Donna Morgan Hyn o Fyd

-Subtitles

-In 1989, a series of films

-were shown on S4C...

-..portraying Wales

-through the eyes of five children.

-We had so many opportunities

-as children.

-We enjoyed socializing.

-I'm still the same!

-The children

-have now flown the nest.

-For the first time in many years,

-they get to watch their film again.

-The village looks the same.

-The old factories have gone,

-the people are different.

-The houses and streets are still

-here. The atmosphere's the same.

-Have the dreams faded

-now they're 40-year-old adults?

-It hasn't turned out the way

-I thought. That's what life is like.

-This is the story of the children

-of Fy Nghymru I. Where did they go?

-The '80s. A decade

-of revolution across the world.

-In Wales, this was the decade of the

-start of S4C, the miners' strike...

-..and Thatcher.

-The decade of big hair, huge phones

-and the Web.

-But what was it like to be a child

-in Wales in 1989?

-My name is Donna Morgan.

-I love attending Brownies

-once a week...

-..at the church hall in Llanbadarn.

-When I was chosen for the film...

-..I was so excited I told everyone,

-though Mam was more excited than me!

-Donna was one of the five children

-filmed for Fy Nghymru I.

-I remember feeling special.

-There was an article in the

-newspaper about what was happening.

-Everyone was asking me about it.

-I felt very lucky

-to have been chosen.

-We learn a lot of things

-in the Brownies.

-How to help people

-and make pretty things.

-You can give people a lot

-of pleasure by making pretty things.

-Donna was chosen because

-her upbringing was different...

-..to other Aberystwyth children.

-Go and show the old people.

-Our family is a very large family.

-Eleven in total.

-That's because I live

-in an old people's home.

-It's called Havelock Villa.

-We're one big happy family.

-It's hard to describe what it was

-like living in an old people's home.

-It was so different

-to my friends' lives.

-When I was very young,

-I'd help out with the elderly.

-From a very young age.

-Every day, my sisters and I

-had jobs to do in the house...

-..to help Mam and Dad.

-Here's a drink of water for you.

-Here's a drink of water for you.

-

-Thank you, Donna.

-When my friends were out,

-I was at home.

-When my friends went on holiday

-in the summer, I was at home.

-But I never complained - I didn't

-know any different. I was happy.

-Looking after the elderly

-is a full-time job for Mam and Dad.

-That's it, up we go.

-There you are.

-Donna is one of three sisters.

-One of them, Anita, still lives

-near the old home in Aberystwyth.

-Aberystwyth

-is a nice place to live...

-..but it gets very busy here

-during the summer.

-Anita and I enjoy the summer

-as well.

-There are only 18 months between us

-so we're very close in age.

-We're very close as sisters too.

-I remember going on the back

-of a donkey at the seaside...

-..and thinking, "Oh, no.

-My friends are going to see this!"

-Donna was a very clever girl.

-She liked reading.

-She was good at school.

-She always tried her best.

-She was a very happy girl.

-She had lots of friends -

-girls and boys.

-She got on with everybody.

-I go to Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth.

-It's quite a big school

-and I'm very happy here.

-On one special day

-before the end of term...

-..some of my school friends

-go to Havelock Villa...

-..and we have

-a small party together.

-# Come everyone this year

-to remember the man

-# Who wrote the Bible

-in our language

-# Wales, let's celebrate

-# We have to praise him #

-I enjoyed it.

-I used to do it every year.

-It was a highlight

-when my school came to my home...

-..and sit in my garden.

-Mam would give out ice cream

-and squash...

-..and the old people

-would listen to us on the lawn.

-# As part

-# Of the celebrations #

-Living your life around others

-and putting other people first...

-..isn't a bad thing.

-I feel I still do that now

-in my job.

-Donna is now almost 40 years old

-and works as a Modern Languages...

-..and Additional Learning Needs

-teacher at Brecon High School.

-I work with adopted children,

-children who live in homes...

-..Army children, children whose

-English is a second language...

-..and dyslexic children -

-it's a huge spectrum.

-Hello. OK? I just want to chat

-about that girl.

-How's she getting on?

-She's settled in well in Year 11.

-The job is a very challenging one,

-both physically and emotionally.

-I come home sometimes

-and I just want to cry...

-..because

-of the children's problems.

-On the whole,

-I have great job satisfaction.

-Young people

-face a lot of problems these days.

-Social media, things like Facebook,

-Instagram and Twitter...

-..bullying.

-Misuse of social media

-can destroy lives.

-I've seen it happen.

-It destroys relationships

-between friends and families.

-It's a shame.

-Josh, go round.

-Oliver, in you go.

-As a single parent

-to Joshua and Oliver...

-..life outside work

-is very busy too.

-Life in general

-is tiring and fast-paced.

-It's hard

-trying to fit everything in.

-But so far, we're doing fine.

-Everyone goes

-to wherever they want to go.

-They can take part in

-their sports and music clubs.

