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PLANED
The Old School,
Station Road,
Narberth,
Pembrokeshire
SA67 7DU |
Tel:
+44 (0)1834 862113
Fax:
+44 (0)1834 861547 |
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| 27 April 2007 - Ballad Competition 6.30pm (coffee/tea from 6pm) - Maenclochog Village Hall - for more information see Ballard Competetion Leaflet. |
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A project to promote the celebration of heritage and culture among communities in Pembrokeshire, with the encouragement of more traditional folk music, dancing and storytelling is underway and organized by PLANED. |
The project’s full title is “Involving communities in the celebration of heritage, local distinctiveness and pride of place, including festivals and events, linked to developing community based local tourism”, but we are calling it the Experience Pembrokeshire Project.
A Ballad Competition was organised to encourage the art of ballad writing in modern society. The competition was open to adults and children and could be entered in either English or Welsh and the final of the competition was held in Maenclochog in Pembrokeshire on Friday April 27th 2007. The Ballads were to have been of an historical theme or event connected to Pembrokeshire or the old County of Dyfed. |
Press Release May 2007 ...
Historical events which have shaped Pembrokeshire were brought to life when the authors of 30 original ballads presented their material at a national competition performed in the foothills of the Preseli mountains.
Themes as contrasting as the French Invasion of Fishguard and Pembrokeshire’s role in the slave trade were played out before an audience from across Wales.
It is the second year that PLANED has hosted the Ballad Competition through the EU LEADER+ funded programme which engages communities in the celebration of their culture and heritage.
The inaugural competition drew 10 entries but this year there were 30 writers competing for handcrafted slate trophies and cash prizes ranging from £200 to £50.
 The winner of adult category in the Welsh language section was Wyn Owens who lamented that Pembrokeshire has to sell its beauty to visitors with ‘Y Garreg Las’. Second prize went to Huw George, Maenclochog’s county councillor, who performed ‘Sidney Mortimer’, a story of a young St Davids man who risked his life to save others when a lifeboat sank in The Bitches. Third in this category was Eirwyn George with ‘Y Maen O Garn Meini’.
Colin Gregory’s winning entry in the English language section, ‘The Waterman’, was set in St Davids, while Kevin Shales was awarded second prize for ‘The Last Invasion of Britain’. Third prize went to Chris Stephens for ‘The Saucy Abolitionist’, an account of Pembrokeshire’s involvement in the slave trade.
Each ballad had to be performed to the audience and Mansel Kedward, from Brynberian, was commended by the judges for his performance of ‘Saer Ydw I’.
There was only one entry in the under 16 category – 15-year-old Edward Bayes, of Swansea, with ‘Two Nights of Terror’, based on an incident at sea off the Pembrokeshire coast which earned him the top prize.
The event, at Maenclochog village hall, was compered by Mererid Hopwood, a poet who originates from North Pembrokeshire and was the first woman to win the coveted Chair at the National Eisteddfod.
Judges for the evening were Robin Tomos, visual arts officer for the National Eisteddfod, and Tegwyn Jones, formerly of the National Library of Wales.
Merrill Maybe, PLANED’s Experience Pembrokeshire Development Officer, said she was delighted with the number and standard of entries.
The aim of the competition had been to encourage the traditional art of ballad writing in modern society, she said.
“We couldn’t have achieved such an exceptional event without the generosity of our sponsors,’’
she said.
These included Total, Signum Media Design, Sigma Exhibition Services, Richard Bros, Monddi Design Agency, Plashyfryd Hotel, Haulfryn, Nantyffin Motel, Jones of Login and Menter Iaith Sir Benfro. |
Within Pembrokeshire we have the following partners;
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
- Pembrokeshire County Council
- Menter Iaith
- Trac; the Folk Development Agency for Wales
- Cambria Archaeology and SPAN-ARTS (South Pembrokeshire Arts Network).
- Span - Arts.
A key element of this project is its transnational dimension, which means we have partners in seven European countries;
- GAL Campoder in Spain
- South Lanarkshire Rural Partnership in Scotland
- Ballyhoura Development in Ireland
- South West Finland Riverside Partnership
- Dolensjska and Bela Krajina Heritage Trail in Slovenia
- LAG Krajina srdce in the Czech Republic
- Gal della Locride in Italy.
