Cofio Gwersylloedd yr Urdd Cofio

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-# Remember

-# Remember #

-# Let us praise our forefathers... #

-This week,

-we remember the Urdd camps.

-The socializing and friendship,

-the singing and walking...

-..the fun and the longing are all

-part of a nation's consciousness.

-Campers from north, south,

-east and west...

-..coming together and forming

-friendships that would last forever.

-Urdd Gobaith Cymru's

-first permanent camp...

-..was built in Llangrannog in 1932.

-Since then, hundreds of thousands

-of children and young people...

-..have experienced outdoor life,

-here and in Glan-llyn.

-Hundreds became officers,

-or swogs, at the camp.

-The memories come flooding back

-for some.

-Welcome to the Llangrannog camp.

-This is one of the world's

-most famous fields.

-As you know,

-Ifan ab Owen Edwards's dream...

-..was to establish this camp.

-Thousands of children have camped

-on this field over the years.

-The camp is not a school.

-By using sports,

-tours, folk dancing...

-..and all kinds

-of other activities...

-..we try to inspire

-these children...

-..and make them appreciate

-Welsh life.

-It was a huge responsibility.

-All these children

-would arrive in Llangrannog.

-Many of them would be leaving home

-for the first time.

-They'd be leaving Mam and Dad

-for the first time.

-You had dozens, even hundreds,

-of children around you.

-It was a responsibility.

-When I came to Llangrannog,

-I was around ten years old.

-It was nothing like this.

-It was very primitive.

-We slept in tents over there.

-The boys slept in tents

-and the girls slept in cabins.

-It was a very primitive place.

-From what I can remember,

-we were never idle there.

-They thought that if they kept us

-going all day, we'd sleep at night.

-This is the fourth time

-I've visited Llangrannog.

-My brothers have been here

-and I'm following their example.

-I come every year

-because I enjoy it.

-The girls stayed in a cabin

-on top of the hill.

-They were beyond our reach!

-Early on, that didn't bother me...

-..but as the years passed,

-I became more aware of them.

-The cabins were lovely.

-I loved my cabin.

-It was Nyth yr Wylan A

-or Nyth yr Wylan B.

-We had to clean every morning

-and keep the cabin tidy.

-I had a doll - I was a little baby!

-I remember placing my doll

-on my bed.

-The only thing that bothered me

-was going to the toilet at night.

-They were situated behind the cabin.

-I didn't like the dark!

-"Dear everyone,

-I attended chapel on Sunday...

-"..and praised the Lord."

-"Dear Auntie Edith,

-I'm enjoying myself immensely.

-"We arrived at 4.10 on Friday."

-I come here to look after the girls.

-We have over 130 girls here...

-..every week.

-I look after them.

-Some are missing their homes.

-I try to do my best for them.

-Others are ill occasionally.

-I try to look after them

-the best I can.

-A lot of the children had never been

-away from home before.

-It was quite an adventure for them.

-Some of them missed home.

-I cried the first evening.

-I missed my parents,

-I missed my home.

-We didn't have sleeping bags,

-nothing like that.

-We had blankets.

-No sheets, just blankets,

-on army cots.

-I found it quite tough, really.

-I was in tears on the first night,

-as was everyone else.

-I broke down on the bus.

-The rest of the children

-from Barmouth stared at me.

-I'll never forget

-one girl from South Wales.

-She cried incessantly.

-I told her, "Listen now, Linda"

-or whatever her name was...

-.."you'll be fine, don't worry.

-"We'll look after you."

-All she wanted to do

-was go home to her friends.

-"I want to go home to my friends."

-I was trying to comfort her.

-"I want to go home to my friends."

-I can remember the sound

-of her crying to this day.

-Something else that happened

-was the distribution of letters.

-A swog would arrive

-and stand on top of the steps...

-..in front of the canteen.

-The children would gather round.

-Names would be called out...

-..and children would receive

-a letter or a postcard.

-Some parents didn't send a letter

-and the children would be sad.

