28/02/2016 Songs of Praise


28/02/2016

Similar Content

Browse content similar to 28/02/2016. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

Hello. It's St David's Day this week and I've come to Port Talbot,

0:00:040:00:08

home to the UK's largest steelworks, where 4,000 workers

0:00:080:00:11

and the wider community await news of hundreds of redundancies.

0:00:110:00:15

My fears are for the young people who are currently employed there.

0:00:150:00:19

They've got mortgages, they've got young families.

0:00:190:00:21

It's going to be devastating. Absolutely devastating.

0:00:210:00:25

And I need a former steelworker, whose recovery from a

0:00:260:00:29

life-threatening accident at work was galvanised by his male voice choir.

0:00:290:00:34

When I'm singing, I find the afterglow of it all creates a situation

0:00:340:00:39

where I'm almost like being back in work.

0:00:390:00:42

And I'm in Britain's smallest city here in Pembrokeshire, to find

0:00:420:00:45

out more about St David, patron saint of Wales.

0:00:450:00:50

And Diane's in Coventry to meet the stylist who offers spiritual advice,

0:00:500:00:54

-as well as a shampoo and set.

-Make sure you do a good job!

0:00:540:00:57

We've a great selection of music from across the United Kingdom,

0:01:050:01:08

including from the Land of Song. It would be rude not to, wouldn't it?

0:01:080:01:11

We're going to start with that famous Welsh tune named after

0:01:110:01:14

the Rhondda Valley and it comes from the same church where

0:01:140:01:16

almost 55 years ago, Songs Of Praise was first broadcast.

0:01:160:01:20

-NEWSREEL:

-Where once, the economic blizzards of former years

0:03:560:04:00

swept across Port Talbot, there now emerges the Abbey steelworks.

0:04:000:04:03

Opened in 1951, the Port Talbot Steelworks once employed

0:04:030:04:07

tens of thousands of workers.

0:04:070:04:10

But today, the company has said tough actions are needed

0:04:100:04:13

in difficult market conditions. Redundancies are inevitable

0:04:130:04:17

to secure the long-term future of the site -

0:04:170:04:20

a real concern for the people of Port Talbot.

0:04:200:04:23

We don't know what's happening yet, so we'll just wait and see.

0:04:230:04:27

-It's terrible.

-Bad, isn't it? really bad.

0:04:270:04:29

Personally, I think it'll be, Port Talbot will start to die again.

0:04:290:04:33

The plant, owned by the multinational conglomerate, Tata,

0:04:330:04:36

is estimated to be losing £1 million a week.

0:04:360:04:40

Workers can only wait to hear which of them will be

0:04:400:04:42

affected in the coming months.

0:04:420:04:45

Port Talbot has been synonymous with steel for more than 60 years.

0:04:450:04:49

You can see why. It's such an imposing and impressive presence here.

0:04:490:04:53

You can also see why job losses would cast a long shadow

0:04:530:04:56

over the community.

0:04:560:04:59

750 of the 4,000 workers are at risk.

0:04:590:05:03

One man facing possible redundancy is Vince Lewis,

0:05:040:05:07

who can see the blast furnaces from his home.

0:05:070:05:10

-Nice to see you.

-Nice to see you.

0:05:100:05:12

There's no getting away from work for you.

0:05:120:05:14

-You practically live in the steelworks.

-I know.

0:05:140:05:16

I can look out my window and I know exactly what's happening.

0:05:160:05:19

What does that place mean to you?

0:05:190:05:22

I've been there almost 32 years, so it's a big part of my life,

0:05:220:05:25

part of my family's life.

0:05:250:05:26

My grandfather worked there, my father.

0:05:260:05:28

My brother works there.

0:05:280:05:30

-My son works here, so...

-Gosh.

0:05:300:05:32

Port Talbot, it's got a proud history in steel-making

0:05:320:05:36

and long may it continue, yeah.

0:05:360:05:38

People watching this programme all over the world

0:05:380:05:40

without realising, maybe, will own some steel made there.

0:05:400:05:42

Yes, definitely, yes.

0:05:420:05:45

Your fridges, your microwaves, your car.

0:05:450:05:48

You know, we make the finest quality steel in the world.

0:05:480:05:52

You can tell that you're really, really proud of what you do.

0:05:520:05:55

I am, yeah.

0:05:550:05:56

I'm proud of my community, I'm proud of the town

0:05:560:05:58

and I'm proud of the works, of the plant.

0:05:580:06:00

How have you managed not to be too down about what's happening?

0:06:000:06:04

I think I'm a naturally optimistic person

0:06:040:06:06

and God willing, I think that we will prevail.