The Project is about sharing and learning from the experiences of the partners and the first business meeting of the transnational partners took place in Prague in June 2006; this was followed by a study visit to Pembrokeshire and Ballyhoura in Ireland in October 2006. For more information contact: Jane Howells at Planed on 01834 862113 or
click here to use our contact enquiry form.
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A group of people active in communities in Pembrokeshire took part in a transnational visit to the Murcia area of Spain to learn about how the Leader+ programme in Murcia has supported their rural communities to help keep alive their cultural heritage and traditions. |
GAL Campoder is the name of the Leader+ group and they have established workshops for rural women to learn the traditional craft of lace bobbin making. This both provides employment for local women and keeps the skill alive in the community.
 The visit, in April 2007, started with a book launch presentation at the small community of Lobisillo. Two academics explained how they had researched their books by interviewing local people, some of whom were at the launch. One book was on the folk history of Lobisillo, and included a DVD, and the other was a book of guided walks.
The group from Pembrokeshire included Mike Pedder from Angle, Liz Young from Croesgoch, Rowena Lloyd from Carew, Joan Belt from Templeton, Anton Wislock from St Dogmaels, Andrew Dugmore from Llandisilio and Delyth Evans from St Florence. The were accompanied by Joan Asby and Merrill Mabey from PLANED.
Our visit included a ceremony to mark the start of restoration work at the church in Lobosillo, including the burial of a time capsule containing various material. PLANED Co-ordinator, Joan Asby, placed two leaflets about PLANED’s work in the time capsule. The restoration work is being funded by the Leader+ group. The church will provide a facility for the community for both secular and religious events.
 
Old crumbling windmills are a common sight on the Murcia landscape. We were taken to see the a restored windmill, Mill Zabala, which has been restored with Leader+ funding although it remains in private hands. As part of the agreement the owner is obliged to give educational tours on the history of the windmill for local schools and colleges. We were given a tour to see the workings of the Mill.
 We were also taken to see a beautifully restored waterwheel. The visit ended with a most impressive opening ceremony of the Museum of Fuente Alamo. This small town, with a population of around 18,000 has been provided with a new museum, which includes modern works of art, paintings and a folk history display.
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Tourism providers from across the County were invited to an evening celebrating Pembrokeshire’s Hwyl, as part of the “Experience Pembrokeshire Project”. |
 The evening was a mixture of traditional music, dance and storytelling and held in the picturesque setting of the Ferry House Inn at Llanstadwell, on the north shore of the Milford Haven Waterway.
The aim of the evening was to raise awareness among tourism providers of Pembrokeshire’s cultural offering, which is often overlooked because of our spectacular coast and landscape. Pembrokeshire’s profile as a holiday destination is all about outdoor pursuits such as walking, cycling, and water based activities. However Pembrokeshire has a rich heritage and culture and many visitors are eager to discover this, and our aim is to encourage tourism providers to support and signpost visitors to events such as this.
The Hwyl Evening in Llanstadwell included:
- a session by the O’Ceili Band, who played a mixture of Welsh and other traditional tunes
- storyteller Geoff McCarthy from Haverfordwest, who brandished a leek and rugby shirt
- a session by an informal group from the Crymych area, who sang some recently re-discovered Pembrokeshire folk songs.
- Two winning ballads from the 2007 Ballad Competition at Maenclochog
- The Glan Cleddau Dancers gave a demonstration of traditional Welsh dances in their traditional costumes and also encouraged everyone to join in.
The Experience Pembrokeshire Project is a EU funded Leader+ transnational project which aims to encourage and involve communities in the celebration of their heritage and culture.
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| A celebration of the music and songs of Pembrokeshire’s seafaring heritage was held at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Milford Haven on Friday, March 16 th 2007. |
 The “Masts and Yards” evening of nautical music and salty singing aimed to attract everyone with an interest in the songs and music of our seagoing past.
More than 60 people came to the evening both to enjoy performing sea songs and shanties and to listen to others performing this music. Further sessions of “salty singing” will be organised at other venues in the county.
Introducing the evening was be Gary Jones, of Fishguard Folk Festival: “Everyone who enjoys singing or listening to these songs was welcome and especially those who can bring along some songs they know from working on fishing boats or in the navy”.
