Pennod 42 Ffermio

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-Hello and a warm welcome to Ffermio.

-We're at the White Horse pub

-in the centre of Capel Garmon...

-..near Betws-y-Coed.

-The pub was opened just a few

-weeks ago by a local farmer.

-We'll hear more later

-about this particular venture...

-..and the people behind it.

-With just over a week to go

-until Christmas...

-..we'll also be celebrating an

-important milestone for the FUW.

-As the Union celebrates

-its 60th anniversary...

-..we look back at its history and

-see what the future has in store.

-I'll be in the Tywyn region to

-meet a musician and farmer's son...

-..who is also the lead singer

-with the band Swnami.

-At the end of the programme...

-..we'll hear a song composed for

-Ffermio by Ifan Davies from Swnami.

-I'm looking forward

-to hearing that new song.

-These days, we often hear about

-the closure of rural services...

-..such as schools,

-chapels, shops and banks.

-Here in Capel Garmon, Eryl Roberts

-is going against that trend.

-He has bought

-and reopened the local pub.

-Alun has been keeping Eryl company

-on his farm.

-Ty Mawr Eidda is home to Eryl.

-He farms here with several members

-of the family.

-The farm is 65 acres.

-They keep a herd

-of Welsh Mountain sheep...

-..which they cross

-with a Romney ram.

-They also keep Dexter cattle.

-The farm belongs to

-the National Trust.

-I tried for various farms and this

-was the seventh that I applied for.

-In 1986,

-I took over the tenancy here.

-We've been organic

-for some seven years now.

-It suits the way I farm.

-It doesn't suit everyone.

-The way it works for me is that

-I've brought stock levels down.

-We're in Tir Gofal with low stock

-and it works for me.

-My turnover is very low

-but I know exactly what I have.

-How much of a challenge was it

-to buy the place?

-I imagine the pub was expensive

-to buy originally.

-Perhaps it's a good time to buy.

-It's difficult to know.

-Pubs are closing everywhere

-these days.

-Sometimes you have to

-swim against the tide.

-As someone said,

-dead fish go with the flow.

-Sometimes people need to consider

-going against the grain.

-At the moment,

-it's a beer-drinkers' pub.

-We're hoping to develop the food

-side of the business in the spring.

-We also want to develop

-the accommodation side.

-We're developing it

-one thing at a time.

-Although the entire family

-is busy on the farm...

-..everyone has another job.

-Gethin is a carpenter. He did

-a lot of the renovations in the pub.

-That looks like intricate work.

-It's a very nice door made of oak

-- what is it for?

-This is going into one of the

-National Trust estate houses.

-You have a workshop

-at home on the farm.

-You've almost grown out

-of the space you have.

-I would like

-a slightly bigger workshop.

-But this place works well

-at the moment.

-I can do everything I need here.

-I'm hoping to get more work

-from the National Trust.

-If that happens,

-I'll need a bigger workshop.

-It must have been a challenge

-to furnish the pub...

-..in addition to your other work.

-Yes. I made the bar

-and the seating around it.

-I also made the doors.

-Your dad was telling me

-about the rocking chair.

-I made a prototype to begin with.

-Then I decided to make him

-something a bit nicer.

-It's in the pub now.

-He can sit there with his pipe...

-..and think about

-all the profit he's making.

-Hopefully.

-Hopefully.

-

-Well done.

-Like many farmers, Eryl originally

-kept Limousin cross cattle.

-A recent addition to the livestock

-here are Dexter cattle.

-What are they like to keep?

-They are easy-care.

-They suit us because we all work

-full-time in other places.

-What do you think about their meat?

-Do you eat them?

-Someone gave us a piece of the meat.

-It melts in the mouth.

-It melts in the mouth.

-

-It is different.

-Perhaps in the future we can serve

-it to customers in the pub.

-That sounds great.

-The family is famous for their

-skills at sheepdog handling.

-The latest to excel in the field

-is Gwenllian Pyrs.

-This bitch is working well.

-Tell me about Nan.

-Yes, Eryri Nan.

-She was bred here on the farm...

-..from my bitch and

-a trials dog from South Wales.

-She'll be two years old

-at the end of December.

-I understand you've had success

-with her recently.

-I came third in the North Wales

-Nursery Trials on Anglesey.

-Is this a family tradition?

-Is this a family tradition?

-

-Yes, it is.

-My father used to do it.

-My sister Elin and I

-handle the sheepdogs.

-What are your plans?

-You still live at home.

-Will you go into farming or are you

-set on a different career?

-I'm not sure

-what I'm going to do yet.

-I'm in the sixth form at the moment.

-Are you a home bird? Would you like

-to stay in this area in the future?

-Yes, I would. But I'd like to do

-some travelling too.

-Will you come back to work

-in the pub with Dad?

-Perhaps. I'll see.

-It's a very exciting time for this

-family with the pub and the farm.

-But what are their hopes

-for the future?

-We live in an area rich in culture

-and we were brought up with it.

-It is very important.

-If it's possible,

-I want my children to discover...

-..the value of their culture

-and stay in the area.

-"Pen Llan by Myrddin ap Dafydd.

