Pennod 8 Pobol y Rhondda

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-Shwmae!

-I'm Sion Tomos Owen, a Rhondda boy.

-I love it here.

-It's full of interesting people

-and superb scenery.

-It's the perfect place

-for an artist like me.

-Over the last few weeks,

-I've painted a series of pictures...

-..reflecting how I see the valley.

-Today, I'm putting them together

-to create a large new map...

-..of the lives

-of the Rhondda people.

-The Heritage Park in Trehafod...

-..was an obvious and symbolic place

-to start the map.

-The picture was full of symbols.

-The mine wheel and the coal itself

-under Penpych mountain...

-..all kinds of people...

-..and the terraces that are

-such a feature of the valley.

-The circle of life

-can be seen in a hospital.

-Here, in Llwynypia, I painted

-a picture on the theme community.

-I wanted to convey life experiences

-from the cradle to the grave...

-..and a few things

-that happen in between.

-The Oval in Treorchy

-was the place...

-..to paint the picture about

-the Rhondda's sporting heritage.

-I had an hour and a half

-to finish the work...

-..in very cold weather.

-I had one eye on the paint

-and the other on the game.

-But I managed to finish it in time

-and put the Zebras on the map.

-There's no lack of material

-for an artist in this valley.

-Today, we're starting

-in Ton Pentre...

-..where I went to meet the actress,

-Shelley Rees-Owen.

-A chance for Pobol y Rhondda

-to meet Pobol y Cwm...

-..over a cuppa

-at the community centre.

-I used to play basketball here

-when I was young.

-That's how I met my husband,

-playing basketball here.

-I remember putting my foot

-through the floor in the hall.

-Was he the one who rescued you?

-Was he the one who rescued you?

-

-No.

-Hiya, are you OK?

-Would you like a cup of tea?

-Would you like a cup of tea?

-

-That would be great.

-Shall I grab a seat?

-Shall I grab a seat?

-

-Take a seat, I'll go and make it.

-OK?

-Brilliant. Thank you.

-Sorry, I spilt half of it

-on the floor.

-It's busier here now.

-It's busier here now.

-

-I know. Great, isn't it?

-It's brilliant.

-You're a local girl.

-Did you go to Ynyswen?

-Yes. I was raised in Ton Pentre.

-We lived in Treorchy

-for four years.

-We came back because my grandparents

-were still in Ton Pentre.

-Yes, I'm Ton Pentre

-through and through.

-After Ynyswen, where did you go?

-Ysgol Rhydfelen.

-Ysgol Rhydfelen.

-

-That's a long way.

-I know!

-Though I went even further.

-I went to sixth form in Llanhari.

-I went to sixth form in Llanhari.

-

-That's almost in Bridgend!

-I know! It was because I wanted

-to study Media for my A levels.

-That's really

-where I got acting opportunities.

-The drama teachers

-were very supportive.

-We did a musical.

-The wife

-of one of the Science teachers...

-..was a producer on Pobol y Cwm.

-I didn't know this until she

-came to talk to me after the show.

-She asked me what my plans were.

-At the time, I had no idea.

-She told me,

-"The minute you leave school...

-"..please write to me in the BBC

-and let me know...

-"..because I'd like

-to keep an eye on you."

-When I finished school,

-I wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

-I wrote to her...

-..and a couple of months later

-I got an audition for Pobol y Cwm.

-It was bizarre.

-One part can change everything.

-One part can change everything.

-

-I know.

-People ask me, "Do you regret

-not going to a drama college?"

-Over the years, I've had a couple

-of wobbles where I've thought...

-.."What would I be doing now

-if I had?"

-But at the time, I thought that

-the university of life was best.

-Wasn't there more ham available?

-Wasn't there more ham available?

-

-There wasn't any left, Mam.

-We need more.

-Anyone at home?

-Anyone at home?

-

-Hiya!

-Good heavens!

-I didn't expect you until tonight.

