Radio Wales

We were delighted to have another mention from Beverley Humphreys when she was a guest on The Roy Noble Show on Sunday morning.  She was chatting to Roy about Calon Lân and its significance in Welsh culture.  She spoke very warmly about us and gave a great insight into Daniel James and how Calon Lân is so well known not just in Wales but in the wider world!  If you missed it, it is available for a few days to listen again via this link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03vrscc

Don't just listen to the Calon Lân feature, listen to the whole show, (as always) it is packed full of interesting bits of information that you just have to go and find out about. 

Calon Lân is everywhere at the moment and if you feel so inclined then you can record your version and send it into BBC Wales - again follow the link below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/cymruwales/calonlan/

We will be posting up lots more news and information in the coming weeks and months - so thank you for staying with us during our quiet period but there is a lot starting to happen so - Watch This Space!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to eveyone who has followed our blog and supported our project - thankyou!

 

There were good intentions yesterday to go for a New Year walk from Mynyddbach but the weather got the better of us.  However, despite that we had a very successful morning with new faces turning up to find out more about the new and exciting Calon Lan Centre.  There was a slide show giving information about the history of Mynyddbach, a look around the Chapel and a muddy visit to the grave of Daniel James.  Then it was cawl, bara brith and pizza - but not necessarily in that order!  Thank you to everyone that came and also to those who gave their time and made the morning a success.

Calon Lan Centre

There are a number of activites planned at Mynyddbach in the forthcoming months.  Two of which are in the planning stage at the moment are a Candlelit Carol Service and a New Year's Day walk.  The friends of Mynyddbach are working very hard, raising the profile of the Calon Lan Centre, so watch this space for news of what is happening!

Project Update

Well, the DVD has been produced and the school packs written - what next? 

Copies of the DVD and pack have been distributed to some schools and libraries and also deposited in Swansea University Library, West Glamorgan archives and the National Library.  Online links to for you to investigate below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjbxUE_3VQI
‎

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5cbn-HW8Bo&feature=youtu.be

 

As well as writing the school packs, Bev and I have built on this information to develop a presentation on the life of Daniel James.  This is currently an evolving and ongoing project and next spring Bev and I will be in the throes of writing for publication - so we are not finished yet!

Last word on Cardiff Half Marathon

Just to say big thankyou to all who sponsored me for running the Cardiff Half Marathon.  I raised £370 for Calon Lan Centre at Mynyddbach.

Presenting the cheque to Rev. Grenville Fisher

Success at the Cardiff Half Marathon

Had a great time yesterday at the Cardiff Half Marathon and achieved my goal of running under 2 hours 15 minutes - I did it in 2 hours and thirteen minutes!  There was a fantastic atmosphere all around the course with people cheering and supporting plus entertainment on route - although obviously could not stop and enjoy it!  Here are some photographs of the day.



I am in there somewhere.



Back home with my well
 earned t-shirt and medal   

Proud mum and proud son at the end!

 

 

There is still time to sponsor if you have not already done so.  To remind you - I have been raising money for the Calon Lan Centre which has been established by the Friends of Mynyddbach.  The Centre is now being used by local community groups on a regular basis but there is still a lot of hard work to be done in this venture.  All funds raised will go directly to Calon Lan Centre.

 

You can donate via the donation button on this blog (it will be active until the end of October) or by sending a donation directly to Mrs. Geinor Tremewan, Treasurer Friends of Mynyddbach Chapel, C/o Mynyddbach Chapel House, Mynyddbach, Swansea SA5 7HT. Cheques should be made payable to Friends of Mynyddbach Chapel

Connected Communities Exhibition

It was the opening of the Connected Communities Exhibition at the Waterfront Museum in Swansea on the 20th September.

It was wonderful to meet with members form the other projects and hear how they were getting on.  There were some lovely stories about how the history initiatives were engaging with the public and some tears were shed at the heartwarming anecdotes!

Each project has been depicted on exhibition boards and extracts from The Daniel James Project animated film is also being shown within The White Wall Gallery.

We also got a mention on the BBC here

As per usual, I was armed with my trusted camera to capture the events....

Cardiff Half Marathon and Fundraising

Just to say I have had my pack in readiness for next weekend and the Cardiff Half Marathon.  Here I am with my number just before I go out for my last long run before the event.  I am looking forward to it and there are now 19,000 people taking part - should be fun! 

Big thankyou for the sponsorship I have had already and it is not too late to sponsor me if you have not already done so!  All funds raised will go directly to the Calon Lan Centre.                      

 

Cardiff Half Marathon

I said I would post some more flattering pictures of me and this one shows I am not just a fair weather runner and it certainly all went downhill with the weather this morning.  I started off near Blackpill where it was damp but not too bad, then I got sandblasted by Swansea Beach while running along the front and then the rain came down in buckets once I was just past Amazon on Fabian Way.  Hence this resulting picture as I was nearly at the end of my run!  All said and done - I enjoyed it :-)

In terms of getting soaked it is almost on a par as when Bev and I visited Blaengarw and got drenched!  Look up the pictures on the blog.

!

Cardiff Half Marathon and Calon Lan Centre

I am running in the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday October 6.  This is not something I have done on a whim and have been training for it!!!  I am very much looking forward to the event and last look at the Cardiff Half Marathon website said there were over 17,000 people taking part - so I will not be lonely!

As part of my efforts I am raising some funds for the Calon Lan Centre at Mynyddbach Chapel.  As you know this is where Daniel James is buried and is a significant location for the Daniel James Project.

