Stori Coronau y 'Steddfod Pethe

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-TRUMPET FANFARE

-APPLAUSE

-One of Wales's most important

-cultural prizes is the crown.

-In the 2014 National Eisteddfod,

-Carmarthenshire...

-..I was lucky enough to win one.

-Guto Dafydd from Pwllheli.

-APPLAUSE

-The crown usually sits

-on a shelf in the living room.

-But it sometimes has an outing.

-I take it with me around Wales

-to give talks about the poems.

-People enjoy wearing it.

-The crown shares the eisteddfod

-stage with another renowned prize.

-Looking at the National

-Eisteddfod's two main prizes...

-..the crown is obviously smaller.

-Some people think that winning

-the crown is less important.

-It's the chair's younger sibling

-or even its illegitimate child.

-But why?

-I'm going to try to find out...

-..enjoying a few stories

-along the way...

-..from those who make them,

-look after them and who wear them.

-Here's the crown.

-Here's the crown.

-

-Wow!

-The 1861 Aberdare Eisteddfod...

-..is considered

-the first modern eisteddfod.

-But there was no crown.

-The only prize for poets was

-a chair for a strict metre poem.

-The free verse poets, known

-as the Radicals, were unhappy.

-A very public quarrel

-developed in 1862.

-Here's a copy of Baner Ac Amserau

-Cymru, dated December 17, 1862.

-On the back, there's a critical

-letter from a certain Aneurin Fardd.

-He argued that

-the Eisteddfod Committee...

-..shouldn't recognize

-two bardic schools in Wales.

-Stepping in to defend the Radicals

-was Lewis William Lewis...

-..or Llew Llwyfo -

-The Lion of Llwyfo.

-He was a singer, drinker,

-critic, writer and poet.

-The following week in Y Faner...

-..Llew wrote

-a harshly critical letter...

-..calling Aneurin Fardd "an opponent

-of all progress in poetry."

-Handbags at dawn from two

-leading figures in Welsh culture!

-Five years later,

-the quarrel reached a climax...

-..when a special committee

-of radicals and conservatives met...

-..at the Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen.

-Discussing this crucial time in the

-crown's history is Mererid Hopwood.

-She has won a crown and a chair.

-She's just the person

-to give an impartial opinion.

-You were the first woman to win

-the chair in 2001 in Denbigh.

-Then you won this crown

-in Meifod in 2003.

-Who made this beautiful Crown?

-John Price, who is renowned

-for making glorious crowns.

-It tells the story

-of the eisteddfod area...

-..and people like

-William Morgan and Melangell.

-There are marvellous details.

-The crown has to be

-adjusted to fit your head.

-John Price hid the screws

-with two acorns.

-The eisteddfod was

-established in 1861...

-..long before you won

-in Denbigh and Meifod.

-But all wasn't well.

-There were disputes

-between the two schools of poets.

-The eisteddfod has seen a few

-squabbles over the centuries.

-Poets who didn't write

-strict metre poetry...

-..felt that free verse poems

-should be honoured too.

-But how could that be done?

-They called themselves the Radicals.

-They wanted a prize...

-..a crown to be awarded

-one year and a chair, the next.

-We're in the Ivy Bush, Carmarthen...

-..where that crucial

-meeting was held.

-They had to come to a decision.

-Things had come to breaking point.

-Llew Llwyfo...

-A very colourful character!

-A very colourful character!

-

-Quite!

-He didn't turn up for the meeting

-the day after the discussions.

-Hywel Teifi intimated

-that the beer tasted too good!

-A few have taken that stance,

-but we mustn't cast aspersions!

-The fact was, he wasn't there.

-So the Radicals had less clout.

-They reached a compromise.

-They agreed to award a crown

-and chair every year.

-That's what happened.

-The following year, 1868...

-..almost inevitably,

-Llew Llwyfo won the crown.

-Was it a real crown?

-Well... no.

-The Ruthin Eisteddfod

-had financial problems...

-..and couldn't afford a crown.

-They had a medal,

-apparently after someone else.

-But Llew was honoured there.

-Who would have thought?

