Pennod 3 Pobol y Rhondda

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-Shwmae! I'm Sion Tomos Owen,

-a Rhondda boy.

-I was born here,

-and I still live in Treorchy.

-Can I have six thick

-cuts of bacon, please?

-Where are we on the map?

-Here!

-The Rhondda is about 14 miles

-long from Rhigos to Trehafod...

-..and three miles wide

-from Cwmclydach to Blaenllechau.

-At the moment,

-it's home to about 70,000 people.

-Everyone is familiar

-with the usual images.

-But there's a lot more

-to the Rhondda.

-LAUGHTER

-That's class. I'm bonkers

-about the place. Drinks on me!

-I love going round to sing,

-laugh and draw cartoons.

-Sion!

-Today, I'm going back to school.

-Educating Essex. Educating Cymer.

-I meet a successful singer.

-I wanted to be a mechanic.

-I stand in the ring

-with a boxing champion.

-In the series, I want

-to put the Rhondda on the map.

-No, I'm creating a new map

-of the Rhondda and the people.

-This is Ysgol Y Cymer,

-my old school.

-The Rhondda's sole Welsh

-comprehensive school opened in 1988.

-At the moment, it has 750 pupils.

-They come from the valley's

-five Welsh medium primary schools.

-I was a learning coach here, mainly

-with the sixth form, until recently.

-No, they're filming you too.

-Oh, no! I'd have

-put make-up on if I knew.

-It's a documentary about

-really bad eyebrows and fake tans.

-Oh!

-They're a great gang.

-Before chatting to some of them...

-..Ewan and Ben will take us

-on a quick trip round the school.

-Look out!

-Welcome to the Hwb.

-Welcome to the Hwb.

-

-Croeso i'r Hwb.

-Start again, shall we?

-This is the substitute bench.

-This is the substitute bench.

-

-This is the Fire Exit.

-If there's a fire, this is the exit.

-In Year 8, I smashed a door window

-accidentally here, messing about.

-This is the Cookery Room.

-This is the Cookery Room.

-

-I made a pizza over there in Year 7.

-I used too much tomato puree.

-It tasted like red sauce on toast.

-Welcome to the Technology Class.

-I'll give you a demonstration

-on how to sand a piece of wood.

-What did you get in GCSE?

-B.

-You see? That's B standard sanding.

-This is...

-This is...

-

-..the Hall Of Fame.

-It's one of the best

-views in the world.

-Not quite.

-Not quite.

-

-It is, mun!

-But there's more to these

-young people than messing about.

-It was great hearing

-them talk honestly...

-..about their future

-and the Rhondda's.

-You've seen programmes about

-the valleys, like MTV The Valleys.

-Do they represent you?

-No, I don't think so.

-They're just silly individuals

-who go on it to get attention.

-It's nothing like that.

-I'm Jordan Smith.

-I'm studying History and Business.

-I'd like to be a politician when I'm

-older, if possible, a Rhondda MP.

-On TV, they don't get the balance

-right about life in the valleys.

-I'm Ben. I'm 17.

-I come from Tonypandy.

-They either think

-we're a simple tribe...

-..who live on massive

-mountains like Everest.

-Or we're all really simple.

-Everyone here is different, but

-we're all part of the community.

-I'm Elinor. I'm studying Media,

-English and Religious Education.

-I'm Ewan.

-I study Business and Media.

-The situation of the Welsh

-language in the Rhondda...

-..isn't as good as it could be,

-but is doing well.

-Even if Welsh

-isn't spoken in the home...

-..people can still speak it in

-school and be educated in Welsh.

-Everyone lives off history

-with the Welsh language.

-I think Welsh is a dying language,

-like the coal industry.

-I think these things

-reach the end of their life.

-People still live off them.

-I think we should

-let the language die.

-Let it die?

-Let it die?

-

-Yes.

-Why?

-Everything associated

-with Welsh is old.

-It's old-fashioned, boring.

-I disagree.

-We should try to keep the language.

