Pennod 2 Loriau Mansel Davies a'i Fab

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-Mansel Davies is one of the

-most familiar names on our roads.

-You'll inevitably get stuck behind

-one of their 150 lorries.

-But have you ever wondered

-how milk reaches your Cornflakes?

-It's 28,000 litres

-which is more than I could stomach!

-That's only one full load.

-But it isn't the only thing

-they transport.

-It's bye, bye to the Netherlands

-and hello to Belgium.

-Mansel Davies?

-The company is decades old and if

-Mansel wasn't holding the pencil...

-..he was certainly at the table

-when the first wheel was designed.

-Take pride in tailing

-these kings of the road...

-..because this series will prove

-that Mansel Davies was there first.

-It's Christmas morning and

-every sensible person is asleep...

-..apart from one man in his red hat!

-It's about 5.45am.

-The roads will be quiet today

-with a bit of luck!

-I hope to be back before 4.00pm.

-I'll unload the haul...

-..and then I can go home for dinner.

-It's quite a sacrifice to make sure

-there's a pint of milk on the table.

-I don't mind working

-on Christmas Day.

-The milk needs collecting

-and someone has to do it!

-There isn't a lot

-in my lunchbox today.

-I'm on a diet to leave room

-for my supper later.

-I hope to have turkey and

-all the trimmings when I get home.

-There's something different

-about working on Christmas Day.

-People tend to be in a good mood.

-I might get a tip from one or two

-of the farmers with a bit of luck!

-A tip?

-A Christmas bonus!

-It's the same for us

-365 days of the year.

-We've got to milk the cows...

-..and they need feeding too.

-We try to do it a bit quicker...

-..so that we can go back

-to the house to open our presents...

-..and have our dinner.

-It's alright, so far.

-Yes, it is.

-There's more than one farm

-to visit today!

-A lorry on the road means

-there's someone in the office.

-It could be mid-summer

-in Llanfyrnach.

-Everyone's in their short sleeves

-and ready for work.

-Merry Christmas!

-Good morning.

-Rhodri, Bedwyr and Osian

-are here to call the drivers.

-They are doing all they can.

-Three lads arrived at 5.00am

-to prepare the tanks for loading.

-I got an email last night

-at half past twelve.

-"Can you change the Aldi load for

-Dublin to deliver on the Wednesday?"

-Half past twelve

-that email came to me.

-It can be stressful as a lot

-of factories stock up on milk.

-We haven't had any problems

-but it's early days!

-There's bound to be delays.

-We'll be lucky if we don't get

-any breakdowns or any problems.

-Ho, ho, ho!

-It is difficult.

-It's Christmas Day and

-I try to work two days in advance.

-I've done this for many years...

-..and it's difficult

-at any time of year.

-It's just a bit easier

-when it isn't Christmas Day!

-The lads are hoping

-to finish here at about midday.

-The calls will be diverted to me.

-Sasha and I

-can take the afternoon calls.

-We're hoping to have lunch

-at about 1.00pm.

-That's almost normal, Stephen!

-It will be much later for Wyn Jones

-who has bumped into Dai Hands.

-"I bought a turkey called Jim,

-Christmas never worries him.

-"Every November, he'll always

-remember to go on a diet and slim!"

-Christmas in the cab!

-Let me show you the contents

-of my fridge in this lorry.

-Let's have a look.

-There's bread, milk and cheese.

-Oh, and I've got ham.

-I might have a big soup.

-Soup, cheese and bread and butter.

-That's what I'll have

-for lunch today.

-Someone's got to do it.

-You can't stop a cow

-from producing milk.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Do the cattle

-know that it's Christmas Day?

-No, I don't think so.

-They probably realize the milking

-has started earlier in the morning.

-They must think something's up

-because the farmer's early!

-Do you think they have a party?

-It's on the quiet.

-It doesn't look like a party...

-..but farmer and his wife

-share some goodwill.

-Thank you.

-Good God!

-Look at this then!

-It's Christmas today, boys.

-It's Christmas today, boys.

-

-Wow, look at this.

-Christmas only comes once a year.

-Wyn is our regular driver.

-He's here at least

-four or five times a week.

-We've built up a relationship

-with Wyn and he's helpful.

-They're all a friendly bunch

-from the Mansel Davies depot.

-It's rare for lorry drivers

-to get a Christmas card.

-Now then.

-Heavens above, look at that.

-Oh!

-Dai is speechless, for once.

-It was worth getting out of bed

-this morning.

-Yes, it was.

-Thank you.

-Merry Christmas!

-"Oi, calf. They're having a party!"

-If there's a secret to the success

-of Mansel Davies...

-..it's that the business has been

-in the family for over 100 years.

-Despite his age, Kaye is on the yard

-for sevens days of the week...

-..but the business

-is run by his son, Stephen.

-Every generation

-in the history of the company...

-..has had to step aside

-for the young.

-We're on our sixth generation.

-The sixth generation is starting out

-and I hope they want it to continue.

-Sasha works with the traffic team

-and she asked to work in the office.

-She's been here for six months

-and works from 7.15am until 6.00pm.

-She does what has to be done.

-I haven't asked her to do that

-but she just gets on with the job.

-Hello, Mansel Davies.

-I try to help as much as I can.

-I tell the drivers what to do

-and take bookings for loads.

-Take the L24 to Letterston for me.

-And then take the L74

-to Llangefni please, Gareth.

-She seems to enjoy

-the cut and thrust of it.

-She likes talking to people, being

-on the phone and organizing things.

-That's where her future lies.

-It's better than being downstairs.

-There's less bickering.

-If anything is wrong, you say it

-and that's the end of it.

-There's no need to argue

-and they don't drag it out.

-It's good to work with men.

-I couldn't work upstairs.

-Oh, meow!

-Stephen's wife, Shan

-is in the office upstairs.

-Are they lovey dovey on the phone?

-He's downstairs and I work upstairs.

-I ask him work-related questions but

-other than that, I don't see him!

-It works quite well.

-He doesn't get home until 7.30pm so

-that could be why it works so well!

-We do the invoicing up here.

-There's Lowri, Lowri, Lowri,

-Hilary and Ann.

-Quite a few of us

-are involved in the invoicing.

-The lorries bring the work

-and timesheets for us to process.

-Am I the only one who's noticed

-that Lowri sounds like lorry?

-They are all local girls.

-Nobody has had to move as they all

-live a few minutes away from here.

-In April,

-I will have been here for 20 years.

-It's convenient as I live nearby.

-Lowri Jenkins and I are both working

-on the farm direct debits...

-..but I do a bit of everything.

-I type up letters for Kaye

-and deal with the insurance.

-I cover for Carol in the wages

-department when she isn't here.

-I do whatever needs doing.

-Just don't make Carol angry!

-Did you say you wanted one sugar?

-And one black.

-I've came here in 1976 as

-a young girl straight from school.

-Friends went to college...

-..but you won't get

-a better education than this!

-Happy birthday, Hilary.

-You're 21 again!

-Yes, I know.

-I've got a few years before I retire

-but I doubt I'll go very far...

-..unless I win the lottery.

-That's a different story.

-Don't go too far

-because the lads need to be paid.

-This is the easiest job

-after doing the wages.

-It's quite relaxing.

-It's very therapeutic.

-I think about the world and his wife

-whilst doing this.

-The figures need to be ready by

-Wednesday before payday on Friday.

-You're like a machine.

-I don't know about that.

-The batteries run flat after a while

-and need recharging.

-You're in the right place

-for a jump start, Carol.

-There we go.

-That job has been done

-for another week.

-Scott is my grandson.

-He's doing his A levels but hopes

-to go to university next year...

-..before coming back

-to the business.

-He got his driving licence and has

-been driving a car since he was 17.

-He's been driving a tractor since

-he was 16 and uses it like a car!

-I started spreading lime

-when I was eleven.

-It was a good place to start.

-I was too young and too small to

-go into the garage or drive a lorry.

-Spreading lime was the easiest place

-for me to start.

-It's important

-to come up through the ranks.

-I wouldn't want him to do it

-in any other way.

-That's the way I did it.

-I finished school

-and started bagging coal.

-I worked my way up.

-It's an important part

-of the business.

-It's important

-to start at the bottom...

-..to get the perspective

-of our workers.