0:06:060:06:09

-Have you turned to your faith at all during these difficult times?

-Yes.

0:06:090:06:13

I'm proud of my faith.

0:06:130:06:15

I was brought up Catholic and I attend Mass.

0:06:150:06:18

And yes, I think saying a little prayer and asking God maybe

0:06:180:06:23

to give the people with the power a little nudge in the right direction

0:06:230:06:26

and maybe give us a helping hand to keep it going.

0:06:260:06:30

One of the many businesses that may be affected by the job losses

0:06:340:06:37

is the Docks Cafe, just down the road from the steelworks.

0:06:370:06:41

I mean, I've got part-time staff.

0:06:410:06:43

If jobs go, their job's going to go. You know what I mean? So...

0:06:430:06:48

At the moment, we're OK.

0:06:480:06:50

But what's going to happen next month?

0:06:500:06:53

Retired steel worker and local councillor Dennis Keogh knows

0:06:530:06:57

just how ingrained steel is in this community.

0:06:570:07:00

This town has grown

0:07:000:07:02

on the back of steel-making here.

0:07:020:07:04

The Sandfields estate down there -

0:07:040:07:06

there are 5,000 families living down there -

0:07:060:07:09

was built as a result of this steelworks,

0:07:090:07:11

to house steelworkers.

0:07:110:07:13

So there was a lot of money coming through here?

0:07:130:07:15

-At one time, it was known as Treasure Island.

-Really?

0:07:150:07:17

-And Eldorado.

-THEY LAUGH

0:07:170:07:20

What was it like, back in the day, then?

0:07:200:07:22

Well, it was an incredible place to work

0:07:220:07:25

because it's like a small town in there, you know.

0:07:250:07:27

There is nearly 100 miles of road in there.

0:07:270:07:30

There's over 150 miles of railway line in there.

0:07:300:07:32

-Goodness me!

-It covers an area of roughly 20 square miles.

0:07:320:07:35

Wow!

0:07:350:07:37

And how many people work there?

0:07:370:07:39

When it first opened, 22,000

0:07:390:07:41

and they would come up from as far as Llanelli,

0:07:410:07:43

-they'd come in from Cardiff.

-Goodness me!

0:07:430:07:45

It had its own station at one time.

0:07:450:07:48

How do you feel seeing it as it is now? It's changed a lot.

0:07:480:07:52

It has changed a lot and that is because of technology.

0:07:520:07:55

We've increased steel production but we've reduced the manpower.

0:07:550:08:00

Unfortunately, that is the way.

0:08:000:08:02

Redundancies looming, they say.

0:08:020:08:04

Unfortunately.

0:08:040:08:05

What impact do you think that'll have on this community?

0:08:050:08:08

My fears are for the young people who are currently employed there.

0:08:080:08:11

They've got mortgages, they've got young families.

0:08:110:08:14

It's going to be devastating, absolutely devastating.

0:08:140:08:18

My hope is that Tata will keep the faith

0:08:180:08:21

and will continue to make steel,

0:08:210:08:23

because we make such good quality steel.

0:08:230:08:25

We'll be back here later in the programme

0:08:280:08:31

to meet some singing steelworkers who rallied around

0:08:310:08:33

when one of their own was seriously injured.

0:08:330:08:35

But up next, a performance by classical singing twins,

0:08:350:08:38

Richard and Adam.

0:08:380:08:40

# I believe for every drop of rain that falls

0:08:440:08:49

# A flower grows

0:08:490:08:53

# I believe that somewhere in the darkest night

0:08:590:09:05

# A candle glows

0:09:050:09:08

# I believe for everyone who goes astray

0:09:120:09:18

# Someone will come to show the way

0:09:190:09:24

# I believe

0:09:270:09:30

# I believe

0:09:300:09:34

# I believe above a storm the smallest prayer

0:09:350:09:40

# Will still be heard

0:09:420:09:45

# I believe that someone in the great somewhere

0:09:460:09:52

# Hears every word

0:09:520:09:57

# Every time I hear a newborn baby cry

0:09:590:10:04

# Or touch a leaf

0:10:050:10:08

# Or see the sky

0:10:080:10:11

# Then I know why

0:10:130:10:16

# I believe

0:10:160:10:21

# I believe above a storm the smallest prayer

0:10:300:10:36

# Will still be heard

0:10:360:10:40

# I believe that someone in the great somewhere

0:10:420:10:48

# Hears every word

0:10:480:10:51

# Every time I hear a newborn baby cry

0:10:530:10:59

# Or touch a leaf

0:10:590:11:04

# Or see the sky

0:11:040:11:08

# Then I know why

0:11:080:11:12

# I believe. #

0:11:120:11:18

This year we are sending our very own church detective,

0:11:280:11:31

Richard Taylor, on the trail of Britain's patron saints.