-Other children

-would receive letters.

-The post was very important.

-Hearing children

-the same age as us...

-..speaking a language

-that sounded like Welsh...

-..was quite a surprise.

-There was no TV

-and we hadn't heard it on the radio.

-They would say words

-like 'lan' and 'mas'.

-We didn't know

-what these words meant.

-Slowly, we realized

-what they were saying.

-We met youngsters

-from all parts of Wales...

-..north, south, east, west.

-Their dialect

-was so different to ours.

-Some say South Walians

-can't understand North Walians...

-..and vice versa.

-That's nonsense!

-I remember a frisson between boys

-from Brynaman and Llanuwchllyn.

-I'd lived in both places.

-The boys were very competitive

-on the sports field.

-You had to feed them -

-that was very important.

-It was quite a challenge to feed

-everyone with limited resources.

-One of the worst jobs

-was washing up afterwards.

-All the swogs had to do it in turn.

-Imagine that!

-We also had to slop out.

-You had to scrape the plate clean.

-The life of a swog

-wasn't all sweetness and light.

-It was hard work.

-I worked in the kitchen

-in Llangrannog.

-I lived relatively close

-to the camp.

-As a child, the camp

-was too close for me to stay.

-I was never a swog.

-I worked and earned some money -

-not a lot!

-I remember peeling potatoes.

-I can't remember how many people

-were staying there...

-..but I peeled all morning!

-For lunch, we'd serve meat,

-tinned carrots and tinned peas.

-Mrs Jones worked in the kitchen.

-I thought Mam was a good cook...

-..but Mrs Jones, she was special.

-She taught me how to make meringues,

-eclairs and buns.

-Mrs Jones's buns!

-They were unique.

-The children didn't eat them,

-nor did the swogs.

-They were kept for the dignitaries

-that visited the camp.

-It was so exciting to be away

-from home for a week...

-..eating sweets,

-drinking dandelion and burdock pop.

-It's the only time I ever drank it.

-If I drank a sip

-of that drink now...

-..all the memories

-would come flooding back.

-I don't fancy a swim today, or even

-dipping my toe in the water...

-..but before the days

-of the swimming pool here...

-..the campers would venture

-into the sea.

-Strict safety guidelines

-were in place.

-The best thing about Llangrannog

-is the wonderful spirit.

-Girls and boys

-from Welsh secondary schools.

-Students and lecturers

-from Welsh universities.

-They all come here

-to enjoy themselves.

-There was a lot of responsibility.

-You were in charge

-of all these children.

-The head of the camp, Ifan Isaac,

-made it perfectly clear...

-..that there was to be

-no tomfoolery.

-Ifan decided to set up

-a lifesaving team.

-What was it?

-A girl, of my choosing,

-would be sent out in a boat...

-..a hundred yards out to sea.

-One of us would lead

-a team of six lifesavers.

-We'd tie a rope around ourselves

-and walk into the sea.

-We'd go out and save the girl.

-We'd carry her back to the shore.

-It was a great experience!

-It didn't happen every day!

-We'd then show the children

-how to administer the kiss of life.

-I did it many times,

-but I never rescued a man!

-I don't remember any injuries,

-apart from my own!

-I was trying to be clever.

-There's a rock on the beach

-in Llangrannog.

-As a team of swogs, we made sure

-the children didn't go too far out.

-I climbed to the top of the rock.

-As I did so,

-a huge wave swept me off the rock.

-I held my hands up

-to shield my face...

-..but the rest of my body

-took the full impact on the rocks.

-I managed to swim out

-and walk back up.

-Everyone was screaming on the beach.

-I thought something had happened.

-I hadn't realized that the water

-was dripping off my body...

-..because I was walking

-out of the sea.

-At the same time, I was covered

-in blood from head to toe.

-The first time

-I visited Llangrannog...

-..I had a neatly-packed case

-and a letter inside it.

-I was told

-to hand over the letter...

