Pennod 5 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!

-Afon Lwyd or the Eastern Valley

-is not as well-known...

-..as the Rhondda Valley,

-the Cynon Valley or Rhymney.

-It's home to Blaenavon,

-Abersychan and Pontypool.

-It's a busy place that's full

-of interesting characters.

-I start at the top of the valley...

-..in the biggest industrial region

-in the 18th and 19th centuries.

-First, I stop at a brewery that

-originated in a different valley.

-We're going back to an era when it

-was safer to drink beer than water.

-This place has quite a story.

-This place has quite a story.

-

-Yes, and it stems back many years.

-How far back?

-It's linked

-with the iron industry...

-..and the opening

-of a local ironworks in about 1802.

-The workers had a terrible thirst.

-The water was unsafe so they needed

-something to quench their thirst.

-The area was rife with cholera.

-The area was rife with cholera.

-

-That's right.

-It's quite possible that any man

-who worked near the furnaces...

-..drank over a gallon of beer

-in a day.

-It was fairly weak compared

-to the strong beers of today.

-The Rhymney Brewery was opened

-in 1838 by the actual ironmasters...

-..who opened a brewery

-to produce beer for their workers.

-It was managed by Andrew Buchan

-so it was the Andrew Buchan Brewery.

-It was a relatively large company.

-At one point,

-it was the largest in Wales.

-Over 700 pubs and hotels...

-..were linked with the brewery.

-In the 20th century, the company

-became associated with Whitbread.

-Yes, that was at some point

-during the 1960s.

-In the end...

-..I think the brewery

-finally closed in about 1978...

-..and Whitbread

-stopped brewing beer in Rhymney.

-It spelt the end of the brewery

-and it closed.

-Thankfully, in 2004...

-..the Evans family

-got the rights to use the name.

-They opened a new Rhymney Brewery

-in Merthyr...

-..which now sits in Blaenavon.

-It's lovely to see the development

-of this brewery, Eifion.

-It takes you back to a bygone era.

-Blaenavon is now classed...

-..as a World Heritage Site.

-It's a large and unique site.

-It's a large and unique site.

-

-Yes, it is.

-The Big Pit National Coal Museum

-is outside the window...

-..but there's more to see.

-The best way to see the area

-in all its glory is on foot.

-You can follow the old tramways...

-..the old railways and the canals.

-It's the best way to see

-the Blaenavon World Heritage Site.

-The French actor,

-Gerard Depardieu...

-..said that wine

-is the Mozart of the mouth.

-If that's true, then beer is the

-brass band of the rest of my body!

-Cheers!

-It's your round.

-Before venturing down the valley

-to Garndiffaith...

-..no visit to Blaenavon

-is complete...

-..without stopping at the ironworks

-in the World Heritage Site.

-The ironworks was built in 1788...

-..and played an important part

-in the Industrial Revolution.

-It's the best example

-of an ironworks in the world.

-Recent investment helped

-to refurbish the workers' cottages.

-It's a great addition to the site.

-This is Stack Square.

-You'd be right in thinking that the

-cottages are from the 18th century.

-People lived in these cottages

-until about 1971.

-The refurbishments

-takes us through the decades.

-We start with the 1920s and

-pass the shed to reach the 1930s.

-The toilet was similar.

-You had no secrets and people heard

-you change your mind at 20 paces!

-There's the 1940s and 1950s.

-It got a bit excessive

-as they moved into the 1960s.

-The council said the site was

-inadequate with no running water...

-..so the residents were moved

-to homes in the town itself.

-A stone's throw

-from the main road...

-..the Garndiffaith Viaduct sits

-proudly at the heart of the valley.

-It conjures up fond memories for

-Sara Robinson who was raised nearby.

-Does returning

-send shivers down your spine?

-Yes, it does.

-It's really lovely to be back.

-I've lived in the city

-for so many years...

-..and I'd forgotten

-how green it all is...

-..and the beauty of the landscape.

-I'm sure you came here

-to pick blackberries.

-Yes, I'd come here with Dat-cu...

-..and Nain used them

-to make pies in the afternoon.

