Jennie Eirian Mamwlad


Jennie Eirian

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-Today, I'm travelling from

-Carmarthenshire to Flintshire...

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-..on the trail of a woman who

-influenced me since my childhood.

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-Her influence remains and she still

-amazes the young people of today.

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-The more I learnt about her life and

-career, the more I wanted to know.

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-She's truly captivating.

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-Jennie Eirian was a politician...

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-..a commentator and author...

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-..but is remembered

-as the fearless editor of Y Faner.

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-She wasn't a genteel Welsh woman...

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-..who focused on Welsh issues.

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-Jennie Eirian would confront

-the establishment if it was wrong.

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-Those who are in favour

-of a fourth channel...

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-..try to quash opinions on

-every level, be it individuals...

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-Behind that determined

-and outspoken character...

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-..was a sense of doubt

-and she left Y Faner.

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-I had to break down

-the locked bathroom door...

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-..and discovered Mam

-and she was dead.

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-The events of that night

-remain uncertain...

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-..and they cloud

-our memories of her.

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-But Jennie Eirian's legacy

-is her life...

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-..and not her death.

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-Since the 1960s...

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-..the campaign for a Welsh-language

-channel stole the headlines.

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-They have reached an agreement...

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-..that the way forward was to have a

-fourth channel for Welsh programmes.

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-The oppression of the Welsh language

-is deceptively humble.

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-There was fierce debate

-both for and against the channel.

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-Much of it appeared in Y Faner under

-the editorship of Jennie Eirian.

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-Six months

-before the launch of S4C...

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-..the nation was stunned by Jennie's

-suicide at her home near Mold.

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-This is the Jennie Eirian

-memorial edition of Y Faner.

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-Every page features an aspect of her

-personality or one of her interests.

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-We have the lady

-of the warm welcome.

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-Jennie the wife and mother.

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-The staunch supporter.

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-Politics.

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-The brightest of pupils.

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-Jennie the scholar.

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-And Jennie

-the supportive minister's wife.

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-I face the challenge

-of piecing this together...

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-..to discover

-the real Jennie Eirian.

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-Jennie Eirian was born in 1925...

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-..three years before women

-won the right to vote...

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-..and six months

-before Plaid Cymru was founded.

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-Jennie was a Carmarthenshire girl.

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-She was the daughter of the Howells

-family of Llandre in Llanpumsaint.

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-She's a heroine in the village.

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-Some residents still remember her.

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-I knew Jennie and saw her every day.

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-She went to Carmarthen County School

-for Girls...

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-..and I went to school

-in Llanpumsaint.

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-What do you remember about her?

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-I remember that she always

-carried a book in her left hand...

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-..as she walked to and from school.

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-She didn't talk a lot

-because the book was more important.

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-Books took pride of place

-throughout her life.

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-After school, Jennie would return

-to a home without electricity.

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-This was normal at the time.

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-She continued reading

-by the light of a paraffin lamp...

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-..but her father turned the lamp off

-as reading was a waste of paraffin!

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-There was no love lost

-between Jennie and her father.

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-That's the impression I got.

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-He didn't want her to follow

-her studies and go to university.

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-I don't think he wanted that.

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-It wasn't part of his plan

-for his children.

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-Jennie earned a scholarship to

-study at Aberystwyth University...

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-..where she gained

-first class honours in Welsh.

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-The degree aside, it's where she met

-her husband-to-be, Eirian Davies.

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-Everybody knew of them as a couple.

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-They were truly in love.

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-Eirian spotted Jennie

-at an Eisteddfod...

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-..and found her very attractive.

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-The shoe was on the other foot

-when they were at university.

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-When Eirian won the Chair and Crown

-at the Intercollege Eisteddfod...

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-..Jennie said,

-"I'm going to marry him!"

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-Dad was quite bohemian in college...

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-..whereas Mam

-had a sheltered upbringing.

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-Mam found Dad to be

-an exotic creature...

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-..and he broadened Mam's horizons...

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-..when they started dating

-and eventually married.

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-He opened up her entire world.

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-Soon after their wedding...

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-..Eirian was appointed the minister

-of Moriah Chapel in Brynamman.

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-Jennie embraced her role as a wife

-and mother to Sion and Guto...

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-..but she also publically voiced her

-opinions on the politics of Wales.

