Pennod 3 Cymoedd Roy Noble

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-The Valleys

-have always been my home.

-Each valley with its industrial

-scars and colourful characters...

-..have left

-a lasting impression on me.

-Over the coming weeks,

-I'll revisit the Valleys...

-..and meet characters

-who are truly welcoming.

-Why not jump on board my ride?

-I'm shifting gear

-and heading for the horizon!

-The Amman Valley,

-which is very close to my heart.

-It's full of happy memories.

-It was an important place

-in the 1940s.

-Brynamman was my home.

-It was one of the largest villages

-in the valley.

-I had a very happy upbringing there.

-My journey takes me to Tairgwaith,

-Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glanamman...

-..then Ammanford...

-..where I received my grammar school

-education in the 1950s.

-But I start on the Black Mountain

-above Brynamman.

-Heaven on earth.

-This was my paradise as a young boy.

-A playground

-for the children of the village.

-We hardly realized at the time...

-..how lucky we were

-to live in such a beautiful place.

-The Whitsun holidays, on the Monday.

-The children from the villages

-who were aged 10-13...

-..would walk

-to Carreg Cennen Castle.

-We'd all meet up, have a picnic

-and then walk back.

-Even now,

-nobody knows why we did that.

-It was an age-old tradition.

-I received my first education

-inside this building...

-..Brynamman infants' school,

-which is now a community centre.

-I remember my first day

-at Brynamman infants' school.

-I came here with Mam.

-Miss Llewellyn,

-the head teacher, said...

-.."Mrs Noble, there's no room

-for him. Come back next term."

-Mam was disappointed.

-I went up the Mountain

-trying to contain my delight.

-I remember playing chariots

-in the yard, before Ben Hur.

-I crouched down

-and two boys were the horses.

-We went around

-and there were sparks everywhere!

-We had nails in our shoes back then.

-Hobnailed boots or not, every child

-had to dress smartly for school.

-A shirt and tie and a nice jacket

-for the boys.

-Despite the uncertainty and cajoling

-of those early days...

-..I only have fond memories now.

-I remember coming here

-when I was four years old.

-It's amazing that we can remember.

-There wasn't a nursery school

-back then.

-We'd get so tired...

-..that Miss Jones let us sleep

-with our heads on the desk!

-She'd sing us to sleep.

-During PE, we'd spend half an hour

-finding the daps from the cupboard!

-We're now sitting where the

-corridor used to be in the school.

-Do you remember the coal fire?

-There wasn't any central heating.

-Every class had a coal fire.

-The caretaker, Miss Pugh,

-lived here.

-She'd bring in coal

-during the lessons.

-Yes. I remember

-all the teachers' names.

-It's changed, but it looks good.

-This is now an important centre.

-The centre is very, very important.

-The school closed in 2000.

-It's now the location

-of the surgery and the library.

-There's a cafe

-and classes are held here too.

-Swansea University come here often

-offering courses.

-Cross fingers,

-there'll be a post office here too.

-The post office

-has closed in Brynamman.

-Back in the early days

-in Brynamman...

-..the village was known as

-Y Gwter Fawr (Big Gutter).

-It was the name of one coal mine

-in particular in Lower Brynamman.

-It was in the 19th century

-that the village grew.

-There was coal, iron and tin here.

-People thronged here.

-There were two tracks in Brynamman.

-GWR came from Llanelli.

-Imagine that - two stations!

-It all happened

-to transport the coal and iron.

-If they'd kept the railway open,

-the roads would be better.

-Going down to Ammanford

-in the morning is a headache!

-One good thing that came out of

-the coal mines was the welfare fund.

-They gave a penny a ton in order

-to bring facilities to the village.

-We got a cinema, a swimming pool

-and a park.

-The cinema is smashing.

-We get the latest films

-on the day of their release.

-This is where we bought the tickets.

-This booth hasn't changed.

-I'd come here with Mam. This

-is where the excitement would start.

-Threepence for a ticket

-and we were in.

