Tim Tynnu Rhaff Hermon Lle Aeth Pawb?

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-Every picture tells a story.

-What's the story

-behind this picture?

-Will it be possible to organize

-a reunion to retake the picture?

-Tonight, the 1982

-Hermon Tug of War team.

-Where did they all go?

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-The Preseli, in Pembrokeshire, is

-an area of beauty and tranquillity.

-But once a year,

-the place is transformed.

-The Celtic Blue Rock Festival

-takes place.

-People flock here every summer to

-enjoy this open air music festival.

-Bill Davies is responsible for

-bringing the party to the Preseli.

-Hello. Celtic Blue Rock Festival.

-We began the festival in 2003.

-A crowd of around 380 attended.

-It increased to 1200

-in the second year.

-It's gained popularity every since.

-I hope we'll be up to 10,000

-this year.

-The festival is held on Bill's farm,

-in Llanfyrnach near Crymych.

-A variety of local bands perform.

-The talent in west Wales

-is unbelievable.

-Indie, rock, reggae - all sorts.

-Another music festival

-is close to Bill's heart.

-He serves up tea and toast

-at Glastonbury every year.

-This is the campsite.

-The tea and toast stall

-is beyond this hedge.

-I don't think the Celtic Blue

-Festival will ever be this big!

-But it's the same idea.

-This farmer wasn't organizing

-bands and toilets 27 years ago.

-He was a member of the Hermon

-Young Farmers Tug of War team.

-Looking at the picture

-brings back fond memories.

-I remember the fun we had.

-It's making me feel old!

-I don't think we've

-been together since that time.

-It would be nice to meet up.

-John is rather far away in Canada.

-He left around 15 years ago.

-I haven't seen him since.

-But the rest live

-a little nearer than Canada.

-Detective work is called for.

-Detective work is called for.

-

-I haven't seen you in ages.

-I haven't seen you in ages.

-I've had a good idea.

-Can the festival organizer

-arrange a reunion?

-His search begins in Cardigan.

-I'm looking for Terry's workplace.

-I'm sure it's around here somewhere.

-Here we are.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-How are you, Bill?

-This is Terry.

-Have a look at the photo.

-Have a look at the photo.

-

-What's this?!

-That takes us back a few years.

-That takes us back a few years.

-

-Many years ago!

-We're all there.

-I haven't changed much.

-No. Your ears still stick out!

-Charming!

-His brother Brian, or Beaky,

-stands next to Terry in the photo.

-Beaky had hair!

-He looks like the 118 bloke!

-He does!

-We supply ready mix concrete.

-I'm the plant manager.

-There's only me and three drivers.

-I've been here 4 years now.

-I love it here.

-I work with a great bunch of lads.

-What about

-the Hermon Tug of War team?

-It'll be interesting to meet up.

-I haven't seen

-some of them in years.

-I'll tell Denz to bring the rope.

-I'll tell Denz to bring the rope.

-

-I don't know about that!

-We can burn it!

-Terry will take his place

-in the team again.

-Bill was only 16

-when he joined the team in 1973.

-The boys weren't in it just for fun.

-They were champions!

-I think it was in about 1981...

-..that we won the county rally.

-We went through

-to the Royal Welsh in Builth Wells.

-We won the competition that year,

-too.

-Words can't describe how it felt.

-Winning gave us a tremendous buzz.

-The team then represented Wales

-in the Royal Show.

-They won, too. Only one title

-remained - the World Championship.

-The Welsh Tug of War Association

-asked us to represent Wales...

-..in the Jersey World Championships.

-We didn't enter the competition.

-We had a good reason not to go.

-Whatever their reason for failing

-to reach Jersey 25 years ago...

-..one thing's for sure.

-The Hermon Tug of War team

-haven't met up since those days.

-The search continues in Cardigan.

-He tracks down the man in yellow

-socks in a town centre office.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-

-How are you?

-I haven't seen you in a while.

-I haven't seen you in a while.

-

-How are you?

-How are you?

-Here's Hefin.

-Look what I found.