There was a prize of a bottle of Pusser’s Rum for the most “extraordinary sea song performed on the night”. Gary says: “This left it very much open to interpretation; whether a good song poorly performed or a good performance of an ordinary song or indeed it could have been a risqué song or an ancient ballad”.
During 2007 several traditional Tall Ships are expected to visit the Milford Haven Waterway. Richard James of Celtic Maritime Connections says: “Visits by these spectacular sailing ships are always great events for the Waterway and it will be a terrific opportunity if we can also celebrate their visits with singing sessions both at the quayside and in local venues.”
The evening, was organised as part of PLANED’s Experience Pembrokeshire Project, which aims to encourage communities to celebrate their heritage and culture, and in partnership with Celtic Maritime Connections, a European Project hosted by the Milford Haven Port Authority.
For more information contact: Jane Howells at Planed on 01834 862113 or Richard James at the Port Authority on 01646 696371.
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.gif) Thanks to the Experience Pembrokeshire Project local volunteers were able to play an active part in the archaeological dig at the early medieval Cist cemetery at West Angle Bay in July 2006. The site is in danger because of coastal erosion and funding was found in 2005 to assess and test the findings of an extensive geophysical survey. The dig was the second year of excavation on the site conducted by Cambria Archaeology – but it was the first time that thanks to Leader+ funding from the Experience Pembrokeshire Project, local volunteers could participate and there was active encouragement for visitors to look around the site, which was adjacent to the popular coastal cliff path. |
The Leader+ funding covered the cost of training the volunteers and also the cost of having an archaeologist available to explain and interpret the site for visitors.
During the two week dig, two taster sessions were held to give people a taste of what excavation work is all about; 17 people took part in these sessions. Fourteen volunteers took an active role in the dig, which meant committing to 5 days work on site. Nine of the volunteers came from Pembrokeshire, the others were from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Holland.
A visitor’s book attracted 100 comments including the following:
- “Absolutely fascinating. I had never seen an archaeological dig before.” ( Sheffield)
- “Been visiting Angle on and off for 60 years. Had no idea of the history now being revealed. Fascinating. I will be back over future years hoping for an update.” ( Wimbledon)
- “As a local person it has been a great interest to see what has been long-standing myth actually providing history.” (Angle).
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| For further information about the dig and details of the archaeological finds visit the Cambria Archaeology website. |
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A group of twenty two European visitors from countries as far apart as Finland and Spain visited Pembrokeshire in October 2006 as part of a transnational EU funded Leader+ project being co-ordinated and led by PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development). The focus of the project is to support and encourage the involvement of communities in the celebration of their heritage, culture and local distinctiveness and linking these to developing community based local tourism. |
While in Pembrokeshire the group, which also included people from the Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland and Slovenia visited the Control Tower at Carew airfield (see picture) to hear about how the local community have renovated what had been used as a cowshed, into an exact replica of what the building looked like during the Second World War. During their three day visit the group heard how, with the support of PLANED, communities are supported to form heritage groups to research their local history, which can result in village heritage leaflets and exhibitions. The transnational group also visited the site of the archaeological dig at the medieval Cist cemetery at West Angle Bay and the Croesgoch heritage group. They also learnt about the training and support that PLANED gives to organisers of festivals and events. The group were entertained by musicians from Crymych (see picture) who played old Pembrokeshire folk songs, which had been discovered at St Fagan’s folk museum. As part of this project these songs will be shared with communities across Pembrokeshire. Any community wishing to hear and learn these songs should get in touch with Jane Howells at PLANED on 01834 862113 or click here to use our contact enquiry form.
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The group are pictured listening to Carew Association Chairman John Brock describe the community’s efforts over the past six years. Far left is County Councillor
Dave Neale. |
The Crymych folk song music group from l - r Lynne Denman, Mansel Kedward, Meleri Williams, Caradog Williams,
Phil Higginson and Tecwyn Ifan.
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Musicians and dancers were among the ten people from Pembrokeshire who travelled to the Ballyhoura area of Ireland in October 2006 to learn how Irish communities foster and support their heritage of music, dance and storytelling.
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The study visit was arranged by PLANED, the Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development, as part of a Leader+ EU funded project on how to increase the involvement of communities in the celebration of local heritage and culture. The group, who were part of a transnational study visit to Ireland, which included groups from Spain, Slovenia and Scotland attended a storytelling festival at Loch Gur and visited a “Rambling House” – the name for a community hall used for music, dancing and storytelling sessions. The group met community members to hear how even in the smallest communities there can be thriving amateur dramatic and music events.
There was also a meeting with Comhaltas, the organisation set up in the 1950’s, to promote Irish music and culture, about their way of encouraging children to learn traditional music, either playing an instrument or dancing. It was explained how the success of Comhaltas was a key part in the emergence of the Irish identity as a country full of music, dance and storytelling.
As part of this “Experience Pembrokeshire” project PLANED are arranging a series of workshops for those who would like to learn our traditional folk dancing and for musicians keen to learn traditional music. A collection of old Pembrokeshire folk songs, recently discovered in St Fagan’s folk museum, have been learnt by a group of musicians in Crymych as part of this project. Storytelling workshops are also being arranged. If you would like to hear these folk songs or have a workshop in your community please get in touch with Jane Howells at PLANED on 01834 862113 or click here to use our contact enquiry form.
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 On a walk, guided by Michael Barry (far right) around Kilmallock walled town. Also in the picture are (left to right back row)Chris Parkin, Paul Lamarr and Julian Rutter.
Front row (l to r) Shirley Williams, Lesley Lanman, Moira Lewis, Sian Thomas (trac, the folk development agency for Wales), Rita Williams and Mary Hay. |
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A Welsh Celtic fiddle workshop at the Stackpole Centre attracted violin players from across the County and with a wide range of abilities. The workshop in November 2006 was arranged by PLANED, Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development, as part of a EU funded Leader+ project to support community involvement in the celebration of heritage and culture. The aim is to encourage musicians to take up their instruments and enjoy performing again. One of those at the workshop, Colin Gregory said, “It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and very worthwhile”. Another student, Anna Ward said: “ I haven’t played the fiddle for 25 years; this was a really good way of getting back into the swing of it.”
PLANED is planning further fiddle workshops and other workshops on storytelling and folk dancing in the future.
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The Experience Pembrokeshire project is conducting an audit of all those who are currently performing traditional music, traditional dance or doing storytelling in Pembrokeshire. As part of this project we are compiling a database of who in Pembrokeshire is currently performing such traditional  arts, with the aim of publishing such information on our web site. The aim is to make such information more available for communities and festival and event organisers who want to arrange an event with a traditional element. If you want to have your name added to this database or you know someone who should be on the list, please get in touch with
Jane Howells at PLANED on
01834 862113 or click here to use our contact enquiry form. |
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 Traditional Pembrokeshire folk songs recorded half a century ago are being relearned by local musicians and given a modern feel. The tapes, which feature among others two elderly sisters recorded at their home in Hook, were discovered at St Fagan’s National History Museum by Sian Thomas of trac, the folk development organisation for Wales. As part of the Leader + Experience Pembrokeshire project they have now being relearned by a group of musicians in Crymych, which includes Tecwyn Ifan, Phil Higginson, Mansel Kedward and Eifion Daniels, with Lynne Denman facilitating the project and singing. |
The process of returning the tapes to Pembrokeshire was long and complicated because of copyright issues. The problem centred on the fact that the artistes were not asked to sign away their rights to the recordings.
Sian Thomas, director of the folk development organisation for Wales, trac, one of PLANED’s partners in the project, says a legal loophole had been found to get around this.
“They can be put on disc and released for academic purposes which is the case here,’’ she says. Among the artistes are the Phillips sisters of Hook who can be heard singing ‘Joy, Health, Love and Peace’, now a standard on the English folk club scene.
The songs contain many references to places in North Pembrokeshire, including Trefin, Fishguard Bay and places in the Gwaun Valley.
The Crymych group of musicians have been sharing their versions of these songs at various locations around Pembrokeshire including the Sloop Inn in Porthgain (pictured above).
The Crymych group have also entertained a visiting group of our transnational partners from Slovenia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland and Scotland, at an evening entertainment at Caffi Beca.
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