Pennod 5 Hywel Ddoe a Heddiw

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-In 1975...

-..I was honoured to present

-my first Can i Gymru competition.

-The winners were one of the

-most popular bands of the 1970s.

-Bran will perform the third song,

-Caledfwlch.

-# In a shapeless cave

-# Over in Deiniolen

-# Sleep silently #

-The band's guitarist, John Gwyn

-was portrayed as a rock 'n' roller.

-Forty years later, he's swapped

-his old rock 'n' roll lifestyle...

-..to produce wildlife

-and nature documentaries.

-John, having watched

-that archive footage...

-..am I right in saying there's

-something different about you?

-Can you explain to us what it is?

-I didn't even recognise myself!

-You had long flowing locks,

-down to your shoulders.

-I'm still reminded of my hair

-and asked where it's gone!

-That was the fashion in the 1970s.

-It was how rock 'n' rollers

-were supposed to look.

-I played in several bands

-whilst at university.

-I performed with Tom Rolland

-who studied at Bangor University.

-Incidentally, I met Gwyndaf...

-..Arfon Wyn...

-..and Keith Snelgrove

-who played the drums...

-..and joined the band, Atgyfodiad.

-I'm old enough to remember the band.

-As a result, Bran was formed.

-The original band consisted

-of Gwyndaf, Keith and myself.

-We went to London with the producer,

-Eryl Williams and Nic Dafydd...

-..to record Tocyn and Gwinant,

-which was supposed to be the A-side.

-Tocyn was meant to be the B-side but

-we also had another song, Colled.

-I've never been able to sing,

-especially a song like that!

-Nest joined us to perform the song

-and to complete the band's line-up.

-Let's discuss the competition

-and your entry.

-The winning song was disqualified.

-I don't recall the details at all.

-I don't even remember where the

-Can i Gymru competition was held!

-I recall recording the song

-in a house at Maes Coetmor.

-There were cables everywhere and we

-recorded the song in the front room.

-We posted our entry tape.

-I recall winning the competition

-and going to Killarney...

-..where we won

-at the Pan Celtic Festival.

-Not only did we win Can i Gymru...

-..but we also won against Clannad

-at the Pan Celtic.

-Did you really?

-Did you really?

-

-Yes.

-What happened to you

-in the decade following 1975?

-At that time,

-I was at university in Liverpool.

-I then got a job in Cardiff...

-..in the Pathology Department

-at the Heath Hospital.

-Bran was still performing.

-When I was in Cardiff...

-..and because I was known

-for being in the band...

-..I helped out with scientific

-and nature items...

-..on children's programmes like Ser

-due to my background in Zoology.

-Despite having studied

-Zoology and Pathology...

-..you left that particular field...

-..and headed to Newcastle.

-Tyne Tees was advertising

-for a researcher on The Tube.

-I applied for the position

-and was given a six week contract.

-I stayed in Newcastle for 20 years.

-You became the boss of The Tube.

-You became the boss of The Tube.

-

-Yes, I was a producer.

-It was something

-completely different.

-Following 20 years on The Tube,

-you took a very different direction.

-I wanted to make documentaries.

-Unfortunately, they thought I wasn't

-capable of producing documentaries.

-However, Endaf Emlyn

-is a very close friend of mine.

-I recall chatting to him

-in the early days.

-I remember him telling me

-many years ago...

-..that momentum is important,

-especially in the media.

-You should always move forward

-and experience new ventures.

-This is true of life in general.

-You shouldn't sit still.

-Even today, I never work on

-the same series with Iolo.

-How did you establish a working

-relationship with Iolo Williams?

-Iolo had worked as a presenter...

-..on programmes such as

-Visions of Snowdonia and Birdman.

-The BBC wanted to film a series...

-..and develop Iolo

-as an English language presenter.

-They asked me to direct and produce

-the series and the rest is history.

-You've travelled the world

-to study wildlife.

-In some series...

-..you highlighted the importance

-of appreciating nature in Wales.

-There is a danger of us

-not appreciating...

-..what we've got

-right under our noses.

-It's important to be aware

-of what's on your doorstep.

-Even in the city...

-..I could show you the wildlife

-in the canal outside the office.

-There are otters residing

-near the Millennium Stadium.

-Wildlife is all around us.

-To the north, west and south,

-Wales is surrounded by sea.

-I'm on a sea journey around Wales.

-In this episode, I'll travel from

-Lleyn Peninsula to Cardigan Bay.

-I'll meet people who work at sea.

-Is lobster the best thing to catch?

-All of it, Iolo.

-We couldn't do without any of it.

-Those with a passion for the sea.

-I spent hours looking out to sea

-and longed to be involved.

-I'm discovering the incredible and

-amazing wildlife living in the sea.

-Iolo strikes me as a presenter

-who's always up for an adventure.

-He swims underwater, flies,

-scales mountains and climbs trees.