-Do you remember that?

-The Tug of War team.

-We looked out for one another.

-If one was in trouble or

-had a problem, we all helped out.

-Hefin is a financial advisor.

-He vividly remembers

-the hard training regime.

-We trained three times a week -

-on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

-Denz pushed us to the limit.

-Where is the man in the hat who

-put the boys through their paces?

-He's easier to find than the others.

-Denz and his wife

-are Bill's neighbours.

-This is where Denz lives.

-We've always been neighbours.

-Denz was the main man - the coach

-who pushed the boys to the limit.

-That's where we trained.

-I think it's time

-I paid him a visit.

-Hello! How are you today?

-This is Denz.

-Where was this?

-Denz was good, fair play.

-He was keen and a hard taskmaster.

-He sometimes told us off

-when we wouldn't listen.

-At the time, I didn't think it was

-fair, but looking back he was right!

-I would say that to win

-they'd have to train.

-That was the most important thing.

-I also told them

-to cut down on the beer!

-So it was out with the beer barrel,

-and in with a barrel of cement.

-Denz had unusual coaching methods

-on his farm.

-The tree is still here.

-You would sweat here.

-The old barrel is still here!

-The boys pulled

-the heavy barrel over the branch.

-It wouldn't touch the floor

-eight times - twice is hard enough.

-They were a good team

-when they could move that around.

-Even though

-there were only 8 in the team...

-..plenty more lads

-would come training.

-I knew all the lads.

-I'd spent time

-with them in training.

-Telling someone

-they weren't in the team...

-..was the worst job of all.

-Denz will return

-to retake the picture.

-But there are more

-of the Hermon team to find.

-Bill hopes to find another

-team member at Crymych Rugby Club.

-Some of the lads bring

-their children to train here.

-How are you?

-This is Melfyn.

-I remember winning

-a few competitions.

-We were

-the Llanboidy Welsh Champions.

-We won in the Royal Welsh

-about 10 times.

-We won

-the Royal Show in Stoneleigh twice.

-Another member

-of the squad is here tonight.

-The man who coaches Melfyn's

-children is a familiar face.

-Kevin Phillips is the former

-Neath and Wales hooker.

-How are you, Kevin?

-Have you come training?

-Later maybe!

-I found these photos.

-Were we ever that young?!

-Kevin played top flight rugby...

-..as well as the Tug of War -

-but how do they compare?

-They're both hard, because different

-parts of the body are used.

-After a Tug of War pull, you

-don't have any arms or legs left!

-The whole body is used in rugby.

-It's a totally different sport.

-How does this coach rate

-Denz's coaching techniques?

-He was a tough coach.

-He pushed us to the limit.

-He was a good bloke - we listened

-to him. It paid to listen to him.

-There is no farming or coaching

-on Denz's farm, Moelwern, any more.

-Denz has retired.

-He can take it easy and look back

-at the highlights of his life.

-He's kept the trophies

-in a safe place.

-He treasures one in particular.

-The trophy for their first win

-at the Royal Show.

-That's when the dream team

-came together.

-We were outstanding

-for about 5 years.

-The thrill of beating the English

-is still close to Denz's heart.

-Well...

-..it was the best thing we ever did.

-So proud.

-Sorry.

-After the victory, the team

-were asked to represent Wales...

-..at the Jersey World Championships.

-But the boys stayed at home.

-We didn't enter the competition.

-We had a good reason not to go.

-Why didn't the team enter

-the World Championships?

-Who keeps a pub made out of zinc?

-Will they have a full team

-to play Tug of War once again?

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-BUILTH WELLS ROYAL WELSH SHOW 1984

-More than 25 years ago, why

-did the Hermon Tug of War team...

-..decide not to represent

-Wales in the World Championships?

-Today, Bill Davies

-hopes none of the boys...

-..turn down the chance

-of retaking the photo.

-He's had some luck,

-but he hasn't found them all.

-See you later.

-He's found one brother -

-Terry from the cement factory.

-But it isn't cement

-that the other brother sells.

-This is where Brian Davies lives

-with his wife Hafwen.