-I've walked along this viaduct

-on many occasions.

-You left Garndiffaith

-and went out into the world...

-..and your first step

-was to get a job in the media.

-Yes, I spent five years

-working in the media...

-..but decided to make the move

-into Public Relations...

-..and have been running my own

-business in Cardiff for four years.

-Those are massive steps to take...

-..but you didn't follow

-the usual route...

-..of doing A levels

-or going to university.

-Mam is still very angry.

-I left school when I was 17 so I

-don't know if she's forgiven me yet!

-I had a hankering to go out

-into the world and start working.

-Working and standing on her own two

-feet has always been important...

-..and after starting the company

-four years ago...

-..it has grown rapidly and Sara now

-represents many well-known brands.

-It's a relatively young business

-but it has to move with the times.

-Sadly, less people

-read newspapers...

-..and there's been

-an explosion in social media...

-..in terms of the number of users...

-..and the way it can influence

-the decision making process.

-Social media is important in the way

-people buy items or visit places.

-Companies need the support

-and the expertise...

-..to take advantage of this field.

-You need to be creative.

-Do you wake in the

-middle of the night with an idea...

-..and have to record it

-or jot it down on pen and paper?

-I do use my iPhone

-to record any of my ideas.

-I get ideas

-in the strangest of places.

-It could be when I'm out running

-or cycling.

-The ideas don't come if I sit down

-and have to come up with something.

-It doesn't work like that

-as there's too much pressure.

-I find that I tend to get an idea...

-..when I'm not thinking

-too hard about the problem.

-I'm a massive fan of finding

-some time in busy period...

-..to go for a walk or a run.

-You were talking about

-going for a bike ride.

-We're on the Garndiffaith Viaduct.

-If you were

-to return to your roots...

-..you could have an encyclopaedia

-of ideas by the other side.

-I don't know how anyone

-can come here and not be inspired.

-I think

-that would almost be impossible.

-The Pontypool Indoor Market is in

-a building that dates back to 1894.

-It's an important site

-for the town's residents...

-..and owned by the

-Torfaen Borough County Council.

-The market received

-an investment of over 2 million.

-This refurbishment project attracted

-new shoppers to the market.

-My beard is part of my identity.

-It's older than my son and he's 40!

-I got rid of it for a week ten years

-ago but the wife didn't like it...

-..but it's back and on trend too.

-I'm told that a beard on a man

-is very fashionable at the moment.

-Yes, it's very fashionable

-for men and boys to have beards now.

-But I don't know why!

-You're a barber, not a hairdresser.

-You're a barber, not a hairdresser.

-

-Yes, we only serve men here.

-Is that right?

-Is that right?

-

-Yes.

-I don't know many female barbers

-so are barbers more popular now?

-Pontypool

-has 15 hairdressing salons...

-..and about ten barbers

-that are solely for men.

-Do you do everything?

-Some barbers trim your beard

-whilst others don't touch it.

-Some will use a razor

-for the face and the neck area...

-..but we only use the clippers.

-The new trend

-is to have a thick head of hair...

-..and the sides are very short.

-They don't have any hair

-on the sides.

-They are like the rednecks

-from America.

-It's like a thick mohawk.

-Yes, that's a good way

-of putting it.

-A thick mohawk.

-But I don't want a mohawk.

-Are you sure? I can do it.

-Are you sure? I can do it.

-

-No, but thank you for the offer.

-Do you remember the lads in the pubs

-on a Friday and Saturday night...

-..selling cockles from a basket?

-There's a gap in the market

-so it's high time they came back.

-No market is complete

-without a butcher.

-It's the oldest stand in the market.

-This man's family

-sold meat here 50 years ago.

-What's the big seller?

-Is it Sunday lunch?

-We sell a lot of sausage

-and a lot of joints for the weekend.

-Do people still use these stalls?

-They come at times like Christmas

-or when they have visitors.

-People are busy these days.

-The supermarkets take a bigger grip

-due of the time involved.

-We've still got

-our regular customers.

-It looks lovely.

-Thank you very much.