-This must work in your favour

-as a producer.

-He's certainly a very brave person.

-However, we have to consider...

-..our health and safety

-responsibilities.

-When climbing,

-we have to use the correct ropes.

-When underground,

-we have experts to look after us.

-If we're diving, we have

-an expert that films underwater.

-I might ask Iolo to do something,

-but he will decide if he does it.

-You've filmed all over Wales,

-Britain, Europe and the world...

-..but is there one particular place

-that you would like to visit?

-What a question!

-It's a great question.

-Maybe it's more to do with the

-animals that we haven't spotted...

-..as opposed to the country itself.

-Many years ago, we failed to spot

-a particular tiger in India...

-..so that's one thing

-that I'd like to accomplish.

-There are other attractions

-I'd like to see...

-..such as the orca killer whales.

-It's a tough question to answer.

-We've been fortunate

-to travel and film a lot.

-Speaking of momentum...

-..are you looking at

-new ideas with Iolo?

-Are you going on your travels again?

-We're pitching a series to the BBC

-that looks at the sea around Wales.

-We're preparing a documentary based

-on wildlife at Christmas with Iolo.

-There are a few other projects

-about Wales's natural hidden gems.

-We hope to develop these.

-We've got nothing in the pipeline

-at the moment.

-We're simply brainstorming ideas.

-One more question.

-Do you still have the guitar?

-No, I don't. I've sold it.

-Your record is for sale on eBay...

-..and it's worth 350.

-I believe it is

-but I don't have a copy!

-I have a sleeve without a record.

-When is your birthday?

-It's in February.

-You'll have to wait until next year!

-Maybe a viewer will sell their

-copy to you for a special price!

-It's been great chatting to you

-and all the best for the future.

-# Come together

-# Come together #

-APPLAUSE

-In part two...

-..I meet an Eighties pop sensation

-who now works in the arts.

-I also reunite with old friend who's

-carved a name for himself in stone.

-Don't go far!

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-# Now is the time #

-Elen ap Robert was one of the

-most popular singers of the 1980s.

-Today, she's hung up

-her glamorous gowns...

-..and is responsible for an

-exciting project in the arts world.

-TODAY

-What has happened

-since your days as a singer...

-..and you standing here

-in a hard hat on a building site?

-A lot has happened since then

-and many years have flown by.

-I was a professional singer with

-Glyndebourne and other companies.

-I also trained as a music therapist.

-I worked with autistic children and

-those with learning disabilities...

-..for many years.

-When Galeri, Caernarfon

-came into existence...

-..I was an artistic director there

-for seven years...

-..prior to coming to Pontio

-as an artistic director.

-There's quite a challenge

-ahead of you.

-The Pontio project bridges

-two or more different projects.

-What is the significance of Pontio?

-Pontio bridges many projects.

-The College on the Hill in Bangor

-overlooks the city.

-This building will actually bridge

-the landscape...

-..from the Memorial Arch

-to the main Arts building.

-This bridge is developing daily

-in front of our eyes at Bangor.

-It's also a psychological bridge

-between academic life...

-..and the everyday life

-of Bangor's residents.

-The centre is more than a theatre.

-It's a centre for the arts

-and innovation.

-This blend of various disciplines

-is incredibly important.

-It looks like a shell at the moment

-but beneath us is the theatre.

-It's the Bryn Terfel Theatre

-and we're on the first balcony.

-Directly in front of us

-is where the stage could be set-up.

-The stage can be positioned

-in various configurations.

-It can be installed sideways,

-in a circle or as a cabaret style.

-It offers many creative options.

-How many people will it accommodate?

-How many people will it accommodate?

-

-It depends on the set-up.

-If you look from this point

-towards the stage...

-..the maximum capacity is 480,

-therefore it's an ample theatre.

-The stage in our multi-purpose

-and flexible theatre and studio...

-..need innovative facilities

-to allow us break new ground.

-We're stood outside the cinema

-which will hold 200 people.

-It will be an important facility to

-bring the whole community together.

-Everyone from across the spectrum

-wants to see a cinema in Bangor.

-When will the Pontio building open?

-It's a race against time

-as the weather hasn't been great.

-However, the Theatr Genedlaethol's

-stage adaptation of Chwalfa...

-..by T Rowland Hughes

-will be staged on 17 September.

-Will you be taking to the stage

-in your blue gown...

-..without a hard hat,

-ready to perform again?

-I'll have to dust my gown off!

-Good luck with this project.

-The community is very excited.

-An important message

-lies behind this project.

-We want to highlight that the Pontio

-centre is a place for the community.

-# Come to sing

-# Oh #

-APPLAUSE

-YESTERDAY

-Over the years, I've been blessed

-to meet many talented craftsmen...

-..and fortunate to be

-taught by a few of them.

-I'll never forget a carving lesson

-by Ieuan Rees in 1986.

