Robin Davies Hyn o Fyd

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-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 Robin Davies. I'm

-first out of school every afternoon.

-I rush to get home.

-One of the five filmed

-for the series was Robin Davies...

-..a ten-year-old farmer's son

-from Denbighshire.

-I live on a farm

-above the village of Gwyddelwern.

-Cefn Maenllwyd

-is the name of the farm.

-Robin was in his final year

-at Ysgol Gynradd Gwyddelwern...

-..when he came to the attention

-of the Fy Nghymru I producers.

-Where's Dad?

-Where's Dad?

-

-He's not home. He's gone to Ruthin.

-He'll be back soon.

-I knew it was an experience

-that wouldn't come round again.

-In 1989, this was my world.

-I wasn't aware of anything else

-that was going on in the world.

-What went on here

-was all that mattered.

-Here I am today,

-back in the same position, almost!

-The past

-has come back to visit Robin.

-He will get to watch the film

-for the first time in 30 years.

-In 1989,

-only one thing was on his mind.

-I love farm work.

-I can't wait until I'm old enough to

-leave school to be a proper farmer.

-Another one here.

-Come this side so I can go over.

-Slowly does it.

-Robin was out

-when he was still in nappies.

-He did everything with us.

-Robin liked being outside,

-not in the house.

-We just let him get on with it.

-I've learnt most of what I know

-about farming...

-..from watching my father.

-I can't drive tractors yet.

-It's against the law.

-I'll have to wait until I'm 13.

-I'm only 11 now.

-He liked school.

-But when he went to secondary

-school, he preferred to stay home.

-He was allowed to stay home

-back then.

-He couldn't do that now -

-we'd both be in jail.

-I'm not too keen on schoolwork.

-All that writing.

-I like to work with my hands.

-Robin's home

-is still in the family.

-It remains a busy occupation.

-Having stuck to his ambition

-of being a farmer...

-..Robin now lives with his own

-family two minutes down the road.

-The question of Robin staying home

-never reared its head.

-It was just automatic.

-Have you closed them all?

-Have you closed them all?

-

-There's one left.

-I think Mam and Dad

-bought the farm in 1972.

-They've worked very hard

-to get where they are.

-It's taken time

-for things to be to their liking...

-..and to be able to afford things.

-They've lived quite frugally...

-..but they wouldn't have done it

-any other way.

-They were happy

-working on the farm every day.

-It's important to me

-that I carry that on.

-The process of filming

-the original programme...

-..brought excitement

-to Cefn Maenllwyd.

-They were here

-for three weeks off and on.

-They had fun doing it.

-They wanted retakes.

-I think I made five pots of tea

-when we were sat at the table!

-I remember Cyril talking

-with a biscuit in his mouth...

-..and no-one understood him!

-Cyril, Robin's father, might not

-have wanted to star in the film...

-..but performing to the camera

-came naturally...

-..to the taxi driver

-who picked Robin up from school.

-Aron Roberts.

-I never knew anyone like him.

-Aron Roberts and I sing

-if we're feeling happy.

-# You're without any thick clothes #

-I don't know where he got those

-songs. No-one else has heard them.

-It's funny the way things happen.

-I married Carys.

-Carys is Aron's granddaughter.

-He was unique.

-He always wore overalls and a cap.

-He often smelled of petrol

-when we were in the taxi...

-..having probably

-been fixing a car beforehand.

-I remember the day of the filming,

-he was speeding.

-We had to shoot the part where

-the taxi arrived at the farmyard...

-..three times!

-Aron was happy to turn round

-and drive back down the road.

-The second and third takes

-were just the same.

-In the end, they gave up

-and the original shots were used!

-Filming was also a new experience

-for Robin's brother and sister...

-..Huw and Enireth.

-I remember them coming over to film.

-It took over our lives for a time.

-Even Huw and Bapsen

-help out occasionally...

-..though they don't enjoy the work.

-They'll probably leave

-Cefn Maenllwyd as soon as they can.

-Less than a year later,

-that's exactly what Huw did.

-He started on an academic career...

-..which eventually led him

-to the ministry.

-..from everlasting to everlasting.

-Let all the people say, "Amen!"

-Hallelujah.

-I'm now a minister in Mold

-and the surrounding area.

-I live here with Nan, my wife...

-..and Robin, Miriam and Obed.

-Thank you, Lord,

-for each other's company.

-Thank you for a nice day.