-Brian Harries has given over

-50 years of his life to the place.

-As chairman,

-he ensures its success continues.

-Brian, sitting here takes me back.

-Brynamman Public Hall.

-I came here twice a week

-because the films changed.

-A new film was shown from Thursday

-until Saturday.

-There were new films

-on Mondays and Thursdays.

-I'd usually sit in the first

-three rows with the other children.

-Boys on one side

-and girls on the other.

-You weren't allowed to swap sides.

-There were operettas here too.

-There were.

-We had "go as you please"...

-..especially on Wednesdays.

-There were chapel eisteddfods.

-They'd take place on Wednesday,

-Thursday, Friday until Saturday.

-They started early

-and finished late.

-The hall is still going strong.

-It's in good condition.

-We try our best

-to keep it up to standard.

-A personal question maybe...

-..how many get paid

-for running this place?

-The only people who get paid here...

-..are the usherettes,

-who also do the cleaning...

-..and the three

-working in the projection box.

-They get paid.

-They get paid.

-

-They get paid.

-Everyone else is voluntary.

-Brian, you must feel like Captain

-Kirk here with these machines!

-Ha ha!

-This is the centre of attraction.

-There are modern things

-by your feet...

-..but this machine

-is the soul of this place.

-Yes, it dates back to the 1950s,

-when CinemaScope came out.

-There's no film for it any more.

-I've kept this for nostalgia.

-I've kept this for nostalgia.

-

-I see.

-How did it work?

-If that reel finishes,

-you have to change it.

-When they came out,

-carbon arcs were in here.

-Two arcs touching

-would ignite, giving out light.

-These days, it's a xenon lamp.

-You turn it on

-and it keeps going all day.

-It's very good.

-A CinemaScope is in this.

-The film goes in.

-When it's finished,

-we get another one.

-When the spot comes on,

-we start up another machine.

-Another spot, and we change it over.

-The other one carries on

-from where the other finishes.

-The audience don't notice.

-The audience don't notice.

-

-Not at all.

-Down the valley

-is the village of Tairgwaith...

-..named after three busy coal pits

-in the area...

-..Maerdy, East Pit and Steer Pit.

-At one time, the three

-employed over 2,500 colliers.

-This is the site of Steer Pit.

-Tad-cu was killed there,

-not underground but on the surface.

-He was hit by a truck.

-I remember the day.

-I was ill at home with measles.

-Mam was shaking the mat

-out the upstairs window.

-She said suddenly,

-"David John is coming."

-He was Tad-cu's partner.

-He came to see us

-in the middle of a shift.

-I remember what he said

-when Mam opened the door.

-He was quite direct.

-"Francis has been killed."

-He was kinder

-when he went to tell Mam-gu.

-The site

-of the Steer and Maerdy pits...

-..is now a trotting racetrack.

-It attracts a number of visitors

-for a very special reason.

-This has been developed

-and extended.

-You told me that this is

-the fastest track in Britain.

-It's the fastest track in Britain.

-The British record

-was set on this track.

-It's the best track.

-All the horses that come here

-run faster than they run elsewhere.

-Do they?

-When was the track built?

-We started the club here in '79.

-1979.

-Why here?

-From Brynamman down to Ammanford...

-..around 18 of us had race horses.

-We were travelling around Wales...

-..racing here and there.

-We felt we should have our own track

-so we did something about it.

-Huw Thomas was one of those keen to

-start a trotting club at Tairgwaith.

-He's reared and raced

-trotting horses for 30 years.

-This place has high standards,

-but the horses aren't pampered.

-Are they the professionals?

-No, they're not pampered

-like a family pet, Roy.

-They know what their job is

-and they do it.

-Where has your interest

-in horses and trotting come from?

-I don't know.

-All I can think of is Tad-cu.

-He had one trotting horse,

-Black Field Bess.

-Mam gave me a photo of him.

-I've still got it.

-All my horses

-have the prefix Black Field...

-..after Tad-cu.

-Huw, thankfully my wife isn't here.