0:11:310:11:34

Today, he's walking in the footsteps of St David. Who else?

0:11:340:11:37

His saint's day is on Tuesday.

0:11:370:11:40

1st March is the first day of spring and it's also

0:11:410:11:45

the feast day of the man known affectionately in Wales

0:11:450:11:48

as Dewi Sant, St David.

0:11:480:11:51

This local lad lived and worked here in Pembrokeshire

0:11:510:11:55

and to find out more,

0:11:550:11:57

I'm on my way to the beautiful city that's named after him.

0:11:570:12:00

David lived about 1,500 years ago,

0:12:010:12:04

after the departure from Britain of the Christian Roman Empire

0:12:040:12:07

but before the arrival of missionaries

0:12:070:12:09

from the Roman Catholic Church.

0:12:090:12:11

It was a period when Christians like David stood alone in Britain,

0:12:110:12:15

keeping the faith against pagan rivals.

0:12:150:12:17

There are some fantastic stories about David.

0:12:190:12:22

His birth was predicted by the wizard Merlin.

0:12:220:12:25

He was a relative of King Arthur.

0:12:250:12:28

He was born during a mighty thunderstorm on the cliffs

0:12:280:12:31

just along from here.

0:12:310:12:32

He saved ships at sea, he raised a child from the dead

0:12:320:12:36

and he cured the sick.

0:12:360:12:38

Whatever the legends, we do know

0:12:420:12:44

that David founded a monastery and a church just over the hill

0:12:440:12:48

on the spot where his cathedral now stands.

0:12:480:12:50

David was a monk, an abbot and a bishop

0:12:520:12:55

who spent most of his working life in this little valley.

0:12:550:12:59

He and his companions led radically simple lives

0:12:590:13:03

of prayer and study and work,

0:13:030:13:05

eating only bread and water

0:13:050:13:08

and foregoing all personal possessions.

0:13:080:13:10

But how did David come to be so popular in Wales

0:13:130:13:16

that he became its patron saint?

0:13:160:13:19

One reason is that Welsh people do like a good speaker

0:13:200:13:25

and St David was one of the very best.

0:13:250:13:28

He was so persuasive a preacher that people believed

0:13:280:13:31

they could see the white dove of the Holy Spirit

0:13:310:13:33

sitting on his shoulder and whispering in his ear,

0:13:330:13:37

and that on one occasion, a miracle took place

0:13:370:13:39

when the ground that he was preaching on rose up underneath him

0:13:390:13:43

to make a little hill so that people could hear him even better.

0:13:430:13:47

Whether Wales really needs another hill is another question.

0:13:470:13:51

I'm meeting with the cathedral's dean to find out

0:13:540:13:57

if you can separate David fact from David fiction.

0:13:570:14:00

Where did his influence come from?

0:14:020:14:04

I mean, why David as opposed to any other man?

0:14:040:14:07

I imagine he must've been a very charismatic character

0:14:070:14:11

and I think that's evidenced by the fact that,

0:14:110:14:14

you know, the cult of St David must've been

0:14:140:14:16

so strong that six centuries later, they built this great cathedral.

0:14:160:14:21

There's something very special about this place.

0:14:210:14:25

I think it's truly amazing that after all these centuries,

0:14:250:14:28

people still come here in their thousands

0:14:280:14:32

and still find hope and inspiration in this place.

0:14:320:14:35

Do you think David does lie here?

0:14:350:14:37

Well, we're not sure, but when we were restoring the shrine,

0:14:390:14:43

the archaeologist did some research

0:14:430:14:45

and he thinks it's as likely as not

0:14:450:14:47

that there may be something contained within the shrine.

0:14:470:14:50

CHURCH BELLS RING

0:14:500:14:52

In a sermon that he preached shortly before he died,

0:14:520:14:55

St David said, "Be joyful and keep the faith

0:14:550:14:59

"and do ye the little things that you have seen me do."

0:14:590:15:02

Coming up, Diane's off to Coventry to meet a hairdresser who provides

0:18:260:18:29

more than the usual chitchat with your cut and blow-dry.

0:18:290:18:32

But first, it's to Southampton for this popular worship song.

0:18:320:18:37

I wouldn't normally travel to Coventry to get my hair done

0:20:320:20:35

but at this salon,

0:20:350:20:36

stylist Anthony Holder-Simms offers more than just a new hairdo.