-..to a nurse or medical officer

-on the campus.

-I was an asthma sufferer.

-The North Walian word for asthma

-had the same meaning as restriction.

-I handed over my letter

-to the nurse at the camp.

-She called me over

-and gave me some medicine.

-It was rather unpleasant.

-I swallowed the medicine

-and headed straight for the toilet.

-This happened

-day after day after day.

-I went back to the nurse

-to tell her I had diarrhoea.

-It became apparent that she had

-misunderstood our term for asthma.

-She came to the conclusion

-that I was constipated!

-Flippin' 'eck!

-I got to know that toilet

-like the back of my hand.

-I spent my first three days there.

-# Remember #

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-# Remember #

-From the wild waves

-here in Llangrannog...

-..we travel to the tranquillity

-of Bala Lake and the Glan-llyn camp.

-# Where? Down by the lake

-# Where? Down by the lake

-# Where? Down by the lake

-# I met a sweet young girl

-# Where? Down by the lake

-# Down by the lake #

-You drove in past the gate,

-from the main road...

-..and entered a Welsh world.

-For me, that was so very important.

-What was it like here?

-What was it like here?

-

-Just as it is today.

-It's easy to romanticize

-as you look back over 30 years...

-..but it was a wonderful place.

-We welcomed youngsters here.

-It was an island of Welsh life.

-This is a very Welsh area

-and county...

-..and we welcomed youngsters

-from all parts of Wales...

-..to this island of Welsh life.

-By introducing them

-to different activities...

-..we hoped to give them

-a healthy dose of Welsh life.

-In this house?

-It's strange to think back,

-but that was my summer holiday.

-I was a teacher at Llandovery

-College for five years...

-..and my summer holidays

-were spent teaching in Glan-llyn.

-That's quite sad in some ways...

-..but it says a lot

-about the society in Glan-llyn.

-The sun was always shining.

-I don't remember any rain.

-It was an enchanting place.

-When I was first appointed,

-I was here on my own.

-There were two or three

-maintenance staff.

-We also had kitchen staff.

-It was impossible

-to continue like that.

-A deputy was appointed - Dei Tomos.

-I came here

-straight from university in 1965.

-I loved mountaineering.

-I came here to help out

-and do some training.

-I started canoeing and trained

-in a centre on Anglesey.

-Sailing came next.

-Slowly, I started

-to enjoy water sports.

-I enjoyed outdoor pursuits.

-There were some major changes

-within 15 years.

-When I arrived,

-we'd only recently had electricity.

-Before then, we gave children

-paraffin lamps in their rooms.

-It's a frightening thought now!

-There was no electricity

-in Glan-llyn...

-..only tilley lamps and oil lamps.

-They were the only source of light.

-They had to be cleaned every day

-and then filled.

-We had to make sure

-they worked properly.

-Then we had to peel potatoes -

-tons of them.

-I'm pretty sure I washed

-tons and tons of potatoes...

-..over the course

-of four or five years.

-I was there for four or five years.

-I was lucky - I was paid

-to be there and lived camp life.

-# Holly-a-key-key

-and holly-a-cuckoo-cuckoo #

-Llangrannog during the early 1970s.

-The Urdd's aim was to raise

-children's awareness of Welsh life.

-This happened in Llangrannog

-and Glan-llyn.

-One activity was familiar

-to both camps - singing.

-# I walked until I returned... #

-There was a lot of singing.

-Some of the songs were very

-unfamiliar to some of us...

-..especially during

-our early visits.

-One of those was Ging Gang Goolie.

-# Ging gang goolie goolie

-goolie goolie wish-wash #

-The camps, especially Glan-llyn

-for the older children...

-..became a stage to nurture talent.

-One notable example

-in the world of music...

-..was Caryl.

-Sioned Mair and the rest of Sidan

-were in the same school.

-They were there.

-Without a doubt,

-they gained confidence there...

-..by performing

-in front of the others.

-The singing was very important.

-We sang day and night.