-She'd want

-one of these in our garden...

-..as she says

-I don't get enough exercise!

-I'd be in there!

-Is that its purpose?

-Is that its purpose?

-

-Yes, to train them.

-It saves me a lot of time.

-I put five of them on

-in the morning...

-..while I muck out

-and prepare their stables.

-I'll also take two or three

-of them out during the day as well.

-But I don't have to take

-all five out.

-It's obvious

-that horses are in the blood.

-Elizabeth, Huw's daughter, has also

-had success in the equine world.

-Like her father,

-she's made a name for herself.

-You looked a picture

-on the back of George just now!

-Thank you.

-It's obvious

-that horses are in your blood.

-Your father goes trotting.

-Mam and Dad have done it.

-You've gone in another direction.

-Yes, I do eventing.

-Dressage, showjumping

-and cross country.

-You've reached a high standard.

-You were selected for Wales

-last year.

-Yes, under 25s team dressage.

-I've done it for two years.

-I'm going to try

-to do it this year too.

-I have to wait

-to see if I'm selected.

-Having represented Wales,

-does this mean you're on the path...

-..to being on Great Britain's

-eventing team?

-Dressage is separate to eventing.

-If you do dressage, that's it.

-Eventing is three events -

-it's a totally different ball game.

-You can do both.

-Yes. I have three horses

-which all do something different.

-George has competed in dressage...

-..but I'm going to change him

-to eventing because he can jump.

-I'm going to do dressage

-with another horse this year.

-Good luck.

-I'll keep an eye out for your name.

-I can say then, "I know her!"

-Thank you.

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-Garnant and Glanamman

-are between Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen...

-..and the largest town

-in the valley, Ammanford...

-..where I attended secondary school.

-Amman Valley Grammar School

-which is now a comprehensive.

-I started here the same year...

-..as Derec Llwyd Morgan, Dafydd Iwan

-and John Cale.

-Passing the eleven plus to get into

-a grammar school was an achievement.

-If the family

-thought you had the ability...

-..but weren't performing

-in primary school...

-..your mother would take you to see

-a woman in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen...

-..who was an expert

-on all sorts of things.

-She was an artist in one thing,

-cutting the lethargy.

-She would take you to the parlour,

-apparently.

-She had a large bowl of warm water,

-a towel and a knife.

-She'd cut your ear.

-As the blood ran down

-and was released...

-..your innate abilities

-were released too.

-You could become

-an Einstein overnight.

-If you were very stupid,

-she'd do both sides.

-No-one talked about it.

-But if you went to the area

-and looked at people my age...

-..who can't wear glasses properly,

-I think they've had it done.

-In Ammanford...

-..there's a company renowned

-for making high-quality woollens.

-The company's going

-from strength to strength.

-They sell their goods

-to the giants of the fashion world.

-Lisa, your great-great-great

-grandfather began the business.

-Yes, in 1892.

-He made socks for the colliers

-to wear on Sundays...

-..I think.

-I read that the socks were thick

-and went quite high up the leg.

-Were the socks for the chapel

-different?

-Yes.

-We don't know but I think the long

-ones were to be worn for work...

-..down the mines...

-..and the Argyll ones with a diamond

-pattern were to be worn on Sundays.

-My grandfather made the socks.

-When Dadi started in the company,

-he began making knitwear.

-When my brother and I came back...

-..we began making

-fine gauge socks...

-..to wear for work.

-The socks that Dadi made

-were more casual.

-You said "when I came back".

-You decided to leave Ammanford

-and to go out into the world.

-Yes. I went to university

-in Leicester.

-I then worked at George, Asda.

-I started in ladies knitwear and

-then I did children's accessories.

-Then I was the boyswear buyer

-for a year.

-I worked in Hong Kong, China,

-Mauritius, Singapore. Everywhere!

-BELL

-The break's over!

-The break's over!

-

-Yes, the break's over!

-It's an old company, but one

-which has had royal approval.

-Quite a feat.

-The whole family

-are supportive of their goods.