-I changed my mind.

-When we started, Siw, me,

-Dewi, who played Dyff, and Arwyn...

-..had a fortnight together

-pre-recording our stuff.

-That was fantastic.

-It was important as I knew that the

-Joneses would come in with a bang.

-It was important

-to get the chemistry right.

-I remember the rest of the cast...

-..returning

-after their six-week break.

-I remember seeing Iola Gregory,

-Mrs Mac, walking down the corridor.

-I was just thinking,

-"What shall I say?"

-I had no idea

-so I ran to the toilet to hide!

-I'd watched Mrs Mac for years.

-Then Magi Post, Harriet.

-Do you remember Magi Post?

-I walked into the green room

-very shyly...

-..and heard her voice

-with her finger pointing like this.

-"You, come and sit here."

-I was apprehensive.

-"Tell me about yourself."

-I told her my life story.

-Goodness me.

-I have to show you something.

-I found my first script.

-Gosh.

-Here's my first Pobol y Cwm script.

-It was broadcast

-on Wednesday 15 September, 1993.

-I remember my first line.

-I had scenes in the school and

-Hywel, the teacher, was asking me...

-.."Can you tell me

-what an ecosystem is?"

-Tracey?

-I'm Stacey, sir, not Tracey.

-When I found out

-in a couple of months...

-..that the story was Stacey having

-a relationship with her teacher...

-..and then later marrying him,

-I was delighted!

-I've said everything

-that I have to say.

-It's your turn now.

-Alright, then.

-I'll tell you exactly how I feel,

-shall I?

-The only thing that's on my mind

-all day is you.

-You and nothing else!

-I can't help myself.

-I received letters from people,

-from teachers, sent to the BBC...

-..saying, "Relationships between

-teachers and pupils don't happen."

-People got angry about it.

-..to witness that I, Stacey Doris...

-..take you, Hywel Maelgwn...

-..take you, Hywel Maelgwn...

-

-.. take you, Hywel Maelgwn...

-..to be my lawful wedded husband.

-..to be my lawful wedded husband.

-

-..to be my lawful wedded husband.

-I'm so supportive of Pobol y Cwm...

-..what it does and its duty as

-a programme in terms of Welshness.

-I love being there. It's such

-an important programme to me.

-Congratulations and best wishes.

-You may kiss the bride.

-I've been away from it

-for eight years now, full-time.

-I've been working flat out

-since then doing various things.

-I tutor at a youth theatre

-in Porthcawl.

-That's great.

-There are over 200 members.

-Brilliant.

-A little bit

-of local politics too...

-..and then, two years ago...

-..I was lucky enough to get

-a fantastic part in Gwaith Cartref.

-I saw a poster on the wall

-when I was working in the school.

-I love it. Love it.

-Everything alright, Mrs Isaacs?

-You look harassed to me.

-You look harassed to me.

-

-Me?! No.

-Have you lost something?

-Have you lost something?

-

-No.

-I'm just tidying up.

-I can't find the money box

-for the summer fair.

-I'm worried someone's stolen it.

-I'm worried someone's stolen it.

-

-Have you mentioned it to Dr Murphy?

-I haven't had the chance.

-I haven't had the chance.

-

-Good.

-Come with me into my office.

-Two heads are better than one.

-Throughout your career,

-have you always lived in Ton Pentre?

-Yes.

-I bought the house in 1993

-and I still live in it.

-Mam lives around the corner,

-my sister is next door but one.

-My other sister has gone a long way,

-up to Treherbert.

-A long way!

-Our friends are there.

-I live in the street

-next to the one I was raised.

-I know everyone. I love it there.

-I know everyone. I love it there.

-

-It's the same with me.

-My family's here,

-my friends are here.

-No, no.

-I'd get a shock

-if I ever left Ton Pentre.

-It would take something special

-for me to leave.

-Llanwonno - a glorious place

-right among the mountains.