-We call him Beaky,

-but Brian's his real name.

-How are you, Brian?! It's been ages!

-Mind your head!

-I need a helmet!

-This is Brian.

-I haven't changed at all!

-I have - I've got hair there!

-I'll get you a wig for the reunion.

-I think I deserve a pint.

-Probably.

-On the house?!

-Tafarn Sinc in the Preseli Hills,

-is in Rosebush, Maenclochog.

-The pub is made out of zinc.

-My father-in-law

-bought it 18 years ago.

-My wife and I had the opportunity

-to run it on our own 3 years ago.

-I handed in my notice to run

-the pub with my wife and children.

-I'm really enjoying it. We'll

-be here for the rest of our lives!

-Brian feels sad that Tug of War

-is no longer popular.

-I wish my children could do it,

-but there is no Tug of War any more.

-There's football, rugby,

-tennis and cricket.

-Not many clubs did

-that sort of thing when I was young.

-There must be 20 years

-since you last bought me a pint!

-I don't think so!

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-

-Cheers.

-Tafarn Sinc's landlord will return.

-There was more than the bond

-of friendship between the boys.

-Glue was important too,

-to keep a grip on the rope.

-We mixed our own glue.

-I'm not sure

-whether it would be allowed now.

-We had some sort of resin.

-We mixed it with petrol

-before boiling it.

-That was the most dangerous part!

-Gerallt once singed

-his eyebrows while mixing the glue!

-This is Gerallt today -

-eyebrows intact!

-We boiled petrol. The sensible

-ones boiled it on a plate.

-I had to use an open flame.

-My eyebrows and half my hair

-disappeared in one go!

-But we made the glue!

-We're here today to tell the story!

-Gerallt has been driving lorries

-for 33 years.

-These lorries travel the length

-and breadth of the country.

-People are fed up of seeing them

-on the roads of Wales.

-But we have to go

-where the work takes us.

-When the picture was taken,

-half the team drove the lorries.

-It's only Gerallt who's

-still behind the wheel nowadays.

-We haven't been together

-in many years.

-I know John Robinson is in Canada.

-Bill suggested we organize

-the reunion in Canada!

-Gerallt will park his lorry for

-the afternoon to see everyone again.

-Apart from John in Canada,

-there's only one of the team left.

-Les can be found

-on his farm in Tegryn.

-He has fond memories of the team.

-We were like brothers.

-We watched out for one another.

-We got up to all sorts of mischief!

-I couldn't possibly say!

-Despite the mischief - Les remembers

-why the team was so successful.

-There was no such thing as losing.

-Losing was inconceivable.

-We had to beat everyone

-on any terms.

-We had to win.

-That's how our minds worked.

-If winning was the goal...

-..why did they refuse

-the chance to represent Wales...

-..at the Jersey World Championships?

-If all the team couldn't go...

-..we decided to turn it down.

-We didn't enter

-the World Championships.

-One of the team couldn't go -

-Denz, the coach.

-But he had a very special reason.

-When I said I couldn't go,

-they all wanted to know why.

-My daughter, Rose,

-was getting married.

-Rose, Denz's only child, had

-long since arranged her wedding.

-Unfortunately my father couldn't go

-as it was my wedding day.

-They decided they wouldn't go.

-Nothing prevented them -

-they could have gone.

-"All for one, one for all"

-was their motto.

-If Denz couldn't come, we

-wouldn't go. That was the end of it.

-This goes to show how much

-they respected him, and vice versa.

-He would have loved to see them go.

-I'm sure they would have won.

-Looking back,

-it was the right decision.

-It will be nice for Dad

-to see them together again.

-They can have a group photo.

-The big day has arrived. Bill's

-made sure no-one's getting married!

-He's arranged to meet everyone

-at Crymych Rugby Club.

-I hope the boys

-will buy me a pint each!

-We'll see. It'll be quite nice

-to hold the rope again!

-Brothers Terry and Brian

-are the first to arrive.

-What's going on?!

-I'm looking forward

-to a bit of a party!