-"We come to the bar

-from all four corners

-"And leave the shadows outside

-"Enjoy the rustic frivolity

-"And enjoy a tipple in Pen Llan."

-2015 has been a very challenging

-year for Welsh farmers.

-The unions have had to deal with

-a variety of difficult situations.

-Over the years, the role

-of the unions has changed.

-Meinir has been hearing

-about one union...

-..that is celebrating

-a special anniversary this year.

-On 8 December, 1955...

-..the first official meeting

-of the FUW was held in Llandeilo.

-Many were worried that Welsh farmers

-had no voice or representation...

-..at UK level.

-On returning from a meeting at the

-NFU headquarters in London...

-..J B Evans, secretary

-of the Carmarthenshire branch...

-..and Ivor T Davies,

-County Chairman...

-..planted the seed

-for a new union here in Wales.

-The aim of these two was that

-the voices of Welsh farmers...

-..would be heard across the border.

-They wanted their concerns to be

-acknowledged rather than dismissed.

-Tonight,

-exactly sixty years later...

-..the union is holding

-a dinner to celebrate.

-Present at that first meeting

-in Llandeilo...

-..was a young boy from the area,

-Llew Jones, Clynmawr, Rhandirmwyn.

-My memory isn't that great.

-But I remember the beginnings

-of the union very well.

-I remember the Saturday morning...

-..when the chairman, Ivor Davies...

-..asked if anyone was interested.

-No-one was interested.

-Only seven or eight stayed behind.

-We decided we'd do it.

-Once formed, the union

-went from strength to strength.

-By 1976, they had

-over 12,000 members.

-However, they weren't fully

-recognized by the government.

-But in 1978, things changed

-and the dream came true.

-Meurig Voyle spent over fifty years

-working for the union.

-He was so loyal to the union that

-he left his home in Llanddarog...

-..to accept the job

-of county secretary in Denbigh.

-I joined the union in 1960.

-At that time, Emlyn Thomas

-was the county secretary.

-No-one knew the law on

-agriculture better than he did.

-But he was a terrible worker.

-We had a lot of fun together.

-Was it very difficult

-to persuade people...

-..that a Wales-only union

-was needed?

-More than that. It divided families

-in Carmarthenshire at the time.

-Some farming families

-didn't speak to each other.

-Just because some believed

-in the NFU and some in the FUW.

-Things must have been difficult.

-Verley Merchant,

-Welsh secretary of the NFU...

-..said, "We'll smash you

-within three months."

-We're now celebrating sixty years

-this month.

-Welsh farmers never saw

-any union members from London...

-..until the FUW was established.

-They came down quickly enough then

-to tell us everything.

-One of the union's

-first employees...

-..and a key figure in

-its establishment was Lord Morris.

-How were things sixty years ago?

-We started something. We weren't

-quite sure what we were starting.

-But a new movement was much needed

-to better represent Welsh farmers.

-I was a very young man.

-I was sent to North Wales

-to spread the word.

-I've spoken in every village

-in Wales, I think.

-The biggest challenge

-was persuading farmers...

-..that another organization

-could better represent them...

-..and argue their viewpoint in a

-more effective and stronger way.

-Whether or not we succeeded,

-it's not my place to say.

-But we tried. The need was there

-and we tried to meet that need.

-Over the years, the union

-has had nine presidents.

-The present one is Glyn Roberts.

-How much has the union changed since

-you've been associated with it?

-The union has developed...

-..especially

-with regard to insurance.

-But the core elements

-are the most important.

-We still have an office

-in every county as we've always had.

-I also feel that

-we have to look forward...

-..and make sure that everything

-develops in order to survive.

-There is a rumour that the union

-has had financial difficulties.

-What is the situation now?

-We have to look at this

-in a business context.

-Every business has challenges

-and we've had challenges too.

-At the moment,

-I am trying to look forward.

-This is a special organization

-to look after.

-I feel that things

-are falling into place.

-We've had some problems,

-but they are behind us now.

-We're looking

-to a very bright future.

-Are you proud of the state

-of the FUW today?

-I'm glad to have lived

-to see this day.

-What does it mean to you

-to be here tonight?

-I could never explain to you.

-It's very special. I feel special.

-I'm just an ordinary farmer.

-I only did my best

-for ordinary people.

-We'll have a break next.

-But don't go away,

-because Daloni meets a family...

-..who have had

-an extremely busy year.

-We also have

-something special for you.

-A brand-new carol.

-See you in two minutes.

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-Welcome back.

-There's no doubt that the

-countryside is inspiring to many...

-..poets, artists and musicians.

-This week, Daloni visited

-a musician on his family farm...

-..where he recognizes that

-his upbringing in the country...

-..has been a big influence

-on his creative work.

-Waun Fach farm, Llanegryn,

-Meirionnydd...

-..is the home of Ifan Davies,

-lead singer of the band, Swnami.

-At the moment, Ifan is studying

-a postgraduate course in music...

-..at Bangor University.

-Although he isn't a farmer,

-his upbringing and roots...

-..have influenced him greatly.

-I used to do more on the farm

-when I was younger...