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-In June 1955, Jennie was the Plaid

-Cymru candidate for Carmarthenshire.

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-She was the only female candidate...

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-..at a time when female politicians

-were rare.

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-She wasn't only admired for her

-eloquence but also her beauty.

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-Jennie was young, beautiful...

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-..full of energy and enthusiasm.

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-She paved the way for politicians

-such as Leanne Wood.

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-She broke the mould of the political

-candidate who was typically male.

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-Jennie was a breath of fresh air

-and that was her nature too.

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-I was young.

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-The young always have a dream

-that they want to achieve.

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-Plaid Cymru's policies and stance

-fuelled my dream.

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-By the late 1950s, Jennie

-was a prominent figure in Wales...

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-..as a politician, author

-and television presenter.

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-Good afternoon and welcome

-to another edition of Dwy Farn.

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-She voiced her opinion

-on the day's burning issues.

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-Her influence

-and status was growing.

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-In the late 1960s...

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-..Eirian became the minister

-of Bethesda Chapel in Mold...

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-..and the family moved to the area.

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-It was very different to Brynamman

-and quite anglicized...

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-..but Jennie threw herself

-into life in the town and chapel.

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-How was this lively Llanpumsaint

-lady received in Mold?

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-She was highly respected

-but I think some people feared her.

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-I remember a discussion with

-the Merched y Wawr one evening...

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-..about grants to keep children

-in school for the Sixth Form.

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-Jennie was in favour

-but I opposed it.

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-Jennie was ferocious

-and I didn't want to stay behind.

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-She wiped the floor with me!

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-Another lady told me to take no

-notice as she was always like that.

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-But we were always friends.

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-We often clashed

-but were always friends.

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-She was in her element

-as a Sunday School teacher.

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-Her sharp mind

-was always challenging.

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-She was always one step ahead of us.

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-She could take our arguments

-to pieces.

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-It wasn't vindictive

-but very sensitive.

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-She played with us

-like a cat plays with a mouse.

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-The more we justified our stance,

-the deeper the debate became.

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-When she had finished...

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-..she would throw her head back

-and give out a great laugh.

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-It was a memorable experience.

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-Whilst in Mold, she established

-a branch of Merched y Wawr...

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-..and later became

-its national president.

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-What was she like to work with?

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-She was a hardworking woman.

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-She did a lot of preparation.

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-She had a vision

-and knew what she wanted to achieve.

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-We always had to learn any piece

-that we were reciting...

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-..because she didn't like paper

-flapping around.

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-She would always say that.

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-She was very thorough

-in her preparation.

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-The Merched y Wawr

-was very important to her.

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-She saw it as a movement...

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-..that highlighted the role of women

-within the community.

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-Their lineage didn't matter...

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-..and neither

-did their position in life.

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-It was important

-for women to have opportunities.

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-Was she a feminist?

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-It's an interesting question.

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-Was Mam a feminist?

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-I don't think she was.

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-Those who knew her will say that

-she was an early form of feminist...

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-..but they are wrong.

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-She championed

-success amongst women...

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-..and their right to be equal

-in every way to men.

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-However, she wasn't on the same page

-as those feminists...

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-..who wanted to re-define

-the conditions of their lives...

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-..and their role in the community.

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-She was happy to live

-in a patriarchal society...

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-..and be a successful part of it.

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-But Jennie wanted to share her views

-with a wider audience...

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-..and in 1979, she was appointed

-as the editor of Y Faner.

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-It cemented her status

-as a national commentator.

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-It was a pivotal role

-and Jennie had a clear vision.

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-Y Faner is a magazine

-and not a newspaper.

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-I expect the articles in Y Faner...

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-..to give a deeper insight

-into the issues discussed...

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-..and offer more opinions.

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-This could be thought-provoking

-but just as interesting.

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-But her editorship was criticized

-by many prominent figures in Wales.

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-Is the editor of Y Faner happy

-with the way in which Wyn Roberts...

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-It called for immense bravery...

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-Jennie Eirian Davies has lost

-her way in terms of the channel.

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-I don't think

-that Y Faner broke Jennie...

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-..but it was the nation

-or certain members of our nation...

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-..who broke her spirit in the end.

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-Their conscience

-has to deal with the consequences.

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

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-In the late 1970s, Jennie Eirian

-became the new editor of Y Faner.

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-It was a tense and emotional time

-in Welsh history...