-By the time children were ten

-or eleven years old...

-..they knew dozens of songs...

-..which have stayed

-in the memory ever since.

-I remember realizing

-for the first time...

-..that Nkosi Sikelel'

-was South Africa's national anthem.

-I sang it thinking

-it was an incredible song...

-..someone had written

-in Llangrannog!

-I remember Dewi Bebb

-and two others...

-..singing about the country

-where Ali Baba's dad lived.

-You wouldn't get away with that now.

-We sang some strange songs.

-We learnt songs in Welsh -

-all the Welsh folk songs.

-You also had Nkosi Sikelel'.

-I remember singing a song

-about Mussolini.

-# Bing bong bing bong bay

-# Bing bong bing bong bay

-# Bing bong bing bong bay

-# Bing bong bing bong bay

-# Mountain stream,

-clear and bright... #

-There is one song I hate,

-and I heard it first in Glan-llyn.

-Bing bong bing bong bay!

-The first person to sing that song

-needs to be shot!

-I was learning more about

-the guitar, the piano and music...

-..and also about Welsh songs.

-I didn't know that much

-about Welsh-language music.

-I learnt Ar Lan Y Mor...

-..and other songs sung at the camp,

-such as Hogia Ni...

-..Un Gusan Fach F'Anwylyd

-and Pori Mae Yr Asyn.

-I'd never heard these songs before.

-My first visit to Glan-llyn...

-..was also my first experience

-of listening to Welsh pop music.

-I had no experience of it...

-..until I heard this young man

-playing a cheap guitar one night.

-We'd have musical nights

-at Glan-llyn.

-This boy started singing

-Gee Ceffyl Bach in a swing style.

-His name was Dafydd Iwan.

-It was the first time something

-like this had ever happened to me.

-During these musical nights...

-..the campers were allowed

-to perform.

-My friends from Pont-rhyd-y-fen

-were there - Hefin Elis...

-..my cousin, John Griffiths

-and Darrell Watkins.

-It was a valuable opportunity

-to perform in front of an audience.

-# Me and Wil, Wil and I

-# Me and Wil Wooden Leg!

-# The two of us, the only ones

-# Me and Wil Wooden Leg! #

-There was another star at Glan-llyn

-when I was there - Dewi Pws.

-He wasn't as famous as he is now...

-..but he was quite a character

-back then.

-Do you remember

-The House Of The Rising Sun?

-# There is a house in New Orleans

-they call the Rising Sun #

-It's not a three-chord song,

-but Dewi Pws knew all the chords.

-He taught me The House

-Of The Rising Sun on the guitar.

-That's Dewi Pws's greatest

-contribution to music in Wales!

-I didn't think that folk singing

-or cerdd dant singing...

-..attracted girls,

-but rock and roll did!

-It was a way of showing off.

-The guitar would appear

-at every opportunity.

-I'd sing the popular songs

-of the day with my friends.

-We used to sing

-Anglo-American songs...

-..and it was a way of showing off

-and attracting girls!

-Every time I went there,

-I'd meet someone new.

-I'd fall in love

-with some boy from somewhere.

-I didn't go there

-just for the boys...

-..but also for the singing!

-# ..has gone to jail

-# For stealing a barley loaf

-and two honeypots

-# Half a pound of sugar

-has gone missing

-# And no-one to search for it

-but me #

-It inspired me to sing in Welsh.

-Had there been no Urdd

-and no Glan-llyn...

-..I'd be singing in English now.

-# Me and Wil Wooden Leg! #

-Hooray!

-# Remember #

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-# Remember #

-Urdd Gobaith Cymru's

-first permanent camp...

-..was established in Llangrannog

-in 1932.

-The founder,

-Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards...

-..had his eye

-on another site, Glan-llyn.

-Sir Ifan had dreamt about developing

-Glan-llyn mansion since 1928.

-His opportunity came in 1948.

-The estate was up for sale

-and the mansion was empty.

-He made an application

-to the government to rent the place.