-The first crown was a medal.

-But where is it? And

-what about the first real crown?

-There are four crowns

-in the National Library.

-The two earliest crowns

-we can definitely date...

-..were won by TH Parry-Williams

-in 1912 and 1915.

-Are there crowns in the National

-History Museum, St Fagans?

-Will Llew Llwyfo's

-fabled crown be there?

-Curator Dr Sioned Williams

-will tell us.

-These are the national

-eisteddfod crowns.

-There are many local eisteddfod

-crowns in the collection.

-This is the most recent.

-This is the 1933 Wrexham

-Eisteddfod Crown.

-It's very big and smart.

-Yes. It was won by Simon Jones.

-It's interesting

-that the crown's design...

-..is more old-fashioned

-than the eisteddfod programme.

-Yes, it's in the art deco style

-which was fashionable at the time.

-We move on to the 1909 Eisteddfod,

-held at the Albert Hall, London.

-The crown was won by WJ Gruffydd.

-It's lighter, like a fairy crown.

-It's lighter, like a fairy crown.

-

-Yes.

-It's delicate and quite feminine.

-It'd be interesting to see

-a picture of WJ Gruffydd wearing it.

-What is this crown?

-It's much simpler.

-It comes from

-the 1869 Holywell Eisteddfod.

-There was no national

-eisteddfod that year...

-..because they had

-financial problems.

-Richard Mawddwy Jones won the crown.

-I'm not sure if people had taken

-to the idea of a crown at first.

-It was still a new idea.

-Here's a newspaper clip from 1869.

-It says, "The crown

-movement has been established.

-"Could not the winner...

-"..wear a fine gold star etched

-with a crown on his breast?"

-Some people thought

-the prize should be a medal.

-They weren't sure

-about wearing a crown.

-Men weren't sure about this.

-Was it customary to award medals?

-Yes.

-A year before, in 1868,

-Llew Llwyfo won the crown.

-But he didn't receive a crown.

-No, he received a medal.

-Is this the medal?

-No, but Llew Llwyfo did win this

-at the 1866 Chester Eisteddfod.

-It's a little earlier

-and similar to what he won in 1868.

-Exactly.

-Can we say that the 1869 crown

-is the first awarded as a prize?

-That's not quite true.

-We have another early crown.

-It dates back to 1858

-and the Great Llangollen Eisteddfod.

-It's another light, delicate crown.

-Ceiriog, or John Ceiriog Hughes...

-..won it for his renowned

-love poem, Myfanwy Fychan.

-It's a significant crown.

-It was the first time someone

-was crowned in an eisteddfod.

-Wow.

-I'm going to be impertinent.

-This 1858 crown

-is the earliest one I'll ever hold.

-Can I try it on?

-You may.

-Right.

-I'll be careful.

-I'll put my crown down.

-I'll crown myself

-with Ceiriog's 1858 crown.

-Does it suit me?

-Does it suit me?

-

-Very nice.

-Marvellous.

-After seeing these old crowns...

-..I realize more than ever

-how privileged I am...

-..to be part of the lengthy

-tradition of crowned bards.

-I've seen six crowns so far.

-Who knows how many more I'll find?

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-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-I never thought that the national

-eisteddfod crown's early history...

-..would be so revealing.

-I've learnt that

-it came into existence...

-..to keep us,

-the free verse Radical poets, happy.

-However, I have a theory.

-By splitting the eisteddfod's

-main prize in two...

-..pioneering, radical, free verse

-poetry was given a platform.

-That type of poetry was crucial

-at the time, and still is...

-..in the development

-of any poetic tradition.

-# I love Wales like any Welshman

-# But it's hard to be

-natural in the culture

-# As I come and go #

-There are thousands of houses

-in Pentwyn, Cardiff now.

-But for a short time in 1978,

-the eisteddfod was here.

-As Geraint Jarman sang,

-"Eisteddfod in the city."

-# Eisteddfod in the city #

-No-one won the chair

-in the eisteddfod.

-But the crown was awarded

-to Sion Eirian...

-..one of the youngest ever

-to win it.

-All heads turn for

-a first glimpse of the bard.