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-..but Jennie was in her element.

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-I am totally happy

-as the editor of Y Faner.

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-This is the best job

-I've had in my career to date.

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-Expectations were high

-when she took the reins.

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-Y Faner was simply crawling along

-when she took charge.

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-She brought it back to life...

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-..with a new blood

-that was full of energy.

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-How did that happen?

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-How did that happen?

-

-It was her and nothing else.

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-Jennie Eirian

-was the sort of person...

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-..that both myself

-and the nation could admire.

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-She had credibility, depth

-and a true understanding.

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-She knew her people

-and was very headstrong.

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-She wasn't afraid

-of offending people.

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-Dafydd Iwan hit out against

-Alun R Edwards to silence him.

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-It's very dangerous to be unwilling

-to listen to the views of others.

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-She wasn't a genteel Welsh woman...

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-..who focused on Welsh issues.

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-Jennie Eirian would confront

-the establishment if it was wrong.

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-We have to leave it there.

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-The role of editor

-was a labour of love.

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-Three or four times a week...

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-..Jennie travelled from Mold

-to the Y Faner office in Bala.

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-There was a lack of resources.

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-There wasn't a telephone in her room

-so had to go downstairs to use one.

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-She didn't have researchers

-at her beck and call...

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-..but did it all herself.

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-Jennie was like a one-man-band!

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-This type of work

-is extremely gratifying...

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-..and it's also of interest

-to my family.

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-Eirian is very supportive...

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-..and I know that our two sons

-are also interested in it.

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-Y Faner was some kind

-of Nirvana for Mam.

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-She spent her life working towards

-achieving this position.

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-She was determined

-to make Y Faner widely popular...

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-..and offer a voice for everyone

-no matter their politics or beliefs.

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-She faced quite a dilemma.

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-The public thought of Y Faner...

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-..as a magazine that voiced

-the opinions of Plaid Cymru.

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-She chose to question

-some of these opinions...

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-..and be less dogmatic.

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-She also had one eye

-on the second population of Wales.

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-There were Welsh speakers similar to

-those in her home of Llanpumsaint...

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-..but there was also

-the non-Welsh speakers.

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-She was very eager to unite

-both parts of society in Y Faner.

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-But the political climate in Wales

-was very sensitive at that time.

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-People were fighting

-for a Welsh television channel...

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-..and Gwynfor Evans' stance

-fuelled the campaign.

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-This is a very important matter.

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-I don't think that anything else

-is as important...

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-..for the future of Wales

-and her heritage.

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-Jennie also wanted to present the

-argument led by Jack L Williams...

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-..stating Welsh programmes should

-appear on more than one channel.

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-Many were annoyed with Jennie...

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-..when she spoke out against

-Gwynfor Evans and his hunger strike.

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-John Davies said it was a heresy

-to challenge Gwynfor!

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-They wanted a general consensus

-against the English government...

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-..that there was full support

-for Gwynfor...

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-..but Mam took a stand against that

-within the national family.

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-She would have been naive to think

-there would not be repercussions.

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-The Welsh consider ourselves to be

-polite, noble and respectable...

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-..but we can be very unpleasant

-when provoked.

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-Jennie got more

-than her fair share...

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-..of verbal abuse in the name of

-our national character and identity.

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-Jennie gave the impression that

-she was coping with this criticism.

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-I'm sure you've had

-a very difficult time...

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-..even from your closest friends

-because you have disappointed them.

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-Yes, but when you take

-a public position...

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-..as the editor of a newspaper

-or magazine or a media-based role...

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-..then I hope we're prepared

-for this kind of criticism.

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-I believe I said this in my first

-editorial and I must face that.

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-But privately, she was suffering...

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-..and the strain of editing Y Faner

-became too much for her.

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-The decision to step down

-from her role as editor...

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-..was something

-that she didn't want to face.

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-She saw it as

-a great admission of failure...

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-..that she resigned from her

-dream job amidst this controversy.

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-It was as if she couldn't face the

-squabbles that she had created...

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-..because she couldn't see a way out

-of the dark place she had reached.

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-A week after resigning

-from Y Faner...

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-..she was dining with Eirian

-and Sion at their home.

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-The events that followed...

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-..continue to be both distressing

-and tragic.

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-What do you remember of that night?

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-Erm...

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-You tend to remember

-these kinds of horrific events...

