Pennod 4 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 naturally welcoming.

-Why not jump on board my ride?

-I'm shifting gear

-and heading for the horizon!

-The valleys of Blaenau Gwent...

-..are home to Cwm,

-Aberbeeg, Abertillery...

-..Blaina, Nantyglo and Brynmawr.

-First, I'm starting

-my journey in Ebbw Vale...

-..on the site of a former steelworks

-that was originally ironworks.

-In 1790,

-with the growing demand for steel...

-..it was changed into a steelworks.

-And in those successful years...

-..this was the largest factory

-in Europe during the 1960s.

-As a result

-of the demise of the industry...

-..it only had 400 workers

-by the 1990s.

-In 2002, the steelworks was closed.

-It was a massive blow to Ebbw Vale.

-A year later...

-..they started the heartbreaking

-task of removing the old buildings.

-Major investment

-helped the regeneration...

-..that saw the building of

-a new hospital, school and college.

-The valley has had

-a new lease of life.

-Frank Olding is a local man...

-..who is passionate

-about preserving the area's history.

-Goodness me, Frank.

-They've done a lot of work

-to restore this room.

-This would have been the office

-of the work's manager.

-What's the story of these ironworks

-in Ebbw Vale?

-The ironworks was established

-200 years ago in 1790.

-Which company?

-It was the Ebbw Vale

-Steel, Iron and Coal Company.

-This company owned the site

-until the 1920s.

-Who was involved in it?

-There was Abraham Darby

-in the mid-19th century.

-He moved here...

-..but had other works in Shropshire

-and many other places.

-He became a major shareholder

-and re-energized the company.

-The latter half

-of the 19th century...

-..saw the development

-of the steelworks.

-The business was thriving...

-..until the end

-of the First World War.

-This place was built just before

-the outbreak of World War I.

-What brought them to Ebbw Vale

-in the first place?

-It had everything they needed

-to produce iron on a large scale.

-There was coal,

-iron ore and limestone.

-All these materials

-were close to the surface.

-They didn't need

-to dig deeply to find them.

-The original company

-expanded after that.

-Yes, and after World War I...

-..there was the Depression

-in the 1920s and 1930s...

-..and the original works closed.

-By 1937 and 1938...

-..they decided to build

-a new, modern steelworks...

-..with Richard Thomas and Baldwins

-or RTB.

-They owned the works until

-the nationalization in the 1960s.

-During the 1970s, various parts

-of the works were closed.

-The heavy end or blast furnaces

-at the foot of the valley...

-..were closed in the 1970s...

-..when Michael Foot

-was the local MP.

-He was responsible

-for closing half of the works.

-How many men were employed here

-at the time?

-It had over 9,000 workers

-in its heyday.

-A number of businesses relied

-on the income of the steelworks.

-It was a massive step

-to close half of the works.

-There was a very turbulent meeting

-in the town...

-..when Michael Foot had to explain

-the move to his own constituents.

-The area lost its spirit

-during those years.

-It marked the start

-of the area's demise.

-From this stage,

-various sections were closed...

-..before the whole place

-was closed in 2002.

-As a result

-of the new development...

-..the valley attracts workers

-from outside the area.

-It called for the building

-of a brand-new train station.

-The site was in a terrible state

-when the works finally closed.

-Yes, it was a total mess

-and needed regeneration.

-The site of the blast furnaces

-was simply a rubbish dump.

-It was black and red and lacked any

-greenery so it needed regenerating.

-There were plans to regenerate

-and resurrect the site.

-Yes, with the Ebbw Vale

-Garden Festival in the 1990s.

-It was part of a scheme...

-..to rejuvenate that part of the

-valley and it worked to a degree.

-They cleared away the mess

-and attracted thousands to the area.

-There's new homes and shops...

-..and a new focal point

-to that part of the town.

-We can see the site

-as it stands today near the railway.

-What sort of things are there?

-The list says

-that there's a theatre and a cinema.