-It sits between the Cynon Valley on

-one side, Pontypridd on the other...

-..and Rhondda Fach.

-There are now only two buildings

-here - a church and a pub.

-Guess which one I'm going to.

-Hello, Sion, alright?

-What would you like?

-What would you like?

-

-Beer, please.

-The Brynffynon is an old, old pub.

-The owner, Aaron Lewis,

-is a good friend of mine.

-How long have you been the landlord

-in Brynffynon?

-We've been here since January 2008.

-That's nine years now.

-Quite a lot has changed.

-I remember stopping here on the way

-back from the Green Man Festival...

-..for a drink.

-That's the year you took over.

-There was nothing out the back.

-You could only have a light lunch.

-What have you done

-since coming here?

-We've just tidied it up really

-and done things properly.

-Nice food...

-Definitely.

-Definitely.

-

-Excellent beer, a fireplace.

-A proper country pub really.

-For a country pub, how do you

-attract people to come here?

-I don't know. I don't really know!

-We do a lot on social media.

-Everyone can see what we're doing.

-People just come here to see

-what's going on, what we're about.

-Is it easier that you're

-in the middle of three valleys?

-I think so.

-I think so.

-

-You get a mix of people.

-People come from everywhere.

-They don't just come

-from the Valleys.

-They come from Cardiff, Swansea.

-Everywhere.

-My brother and Kyle

-have worked behind the bar.

-They say

-that specific groups come here.

-Yes, farmers and walkers,

-or people who come here...

-..to go horse riding,

-to cycle or ride motorbikes.

-It attracts all sorts.

-Route 47 also passes here.

-So cyclists come past.

-So cyclists come past.

-

-Over the top, yes.

-Over the top

-as far west as they want to go.

-You didn't always own this pub.

-What did you do

-after leaving school?

-I worked in Lidl.

-From Lidl, I went to work with Jamie

-down in Porth, The Bicycle Doctor.

-I repaired bikes with him.

-Then I was a driving instructor.

-Then I was a driving instructor.

-

-Were you?

-Then from a driving instructor

-to buying this pub.

-Quite a jump. Why?

-Why did you make that decision?

-I just thought, "Just do it."

-"Do it now

-when you've got the chance."

-In the back of the pub...

-..Aaron's built a posh marquee

-for special occasions.

-This is our new marquee

-where weddings are held.

-Today, there are baby showers here

-and people having afternoon teas.

-There's a bar in here.

-There's a bar in here.

-

-Ooh. It looks good.

-It's unfinished.

-It's a work in progress.

-Proper swank.

-Proper swank.

-

-It's better than what was here.

-It looks great.

-It's deep in the Valleys.

-I'll have to come up for afternoon

-tea. I'll bring the family.

-Thank you.

-After the break, I'll collect

-the pieces of the map...

-..Mam tells me her first impressions

-of the Rhondda...

-..and I'll have a night out

-in Tylorstown Hall...

-..to celebrate

-the end of the series.

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-It's nice going back to school.

-I had a warm welcome

-at Ysgol Gymraeg Llwyncelyn...

-..and a great response from the kids

-to the picture about music.

-Protest and battles was the theme...

-..of the second picture

-I painted at the Heritage Park.

-From Tonypandy to Maerdy,

-from Burberry workers to miners...

-..they're all here,

-and the battles continue.

-I was battling the elements

-on top of Bwlch.

-But where else was I going

-to paint a picture about nature?

-With a view like this,

-how could I fail?

-In the middle of Tonypandy Market...

-..I painted a picture

-of Rhondda buildings.

-From the Pop Factory to Blaencwm

-tunnel, from chapels to pubs...

-..and terraced houses, of course.

-They're buildings

-that put the Rhondda on the map.

-I'm back

-where I began the journey...

-..at the family home in Glyncoli.

-This is where

-I've been storing the pictures.

-I just hope

-they're in a decent state.

-One of them is bent.

-Typical!

-Clydach - wonky.

-Eira's been sketching on this.

-All that's left for me to do...

-..is to paint the series title

-to go in the middle of the map.

-I said at first that this

-was going to be a challenge...

-..but you've done it.

-I've done it.

-Bits of me didn't want to say that

-it was going to be much harder...

-..but it was a lot harder

-than I expected.

-But I have finished it.

-Not that Dad

-didn't think I could do it...

-..but he said,

-"It might be more of a challenge."

-Everything he said happened!

-The weather was tough, the deadlines

-were tough, but it's finished.

-I'm so pleased. It looks exactly

-how I wanted it to look.

-It's my impressions of the Rhondda

-in the map.

-But what did Mam think of the place

-when she first came here?

-What year did you see the Rhondda

-for the first time?

-It was '76, I think.

-It was the year before

-I finished university.

-I was on the way home

-to North Wales...

-..and Dad asked for a lift home.

-He brought me

-over the top of Penrhys...

-..so I could see

-the Rhondda in all its glory...

-..and, for once, it wasn't raining.

-I come from Dinorwig.

-You can see Snowdon.

-You can see Snowdon.

-

-It's opposite Snowdon!

-You can't get a better view.

-You can't get a better view.

-

-And Dad takes you to Penrhys!

-So I thought, "Yes."

-So I thought, "Yes."

-

-It's alright, yeah.

-I have a better view in North Wales!

-I have a better view in North Wales!

-

-Dad hadn't been to North Wales then.

-No.

-So he shows you the view

-and you say, "It's alright."

-What struck me more than anything

-was the rows and rows of houses.

-I hadn't seen that before.

-I hadn't seen that before.

-

-There's one street in Dinorwig.

-One street.

-Yes.

-So many people

-were living in such a small space.

-That's what struck me the most.

-The first time

-I met your grandmother...

-..I got a fantastic welcome.

-She tried to give me as much food

-as she could in an hour...

-..before I embarked on that

-long journey to North Wales.

-Wrapped sandwiches.

-You've finished. The only thing

-you have left is to sign it.

-I hope that they all fit together.

-Like a jigsaw?

-Like a jigsaw?

-

-Mm.

-Very nice.

-Tylorstown Welfare Hall,

-a busy community centre...

-..and a great place to hold

-an evening where I reveal the map.

-Swank.

-Corned beef pasties, banana cake

-and scrumpy.

-We're good, aren't we?

-We're good, aren't we?

-

-Just like when I used to come over.

-It's also a chance

-to thank my family and friends...

-..for all their support.

-It's black and white like the map.

-You've matched!

-Look at me. I look ridiculous!

-Geraint Parfitt

-has finished the clogs.

-These are brilliant.

-Welcome

-to the Pobol y Rhondda evening...

-..the last night of the series...

-..where we're putting

-the map together.

-Here's the centre

-and the title of the programme.

-I hope that my seven dwarves...

-..will come in and put

-each piece together like a jigsaw.

-I haven't seen it as one piece yet.

-I'll put this on the floor

-and hope that it fits together.

-As there are seven pictures, I've

-asked seven close friends to help.

-As you can see,

-they're far from being dwarves.

-Ta-da!

-Thank you. Now you can

-all take a look at the map.

-Ystrad, Penpych, Tylorstown.

-Where's Ponty then?

-Where's Ponty then?

-

-Ponty? It's not in the Rhondda.

-Are you from Ponty?

-How did you get in?!

-There's another tree

-the other side too.

-Thanks, Mam!

-And there we are, it was ambitious

-and it was a lot of work...

-..but I'm happy

-with how it's turned out...

-..and I hope that I've succeeded

-in putting the Rhondda on the map.

-"Shwmae!

-I'm Sion Tomos Owen, a Rhondda boy.

-"I love it here. It's full of

-possibilities for artists like me.

-"I always look for different ways of

-portraying the valley in my work."

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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