-I think that mothers carry guilt...

-..about working full-time

-and having children.

-I don't think that society

-always helps there.

-I had no choice.

-I had to work full-time.

-Fortunately, I enjoy my job.

-However, I don't do any schoolwork

-at home until the boys are asleep.

-I like to think that time spent

-at home is spent with the children.

-Shoes, please, Oli.

-Do you want to put these on?

-I realize sometimes

-that I have to do a lot myself.

-Friends talk about grandparents

-collecting children...

-..or the husband or partner

-picking up the children...

-..and looking after them

-overnight.

-But I have to do most of that

-myself.

-Having said that, what doesn't

-kill you makes you stronger.

-Donna goes back to Aberystwyth

-as often as she can...

-..to see her mother Gwen

-and the rest of the family.

-I go back often.

-My heart is in Aberystwyth.

-My roots are in Aberystwyth

-despite not living there any more.

-I can't see myself

-returning there to live...

-..but there'll always be

-a connection.

-I have great memories

-of living in Aberystwyth.

-I enjoyed growing up in Aberystwyth.

-Though Anita's my sister,

-she's also my best friend.

-We're always there for each other.

-Though she's in Aberystwyth,

-it doesn't make a difference.

-I know I can pick up the phone and

-she'll be there, and likewise too...

-..if there are problems

-or it's good news.

-She's expecting her fourth child

-and I was one of the first she told.

-Another daughter.

-Though we're friends,

-we're a lot more than that.

-There's an emotional connection.

-She finishes my sentences and we go

-shopping and we buy the same things.

-We've grown up together and

-we've been through a lot together.

-There's a bond between us

-that will never be broken.

-It's one big happy family here

-in Havelock Villa.

-I feel very fortunate

-to be part of it.

-What happened to the family home?

-What happened to Donna's

-eldest sister? Where did Sian go?

-I would tell anyone

-who gets married...

-..to make sure

-they take the time to enjoy the day.

-It goes by so quickly.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Donna Morgan was nine years old

-when she was portrayed on film.

-Thirty years later,

-she'll return to her family home...

-..to watch that film once more.

-But what happened to Havelock Villa?

-What memories will Donna relive

-as she watches that film?

-This is Bill.

-And this is Mrs Morris.

-Her upbringing in a care home

-had a great influence on Donna.

-One of the residents received close

-attention in the original film.

-My favourite is Tugela.

-Tugela Rees.

-She's a very special person.

-Thank you, love.

-I have very fond memories of Tugela.

-She was a very special woman,

-not only for me but for the family.

-I'd go and see her every day.

-I'd always give tea to her first!

-She used to sit in the corner

-by the window.

-She liked watching

-the students pass, the cars pass...

-..and people coming to the house.

-She had a kind word for everyone.

-Tugela had a daughter.

-She's now the same age as

-her mother was in the original film.

-This is the first time

-that Eiluned Rees has seen the film.

-It reminds her of the happy time

-her mother spent in the home...

-..at the end of her life.

-Mam looks pretty.

-My favourite is Tugela.

-It wasn't like an old people's home.

-I don't think I ever left Havelock

-without laughing.

-She was more like

-a part of the family.

-The children saw her

-as some sort of grandmother.

-Sometimes,

-the children would go missing.

-They'd be in bed with Mam!

-They'd creep into bed with her!

-Having small children she saw every

-day and who she saw growing up...

-..was a very valuable experience.

-She had a role in life.

-The children got her to

-listen to them singing or reciting.

-So she had a role.

-She wasn't just a person

-who was fed or looked after.

-She had a purpose to her life.

-She was very fond of the children,

-especially Donna and Anita.

-But there was another sister

-in Havelock Villa.

-During filming...

-..there was an opportunity

-to record her wedding day.

-Am I hooked to the top?

-Am I hooked to the top?

-

-We need to do your headdress.

-That button needs to be done.

-I'll never forget that morning.

-We were terribly busy.

-It was bedlam in our house.

-Our cousin had had a car accident.

-My aunt was going bananas

-and my uncle wasn't impressed.

-My father was hiding

-from the TV crew in the toilet.

-The chaos around her

-didn't affect Sian at all.

-It's something that hasn't changed.

-Move.

-I've been helping children

-cross the road for almost 16 years.

-Ta-ra.

-Are we cold this morning

-with no coat?

-Where's the coat is the question!

-Stopping the traffic

-in Rhydypennau is a dangerous job.

-Sian's had

-many unpleasant experiences.

-I know about the risk.

-A hearse ran over my foot once.

-I asked the driver if he was touting

-for business as the back was empty.

-One man parked his bike in my bum.

-The head teacher

-had fun with the accident form.

-Good morning. How's whatshisname?

-Is he better?

-I look like a duck.

-You'll have more fun

-standing at the side of the road...

-..not knowing

-what's going to happen next...

-..than in any office job.

-I look beautiful?

-Thank you, William.