-Yes, the new hospital is behind

-the new Ebbw Vale Sports Centre.

-We have a new school and college.

-A lot of work has been done

-on the offices...

-..that house the archives, museum

-and county archives.

-There's also a cable car system...

-..that links the station

-to the town centre.

-The plan was to rejuvenate the town,

-bring people in via the station...

-..and get them to the town centre

-to spend their money!

-I haven't been here for a long time

-and the town has totally changed.

-It seems to have given the area

-some confidence...

-..and a sense of respect.

-Yes, that's right.

-After the works closed, the area

-was in a state of depression...

-..but looking at

-the current condition of the area...

-..boosts our self-confidence

-and gives us hope for the future.

-I haven't been in one of these

-since I was in Bournemouth.

-It took us down to the beach.

-Oh, and look at this view.

-We can see the valley properly now.

-We can see the valley properly now.

-

-Yes, that's right.

-It links the valley

-with the town centre.

-Yes, between the train station,

-the new development and the town.

-Is it fair for the town?

-Is it fair for the town?

-

-Yes, I think so.

-It's part of the regeneration

-of the town and the valley...

-..which explains the presence

-of this funicular.

-It links the lower part of the town

-with the old town centre.

-So far, it appears to be working.

-Let's step outside

-and prove that fact.

-After you.

-Alright?

-This is exciting.

-Follow the path, cross the road

-and we're in the town.

-It's a lively town that has

-developed relatively quickly.

-The lower part was started

-after the National Eisteddfod.

-Yes, after the 2010

-National Eisteddfod...

-..they cleared the site

-and built all those new buildings.

-It's taken five years

-to build everything on that site.

-It's been a boost for Ebbw Vale.

-It's been a boost for Ebbw Vale.

-

-Yes, it's very encouraging.

-And you can look to the future

-with confidence.

-Yes, I think so.

-All this regeneration brings hope.

-Good luck to Ebbw Vale.

-I travel down the valley

-towards Cwm...

-..which is famous for

-a colourful big screen character.

-It's Victor Spinetti.

-He was a renowned film star

-in the 1960s and 1970s...

-..who shared the screen

-with legends during this golden era.

-Spinetti's roots are in this village

-at Crosscombe Terrace...

-..which is currently home

-to Jeff Davies and his family.

-Jeff, how are you?

-Jeff, how are you?

-

-How are you?

-This is Victor Spinetti's home.

-This is Victor Spinetti's home.

-

-Yes, come in.

-We're in the former home

-of Victor Spinetti...

-..but this wasn't a consideration

-when searching for a property.

-You were just looking for a house.

-You were just looking for a house.

-

-Yes, I needed a home.

-Very few properties were for sale.

-The village didn't have many houses.

-There were only two available.

-One was across the bridge

-and the other in this street.

-I wanted to stay in the village...

-..because it is

-a lovely place to live.

-Do you remember Victor Spinetti?

-No, I don't remember him

-living in Cwm...

-..but when I was teaching at the

-Ebbw Vale comprehensive school...

-..he was a regular visitor

-to the school.

-He remembered his roots.

-Victor introduced Cwm

-to the world.

-The glitterati

-were familiar with Cwm.

-He would also invite them here.

-When we moved here,

-our neighbour was Norma.

-She told us that

-Mrs Spinetti knocked her door...

-..and said "I've brought Anna Neagle

-to see you."

-Many famous people

-stayed at this property.

-A good friend of mine

-who still lives in this village...

-..used to work

-for Penney's Coal Merchants.

-He told me the story...

-..of the time that

-he worked on Christmas Eve...

-..and he had to deliver coal

-to this property.

-He leapt over the wall...

-..and spotted

-Sean Connery sitting on the steps...

-..and smoking in the garden.

-He was the eldest of five...

-..and raised above his father's

-chip shop and cafe, Joe's.

-His sister, Gianina...

-..recalls that Victor

-was very proud of his roots.

-He was born above this shop.

