What thou dost love

-# And do what thou wouldst do

-# Breathe on me, Breath of God

-# Until my heart is pure

-# Until with thee

-# I will one will

-# To do

-# And to endure #

-S4C Subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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