0:20:360:20:41

I'm in your capable hands. Make sure you do a good job.

0:20:410:20:45

'Anthony is a partner in this busy hairdresser's

0:20:450:20:48

'and he has discovered that a strong Christian faith

0:20:480:20:50

'is every bit as important to his clients as his nimble fingers.'

0:20:500:20:54

What is it about hairdressers in general that makes people

0:20:540:20:58

confide in them so much that it's almost like a confessional?

0:20:580:21:01

They start talking to you

0:21:010:21:03

and sometimes they tell you

0:21:030:21:05

things in their life that's happened to them

0:21:050:21:07

and then they will just let off steam about everything,

0:21:070:21:09

regardless of what's going on at home,

0:21:090:21:11

what's going on with their children, what's going on at work.

0:21:110:21:14

But there's times when I know that people have come

0:21:140:21:16

and you can just see that they are dealing with some stuff

0:21:160:21:19

and a lot of people just break down in front of me.

0:21:190:21:22

But soon, Anthony realised that people wanted to chat

0:21:220:21:25

about more spiritual matters.

0:21:250:21:28

The Bible talks about the head is the covering

0:21:280:21:30

so with that, people can come to for us to be their covering

0:21:300:21:34

so that when they feel like they're lost or

0:21:340:21:37

they feel like they can't do this, they can come to us

0:21:370:21:39

and we can just pray with them so that they can

0:21:390:21:42

know that there is a God and there is a God in their situation.

0:21:420:21:45

Word got around and before he knew it,

0:21:450:21:48

Anthony had his own mini-church in the room above the salon.

0:21:480:21:53

They started to come and tell their family members, tell their friends

0:21:530:21:58

'and Thursday nights they just kept coming and coming and coming.'

0:21:580:22:01

# Praise, praise

0:22:010:22:05

# Praise, praise... #

0:22:050:22:07

And so Anthony and his team are styling

0:22:070:22:10

their own brand of passionate praise and worship

0:22:100:22:13

with a growing congregation.

0:22:130:22:15

# My chains are broke

0:22:170:22:19

# My chains... #

0:22:190:22:21

'I love singing with all my heart

0:22:210:22:23

'and I love hairdressing.'

0:22:230:22:24

I believe that I can actually talk to people more

0:22:240:22:28

so I can evangelise to people about the word of God.

0:22:280:22:31

We do their hair and we do what we need to do with them

0:22:310:22:34

and make them look great,

0:22:340:22:35

but there's no point just making them look great

0:22:350:22:38

when inside, they're bleeding, inside they're down.

0:22:380:22:41

In Jesus' name, Amen.

0:22:410:22:42

Like when you have a child - to me, hairdressing is my child.

0:22:460:22:50

It's something that no matter what's going on, it will bring me through,

0:22:500:22:54

through God.

0:22:540:22:55

So people now know that this is the salon

0:22:550:22:57

where you have your hair done

0:22:570:22:59

and your heart, soul and spirit sorted out.

0:22:590:23:02

When you work with people in anything, it's hard.

0:23:020:23:05

But if God is for me,

0:23:050:23:07

and he's told me to do this,

0:23:070:23:08

no matter what...may come my way,

0:23:080:23:10

I know that God's got my back

0:23:100:23:12

because I'm doing his work.

0:23:120:23:14

MALE VOICE CHOIR SINGS

0:24:580:25:01

Earlier in the programme, we saw how news of hundreds of job losses

0:25:050:25:08

at the largest steelworks in the UK is having a far-reaching effect

0:25:080:25:12

on the morale of Port Talbot and the surrounding area.

0:25:120:25:15

I'm here at one of the locals,

0:25:230:25:25

trying to keep their spirits up with song.

0:25:250:25:27

THEY SING IN WELSH

0:25:310:25:35

'The 80-strong Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir

0:25:400:25:43

'is made up of men from across the community,

0:25:430:25:45

'including steelworkers past and present.'

0:25:450:25:48

They sound brilliant.

0:25:570:25:59

For choir member Michael Down,

0:26:050:26:08

his presence here might be described as a miracle.

0:26:080:26:11

Three and a half years ago, he sustained life-threatening injuries

0:26:110:26:14

after an accident at the steelworks.

0:26:140:26:16

# Amen. #

0:26:160:26:20

Take us back to that day in August, if you don't mind.

0:26:230:26:26

What exactly happened?

0:26:260:26:28

On that day, I was on a machine and somehow,

0:26:280:26:33

the machine broke into speed

0:26:330:26:35

and I was caught by the machine

0:26:350:26:37

and dragged in

0:26:370:26:39

and spun around...