-He never felt the heat on stage...

-..because he lived above a chip shop

-and it was always hot!

-And also the singing of the miners

-going down the street to work.

-He heard whistling and singing

-when they changed shifts.

-That was all part of his growing up.

-My mother's father

-loved the music hall.

-They lived in London at the time.

-My dad would shut the shop on a

-Saturday night and drive to London.

-Victor and his younger brother,

-Mario slept in the back of the car.

-My grandfather would take

-Victor to the music hall...

-..and my mother would

-catch up with her mother.

-When he got into performing,

-success came to him very quickly.

-He rubbed shoulders with stars.

-He was in all The Beatles films,

-so the 1970s was his era.

-Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

-were his good friends.

-He was in The Taming of the Shrew

-and movies with Peter Sellers...

-..so the 1970s was his era.

-George Harrison of The Beatles

-said he had to be in the film.

-He said, "My mother thinks you're

-lovely and wants to marry you."

-Or words to that effect!

-Did famous people come here?

-He always brought people here

-and took them up the mountain.

-Sean Connery came here

-and we went to a dance in Newport.

-He had auditioned for 007 and

-we went to a dance at Lysaught's.

-He asked this girl to dance

-and she said "no".

-I often wonder if she thinks

-I turned 007 down!

-Paul McCartney said...

-..he was light-hearted

-and brought sunshine to life.

-"Victor Spinetti

-could clear cloud from the sky."

-He made the clouds disappear.

-Extraordinary.

-When he was ill later in life,

-he came back here.

-Yes, he did and came to stay

-with me and my husband.

-We opened our house to him

-and had 18 months of absolute joy.

-In his own inimitable,

-intoxicating way...

-..he took Cwm to the world

-and he brought it back to Cwm.

-He certainly did.

-That's a good way of putting it.

-He did, indeed.

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-At the foot of the valley,

-stands the Guardian mining memorial.

-..in the village of Six Bells

-near Abertillery.

-At over 20-metres-tall,

-the memorial was commissioned...

-..to commemorate

-the Six Bells disaster in June 1960.

-Forty-five miners were killed.

-It's striking and stands on

-the site of the old colliery.

-The tallest mining memorial

-in Wales...

-..is a powerful reminder

-of that tragedy.

-As you walk down the path

-towards the Guardian...

-..he's a transparent figure that's

-made from 20,000 pieces of steel.

-In the early days, it was silver but

-it has weathered and become rusty...

-..and it's totally opaque

-when you stand at the base.

-The names

-can also be found on the tower.

-Colin Morgan, Abertillery,

-Billy Partridge, Blaina.

-Trevor Paul, Six Bells.

-They are all local.

-There's another lad

-- Wilfred or Wilf from Nantyglo.

-The iron industry has left its mark

-on this valley.

-These two towers remind us of the

-industry's most famous ironmasters.

-This is the Nantyglo Roundhouse.

-Two of these were built in 1816.

-But why?

-The ironmasters needed a defended

-refuge from their workforce.

-What was wrong with the workforce?

-Wheat was more expensive

-after the Napoleonic Wars...

-..and ironmasters

-employed English workers...

-..and housed them in homes

-overlooking the ironworks.

-Tunnels ran from those homes

-to the tower...

-..and from the tower to the master's

-house, Ty Mawr or Nantyglo House...

-..which resembled a barracks.

-The Tower Colliery at Rhigos

-is named after one of these.

-They also had a tower

-because of their unhappy workforce.

-My journey ends

-at the top of valley...

-..and Wales's highest town,

-namely Brynmawr.

-It's very cold in the winter,

-believe me!

-I love the cinema

-and I still go there.

-This takes me back to when I was a

-boy waiting for the film to start...

-..or when I dated and waited for the

-usherette to bring in the ice cream.

-You had the choice of vanilla

-or an Orange Maid ice lolly.

-Everything was in place.

-The film was starting, the usherette

-was ready and a lady was beside you.