-He's on his feet!

-He is very young.

-I'd say he's around 25 years old.

-Well, 24 to be precise,

-a fortnight younger than I was.

-He wasn't as young

-as Caradog Prichard though...

-..the youngest ever Crowned Bard.

-This is where you keep the crown.

-This is where you keep the crown.

-

-Yes, in its box.

-It smells!

-It smells!

-

-Really?

-It smells of metal.

-It smells of metal.

-

-It's dusty and damp!

-As well as being a young poet...

-..Sion's winning poem

-broke new ground...

-..in terms of style and content.

-Why did you compete so young?

-Was it to make your mark, to gain

-the establishment's approval?

-I definitely didn't seek

-the establishment's approval!

-I proved that

-by not joining the Gorsedd.

-You rejected the opportunity.

-You rejected the opportunity.

-

-Yes, and it didn't go down well.

-The establishment's respect

-wasn't a factor.

-In his adjudication...

-..Dafydd Rowlands was ecstatic

-about your future as a bard.

-It didn't happen.

-I'd forgotten that. But he didn't

-like everything in the poem.

-He was wrong, unfortunately.

-It marked the end of something

-rather than a new beginning.

-Within a year of winning, I decided

-to earn a living by writing.

-I began to write plays...

-..and discovered it

-was where I wanted to be.

-Poetry was gradually

-pushed to one side.

-I expressed myself

-through dramatic dialogue...

-..rather than my poems...

-..which tended

-to be short and angst-ridden.

-They are bold poems.

-You argue there are no Welsh words

-for everything.

-The style is different.

-There are graphic references to sex.

-Did you deliberately

-set out to ruffle feathers?

-Perhaps, at that age.

-At times, I enjoyed being shocking.

-A lot of young writers experiment

-in the same way.

-It was part of my armoury,

-especially in the late seventies.

-Rock and roll was only 15 years old.

-We rebelled against our parents.

-We were anti-establishment.

-Poetry went in the same direction.

-Winning the crown should

-have been a happy time for me.

-But it turned sour.

-Dyfed Thomas's punk band,

-Dr Hywel Ffiaidd...

-..performed on the Thursday night.

-He introduced one song...

-..as the work of the eisteddfod

-Crowned Bard, Sion Eirian.

-I was proud Dyfed used the poem.

-It made the front page

-of the Sunday People...

-..that I'd written filth

-for a Welsh punk band...

-..discussing sex and all sorts.

-It spoilt it for my parents.

-But I was proud of the connection.

-The crown isn't only a celebration

-of a well-crafted poem...

-..but of the craftsman as well.

-John Price from Machynlleth

-has made tens of them...

-..for numerous eisteddfodau.

-He's working on his sixth national

-eisteddfod crown. Hello.

-Hello. How are you?

-Come in and take a seat.

-Welcome to my workshop.

-Do you want to have a look

-at my crown?

-How does it compare to your crowns?

-It's a different style completely.

-It's a different style completely.

-

-Do you like it?

-It's wonderful.

-It's a privilege to see you work

-on this year's crown.

-It's March. How is it going?

-I'm on schedule, I think.

-Will it be ready on time?

-Will it be ready on time?

-

-I haven't missed a deadline yet.

-Who is sponsoring this year's crown?

-Who is sponsoring this year's crown?

-

-The Wales-Argentina Society.

-How much have they influenced

-the design?

-I enjoy discussing the design

-and talking to the sponsor.

-In the initial meeting...

-..I write down a few ideas.

-There are no sketches.

-No, we only chat.

-From there, a design develops.

-Once the sponsor

-accepts the design...

-..it's passed

-to the Eisteddfod Committee.

-Once they're happy, I can get going.

-You can include whatever you want

-on the crown, within reason.

-There are three things I must have.

-The Mystic Mark must be prominent,

-the name...

-..location and eisteddfod year.

-I also have to be able to adapt

-the crown to fit the winner.

-What is your favourite crown?

-You've made tens of them.

-It's hard to say. I'm very happy

-with Geraint Lloyd Owen's crown.

-Geraint and I are friends.