-Permission was granted

-and he was given every cooperation.

-The initial rent for the Urdd

-was 100 per annum.

-The whole area was a mess -

-it had been left untended.

-The gardens were growing wild.

-There were rhododendrons

-growing everywhere.

-The buildings were in a poor state.

-Sir Ifan faced a huge challenge

-when he took over in 1949.

-Because of my father's links

-with the Urdd...

-..Sir Ifan asked him

-to oversee the work.

-That's where the interesting story

-begins.

-Sir Ifan sent him a series

-of written instructions...

-..to Werddon, my home.

-I wrote to everyone by post.

-I knew everyone by post.

-I didn't meet anyone.

-It was a rather strange time.

-He sent detailed instructions

-about what should be done.

-Everything had to be done...

-..before the first visitors

-arrived in August 1950.

-When the Glan-llyn estate

-was sold in the early 1960s...

-..the Urdd had the means to buy it.

-When I started, I had to have a set

-of rules, fundamental principles...

-..that were adhered to...

-..in terms of safety on the lake,

-and living together here.

-That was explained to everyone from

-the off, including the officers...

-..in the hope that they

-would accept the responsibility.

-At the start of every week

-when I was in charge...

-..I would tell the young swogs...

-..who were responsible for children

-only slightly younger than them...

-..that if an accident occurred...

-..they would face questions

-from a coroner.

-That's a big statement.

-It's a statement of concern.

-The swogs were responsible

-for looking after children...

-..a long time before we had

-guidelines for health and safety.

-We knew we were responsible

-for the lives of children...

-..for a whole week.

-We were aware that their parents

-had the utmost faith in us...

-..but we also had fun here.

-Later, when I worked for the Urdd...

-..I took youngsters mountaineering

-on Crib Goch.

-I was taught to be disciplined

-when I camped at the Urdd centres.

-I remember

-taking youngsters climbing...

-..and someone became stuck

-on Crib Goch.

-Today, with all the health

-and safety guidelines...

-..I don't think we could do

-half the activities we did then.

-A pair of these

-was essential at both camps.

-If you didn't have boots,

-you could borrow a pair.

-They might not have fitted,

-but was the pain worth it?

-Walking mostly.

-Route marches. Forced marches.

-That's what we did.

-Walk.

-It was a way of tiring us out

-to make us sleep at night.

-I was part of the first group

-on the first-ever walk.

-This is going to be difficult

-for people to believe...

-..but I have photographs

-to prove it!

-It was the first walk

-the Urdd ever organized.

-We walked from Aberystwyth,

-to the mountains beyond the town.

-I remember staying in Hyddgen,

-an important site in Welsh history.

-The only person we saw in five days

-was a shepherd...

-..roaming Pumlumon.

-The day before we returned,

-we walked to Nant-y-Moch farm...

-..to see the brothers.

-The experience of being with them

-was remarkable...

-..for me, as an 18-year-old,

-and it has stayed with me.

-I didn't know a thing about them.

-He turned to my brother and asked,

-"What do you do?" He replied.

-"Where do you come from?"

-"Barmouth."

-"Barmouth?"

-He named my father.

-"Are you so-and-so's son?" "Yes."

-"His family's roots

-are half a mile from here."

-I didn't know that.

-He could tell us who we were

-without having met us before.

-They were intelligent people.

-The Nant-y-Moch area

-was under threat at the time.

-There were plans

-to drown the valley...

-..and create a dam

-to generate electricity.

-I had one nasty blister.

-Apart from that,

-it was a wonderful journey on foot.

-# And the cat

-has scratched little Johnny #

-Most campers arrived by bus,

-after a long journey...

-..which was often an eye-opener.

-I remember the bus journey up.

-Children from Ystalyfera...

-..shared a bus with children from

-Rhydfelen for part of the journey.

-They were the only two Welsh-medium

-schools in South Wales.

-The children of Rhydfelen,

-some from Cardiff, were so cool.