-You talk about things improving. I

-think it's up to us as young people.

-In school, a lot of people

-speak English, to be honest.

-But I'm proud to speak Welsh.

-In Cardiff,

-everyone speaks English.

-I heard a mother speaking to her

-children in Welsh, "Choose a drink."

-I was like, "What?"

-Seeing other programmes

-about the Rhondda...

-..you're proud of the language.

-It's good to be educated in Welsh...

-..even if it's not

-your first language.

-It's good to be from Wales

-and to speak Welsh.

-I think Welsh holds things back.

-I think Welsh holds things back.

-

-I disagree that it's dying.

-We can't let it die.

-Looking to the future,

-what would you bring to the Rhondda?

-You talked about

-collieries closing...

-..and factories like

-Burberry and Chubb.

-We don't know about the future.

-They might come back.

-There isn't a lot happening now.

-But there's potential here.

-I think we need more clubs...

-..like film, art,

-football, or music.

-There aren't many degrees that

-help you find jobs in the Rhondda.

-The rest are shops

-or farming, really.

-Farming?

-Farming?

-

-Yes.

-There are only four farms

-in the Rhondda.

-You can succeed in the Rhondda.

-Many people start businesses,

-like hairdressing salons.

-They're happy and make money.

-They're happy and make money.

-

-Entrepreneurs.

-Like in Young, Welsh

-And Pretty Skint...

-..there are more tattoo shops

-per km here than anywhere in the UK.

-Salons and tanning shops.

-You have to know how life works here

-and make the most of it.

-I tend to look at it as a positive.

-More tattoo shops

-and salons create jobs.

-Definitely.

-It's the local people who go

-to the tattoo and tanning shops.

-Money comes in and goes out

-because of the entrepreneurs here.

-It's a good thing.

-Yes, that should be encouraged.

-One Ysgol Y Cymer former pupil...

-..is the talented singer

-Rachel Stephens from Tynewydd.

-# Ah ah ah

-# Ah ah ah #

-You won't find a better view.

-We can do a bit of sunbathing too.

-Who needs Trecco Bay?

-We look as if we're doing

-a ginger hair dye advert!

-Low budget!

-I'm getting sunburnt, actually.

-We're in Tynewydd

-at the top of the valley.

-Blaenrhondda and Blaencwm

-are at the far end.

-Your road is down there,

-straight up to Penpych.

-I come from Treorchy,

-a bit further down.

-But you live right at the top.

-Where I come from, they usually say,

-"Rough up there!"

-No, we're not.

-What do you say?

-What do you say?

-

-You're rough down there!

-Why are we rough down there

-and you're not up here?

-You're further up. It's narrower.

-It's the last stop on the train.

-You're stuck close together.

-I live here, so I tend to say

-people are rough in other places.

-The sun is affecting me! We'll go in

-to hear about Rachel's career.

-I didn't know if I wanted

-to study singing and performing.

-I really wanted to train

-to be a mechanic.

-Right!

-People find that odd.

-But my father is a mechanic.

-I wanted to follow in his footsteps.

-I did work experience

-with him in the garage.

-I was interested in fixing cars

-and was always out working on a car.

-What did you study?

-I did a three year degree course

-in Performance and had a great time.

-A lot of opportunities came

-as a result of the degree.

-We did the musical Nia Ben Aur

-in our third year.

-We toured Wales.

-We toured Wales.

-

-Marvellous.

-There are amateur drama groups like

-Act 1 and Spotlight in the Rhondda.

-Rachel has performed

-with some of them.

-Recently, she played Deloris,

-the leading role...

-..in Selsig company's

-production of Sister Act.

-Do you have a way

-to get into character?

-In every show I'm in,

-even in the chorus...

-..you must capture the character.

-I make a kind of mind map.

-I do a character profile...

-..how they look, what they

-would do in various situations.

-It's important for me to know

-the character's mindset.

-Do you walk about the house,

-putting on an accent?

-Do you stay in character

-all the time, like Daniel Day Lewis?