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-..as if you're watching a film.

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-I had to break down

-the locked bathroom door...

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-..and I found Mam.

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-The first thing I remember is that

-I had to stop Dad from seeing her.

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-I didn't let him in as I closed the

-door so he couldn't see any of it.

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-After that, it gets confusing

-as the police arrive and so on.

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-Were there any signs to suggest that

-it was getting too much for her?

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-I didn't notice

-any specific signs...

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-..but I don't think

-I was close enough to her...

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-..in terms of a personal friendship.

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-I got the feeling that she thought

-that people can be very cruel.

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-We didn't realize

-that she was very hurt.

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-Her death shocked the nation.

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-Many failed to believe that she

-had taken her life intentionally.

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-I always remember that

-she had a great respect for life.

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-She definitely opposed abortion

-and euthanasia...

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-..so the events around her death

-made no sense whatsoever.

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-People were unable to talk about it

-for a very long time.

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-There are still doubts in my mind...

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-..as to whether it was

-a terrible accident.

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-I remember Gwyn Erfel

-speaking in the chapel.

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-He said that the harp strings

-were very taught and snapped.

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-Jennie was that harp

-with the broken strings.

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-I'm not so sure.

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-She often complained

-about wasting time...

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-..and encouraged you to keep going

-without feeling disheartened...

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-..so I can't believe she did that.

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-Something else must have happened.

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-I've realized that she had reached

-a point and was considering it.

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-Amongst her papers...

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-..I found a cutting about the death

-of the actress, Rachel Roberts.

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-She studied in Aberystwyth

-at the same time as Mam.

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-A year before Mam's death, Rachel

-had committed suicide in America.

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-Mam kept the cutting about it.

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-Rachel Roberts was discovered...

0:21:010:21:04

-..with alcohol and barbiturates

-around her...

0:21:040:21:08

-..in the same circumstances

-as we discovered Mam.

0:21:080:21:12

-I suspect it was significant that

-she took that cutting and kept it.

0:21:120:21:17

-It was also very strange that

-I was home for two days that May.

0:21:170:21:21

-I was filming in Wrexham and stayed

-with Dad and Mam for two nights...

0:21:220:21:27

-..and Mam had known about this

-for many weeks.

0:21:270:21:30

-It's odd that she did it

-when I was home.

0:21:300:21:33

-Did she do it at that time

-because I would be home with Dad?

0:21:330:21:38

-It's natural to think that.

0:21:390:21:40

-The tributes flooded in.

0:21:450:21:47

-People finally realized...

0:21:470:21:50

-..that she offered independent

-opinions for the benefit of Wales.

0:21:500:21:55

-Everything she did...

0:22:000:22:02

-..whether it was in the chapel...

0:22:020:22:05

-..as the national president

-of Merched y Wawr...

0:22:060:22:09

-..as an author

-of children's books...

0:22:100:22:13

-..or the editor of Y Faner...

0:22:130:22:15

-..was done

-with the same aim in mind.

0:22:160:22:18

-I think it was

-her biggest contribution.

0:22:180:22:21

-Wales was always at the fore.

0:22:210:22:23

-We still miss her.

0:22:300:22:32

-Nobody has come along

-to take her place.

0:22:320:22:35

-She has raised

-the profile of women...

0:22:350:22:38

-..not just in the chapel

-but in society as a whole.

0:22:380:22:42

-We strive towards being like her

-but we can never achieve that.

0:22:420:22:48

-She had a story to tell

-and a mission to achieve.

0:22:510:22:54

-That mission was expressed

-in a clear and concise way.

0:22:540:22:58

-I wish that

-there was someone, somewhere...

0:22:580:23:02

-..who could follow in her spirit...

0:23:020:23:05

-..and publish articles

-in our newspapers and magazines.

0:23:050:23:09

-They need proper

-editorial leadership.

0:23:090:23:13

-Jennie left a lasting impression

-on everyone who knew her.

0:23:190:23:23

-She was multitalented, headstrong,

-had high standards and open minded.

0:23:230:23:29

-But she was also

-an important public voice...

0:23:290:23:32

-..who was silenced too early

-and too suddenly.

0:23:320:23:36

-We cannot allow her end

-to obscure her life.

0:23:360:23:39

-It's high time we remembered

-Jennie Eirian properly.

0:23:390:23:43

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