-Sian and Martin's wedding day...

-..brought lots of pleasure

-to the Havelock Villa residents.

-We've now been married 30 years.

-The year we got married

-we went to over 40 weddings.

-Out of those weddings,

-four couples are still married.

-When we got married,

-it was my belief, and it still is...

-..that if you get married,

-you've made a promise.

-No matter what happens,

-you carry on.

-I remember when I got married

-I felt so hopeful for the future.

-I was happy and ready to go anywhere

-with my husband.

-But things don't always work out.

-You can't predict what's going

-to happen, which is a shame.

-OK, I need to do your sandwiches.

-Can you get me a plate, Josh,

-please?

-You marry someone in the hope

-of being with that person forever.

-I think she worked hard

-at the marriage.

-But, sadly,

-it didn't work out as she'd hoped.

-Though we're close...

-..for many years, she kept

-how unhappy she was to herself.

-But I think she carried on

-because of the children too...

-..and that she has an important job.

-We're also worried what people

-will say and think about us.

-But, in the end,

-it was for the best...

-..for her and her children

-more than anything else.

-I think the failure of her marriage

-was a huge disappointment for Donna.

-She tried her best, I think...

-..but to be honest,

-I wasn't that surprised.

-They wanted different things.

-They had different ideas.

-It's very hard when there

-are children in a marriage...

-..for both of you to continue

-your careers as they were.

-No-one was willing to give.

-In every marriage,

-one has to give on occasions.

-Nobody can have their own way

-all the time.

-That's true for everyone,

-not just Donna.

-As the years passed, the

-Havelock Villa family got smaller.

-The home was sold in 2002.

-The house has now been converted

-into offices.

-Donna has decided to return there

-to watch the film once more.

-I feel nervous.

-I haven't been here for 15 years.

-I don't know what to expect.

-I'm quite excited too.

-It's a house full of memories.

-Good ones on the whole.

-A few bad ones too.

-I spent my childhood here.

-I can't wait to look inside.

-Wow!

-It looks totally different.

-There was a chairlift here.

-This is totally new.

-Tugela's chair

-would have been in the corner.

-Dad had a frame

-containing lots of pictures.

-He took a photograph

-of the residents...

-..and put it, along with the

-residents' name and age, in a frame.

-Seeing this place,

-and I know it has another use now...

-..but it feels so impersonal.

-All the characters who lived here

-who spent their final years here.

-It's hard to believe really.

-Looking after the elderly

-is a full-time job for Mam and Dad.

-They have to make sure the old

-people don't have any accidents...

-..as they move around the house.

-There aren't family-run homes these

-days. They're more of a business.

-I gather

-there's a lot of money to be made.

-But it was never about the money

-for us. It never felt that way.

-It was

-about respecting the elderly...

-..and giving them a good life

-at the end of their lives.

-It's a shock to see Dad.

-I definitely had more than my share

-of death when I was young.

-I remember finding one or two

-individuals who had passed away.

-Though we got used to it,

-it was never easy.

-Dad was a very gentle person.

-He was quiet.

-He was a family man.

-Everybody liked Dad. Nobody

-had a bad word to say about him.

-Even though I enjoy myself

-in the town in summer...

-..it's nice to escape the tourists

-sometimes...

-..and visit Cwm Rheidol.

-It's so beautiful there.

-Dad died in 2001

-during my first term as a teacher.

-I was very close to Dad...

-..so it was difficult seeing

-the good times I spent with Dad...

-..on the bike and in the car.

-He'd take us everywhere.

-It was difficult

-seeing the old people too...

-..and remembering our childhood.

-I have great memories...

-..but, looking back,

-there's sadness too.

-That period of my life is over.

-That's quite sad.

-One nice thing

-that's happened to Donna recently...

-..and put a smile on her face

-is meeting Jon.

-I'm now with my first boyfriend.

-We were first together

-when we were both 14.

-He said he regretted that

-we'd split up in the first place.

-But I feel strongly that

-our experiences in the meantime...

-..has moulded us as people...

-..and has been an important process

-in bringing us to where we are now.

-We're very happy - happier

-than we were when we were 14.

-You never know

-what's going to happen in life.

-The past can catch up with you,

-for better or for worse.

-In Donna's case,

-it's for the better.

-It's nice to see her happy.

-I never thought

-someone would film us again.

-Once was enough.

-Donna was a child.

-She's now a mother of two.

-Time's passed so fast

-it doesn't bear thinking about.

-It's gone in the blink of an eye.

-I suggest everyone does the best

-they can with the life they have.

-You won't get another one.

-I've told Donna that.

-There's no point thinking

-you can start again.

-You can't start again.

-I think little Donna would notice

-a big difference in big Donna.

-As I've got older,

-I've matured a lot.

-That's what life is...

-..living through experiences

-and coming through the other side.

-I'm not sure

-how little Donna would respond.

-I'd like to think

-she'd be proud of me.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.