The Friends of Mynyddbach are working very hard establishing the Calon Lan Centre which is now being used by local community groups on a regular basis.  However there is still a significant amount of work that needs to be done in refurbishment of the building and clearance of the overgrown cemetry. 

If you would like to sponsor me for my efforts in Cardiff we would be delighted and very happy to receive your donations.  All funds raised will go directly to the Calon Lan Centre.  There are a couple of ways to donate: 

• via the donation button on this blog (a big thankyou to Sean Morgan for sorting this out for me)
•  Send your donation directly to Mrs. Geinor Tremewan, Treasurer Friends of Mynyddbach Chapel, C/o Mynyddbach Chapel House, Mynyddbach, Swansea SA5 7HT Cheques should be made payable to Friends of Mynyddbach Chapel

Your support is much appreciated and I will post some more flattering pictures in the next couple of weeks!

 

 

 



School packs and other things...

Just met with Teresa for a coffee and an update.  It has been ages since we got together face to face as we have both been busy dealing with thesis deadlines.

School packs are the next priority as the animated film and accompanying research details are to go to schools within hopefully the next month or so.  This shall be our next task.

Talks to be planned and delivered, articles to be written and a marathon to be run (see next post!) are in the offing!  Exciting times...

Update

Things have been fairly quiet of late but preparations are almost there for the Waterfront Museum Launch on 20 September.  Also, going on in the background is the preparation of the information packs to go with the DVD. 

On a slightly different note - I am running the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 6 and raising funds for the Calon Lan Centre at Mynyddbach.  Yes - I have been training for this event and am looking forward to it!  I am in the process of setting up an online donation link and would be extremely happy if you would sponsor me.  I will post up more information about this as soon as it is ready.

Waterfront Museum Exhibition

Preparations are underway for the Connected Communities Exhibition Launch in September.  The Daniel James Project will be one of the featured projects - more information nearer the time!

Clip on YouTube

A short clip of the film has been put on YouTube.  You can see it by clicking on the link below.

The Daniel James Project

Calon Lan Performed at Queen's Coronation Festival

Nice to see Calon Lan performed as part of the Queen's Coronation Festival by Only Boy's Aloud.

Catch a glimpse here on iPlayer - Coronation Festival

It is at the end!

Behind the scenes

Not unlike the animation a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to create an item for broadcast.

These are some of the scenes that did not make it to the big screen!



And ACTION, who are these guys?



Not sure what is going on here but they are obviously not listening!

















 

OK - it is us, but looking pretty mischievous I think!

     

 




Bev doing her interview, Teresa trying to blend into the background

                                                  

Bev, where are you when I need you?

 

Special thanks to Ivor Williams, official photographer!

 

And, not to forget - this is who it is all about.

 

 

 

 

 

 



BBC Wales News Link

At lunch time today BBC Wales broadcast a feature on our project and there is a link to this pasted below.  Thanks to all  involved and a special thank you to Cemlyn Davies!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23274008

Evening Post and This Is South Wales feature Premiere

We had an excellent write-up in the Evening Post yesterday and the article appeared on This Is South Wales too!

"A NEW animated short film about Swansea composer Daniel James is to be premiered in the city this week.

James, who is also known by his bardic name of Gwyrosydd, wrote the words for the famous hymn Calon Lan.

He was born on January 13, 1848, in a thatched cottage, long demolished, in what is now Llangyfelach Road, not far from Brynhyfryd Square.

He became a puddler, working first in one of the Morriston ironworks then moving to Landore tinplate works but it is his musical talent that has seen him remembered.

James's grave, which is in the grounds of Mynyddbach Chapel, has almost become a tourist attraction in its own right following increased interest in Calon Lan after a performance of the hymn by Only Boys Aloud on Britain's Got Talent.

And now the Treboeth Historical Society, assisted by the Swansea University Connected Communities project, has put together a short animated story that records the life James. The premier will take place on Wednesday at Mynyddbach Chapel, from 7pm.

The evening will be introduced and led by the Reverend Grenville Fisher of Mynyddbach Chapel. A talk about the project will also be given by Swansea University research graduates, followed by poetry readings and performances by school children from Ysgol Gynradd Tirdeunaw, Gwyrosydd Primary School and Ysgol Gyfun Bryntawe, all of whom have been involved in the creation of the film." - This Is South Wales

Read the full article here: Composer of Welsh hymn featured in animated city film

BBC Wales interview

We had an exciting afternoon yesterday being interviewed for BBC Wales about the project.  Both Teresa and myself were quite nervous about it all but the BBC team were brilliant and put us at our ease right away.  Photos of us too being interviewed at the grave of Daniel James were taken by Ivor and will be out up on the blog shortly.

Geraint was interviewed inside the chapel and was a natural!  He was so calm and told some great anecdotes.  Here are some pictures...

Geraint Williams having some technical adjustments made before his interview!

Ivor and Geraint chatting over Daniel James' chair.

Geraint being interviewed by Cemlyn Davies of BBC Wales

Don't forget to watch tomorrow...BBC Wales at 6.30!

News update!

If you are coming to Mynyddbach on Wednesday 10 July then put a reminder in your diary to catch up or record Wales Today on BBC Wales on that day.  There will be a small feature on our project which is a fantastic opportunity for us.  A big thankyou to Cemlyn Davies and his camera man, Jamie Owen and BBC Wales.  All of the project team really appreciate your interest and Bev and I enjoyed the experience!