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-# Now I'll tell you all a story

-# About some lads I know

-# Who are known throughout the

-Valleys as the Pontypool front row

-# It's got a little chorus

-# And that chorus you all know

-# So tell me, are you ready?

-Yes!

-# Up and under here we go! #

-During the 1970s and 1980s...

-..the rugby club in Pontypool

-was a popular haunt.

-It sits cosily in the beautiful park

-in Pontypool.

-The club attracted swarming crowds

-to see Ray Prosser and his team.

-In that golden age, it was a very

-familiar place for two friends.

-Gareth Davies swings it to Murphy.

-This is Roger Lane

-and he shifts it to Gerald Davies.

-Davies is not tackling and

-can still play the ball and scores!

-This pitch was known as

-the field of dreams.

-It was the Coliseum where

-the gladiators went into battle.

-I'm talking about rugby.

-The local godfather

-was Clive Rowlands.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-I'm very well.

-This winger was the exocet

-for all his teams.

-It's Gerald Davies.

-Thank you for being here.

-We're concentrating

-on a specific game.

-The Cardiff v Pontypool matches

-were always important.

-They were important for Cardiff

-but simple for us!

-It's Andy Grey.

-Mike Watkins

-plays it to Gerald Davies.

-He may reach the flag

-for a hat-trick.

-The story goes that Cardiff

-only got the ball four times.

-You got that ball four times

-and scored four tries.

-Is that true?

-Yes, I remember the four tries

-but can't remember anything else!

-They were incredible tries.

-Only a player of Gerald's calibre

-could have scored those tries.

-I thought that Pontypool

-was winning that game easily.

-I don't know

-how much truth is in it.

-There's a famous saying by the

-Hollywood director, John Ford.

-"If there's a choice between

-fact and legend, print the legend!"

-I think I got the ball more than

-that but that's how the legend goes.

-Pontypool has always

-had some amazing supporters.

-It was a pleasure

-for me to come here...

-..as a player from West Wales.

-Playing for that team

-was like sitting on a comfy sofa.

-Don't say such things.

-Pontypool

-had some excellent full-backs...

-..and an outside-half

-called Benny Jones.

-It was a strong

-and disciplined team.

-They knew how to play.

-They were very successful

-under Ray Prosser.

-He had been here for 20 years.

-People complained about

-Pontypool's style of rugby...

-..but they were successful.

-As the captain of Cardiff,

-I didn't want to complain...

-..but to prove that another

-15-man game could be played.

-I always felt this way but they were

-important matches at the time.

-Gerald Davies makes it four.

-And in all his amazing career...

-..can even he have had

-a greater game of rugby?

-I want to talk about myth or fact.

-You claim to have created

-this exocet.

-You moved him from the centre

-to the wing.

-Is that true?

-I've never said that.

-He said it.

-This place attracted massive crowds.

-What's been

-the pitch record for fans?

-It's different

-when compared with club matches.

-I've played many times

-in front of a crowd of 15,000.

-If you're talking about

-the games against the All Blacks...

-..it was about 30,000.

-The hillside would be packed and

-it didn't have trees in those days.

-What's the record for this field?

-What's the record for this field?

-

-It's 100,000.

-It was for a man

-walking along a tightrope.

-It was a circus, not a rugby match.

-It was a circus, not a rugby match.

-

-No, a circus.

-We were all looking to the sky

-and hoping that he wouldn't fall.

-I think it's one of the prettiest

-parks in the world to play rugby.

-I remember coming here once

-and sitting beside a lady.

-She was from Coventry.

-"Why have you come here?" I asked.

-She'd heard about the park

-and the autumnal colours...

-..that she had

-to see it for herself.

-I thought she'd said,

-"I've come to see Clive play!"

-Pontypool Park

-is near Pontymoile Marina.

-It's part of the Monmouthshire and

-Brecon Canal that dates from 1814.

-The canal was constructed

-to transport coal and iron.

-It's beautiful on a sunny day...

-..and become

-a popular tourist attraction.

-I can see why too!

-I've got one last stop to make

-lower down the valley.

-This is Penallta Colliery.

-This takes me back

-to when I was a rugby referee.

-My blood was pumping

-and my sinews worked!