-Where's my pint?

-Where's my pint?

-

-Have some of this!

-Have some of this!

-Les has left the farm for the day.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-OK!

-OK!

-Who's this, with his old Tug of War

-boots? Gerallt has arrived.

-I'm looking forward

-to seeing the boys.

-We'll share some memories

-and have fun.

-The boots bring back happy memories.

-Hefin, the financial advisor,

-arrives.

-Melfyn has come to join in the fun.

-Are you going to buy me a pint?!

-No-one has bought Bill a pint yet!

-Almost everyone has arrived.

-I haven't changed at all.

-Denz isn't here yet.

-Denz,

-the all-important coach arrives.

-It'll be nice to see them all.

-We had a lot of fun.

-I want to see how big they are now

-compared to back then!

-They were big lads.

-With Denz here, all but one

-in the photo are back in Crymych.

-The missing player is waiting

-for the lads on the television.

-John sent a message from Canada.

-Hwyl from Canada, boys.

-Hope you have a good time.

-I hope everybody behaves themselves,

-and Denz's trilby stays straight.

-I wish I could be with you, but

-there you are. Can't be everywhere.

-Have a good time.

-And now you maybe

-ought to have a look behind you.

-The final member has returned

-to Crymych from Canada.

-Here's John.

-The Province of Manitoba

-is exactly halfway across Canada.

-John and his family

-have lived here for 15 years.

-I miss Wales a lot -

-rugby time especially.

-John milked cows

-for a living in Wales.

-Not a lot has changed.

-The daily routine here

-is very similar to Wales.

-We start milking

-about five in the morning.

-Days are a little different...

-..in that we're always

-milking and feeding the cows...

-..because

-they are housed all the year round.

-John is now a grandfather. His

-five daughters were born in Wales.

-John has never forgotten

-his Welsh roots...

-..nor the Tug of War team.

-When I was in the Tug of War team...

-..it was not the most important

-thing in my life...

-..but very close to it.

-A lot of social activities.

-We certainly put a lot of living

-into a short space of time!

-Despite the distance between them...

-..the lads

-still have a place in John's heart.

-Some of my best friends still, even

-though I don't see them very often.

-If we get together,

-it would be just like the old days.

-I think the boys

-would be shocked to see me.

-Most of them know where I am now...

-..and would be very surprised

-if I turned up.

-CHATTER

-How did you do that then?

-How did you do that then?

-

-Magic!

-The lads in the photo

-are back in Crymych.

-They're together for the first time

-in over 25 years.

-It's time to retake the photograph.

-Another surprise awaits them.

-They're joined by familiar faces who

-pulled for Hermon over the years.

-Is the 1982 team

-ready for the challenge?

-Take the strain.

-Concentrate, boys.

-Take the strain!

-Steady! Pull!

-Under, yes!

-Keep it tight, keep it tight.

-Pressure!

-Pressure!

-Keep it tight. It's coming!

-After 27 years -

-the desire to win is still there.

-The time has come

-to retake the photo.

-Bill, the festival organizer,

-organizes everyone.

-We need 3 or 4

-that side to hold the rope up.

-BILL TELLS THEM WHERE TO STAND

-Taffy, the original photographer,

-is here - with the same camera!

-The Hermon 1982 Tug of War team

-are back on the rope.

-Neighbours Bill and Denz

-are side by side.

-Some travel all over Wales,

-other have stayed at home.

-One emigrated to another country.

-But for one brief moment...

-..the Hermon Tug of War team

-are back in their positions....

-..exactly as they were

-over 25 years ago.

-It's been very good.

-I had a couple of shocks to see

-faces I hadn't seen in 15 years.

-I think the world of them.

-They've hardly changed at all,

-just put on a few pounds.

-It's been great, and I felt

-a strong urge to pull again.

-It meant a lot to be

-in the Hermon Tug of War team.

-I was just telling Bill we should

-arrange a reunion once a year.

-I was a member of the team -

-and they're all really good friends.

-They're great blokes.

-S4C Subtitles by GWEAD

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