-Do you sometimes chisel upwards...

-..or do you always chisel downwards?

-I've seen you stand up straight

-and tap from below.

-You must remember one thing, Hywel.

-Your body is different to mine.

-If your body isn't comfortable,

-you're doing something wrong.

-Experiment with different positions

-until you feel comfortable.

-It doesn't matter at what angle you

-hit it, your body must feel relaxed.

-At least you identified

-that something was wrong.

-Some former students

-were unable to do this.

-You sensed something wasn't right

-which is promising.

-It's a great feeling.

-It's a great feeling.

-

-Yes, it is.

-Do you think we make

-a good double-act?

-Let's have another go.

-It's about time we meet again

-after all these years, Ieuan.

-It's great to see you again.

-What have you been doing

-over the years?

-I'm still grafting

-as I can't afford to retire.

-However, it keeps my mind active.

-Therefore,

-I'm glad that I have to work.

-Have the years been kind to you?

-Have the years been kind to you?

-

-Yes, on the whole.

-However, in 1988,

-my life changed completely.

-My wife sadly passed away

-following a three-week illness.

-I had two young daughters.

-Angharad was six years old

-and Vicky or Victoria was 13.

-I was their mother and father

-for nearly eight years.

-Until that point...

-..I mostly did written

-calligraphy work...

-..and some stonemasonry work.

-Calligraphy demands concentration

-and a constant rhythm.

-However, I had to make food, shop,

-clean and do the school-run.

-It was impossible to be

-a mother and father...

-..and have time to do calligraphy.

-Thankfully, God lent a helping hand.

-The calligraphy work

-grinded to a halt...

-..and I was commissioned

-to do more stonemasonry.

-Stonemasonry doesn't require

-continual concentration.

-I could stop and start as I wished

-which suited my lifestyle.

-Ieuan's work

-has varied over the years.

-Examples of his work can be seen

-all over Wales.

-We've come to Betws Park.

-I've brought you here, Hywel...

-..as my work is displayed

-all over the country...

-..but an artist's work

-is rarely displayed close to home.

-I feel honoured that the locals

-commissioned this piece.

-This is a local Blue Pennant Stone

-from the Pontardawe area.

-The Welsh saying, Y Byd a'r Betws

-is very famous...

-..so it was apt that

-I use it for this design.

-I immediately liked the idea.

-This is a memorial stone.

-If you look behind you,

-you'll see the purpose of the stone.

-"This peaceful garden

-is a living tribute...

-"..to those who lost their lives

-in wars, mining accidents...

-"..and other tragic incidents."

-"Their memory is our heritage."

-It's a wonderful tribute.

-This work is also your design.

-When working on memorials

-similar to this one...

-..do you feel for those

-who lost their lives at war?

-It's essential that

-I show respect to the work.

-When I'm working on a piece,

-I always think of its purpose...

-..and why it's being made.

-One particular commission

-is close to Ieuan's heart.

-This piece of work

-deeply affected him.

-It's a memorial for

-Mandy Power and her family...

-..who were horrifically murdered

-in Clydach in the Swansea Valley.

-Hywel,

-I've brought you to Clydach...

-..to see the most challenging piece

-that I've ever had to complete.

-Maybe you'll remember the murder

-of four members of one family...

-..here in Clydach.

-It's a complicated story

-that I won't divulge.

-I struggled with this piece

-as I wanted to do them justice.

-A grandmother, mother

-and two little girls...

-..were tragically murdered.

-I wanted to do them justice

-as well as the entire family.

-I didn't want it to resemble

-a gravestone...

-..inscribed with

-a cold list of names.

-I had to portray the warmth

-and love of the family...

-..within the design.

-This was my greatest challenge.

-You can decide if I succeeded

-to portray this within the piece.

-Considering the circumstances...

-..I tried to make the design

-a comforting one for the family.

-By looking at this memorial...

-..we can see the names

-of Doris, Emily, Mandy and Katie.

-The flowers that encompass the names

-represent their eternal love.

-I hope this love is conveyed

-to those who visit the memorial.

-You've made several memorials...

-..to commemorate people,

-buildings and establishments.

-How would you like to be remembered?

-That's an interesting question.

-Let me think about it.

-I stayed at the home of John Petts

-who was a stained-glass artist.

-There was a small booklet.

-It was around an eighth of an inch

-in thickness.

-It was written in English

-and called Prayers of Famous People.

-Inside the book,

-I found the prayer of John Wesley.

-"Lord,

-let me not live to be useless!"

-I'd like to think my life

-has been meaningful.

-This is how

-I'd like to be remembered.

-Next week, I'll meet

-stars of the musical world.

-Sioned Williams is a famous

-harpist in London and beyond.

-The musical giant, Bryn Terfel...

-..also discusses

-his incredible 30-year career.

-S4C Subtitles by Tinopolis

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