-They gave the impression that they

-knew everything, that they'd lived.

-We felt like hicks!

-We had to live with them

-and that was part of the adventure.

-We'd swap clothes

-and borrow different things.

-Before we went down for the discos,

-we'd use each other's make-up.

-It was so much fun.

-When I did my discos,

-they happened in the canteen.

-Before the final record every night,

-I'd say...

-.."And now it's time for the

-squeeze the girls' bottoms dance!"

-The squeeze

-the girls' bottoms dance!

-Ti Yw Fy Nghan by Eirlys Parri

-was the smooch song.

-The smooch at the end of the night

-before they headed for the bushes!

-I fell in love

-with someone different every day.

-Huw Ceredig, Dafydd Iwan.

-North Walians, South Walians.

-The superstars would arrive -

-the swogs.

-Oh, my God. They were like gods.

-They would walk in,

-the swogs that looked after us.

-If one of them

-also sang in a band...

-..oh!

-Mick Jagger, eat your heart out.

-Real superstars.

-I remember meeting Dewi Pws

-for the first time.

-He was playing the piano.

-I spoke to him.

-I was more confident in Glan-llyn.

-Many partnerships

-were sealed in Glan-llyn.

-You were together for a fortnight

-or three weeks over the summer.

-We lived closely together.

-Inevitably,

-romance was bound to blossom.

-Most of my contemporaries

-and my friends from that time...

-..met their wives through the Urdd.

-I didn't!

-I had the odd kiss or two,

-but I didn't get a wife.

-I met this girl from France.

-She and her sister

-were staying with a Welsh girl.

-Her name was Sylvie Beaumont.

-I was with her for the entire week.

-On the final night...

-..we were supposed to gather

-in the hallway of the old mansion...

-..to join in with the sing-song.

-It was meant to be so cool!

-I showed no interest.

-I was down by the lake with Sylvie.

-They came looking for us,

-the swogs, torches in hand.

-One of them said, "You'll never

-be allowed back to Glan-llyn."

-I never went back.

-There were many romances

-in Glan-llyn, I'm sure.

-When you went home,

-part of the excitement...

-..was waiting for the first letter

-through the post...

-..from whoever you'd met

-during the week.

-You feel sorry

-for the children of today.

-Everything is done

-by texting and emailing...

-..rather than waiting for the letter

-to arrive after Glan-llyn.

-I remember leaving Glan-llyn

-three times...

-..and everyone on the bus

-back to Carmarthen was in tears...

-..because we had to leave.

-# Remember #

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-# Remember #

-Listen to me.

-Judgement day has arrived.

-The day you strike a blow for Wales.

-Today will stand out

-in the history of the game...

-..as the day we beat Wales

-in Twickenham.

-Tens of thousands of children...

-..have spent time

-in Glan-llyn or Llangrannog.

-Urdd aelwydydd in all parts of Wales

-were crucial to its success.

-Oy, oy, oy.

-The Urdd played an important role

-in my life as a youngster.

-We were lucky in Brynaman.

-The people of Brynaman bought

-a building for Urdd activities.

-We could come and go to the aelwyd

-whenever we wanted.

-Only Urdd activities

-were held in this building.

-I remember going there

-when I was in primary school.

-I didn't go there to compete -

-I went there to socialize.

-Pen-y-groes was an Urdd aelwyd.

-We didn't compete

-in the Urdd Eisteddfod.

-It was a Welsh youth club.

-We played football and table tennis.

-Everything was done

-through the medium of Welsh.

-It inspired so many of us

-to become conscientious Welshmen.

-For us, as teenagers,

-the Urdd aelwyd was our youth club.

-We would go to the aelwyd

-every Friday night...

-..to socialize with youngsters

-of the same age.

-So many activities

-were organized for us.

-The aelwyd, run by Sulwyn Thomas...

-..inspired a group of us

-to work on Radio Glangwili.

-Would you like a request

-on Radio Glangwili?