-Prince Charles is a fan.

-I've seen his picture out there.

-He's been down to the factory floor.

-He wears the socks.

-We've done clothes

-for Prince George.

-He got a sweater

-with George on the front.

-Prince Harry and Prince William too.

-We've done work

-for a lot of the family.

-The Scottish regiment - you see them

-with their bagpipes and bearskins.

-You see their kilts and their socks.

-You make the socks.

-At every wedding or if

-they're outside Buckingham Palace...

-..they're all wearing Corgi socks.

-It's important for us

-to have the Royal Warrant...

-..because we go to New York

-and Japan.

-It's a mark of quality.

-There are experts in their field

-here.

-Many of the products

-are made with the machines...

-..used by Lisa's grandfather

-over a century ago.

-This is the bespoke area.

-Not many of these are made.

-No. One or two a day.

-No. One or two a day.

-

-Only one or two?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-So they're handmade.

-Yes.

-Where do they end up?

-Which labels would be on them?

-We work with companies

-like Burberry, Thom Browne...

-..Isetan in Japan...

-..Selfridges, Harrods,

-Richard James.

-Lots of people in high-end fashion.

-I don't want to appear a show off.

-Mam used to knit with number 15s.

-This is a cable stitch.

-Yes. Do you want a job?!

-A successful business

-moves with the times and adapts...

-..in the fashion world especially -

-a challenge for Lisa and her team.

-I travel, so I see what's out there

-and what people want.

-We have trade shows

-in New York, Japan and Italy.

-When we go there, I look at

-what other people are doing...

-..to keep up with everyone

-and to try new things.

-It lifts my spirits

-to see a factory like this...

-..which is not only successful

-but it's always developing.

-It's such a tough business.

-It is, but we

-just have to try new things.

-Keep moving forwards.

-Fingers crossed, we'll be here

-for another 100 years.

-I hope so.

-Other countries say that if you want

-quality, Corgi is the place to go.

-Well done.

-Well done.

-

-Thank you.

-Before leaving the Amman Valley,

-I return to Tairgwaith.

-There's a challenge for Huw Thomas

-and his racehorses.

-Huw - second, first, third.

-Are you pleased?

-Yes. I can't complain.

-The standard of the horses

-is very high.

-To have finished first, second and

-third in three different races...

-..I'm very happy.

-How are the horses

-in weather like this?

-Are they different when it's dry?

-Are they different when it's dry?

-

-Yes.

-Different conditions

-suit different horses.

-Some horses like it when it's wet,

-others can't stand wet weather.

-Is it worth me putting a bet down

-on another of your horses?

-Or has your best one run?

-The best one has run, Roy.

-Though strange things

-happen in races.

-Despite the rain

-and tough conditions...

-..three races so far and a few

-pennies in his pocket, I'm sure.

-But he has two races to go.

-Let's have a bet.

-I was going to put 20 down.

-But the voice of the manager

-at home, Elaine, my wife...

-..was saying, "Steady on."

-So I put 5 down on Black Bird.

-If he wins, I get 25 back.

-We'll see.

-Half a length.

-That's all that was in it.

-I was too excited. I should've

-gone for an each-way bet.

-That's 5 gone.

-Five loaves of bread.

-It was close. I put a fiver down.

-It was half a length.

-It was half a length.

-

-Half a length.

-Another 20 yards and you'd have won.

-Hard to say. If I'd gone sooner,

-I could've gone past him.

-The home straight

-is a little short sometimes.

-You've worked hard.

-You're covered in mud.

-It's good for the complexion!

-Let me ask you a question.

-Have you won money along

-with the trophies and rosettes?

-Yes. For a change, yes.

-After a win, a second and two third

-places, I've money in my pocket.

-Well done.

-Well done.

-

-Not a lot.

-I've only been to watch trotting

-twice.

-Really?

-You'll have to come more often.

-I don't go out much.

-Thank you for your welcome.

-It was a pleasure.

-It was a pleasure.

-

-Thank you for coming, Roy.

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