-Today, the ice cream is on its way,

-the film is about to start...

-..but I'm stuck with Eifion!

-Eifion is a massive cinema fan.

-Eifion is a massive cinema fan.

-

-Yes, I like a good film.

-You have ties with this hall.

-I'm the secretary of the committee

-that runs this cinema.

-This is a community cinema.

-It was going to close but

-the community chose to take it over.

-This cinema and hall

-is a very historic building.

-The hall was opened in 1894.

-It was originally a market hall...

-..that had stalls selling food

-and so forth.

-However,

-it did have a performance stage...

-..for an array of concerts

-and Eisteddfods.

-If I remember correctly, I believe

-that it could hold 1,200 people.

-It's the oldest cinema in Wales

-and has won an award recently.

-Yes, we were named

-the Best UK Cinema...

-..or I should say

-the Best UK Small Cinema.

-It's been an incredible help for us.

-One of the busiest attractions

-at Brynmawr...

-..is the outdoor showing of a

-popular film that fills the square.

-Tonight, they are showing Mamma Mia.

-It's August, but the residents are

-prepared for the Brynmawr weather.

-I've said it before.

-Even during the summer at Brynmawr,

-you need an extra jumper or two!

-I haven't got a jumper

-but I've got a vest and thermals...

-..but some have done better than tha

-Hello!

-Some were well-prepared

-and got a seat in the front.

-What school do you go to, Bradley?

-What school do you go to, Bradley?

-

-Ysgol Bro Helyg.

-And that's in Brynmawr.

-And that's in Brynmawr.

-

-Yes, that's right.

-Have you seen Mamma Mia before?

-Have you seen Mamma Mia before?

-

-Yes, I have.

-And you're back again!

-Have you been

-to an open-air cinema before?

-Yes, I came to it last year.

-They did it last year too.

-What's your favourite song?

-What's your favourite song?

-

-Mamma Mia.

-What about you, Ffion?

-What about you, Ffion?

-

-Dancing Queen.

-And Sage?

-And Sage?

-

-I Have A Dream.

-I Have A Dream. Well done.

-The film has started

-and this site is full to bursting.

-There isn't anywhere to sit

-and I can't get over it.

-Where's the popcorn?!

-"He's gone home to get married and

-I'm never going to see him again."

-"Poor Donna."

-"August 4th. What a night!"

-This is a special night.

-Yes, as this is our way of thanking

-those who have supported us.

-It's been open for two years and the

-community has really supported us.

-There's hundreds here.

-Yes, they come here

-and watch any film that we show...

-..because they want

-to support the site.

-It's won awards.

-It's won awards.

-

-Yes, we're the Cinema of the Year.

-We hope to hold onto that title

-next year.

-We've done a great job

-and I'm sure we'll win it again.

-The community really supports you

-as you're opening a second screen.

-The second screen is on the site

-of the former library.

-They have moved premises

-so we're taking over the building.

-We'll have two screens to show

-more of the films that people want.

-The site has a future.

-People support us and

-the community is doing a great job.

-And that's it.

-From Ebbw Vale, Cwm,

-Abertillery, Nantyglo...

-..to one of the Greek islands -

-alright, it's Brynmawr.

-What has a Greek island got

-that you don't find in Brynmawr?

-The weather, a beach, seaside views.

-But what about the people?

-There's no better.

-There's a real community spirit

-amongst these special, warm people.

-Oh, Mamma Mia!

-Goodnight to you from Brynmawr!

-# So how could I ever refuse

-# I feel like I win when I lose

-# Waterloo

-# Couldn't escape if I wanted to

-# Waterloo

-# Knowing my fate is to be with you

-# Wa-wa-wa-wa

-# Waterloo

-# Finally facing my Waterloo

-# Oh-oh-oh-oh

-# Waterloo

-# Knowing my fate is to be with you

-# Wa-wa-wa-wa

-# Waterloo

-# Finally facing my Waterloo #

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