-It was a great experience

-for someone like me...

-..who was interested

-in that kind of work.

-Mrs Leggett from Whitland.

-The aelwyd has put

-many of us on the map...

-..especially the Carmarthen aelwyd.

-Its members were very active

-and we had some great leaders.

-I remember acting the part

-of an elephant and a chimpanzee...

-..with Norah Isaac.

-That's what we were taught to do.

-T James Jones and a number

-of local ministers were involved.

-We performed dramas.

-One was a Welsh translation

-of A Resounding Tinkle.

-Me, in a pair of red wellingtons,

-acting in an absurd drama.

-We won competitions

-in Holyhead and Aberavon.

-It was such a great experience

-for a youngster.

-A warm welcome to you

-to another noson lawen...

-..by Brynaman's Urdd aelwyd.

-# This is your opportunity

-# And then we'll swim

-# In a heavenly sea #

-We had an opportunity to compete

-as members of the aelwyd and branch.

-A noson lawen,

-folk dancing, performing dramas...

-..singing in a choir, recitation.

-The group activities

-were the most popular in Brynaman.

-In the aelwydydd, we spot

-future talent for the first time.

-Derec Brown, Angharad Mair -

-I could name dozens of them.

-Some were very mischievous.

-I used to take gangs of them

-to Llangrannog.

-You don't know the half of it!

-We kept some things to ourselves

-and never told their parents.

-# I want to be English! #

-One thing that happened every night,

-after all the hurly-burly...

-..you had to make sure they were

-all quiet for the epilogue.

-# To prevent pain to our souls

-# In Your peace, keep us safe #

-At night, with the campers

-all fast asleep...

-..the atmosphere

-in Glan-llyn's old mansion changed.

-There was an aura

-surrounding Glan-llyn...

-..before electricity was introduced.

-It could be a very eerie place.

-My group stayed in a room

-for eight...

-..above the stairs

-that led to the cellar.

-That's where the 'ghost' lived!

-There were so many stories

-about this ghost.

-Everyone was too scared to move.

-I think the swogs

-created a ghost story...

-..so that everyone was too scared

-to leave their rooms.

-Once every fortnight,

-the lights were dimmed.

-By candlelight...

-..different people would regale

-the children with ghost stories.

-It created tension

-and an eerie atmosphere.

-In addition to that,

-there was a mock seance.

-I became involved with this

-seance business wholeheartedly...

-..until it frightened me so much

-that I had to stop.

-I didn't realize

-how much it affected me personally.

-I led these activities...

-..until one night

-when a message appeared...

-..relating to someone's death.

-The following morning,

-we found out that the person...

-..had died in a car accident

-the previous night.

-No-one could have known about it.

-A cardinal rule in Urdd camps

-is no alcohol.

-Rules are there to be broken,

-aren't they?

-There were strict rules

-relating to alcohol...

-..not only for the children

-staying at the camp...

-..but for the swogs as well.

-Every now and then, on Thursdays

-when tours left the camp...

-..some would return with beer,

-sometimes something stronger.

-We were aware of it

-on Thursday nights.

-Someone would tell us about it.

-We'd say,

-"If you have some, turn it in...

-"..and you can have it back

-on Saturday."

-I remember the last night,

-the final course of the summer...

-..during the final week of August.

-The campers were older,

-up to the age of 18 years old.

-I remember Dei Tomos, who may

-have been in charge that week.

-I remember him

-searching the rooms...

-..in case the children

-had broken the rules.

-He found cans of beer

-and the odd bottle of whisky...

-..under the beds

-or in the cupboards.

-He brought them all back

-to the officers' room.

-I thought this was our reward...

-..after working hard

-for three weeks over the summer!

-I said to Dei, "Let's grab a glass

-and have a beer."

-He replied, "Not at all."

-In front of those who'd bought them

-and the swogs...

-..I poured them all

-down the urinal.

-The faces of some of the swogs

-were a sight to behold.

-"Why didn't you keep them

-for Saturday?!"