-I'll earn more respect

-by doing this.

-They won't be able to say

-that I don't understand...

-..because I've started

-in the same place.

-We all start in the same place

-and are all equal.

-Scott has been coming to us...

-..since his feet

-were able to reach the pedals.

-It's about 7.30am

-and a school day...

-..so he'll have to go

-to school later.

-This is extra-curricular

-as they don't teach it in schools.

-It's more beneficial

-than the national curriculum!

-The headmaster of the school

-in Cresselly has been on the phone.

-Yes, it's time to go back.

-I told him this was

-extra-curricular.

-A lot of children in school haven't

-worked a day in their lives...

-..and haven't really grown up.

-By working, you mature quicker...

-..and think more like an adult.

-It prepares you for the world.

-Scott is interested in the workshops

-and engineering.

-He plans to do a degree

-in engineering.

-A degree is a step

-in the right direction...

-..but how is he coping

-with the work?

-He learns faster

-than anyone else in the family.

-He's very intelligent

-and can do everything we ask of him.

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-A reliable team is essential

-for the success of any business.

-Mansel Davies has a willing

-workforce on its own doorstep.

-Generations of the same family

-have worked for the business.

-It continues to this day.

-We employ as many local people

-as is possible.

-Everyone who works here

-lives within 25 miles of the yard.

-They live in this village,

-the next village and Crymych.

-One worker's grandfather

-has recently retired...

-..and he was with us

-for over 40 years.

-His son came to us

-when he finished school...

-..and his granddaughter

-drives for us too.

-I've worked for Mansel

-for two years.

-I left school and went to college.

-I came to work here

-as soon as I finished in college.

-Dad and Dat-cu worked here

-so I've grown up around lorries.

-She always enjoyed coming with me.

-As she got older,

-she enjoyed doing some driving.

-She'd move the lorry

-whilst sitting on my lap.

-I'd come back

-and unhitch the trailer.

-She'd jump into the cab

-and drive the lorry to the yard...

-..fill it with diesel and park it.

-She gets on well with the lads.

-She's just like me and enjoys

-a bit of fun and some leg-pulling.

-I was apprehensive at first.

-There's only a few women here

-and I didn't know what would happen.

-I told her

-to give as good as she got.

-That's exactly what she did...

-..and people think the world of her.

-They can't do enough for her.

-I've grown up

-around a lot of them...

-..so it was a bit strange

-when I started out by myself.

-I kept looking for my father.

-I was a bit worried

-because I'm a girl.

-I thought they would be

-a bit wary of me.

-They let me get on with it...

-..and don't offer to help me

-because I'm a girl.

-They let me do it

-and we have a laugh together.

-The lads talk about lads' things.

-I just laugh

-and go along with the banter.

-You can't take it to heart...

-..or you'll worry that you're

-disliked but it's just banter.

-They all have

-a lot of respect for her.

-She can do the job as well as any

-of them so deserves their respect.

-She's as good as anyone

-on our workforce.

-I prefer doing this.

-I don't care

-what other people think about it.

-I don't know why there aren't

-more people doing it.

-It's an easy job

-and isn't difficult.

-You have a good laugh too.

-It could be scary because

-you're driving something so big...

-..but it's like riding a bike.

-When you get used to it, you know

-what you're doing and it's easy.

-To get under a lorry...

-..you could be pumping

-until your legs turn to jelly.

-Thankfully, they have a few tools

-for the job.

-We're using the lift to

-raise the lorry to change a spring.

-One of the springs

-have broken on the second axle.

-This is known as a column lift.

-They fit under every wheel

-of the lorry.

-Each stand can lift

-about 7.5 tonnes.

-They have Bluetooth

-so don't have any cables.

-We can use up to eight lifts on the

-same setting or just use one or two.

-We can alter the settings

-so that they move individually.

-It's state-of-the-art equipment.

-Gethin loves his job.

-You wouldn't find me under there

-even if it is state-of-the-art!

-I find it easier

-when I'm doing an inspection.

-A pit is better for some things

-but I like the columns.

-It was one of the sections

-of the spring.

-This can replace the broken one

-and hope everything is alright.

-Yes, there's a tool for everything

-under the sun.