-You didn't know he'd won it.

-No. I was with him

-a fortnight before the eisteddfod.

-He asked me about the crown

-and whether I had images of it.

-That's the sort of thing

-we talked about.

-I was so proud that he won it.

-It's an honour to meet every bard.

-Is it hard to let go of a crown,

-or is it a job of work?

-Do you feel an emotional attachment

-to them?

-That's probably true

-while I'm doing the crown.

-Once it's finished, I'm glad to see

-the back of it! My job is done.

-Before retiring in 2013...

-..Hywel Wyn Edwards was the

-eisteddfod organizer for 21 years.

-The organizer is the middle man...

-..between the maker of the crown,

-the Gorsedd, Committee and poet.

-Ah, welcome!

-I've brought something that

-confirms that relationship.

-This is the letter I received

-to say I was a Chief Bard.

-It's like Harry Potter

-finding out he can go to Hogwarts!

-The wording is interesting.

-I'm told there's a microphone

-on the Archdruid's costume.

-I shouldn't say anything silly.

-It says the cloak is long.

-Is that your wording?

-I changed it because

-I could see problems arising...

-..for instance with the costume.

-If the winner was tall,

-there wouldn't be a problem.

-But if the winner was short...

-..they could trip

-as they go on stage...

-..or come off stage.

-..or come off stage.

-

-During the eisteddfod week...

-..the winning bard

-has to try the crown on.

-The bard's name must be kept secret.

-It was like Spooks or Homeland.

-It was very cloak and dagger!

-It is cloak and dagger.

-I arranged for the crown maker

-and poet to come to the office.

-If the winner

-is a familiar figure...

-..that can make things

-more difficult.

-I'm not sure how many

-of the staff recognized you.

-No-one!

-That could have been a good thing.

-It's important to have the fitting.

-There have been times in the past...

-..when the crown

-didn't fit properly.

-People will remember Aberystwyth

-Eisteddfod, and Cyril Jones.

-I declare that you are the Crowned

-Bard of Ceredigion Eisteddfod.

-Congratulations.

-LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

-You have a lot of experience

-of crown fittings.

-The Herald Bard brings it

-to the Archdruid.

-The Archdruid stands next

-to the winner.

-He turns and places

-the crown on the bard's head.

-I've crowned you

-for the second time...

-..although I'm far

-from being an Archdruid!

-Not yet!

-I'll close where I started, with

-Llew Llwyfo, The Lion of Llwyfo...

-..who won the very first crown...

-..that wasn't a crown at all.

-In 1895, 27 years after his first

-victory, The Llew won again.

-This time, the eisteddfod had enough

-money to pay for a proper crown.

-Llew Llwyfo's first bona fide crown

-is in the Institute in Caernarfon.

-Roy Owen, the mayor, has allowed me

-to borrow it for a couple of hours.

-This is the Llanelli

-Eisteddfod crown, 1895.

-It's light.

-I won my crown in Llanelli, too.

-It's a similar design.

-I've seen a lot of crowns by now.

-This is the earliest

-National Eisteddfod crown.

-It's Llew Llwyfo's crown...

-..who started the whole tradition.

-Despite his eisteddfod successes,

-The Llew was a complex character.

-His relationship with the bottle

-was a continuous battle.

-He lived to quite an old age.

-But Llew's great circus

-ended in March, 1901.

-His grave is in Llanbeblig cemetery,

-Caernarfon... somewhere.

-This is it.

-"In loving memory of Llew Llwyfo

-from family and friends."

-It was put here less

-than two years after his death.

-It's here in a remote corner,

-almost forgotten.

-He's one of the eisteddfod's

-most important figures...

-..a key figure of our culture.

-I'm glad my journey ends here.

-This is the man who started

-the crown competition.

-By reaching a compromise between

-the Conservatives and Radicals...

-..he created one of our strangest,

-most colourful customs.

-The competition

-still creates its own myth.

-It's still a compromise between

-Conservative and Radical.

-But, before I take it back,

-out of respect to Llew's ashes...

-..I'll give him five minutes

-of peace with his crown.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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