-Of course,

-Dei was right, in principle.

-Then again, we didn't agree

-with him at the time!

-Dafydd Iwan was 21.

-I decided we had to host a party

-for Dafydd Iwan in our house...

-..the minister's house

-in Llanuwchllyn.

-At around midnight,

-people started leaving Glan-llyn.

-Through windows.

-They walked along the banks

-of the lake and along the road.

-They were all heading for

-Garth Gwyn, the minister's house.

-We had the most incredible party.

-It was carnage.

-No-holds barred.

-The following morning,

-people were very ill.

-People were trying to get back

-to Glan-llyn by eight o'clock.

-I arrived late.

-There was work to do.

-I was rightly put in my place

-by John.

-He didn't throw me out...

-..but from that day onwards...

-..not a drop of alcohol

-came anywhere near Glan-llyn...

-..not through me or anyone else.

-If anyone was caught with alcohol,

-or had been drinking, they were out.

-There are few more pleasant places

-than Bala Lake in summer.

-The experience of spending time

-at an Urdd camp runs far deeper.

-It's a sense of belonging.

-That's the word I use - belonging.

-Wherever I go,

-if I mention Glan-llyn...

-..everyone makes a connection.

-They were there ten years ago

-or 30 years ago.

-The most important aspect is making

-the use of the Welsh language...

-..as normal and natural

-as it can be.

-Everyone is linked by the

-Welsh language through Glan-llyn.

-Everything is of its time.

-Back in the 1960s, children enjoyed

-coming here because of the camp.

-The same is true today.

-We've evolved

-to satisfy our customers' needs.

-It's hard to compare the camp now

-to how it was.

-When you return in ten years' time,

-you'll see even more changes.

-# The old airs, the learning and

-the morals of yesterday's Wales #

-The Urdd was founded

-on my father's ideals.

-I became aware of that...

-..when I was an ordinary soldier

-in France - that's the background.

-Something rose from Welsh soil,

-something was formed in Wales.

-Preserving the Welsh language

-was the original aim, wasn't it?

-Surprisingly,

-the whole idea found a foothold.

-Enthusiasm was the main

-characteristic of that time.

-That's the one characteristic

-I'd desire to see again in the Urdd.

-There was enthusiasm

-in the early days.

-I remember my first year

-working for the Urdd.

-I had a job in Aberystwyth

-as a sports organizer.

-Sir Ifan, by then a feeble man,

-would come in and take off his hat.

-He still had so many ideas.

-He created a Welsh society

-that hadn't existed previously.

-The Urdd has meant so much to me

-throughout my life.

-It means so much more...

-..than the pinnacle we see

-annually in the Urdd Eisteddfod.

-Friendship at its best.

-I know people speak in cliches

-about this and that...

-..but I embrace the camps and the

-Urdd without a shadow of doubt.

-I think the Urdd's contribution

-over the years...

-..has played an important part

-in Welsh life...

-..and the lives of generations

-of Welsh children.

-There's no doubt about it.

-When Sir Ifan founded the Urdd...

-..I don't think he could ever

-have foreseen it developing...

-..and creating the impact it has.

-Sir Ifan's dream

-has undoubtedly been realized.

-# Let us praise our forefathers

-# The famous giants of Wales's past

-# Men who saw the bright star

-through the dark clouds

-# After many a crosswind,

-let us resurrect in our lifetime

-# The old airs, the learning

-and the morals of yesterday's Wales

-# The sound of the poems and songs

-# Of the old unblemished Wales

-# May they fill our fair

-and beautiful Wales

-# Children of yesterday's Wales,

-dear, beloved Wales

-# Let us lift up the name

-of lovely Wales

-# The sound of the poems and songs

-of the old unblemished Wales

-# May they fill our fair

-and beautiful Wales

-# Children of yesterday's Wales,

-dear, beloved Wales

-# Let us lift up the name

-of lovely Wales #

-# Remember #

-# Remember #

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

-.