0:26:390:26:41

and I was bashed about a bit.

0:26:410:26:43

-What injuries did you sustain them?

-Ah...

0:26:440:26:48

Multiple fractures of my skull.

0:26:480:26:50

I lost my ear, my arm, though it's back on now.

0:26:500:26:54

I broke my neck,

0:26:540:26:56

-I broke my leg and my hip...

-Goodness me!

0:26:560:27:00

She was told I wouldn't speak, I wouldn't see,

0:27:000:27:03

I wouldn't talk, anything.

0:27:030:27:05

I was lucky to be alive.

0:27:050:27:07

And I'm really grateful for... whatever...

0:27:070:27:10

Whoever saved me.

0:27:100:27:12

-Who do you think saved you?

-God, I think.

-Really?

0:27:120:27:15

Yes, I think so.

0:27:150:27:17

He says that God saved him.

0:27:170:27:19

-Who did you turn to?

-Well, this is it.

0:27:190:27:21

I didn't have the faith to think

0:27:210:27:24

everything was going to be all right.

0:27:240:27:26

I didn't know.

0:27:260:27:28

And I remember being in the hospital, in the chapel

0:27:280:27:32

and then I was just laid down in the chapel,

0:27:320:27:35

literally on the floor and, um... I didn't have any answers.

0:27:350:27:40

I just felt I really was at the foot of the cross and it's...

0:27:400:27:44

I have turned everything over to you.

0:27:440:27:46

I think, when trauma happens,

0:27:460:27:50

it chucks you out of your little bubble

0:27:500:27:53

and your comfort zone that you're in,

0:27:530:27:56

and you are forced to find a way through it, really.

0:27:560:28:02

And...it's made us better people.

0:28:020:28:06

-Which is...

-Stronger people.

0:28:060:28:09

A bit of an anomaly, but it's made us,

0:28:090:28:12

we feel it's made us better people.

0:28:120:28:15

APPLAUSE

0:28:150:28:16

Just 15 months after the accident,

0:28:160:28:18

Michael received a standing ovation when, remarkably,

0:28:180:28:22

he was able to rejoin the choir.

0:28:220:28:24

When you're up there with the boys now, singing, how do you feel?

0:28:240:28:27

Marvellous.

0:28:270:28:28

I find the connection with the people around me

0:28:280:28:32

and the afterglow of it all creates a situation

0:28:320:28:36

where it's almost like being back in work.

0:28:360:28:38

And I find it really... well, absolutely rewarding.

0:28:390:28:44

Well, listen, I think you're a huge inspiration,

0:28:440:28:47

-how you can even just be smiling.

-I hope I am, I hope I am.

0:28:470:28:49

-You are.

-I hope I inspire other people to walk the walk.

0:28:490:28:52

# Now I've been to the Highlands of Scotland

0:28:580:29:02

# To Paree and the fountains of Rome

0:29:020:29:08

# But wherever I go

0:29:080:29:11

# In my heart I still know

0:29:110:29:13

# There's just one place that I call my home

0:29:130:29:17

# There is a land that's dear to me

0:29:200:29:25

# And it's called the land of song

0:29:250:29:29

# And it will be eternally

0:29:310:29:36

# The land where I belong

0:29:360:29:40

# A land full of warmth and laughter

0:29:420:29:46

# From the people you find in there

0:29:460:29:51

# And when they sing, they can raise the rafters

0:29:510:29:56

# With the hwyl that will fill the air

0:29:560:30:01

# And of this land, I'm proud to be

0:30:040:30:08

# Yes, I'm proud to be a part

0:30:080:30:14

# Its history, its melodies

0:30:140:30:18

# Are written on my heart

0:30:180:30:23

-# So sing

-Let the voices thunder

0:30:230:30:27

# Sing, sing

0:30:270:30:29

# Till they're heard in the deeper vales

0:30:290:30:33

# Of the land you are proud to be born in

0:30:330:30:38

# The glorious land

0:30:380:30:42

# Of Wales

0:30:420:30:46

# Wales

0:30:460:30:49

# Wales. #

0:30:490:30:53

And that's almost it for this week.

0:30:550:30:57

My thanks to the community here, for their warm welcome.

0:30:570:31:00

I really didn't expect anything else.

0:31:000:31:02

Next week, it's Mothering Sunday

0:31:020:31:03

and we'll be meeting the grandmothers

0:31:030:31:06

who are full-time carers to their own grandchildren.

0:31:060:31:08

Until then, it's our closing hymn for Lent.

0:31:080:31:10

Hwyl fawr. Goodbye.

0:31:100:31:12

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS