Bro Llandysul
Pigion Bro
- Pigion Bro
This week, Iolo Williams and Shân Cothi head to south Ceredigion - to the Llandysul and Pont Tyweli area.
The woollen mills were the main employers in this area at one time, and the river Teifi would drive the local woollen mill. But today, it's fishermen and canoeists who are attracted to this small, leisurely town.
Menna Elfyn
Shân is taken on a guided tour of Llandysul with local resident and author Menna Elfyn, who was raised in Pontardawe but who has lived in Llandysul for several years.
They visit the thirteenth century St Tysul church and hear that the parish dates back to the earliest days of Christianity in Wales and the sixth century saint, Tysul. Menna tells Shân about the tradition in the area of celebrating the coming of 'Yr Hen Galan' (The Old New Year) on 13 January and how the parishes of Llandysul and Llanwenog played an ancient but rather dangerous form of football called the Cnapan until well into the nineteenth century.
Gomer Press
Iolo visits one of Llandysul's most prominent businesses, Gomer Press, which is located on the outskirts of the town. The company was set-up in 1892 and is still owned by the same family today.
Gomer is Wales' largest publishing house and is a successful and busy printers. It's the only company in Wales which can complete the process of putting a book together under one roof. Iolo meets some of the characters who work there every day to ensure that some of our favourite books make it the high street book shelves.
Len 'Fish' Smith
One of Llandysul's most recognisable characters is Len Fish, who spends his days selling and delivering fish door-to-door in his van throughout Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. He's been selling fish for 30 years, and before that, he worked in the wool industry for many years.
Iolo chats to Len as he arrives in Llandysul to sell his fish there for the day.
Shân in a canoe
Shân calls in at the Llandysul Paddlers centre to meet Nick Bates who works there. She is given a short lesson on how to use the canoe, before running the rapids on the river Teifi in her little kayak.
Rhys Tom Williams - Boxer
Rhys Tom Williams is a local 18-year-old from Llandysul, who currently works as a carpenter, but is a keen boxer in his spare time.
He began boxing four years ago as part of his GCSE Physical Education course. He's now become Welsh and European boxing champion. He trains three times a week in a Carmarthen gymnasium, in addition to training at home too.
Iolo visits Rhys at home in the middle of a boxing training session.
Kees Huysmans - Tregroes Waffles
Shân ventures over the bridge in Llandysul to the village of Pont-tyweli where she meets Kees Huysmans - managing director of the Tregroes Waffle company. Kees is originally from the Netherlands, but moved to Wales in 1981 and established the Tregroes Waffle company in 1983.
Today, the company produce around 4,000 waffles every hour and employs twelve members of staff at their HQ in Llandysul.
Gwyneth Ayers and Llandysul Hockey Team
Iolo heads over to the Llandysul Leisure Centre - home of Llandysul Hockey Team. Around twenty young women from the Llandysul area come here to practise every Tuesday night at the leisure centre, and fifteen of them play competitive hockey matches on Saturdays.
Gwyneth Ayers talks to Iolo about the team and their achievements, before allowing Iolo to join in the training session.
John Jones - Teifi Harps
John Jones is director of Teifi Harps. The company was established in 2004 as a community business, with a board of voluntary directors from the local area. Telynau Teifi now produce 3 different types of harp, with a pedal harp being developed at the moment, which means that they will then be able to produce four different kinds of harp. Eight members of staff work at the centre, and they all live locally.
Shân drops in to chat to John about the centre's importance to the local community.