-I'd often come here as the

-Penallta rugby club played nearby.

-We'd go back to the Pithead Baths

-to wash after a match.

-In a cold winter, the water was

-freezing and every man was equal!

-But that isn't why I'm here.

-I'm here for a special reason

-and it's over there.

-Ysgol Gymraeg Penalltau is one

-of the newest schools in the area.

-In the last six years, it's expanded

-and going from strength to strength.

-Miss Woods.

-I've got to call you "miss."

-I've got to call you "miss."

-

-Yes, indeed.

-This is Ysgol Gymraeg Penalltau

-but it's in Penallta.

-Yes, Penallta near Ystrad Mynach.

-This takes me back to my days

-as a teacher and headmaster.

-This is a new school.

-Yes, it's been open

-for about five years.

-How many pupils do you have?

-There's 184 children.

-How many were there at the start?

-How many were there at the start?

-

-We had nine on the first day.

-The school has grown a lot

-in five years.

-It's been an exciting time.

-You're the head teacher

-of this Welsh-medium school...

-..but you started speaking Welsh

-relatively late in your life.

-I went to an English primary school.

-In my last year,

-which was the old Standard 4...

-..three of us had the chance

-to learn to speak Welsh...

-..with the actress, Eirlys Britton.

-We learnt the language very quickly

-and transferred to Ysgol Rhydfelen.

-You progressed very quickly.

-You were a teen when you knew your

-future was in the Welsh language.

-Yes, and at Heol y Celyn School...

-..we were encouraged to speak Welsh

-and keep the language alive.

-That has stayed with me.

-I entered education so I could

-give children similar opportunities.

-They are from

-all corners of the area...

-..from Gelligaer, Ystrad Mynach

-and even Tir-y-Berth.

-They are from

-an array of backgrounds.

-Some speak Welsh with one parent...

-..whilst others

-don't have a Welsh-speaking parent.

-It warmed my heart to see that the

-Penallta Colliery is still standing.

-We sit in the shadows

-of the colliery.

-It's part of the area's history.

-The children need to know

-where they have come from...

-..and the reasons behind

-the state of our community.

-They need to know about the problems

-that arose in the area...

-..but also that an area

-can develop...

-..and re-establish itself.

-That is what we have here.

-The colliery closed in 1991...

-..but a community

-is establishing itself...

-..and has a new essence.

-Just like

-many other people I've met...

-..Andrea has remained on home soil.

-She feels strongly that her children

-should have the same upbringing.

-You're a head teacher at Penallta

-but live in Nelson.

-You could say

-that this is your stomping ground.

-This your family.

-Yes, this is my daughter, Lowri

-and my son, Rhys.

-How long have you lived here?

-How long have you lived here?

-

-It's been over 20 years.

-I first came here

-when I started a family.

-I've stayed here

-and made my home in the area.

-It's important

-to stay in the Valleys.

-Yes, definitely.

-I understand the area

-and its people...

-..and feel very much at home here.

-When you left university...

-..did you know

-that you wanted to be a teacher?

-I wanted to teach since I was seven

-and the same is true for Lowri.

-I did try to fight it for a while.

-It's part of our nature.

-Did you try to resist

-the urge to teach, Lowri?

-I didn't want to do it because

-I could see it was a lot of work...

-..but it became obvious

-that it was what I wanted.

-So you're in the business too.

-So you're in the business too.

-

-Yes, I am.

-Do you know where your future lies,

-Rhys?

-There is a bit of pressure on me

-to become a teacher...

-..but I'd like to enter

-the police force.

-Oh, well done.

-I know you don't mind me saying

-that you're a single mother.

-I suspect it's been difficult but

-the days have certainly been busy.

-It hasn't been easy.

-It can be difficult to have

-to do everything by yourself.

-I'm lucky because they are good

-but don't tell them that!

-They are good.

-No, she's done a great job.

-No, she's done a great job.

-

-Most of the time!

-I think I've done a good job of it.

-Thank you for your time,

-the tea and warm welcome.

-Good luck to you all in the future.

-Good luck to you all in the future.

-

-Thank you very much.

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