-Your blessings to us always,

-for which we are thankful.

-Amen.

-Thank you.

-We had a very nice upbringing

-in Cefn Maenllwyd...

-..on the hills above Gwyddelwern.

-It was away from any noise

-in the middle of nowhere.

-Our neighbours lived far away!

-You could be as noisy as you wished.

-We had to provide

-our own entertainment.

-It was a stable environment...

-..and was a big help to us all,

-to me especially.

-How many are there now?

-How many are there now?

-

-32.

-When we filmed the original film,

-I was about 17 years old.

-My brother

-was still in primary school...

-..and I was in the middle

-of my A levels.

-We got plenty of support.

-We had responsibilities on the farm.

-We'd muck out

-the cowshed and stable.

-Then we'd be told...

-.."It's time

-for you to do your homework."

-Then I'd go.

-My brother would stay and carry on.

-I'm grateful

-that I was given opportunities...

-..to do what I was good at

-and enjoyed doing.

-They saw that my brother

-was at home on the farm.

-Robin enjoyed it.

-We're different in that way.

-But what happened to their sister?

-Where did Enireth go?

-I think Mam and Dad

-hoped I'd stay at home...

-..and marry a farmer.

-I don't think they thought

-I'd go as far.

-And who'll join Robin

-as he watches the film once more?

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Robin Davies was ten years old

-when he was portrayed on film.

-Thirty years later, he's going

-to watch that film once more.

-But has Robin fulfilled his

-ambitions now he's 40 years old?

-Robin has followed his father

-into the business.

-As well as running the farm...

-..he transports straw and grass

-from England to North Wales.

-As our farm is reasonably small...

-..it's not big enough

-to sustain two families.

-So, Dad started to do some work

-driving lorries.

-I've never worked away.

-I've always worked at home.

-I said in the original film...

-..that I wanted to live

-in Cefn Maenllwyd.

-I didn't want to move away ever.

-I live about a mile down the road

-but I go to Cefn Maenllwyd daily...

-..with Mam and Dad and on the farm

-with the animals and the dogs.

-I'm very glad about that.

-I'm very lucky

-to be able to work in my home patch.

-How are you, Bapsen?

-But his sister Enireth

-decided to leave.

-I never thought

-when we filmed the film...

-..that within two years, aged 17,

-I'd be living alone in Cardiff.

-Come on.

-Come on.

-Enireth left after being

-offered a job in Cardiff.

-Today, she runs a project

-managing company in the capital.

-I remember Dad, more than anyone,

-was quite upset about me leaving.

-I think Mam and Dad

-hoped I'd stay at home...

-..live nearby and marry a farmer.

-Not to stray far from home.

-I don't think they thought

-I'd go as far as Cardiff...

-..at such a young age too.

-But they let me go

-at 17 years old.

-I remember them

-taking me in the white Peugeot.

-I only had a bagful of clothes

-in the back of the car.

-Life in Cardiff is totally different

-to life at home on the farm.

-There's a lot of work available...

-..and lots of people

-from every country you can think of.

-Lots of shops,

-lots of places to eat.

-It's a very nice city.

-I love living here.

-But does watching the film...

-..make her long for her brother

-and her childhood on the farm?

-I haven't seen the film

-since it came out.

-I don't think I wanted to be

-on television much at the time.

-I was happy being in the background.

-I was glad that the focus

-was on Robin.

-He's still a character.

-We're great friends.

-We speak a lot on the phone.

-Robin, Carys and little Nedw

-have been here a few times.

-Robin is like a fish out of water

-when he comes to the city.

-"What am I supposed to do sat

-indoors? There's no work for me.

-"What can I do outside?"

-Work is ingrained in him.

-Outside is where he likes to be.

-Robin spends his days

-on the farm or on the road.

-His daily life is quite different

-to that of his brother and sister.

-Yes, their lives are very different

-to ours on the farm.

-They get more holidays than me.

-I wouldn't swap places though.

-Today, Robin's taking a break

-from work...

-..and is returning to his old school

-to watch the film once more.

-I haven't seen the film

-since I was in school.

-I'm looking forward

-to see the film.

-It'll bring back memories.

-There'll be things

-I'd have forgotten about.

-Someone else has returned

-to watch the film with him.

-Hello!

-Robin! How are you?

-Robin! How are you?

-

-Fine, thank you. How are you?

-Do you remember being here?