-I have to come out of character.

-But I try to chat with my sister

-in the character's accent.

-She just thinks I'm silly.

-But I have to do it.

-I practise quite a lot at home.

-I've had a few neighbours

-knocking on the door...

-..asking me to shut up.

-I've had the police once. Genuine.

-The police knocked on the door.

-They said, "We've had a complaint

-about someone singing."

-Out of key!

-Out of key!

-

-Never!

-I went, "Oh, OK."

-So I stopped for a bit.

-Then we had new neighbours,

-so I sing now.

-I've been lucky.

-There are a lot of theatre

-companies round here.

-My ultimate goal

-is to be in the West End.

-The next step is moving

-to London, I think.

-I don't know if I'll get there!

-Rachel, like many other successful

-performers, has to aim for London.

-But it's good to know that

-young people in the Rhondda...

-..can have great experiences here

-and a firm career foundation.

-LAUGHTER

-Look at my nostrils!

-My gosh!

-You have a pert little nose.

-Do you have to be angry?

-Do you have to be angry?

-

-Just smash it in!

-What about now?

-It's awkward to be 17.

-I'm too young to go to pubs and

-clubs and too old for the park!

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-The people of the Rhondda

-are boxing mad.

-Tommy Farr and Jimmy Wilde

-came from here.

-The valley still produces

-good boxers.

-Jordan Withers from Ystrad is 15.

-He has already won loads of prizes.

-He's a member

-of the Welsh Junior Boxing Squad.

-The key to success

-is training and dedication...

-..and a lot of travelling.

-How often do you come?

-How often do you come?

-

-Three times a week.

-That's quite a lot.

-You have to be quite committed.

-Mmm.

-What do you do?

-I start with skipping...

-..then three rounds

-of shadowboxing...

-..then with punch bags...

-..and pads on Monday.

-On Tuesdays, I do sparring.

-Are we doing pads?

-Are we doing pads?

-

-Yes.

-For how long?

-For how long?

-

-Two minutes.

-And you move when the buzzer sounds.

-Yes.

-Do you have to be angry?

-No.

-Is it

-a way of letting off aggression?

-Do you focus on anyone?

-My opponent's face,

-just smash it in!

-Have you fought someone

-you really don't like?

-In the Europeans.

-Who?

-A cocky Irish boy.

-So that's how you go about it.

-Do you think of your teachers?

-Oh, yeah!

-Don't name anyone, mind.

-Watching Jordan train,

-I was struck by his mature attitude.

-He's cautious and careful.

-Boxing comes naturally to him.

-His father, like any responsible

-parent, worries about him.

-Pretty much he was born

-into a fighting family, really.

-From kickboxing,

-pretty much a baby...

-..he progressed to boxing

-at ten years of age...

-..and not looking back ever since.

-My fears for Jordan obviously first

-and foremost is not to get hurt.

-That's every parent's

-worst nightmare.

-But if he prepares and trains...

-..and doesn't cut any corners...

-..I'm sure his natural ability

-and aggression will come through.

-It's just like a duck to water.

-He just thrives in the ring.

-He loves it.

-The training doesn't stop

-when he leaves the gym.

-There is intense running, too.

-The hill to Penrhys is steep.

-On a sunny day,

-the views from here are amazing.

-I run it twice a week,

-sometimes in the morning.

-It's pretty tough.

-It hurts my back and lower back.

-Jordan does the same thing

-once he reaches Penrhys.

-He visits his Bampy's grave.

-His grandfather

-always supported Jordan's boxing.

-He said he was proud of me.

-It's one thing to train and be fit.

-But a kit is required.

-What do you need?

-Shorts.

-Swanky! How much were they?

-Swanky! How much were they?

-

-200.

-The gloves were 100.

-For a pair or each?

-For a pair or each?

-

-A pair.

-Boots.

-How much were they?

-How much were they?

-

-150.

-It's an expensive game. But

-it's an investment for the future.

-Jordan has represented Wales

-against Hungary, Ireland...