-Kaye was lucky to get wheels

-when he started in the 1950s!

-I came out of the army

-and came home in 1956.

-I drove lorries with my father

-at first...

-..before expanding the business.

-The railways closed

-in 1962 and 1963.

-Dad had an operation on his back

-and had spinal cord damage...

-..and planned to sell the business

-in 1964...

-..but I offered to buy it from him.

-It has changed a lot

-and we now run about 180 lorries...

-..and have a workforce of 300.

-He's a great role model.

-Sasha and Scott worship him

-and he worships them.

-Dat-cu has been a massive influence.

-He's someone I admire

-because he's worked so hard.

-He's done so much.

-It grew from five to 130 lorries

-before Dad took over.

-All the lads admire him...

-..whether they have been here

-for five minutes or 40 years.

-I raise my hat to him and

-hope to be just like him one day.

-This influential figure has reached

-a respectable age today...

-..but I doubt it makes

-any difference to him.

-This is from me.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

-

-That's fine.

-How are you today?

-It's just like any other day for him

-as he was still here at 6.00am.

-The girls put up some photographs,

-made a fuss and got him a cake.

-It sounds like a right old shindig.

-No, I've never believed in parties.

-Someone needs to share that message.

-Hello, how are you?

-She's been busy cooking.

-Yes, sausage rolls.

-Don't drop it.

-Don't drop it.

-

-No, I won't.

-It's a picture of our first ever

-Volvo with the number JDE 535L.

-A Volvo sales director brought this

-from Warwick the other day.

-It's a shame

-to cut through the lorry.

-We're going to cut it and eat it.

-There's a candle

-for every ten years.

-There's eight candles.

-You've worked it out.

-I didn't count them.

-I didn't count them.

-

-That's why I counted them.

-The team is determined

-to celebrate Kaye's birthday.

-He's coming now.

-And for someone

-who doesn't want to a party...

-CHEERING

-..they've laid out quite a spread.

-Do they need to twist his arm

-to have a glass of fizz?

-He was shocked to see

-what people had done for him.

-He doesn't like it

-but enjoys the attention.

-He's about to get

-even more attention.

-Alwyn Humphreys

-has arrived with a special present.

-Who's having their birthday today?

-Kaye!

-Kaye Mansel Davies.

-First, I'd like to wish you

-a happy 80th birthday...

-..but you're also Salt of the Earth.

-Congratulations to you.

-CHEERING

-This is the longest that Kaye

-has been away from the yard.

-If he can't stop work today,

-when can he do it?

-Amidst the celebrations...

-Where's Kaye now?

-Yes, he's escaped again.

-He's on the yard

-more than he's in the office.

-He must walk miles every day.

-I just check

-that everything is being done.

-He's often in here.

-Too often sometimes!

-It's his company so we do our best

-to repair everything.

-We keep things running.

-I'm better than I used to be.

-I'm here every day by about 5.45am

-and might be home by 7.30pm.

-I don't know about

-that bit in the middle.

-He knows everyone

-and they all get along.

-He preaches sometimes

-but everyone understands each other.

-Everybody respects him

-and he's generally very good.

-We all argue but he's the boss

-at the end of the day...

-..and everyone respects him.

-Behind every great man

-is a great woman.

-How long have you been married?

-How long have you been married?

-

-It's been 56 years.

-What's he like to live with?

-No comment!

-No, it's very easy. He spoils me.

-He's a bit of a workaholic.

-He's a bit of a workaholic.

-

-He is a workaholic, yes.

-Early in the morning

-and late at night.

-He comes home, has dinner

-and goes to sleep.

-Perfect.

-Fifty-six years of marriage

-and five minutes of conversation!

-You can go home as it isn't

-every day that you turn 80.

-How do you feel?

-How do you feel?

-

-Fine.

-You look wonderful.

-You look wonderful.

-

-Yes, but I'm a bit older.

-He definitely isn't going to retire.

-He doesn't know any different

-and I wouldn't want him to retire.

-This is his life.

-I hope he can keep coming here

-for a while...

-..and that he stays healthy

-so that he can do as he pleases.

-Nobody expects him to retire

-but does he?

-I can't afford to retire.

-I've got to work.

-The place wouldn't be the same

-without him.

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