Bro Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
Pigion Bro
- Pigion Bro
This week, "Bro" take Shân Cothi and Iolo Williams to the little village with the big name in Anglesey - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysil- iogogogoch.
The village is situated on the banks of the Menai Straits near the Britannia Bridge, and it is most famous for its name - one of the longest place names in the world! The 2001 Census claims that the village has a population of 3,040, with 76% of them being fluent Welsh speakers.
Llanfairpwll was an agricultural area for centuries. The village developed itself around the railway station, where the Victorian travellers would board the train to Holyhead after crossing the Menai Straits in boats. But when the Menai and Britannia bridges were opened, which carried the road and railway directly from the mainland across Anglesey, a new incentive had to be found to attract visitors to Llanfairpwll.
According to history, a tailor from the village of Menai Bridge suggested that the long name should be put on the village of Llanfairpwll. A fabulous marketing idea - because visitors still flock here in their thousands to this day.
Gwen Ellis
Gwen Ellis has worked at the James Pringle Weavers retail shop in Llanfairpwll for five years, and she's responsible for greeting the buses of tourists who visit the centre every day, while dressed in her Welsh traditional costume. Gwen enjoys the experience of meeting visitors from all parts of the world who flock to the centre every day.
Sometimes she steps on to the buses and recites the village's long name to visitors, and at other times visitors will ask her about the background of the name and the area's history. Shân meets Gwen outside the shop as she is about to greet a bus load of tourists.
The Lions Trail
Shân goes for a walk with locals Gerwyn James and John Gwilym Jones as they guide her along the Lions Trail - a trail that takes walkers around Llanfairpwll's historical sites, as well as introducing them to some of Anglesey's most striking and beautiful scenery.
They take Shân to see the limestone lions who guard the entrances of the Britannia Bridge. They were carved by John Thomas, who was also responsible for carving stones in the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. The lions are about 4 metres high, but Shân finds out why nobody can see them if they travel across the bridge today.
Stephen Edwards - Runner, broadcaster and graphic designer
Stephen Edwards was best known to BBC Radio Cymru listeners as 'Y Weiran Gaws' on the Gang Bangor and C2 programmes. Originally from Llanberis, Steve has now lived in Llanfairpwll with his family for three years, and enjoys life there.
In addition to his work, as a broadcaster and graphic designer, Stephen is also a keen runner. This year he ran and helped organise the Snowdon Race, and he's in training for the Snowdonia marathon and the Cardiff half marathon.
Iolo joins Steve on a running session in the beautiful countryside on the outskirts of Llanfairpwll.
Sheila Jones - Glan Menai Fish & Chip Shop
Iolo calls in for a bite to eat at the Glan Menai Fish & Chip Shop, to meet the owner, Sheila Jones. Sheila has owned and worked in the shop for around eighteen years, and has fed thousands of customers during that time. She employs around 20 staff, and starts work at 11:00 every morning.
Every day is a different day for Sheila, and her shop proves popular with tourists, especially those who travel through Llanfairpwll on their way to Ireland.
Ceinwen Price a Trystan Edwards - Plas Newydd
On the outskirts of Llanfairpwll and on the Menai Straits lies Plas Newydd - a country house owned by the National Trust - and home to the current Marquis of Anglesey.
Ceinwen Price is the house's pianist, and she greets visitors to the mansion by playing the piano for three hours, three times a week. She plays a wide range of pieces - from Andrew Lloyd Webber's compositons to old Welsh folk tunes. Shân calls in at Plas Newydd to chat with Ceinwen by the piano.
She also talks to Plas Newydd's manager, Trystan Edwards. Trystan takes Shân on a tour of the mansion, including a visit to see a trompe l'oeil mural painted by Rex Whistler.
Gwyn Jones a Clifford Roberts - Maenafon Bakery
Early in the morning, Shân calls in at the Maenafon Bakery to meet the owner Clifford Brookes and Gwyn Jones, an experienced baker. Gwyn has worked at the bakery for 25 years. His day starts at 4am so he can start work on baking bread, cakes and pies which are made there every morning.
Shân chats to Gwyn about his daily routine, and tries her hand at baking Eccles cakes with Cliffe.
Alun Wyn Mummery - Marquis Tower
One of Llanfairpwll's most recognisable residents, Alun Wyn Mummery, guides Shân to the top of the Marquis of Anglesey tower - one of the village's most prominent landmarks.
The tower was completed in 1817 to commemorate William Paget of Plas Newydd who led the cavalry during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. On November 24th 1860, a bronze statue of the First Marquis of Anglesey was placed at the top of the tower. The tower was designed by Thomas Harrison and is built of limestone which was imported to Pwll Fanogl from Moelfre.
Alun gives Shân a short history lesson on a very windy day.
Huw Williams - Llanfairpwll climing wall
One of the centres which the youth of Llanfairpwll visits frequently during the year is the Indy Climbing Centre, the Indefatigable - where the young members of the Anglesey Adventure Club meet on a weekly basis to develop their climbing skills.
Iolo calls in at the centre to see the club members practising, and has a chat with Huw Williams who works at the centre.
Hwfa Roberts and Dion Owen - Llanfairpwll Bowls Club
Shân meets a few members of the Llanfairpwll Bowls Club - the Club Secretary, Hwfa Roberts and 16-year-old Dion Owen, one of the club's youngest members.
'Crown Bowls' is the game that's played here in Llanfairpwll - which is slightly different to your ordinary bowls game. Shân learns more about the game as she talks to Hwfa and Dion.
Elin Fflur - Singer
One of Llanfairpwll's most famous faces without a doubt is Elin Fflur, who has lived in the village since she was 13-years-old. Elin is now a familiar face on S4C, as the presenter of music programme, Nodyn.
She is also a renowned singer, who came to prominence when she won the Cân i Gymru (Song for Wales) televised competition. Since then she has released several albums, and her latetst CD 'Hafana', includes the song 'Fy Rhandir Mwyn' which was inspired by her hometown of Llanfairpwll.
Shân chats to Elin over a coffee at the Penrhos Arms in the village - a pub where Elin used to work.