-..England and Scotland.

-He boxes regularly in Wales.

-What is his ambition?

-To reach

-the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

-Ready?

-Fair play, Jordan has

-a clear target and ambition.

-But his feet

-are firmly on the ground.

-What are the sixth formers'

-plans for the future?

-Jordan lives in Tylorstown,

-in the Rhondda Fach.

-He's interested in politics

-and holds firm views.

-I met him in the workers'

-old Welfare Hall.

-I volunteered here

-for a year and a half.

-I did the bingo...

-..and the kids' disco.

-I hated that.

-I did dancing sessions

-for pensioners.

-Were you Mr Motivator?

-"Grab your partner, do-si-do!"

-Or were you a bouncer?

-Or were you a bouncer?

-

-I watched and hoped for the best!

-I want to enter politics.

-I've seen how the cuts

-have taken their toll on the place.

-I want to change the Rhondda.

-It's hard to change people.

-It's easier to change...

-..how other people see you

-and the Rhondda.

-There is good work being done

-for the Rhondda.

-It's hard without money.

-I hope the situation improves

-in the future.

-Elinor from Gelli is interested

-in all kinds of creative work.

-She's preparing a portfolio of

-her photography in the village park.

-I take photos of events,

-children's parties...

-..proms, gigs...

-..behind the scenes shots...

-..and portraits.

-It's natural for me to do

-landscapes in the Rhondda.

-I'd love to be involved

-in a youth project...

-..taking photographs,

-creating artwork and making films...

-..with a group

-of creatively minded people.

-We need a place to meet.

-Somewhere like the Pop Factory.

-The Pop Factory encouraged people to

-take an interest in music and film.

-The Pop Factory has closed.

-There's nowhere for bands to play

-or where you can buy their photos.

-There's no creative centre

-in the Rhondda.

-We need to improve that.

-Ben is thinking

-of doing an apprenticeship.

-But he's not sure what yet.

-He lives in Cwm Clydach,

-above Tonypandy.

-Is there enough to do here,

-for someone your age?

-Not in Clydach, to be honest.

-There's a 3G football pitch here.

-There's not a lot to do here.

-I love the valleys.

-People my age say it's rubbish...

-..and there's nothing to do here.

-There's nowhere like it.

-It's different. I like the valleys,

-because everyone is so close.

-What is your goal?

-I'm not sure. I'll see what happens.

-I really don't know.

-I don't want to go to university.

-I'd prefer an apprenticeship.

-I'll start looking

-after leaving school.

-Would you stay local or travel?

-I'm open to the idea of travelling.

-It depends what it is.

-Can I get you anything else?

-Can I get you anything else?

-

-No, I'm fine.

-Actually, do you sell lobster?

-No!

-Ewan lives in Ferndale.

-It's a busy town,

-halfway up the Rhondda Fach.

-You were born and raised

-in Ferndale.

-Yes, in Taff Street.

-What did you do as children,

-apart from play on the astro turf?

-We'd go to the park,

-to the rugby field.

-I did arts and crafts

-in the Arts Factory...

-..and karate in the Arts Factory.

-There was quite a lot to do

-in Ferndale when I was growing up.

-What about now?

-What about now?

-

-It's awkward to be 17.

-I'm too young to go to pubs and

-clubs and too old for the park!

-If I was offered a good job

-outside the valley...

-..I'd take it.

-After retiring, I'd come back.

-After retiring?

-That's a long way away!

-In 45 to 50 years,

-you'll move back to Ferndale?

-What will the valley

-be like in 2050?!

-Will the astro turf still be here?

-Will the astro turf still be here?

-

-I hope it'll be 3G.

-As I add the young people's faces

-to the map...

-..I'm reminded

-of myself at their age.

-I wanted to stay in the valley as

-well as experience life outside it.

-Sometimes, we have to leave

-to further our education and work.

-The valley needs

-facilities and opportunities...

-..so young people

-have a good reason to come back.

-They are needed here, and

-there's plenty of room for them.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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