-..but now, music takes priority.

-I don't have time to come home.

-But I do come home

-from time to time.

-Where did you get the idea

-for the Ffermio Christmas carol?

-I had an idea about what chords

-I would use on the piano.

-Usually, I would turn to the guitar

-to write my music.

-But this time, I was at home

-so I used the piano.

-I started to play the chords and

-from that came the original idea.

-Then I put the song together

-one Sunday afternoon at home.

-I had some help from Yws Gwynedd

-with the words.

-I was gigging on Friday

-and Saturday night in Cardiff.

-I was driving home

-on Saturday night...

-..and Yws said he was thinking about

-me driving home to the farm.

-That was the idea behind the words.

-That a lot of people go out,

-but come back home to the farm...

-..and the world of farming.

-There's a lot of emotion

-in the song.

-Yes. It's quite slow.

-I don't usually write songs

-like this.

-I usually write for the band -

-drums, guitars and bass.

-This time, I got the original idea

-on the piano...

-..and that led me

-in a different direction.

-Ifan's parents, Wil and Bethan,

-and one of his brothers, Rhys...

-..farm at Waun Fach.

-The Welsh Blacks are your delight.

-Yes, I enjoy being with them

-every day. It's very nice.

-There has been a herd here

-at Waun Fach for many years.

-I am the fourth generation.

-They've been here since 1913.

-It's over a hundred years.

-They are perfectly suited

-to this kind of land.

-They are ideal for Waun Fach.

-We can leave them out longer

-in the winter and it suits them.

-You are interested in sheep too.

-We keep about 700 sheep...

-..450 Welsh sheep

-and 250 Mules and Texel crosses.

-Do you enjoy shearing?

-I was shearing in New Zealand last

-year for three and a half months.

-I don't mind the job at all.

-I don't mind the job at all.

-

-Have you caught the bug, Rhys?

-That's the thing, once you start,

-it's hard to stop.

-Will you go back?

-I was going to go this winter

-but it wasn't possible.

-I may go next year.

-For how long would you go, usually?

-For how long would you go, usually?

-

-Another three months, probably.

-It's busy here at this time

-with the cattle...

-..and maybe lambing

-by the end of it.

-It's difficult

-fitting everything in.

-There are four children here.

-Rhys, a farmer, Ifan, a musician...

-..Siwan, who works

-for Meat Promotion Wales...

-..and Huw, a primary school teacher

-near Tregaron.

-But the four of them

-are always drawn back home...

-..especially at Christmas.

-Both of you have flown the nest...

-..but your roots are still deep here

-in Waun Fach, Huw.

-Yes, it's nice

-to come home sometimes...

-..for a break from the day job.

-I am a Key Stage Two teacher

-in a primary school.

-It's nice to come home

-at the weekend...

-..to say hello to the family

-and see the farm.

-It's the same for you too, Siwan.

-It's the same for you too, Siwan.

-

-I haven't gone very far.

-I'm married to a farmer

-from Aberhosan near Machynlleth.

-We live in Machynlleth

-at the moment.

-Like Huw said, it's nice

-to come home from time to time.

-Music is in the blood, Huw.

-Yes, everyone in the family

-can sing to an extent.

-You play the piano and the harp

-and Ifan sings with Swnami.

-I like playing the guitar too.

-We all enjoy music.

-How proud are you

-of your talented little brother?

-I wouldn't say it to his face,

-but I'm quite proud of him.

-He is very successful.

-He's done very well.

-The youngest chick in the nest.

-Yes. He is the baby of the family.

-Roots are important

-to everyone here.

-Belonging to a rural farming

-family and community...

-..has certainly

-had an influence on Ifan.

-Perhaps I'm more comfortable

-composing at home...

-..with inspiration

-coming more easily.

-I seem to get my best ideas

-when I'm here.

-That's it for this evening

-and for this year.

-It's lovely to finish the series

-in a homely, Welsh family pub...

-..here in Capel Garmon.

-Thank you to Eryl and his family...

-..for the warm welcome

-we've received here tonight.

-Thank you for your support

-during the year.

-We'll be back on 4 January.

-But now we leave you with the song

-composed especially for us...

-..by Ifan Davies of Swnami.

-Happy Christmas

-from the three of us.

-# Tonight

-# The snow has returned

-to cover the land

-# Between the walls that separate us

-# Over the acres

-that will draw us back one day

-# Back home where we were before

-# Though it's cold

-# I see clear light

-and stars guiding us

-# From vale to vale

-# And in their turn

-# The seasons come

-to purify the land

-# On cold land

-# As cold as this Christmas

-# Tonight

-# Something is pulling me

-# It calls me like an echo

-# It reminds me

-of my roots in the soil

-# Is this the last call I will hear?

-# Though it's night

-# I see clear light

-and stars guiding us

-# From vale to vale

-# And in their turn

-# The seasons come

-to purify the land

-# On cold land

-# As cold as this Christmas

-# On cold land

-# As cold as this Christmas

-# As cold as this Christmas

-# As cold as this Christmas

-# As cold as this Christmas

-# As cold as this Christmas #

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