-Do you remember being here?

-

-Yes, I do.

-That's where you were sat.

-Do you remember?

-Llinos Mary Jones,

-his former teacher, has returned.

-There's a lot to reminisce about.

-Robin, what's wrong?

-One of the cows isn't well.

-What's wrong?

-After she gave birth,

-she couldn't get up.

-Don't worry.

-Do your work and I'm sure she'll be

-better by the time you get home.

-Well, Robin was

-a proper rural character.

-Farming was his world.

-He'd tell me about farming

-and the animals.

-He'd talk about the cattle, what Dad

-was doing, what Mam was doing...

-..almost every day.

-Some animals on the farm

-aren't needed.

-Moles!

-Look at the soil on your hands.

-I get 10p from Mam or Dad

-for every mole I catch.

-I set a lot of traps.

-I did too.

-Thankfully, Jemima's on her feet.

-She's going to be alright.

-You didn't want to come to school.

-There's nowhere else

-like Cefn Maenllwyd.

-I hope I'll be here

-for the rest of my life.

-Well, it was very nice

-watching that.

-I didn't remember much at all.

-Did you?

-No, not everything.

-We all look a bit older.

-Yes, a little!

-Yes.

-It was very natural.

-It was very natural.

-

-Yes.

-A real slice of countryside life.

-That's how you were in school.

-I really enjoyed it -

-more than I thought I would.

-Mam and Dad's hair has gone greyer.

-I'd better be careful what I say!

-We still help each other.

-When we're doing a job at home,

-the three of us still pitch in.

-We still have a cup of tea

-and a chat around the table.

-That hasn't changed.

-We talk about what needs to be done

-in the afternoon or in coming days.

-That hasn't changed.

-When I go home, it's still the same.

-You drive up the road

-and see the large white house.

-The garage is still there.

-The clothes line

-is in exactly the same spot.

-It's like stepping back in time...

-..to when I used to live there

-as a little girl.

-Mam and Dad are still the same.

-They haven't changed a bit

-over the years.

-They work just as hard

-as they did when they were 21.

-That worries me

-as they're getting older.

-I don't want them

-working as hard as they are.

-But you won't change them either.

-It's what they want to do.

-It's what they like to do.

-It's their life.

-Dad loves being able

-to go out every morning...

-..and say, "I own this."

-They look after their possessions

-so carefully.

-Dad has his implements and tractors.

-The tractors that we had when

-we were children are still there.

-We haven't changed much

-to be honest.

-We're always busy,

-lots of comings and goings.

-Not much has changed,

-apart from us getting older.

-I'd like to semi-retire.

-It's hard to let go of the oars.

-We've been blessed.

-It's dripping.

-It's nice though.

-I don't know

-what the future of the farm will be.

-Robin has Nedw now.

-We hope he'll farm Cefn Maenllwyd

-after Mam and Dad...

-..to keep it going.

-Cefn Maenllwyd

-was a very happy time.

-Being on the farm and living there.

-My home

-will always be Cefn Maenllwyd.

-We had a very happy childhood here,

-my brother, sister and me.

-They used to go

-on summer holidays...

-..to stay with our grandparents

-or my father's sister.

-I didn't want to go.

-I liked staying at home.

-Is it heavy? Yes?

-What makes you feel at home?

-Being content

-with what you have at home.

-Give the bag to Taid.

-Put the bucket back!

-When I was ten years old

-on the programme...

-..I had one ambition

-and it's the same one today.

-Coming home to farm

-with my parents.

-I helped them, then took on

-more responsibility as I got older.

-It's worked out well.

-I've been able to realize my dream.

-Nobody's tried

-to get me to do something else.

-Something

-I wouldn't have wanted to do.

-I'm very glad I was given

-the opportunity to stay home...

-..in my home patch.

-Yes.

-There's a third generation

-on the farm now, Nedw.

-I'm glad we've had a son.

-I hope I can teach him

-a lot of things, as well as Taid.

-Taid loves it.

-He follows Taid everywhere.

-I'm sure he'll learn very quickly.

-He's showing an interest already

-at two years old.

-It would be great to think...

-..that he'd like to take over

-the farm when his time comes.

-Was the film

-an accurate portrayal of me?

-Yes, it was. Everything was natural.

-It was a programme about me

-wanting to stay home to farm.

-It's what I wanted

-and what I've done.

-If it's in your heart,

-it'll work out in the end.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.