This week, Iolo and Shân are in Llanfair Caereinion in Dyffryn Banw, Powys. They are here to see the area and talk with people who live in Llanfair Caereinion, Llanerfyl and Llangadfan.
Llanfair Caereinion is a small market town. About 1,600 people live here and agriculture and tourism are very important.
The little train of the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway runs from Welshpool to Llanfair Caereinion. Very many people travel on the little train every year.
Iolo goes to Llanfair Caereinion High School to talk to Steffan Harri. Steffan plays in goal for the Sixth Form football team.
In 2008 they won the Welsh Schools under 18s Cup. Steffan has also played for the Wales under 18s football team. When he isn’t performing on the football field, Steffan enjoys singing, acting and dancing with Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn and also in Urdd eisteddfodau.
Shân was a teacher at Llanfair Caereinion High School in the 1980s. But today she is going to Dyffryn Banw Primary School to talk to Christine Mills and the children. Christine teaches art to the children and today they are doing a project on buildings in the area.
Iolo goes to Parc y Deri to talk to David Oliver about a sculpture in the park. This sculpture tells the story of Taliesin and his mother, Ceridwen the witch.
Iolo also goes with David Oliver to see the Institute. The Institute was a gift in 1913 from David Davies Llandinam to the people of Llanfair Caereinion. Inside there is a large hall where people do all kinds of activities. There’s a library and meeting rooms here too.
Shân goes to Llanerfyl village hall to hear Parti Cut Lloi singing. It’s men that sing in this small choir and one of the men – Arwyn Tŷ isaf – tells a story about Shân when she was a teacher in Llanfair Caereinion. The conductor of the choir is a woman, the singer Siân James and she talks about Parti Cut Lloi’s new CD and the preparations for singing the Plygain.
Alwyn Hughes’ hobby is collecting old agricultural things. In 2002 Alwyn was collecting the names of fields. Today he’s got lots of old things, such as shears. It’s Iolo who goes to talk to Alwyn.
Shân goes to the Natural Harmony Centre in Llanerfyl to talk to Gill Evans. It is a Therapeutic Healing centre – things such as Reiki, homeopathy and hypnotherapy. Gill helps Shân to relax with “sound healing” therapy.
Iolo goes to Viv Jones’ hairdresser’s shop and talks to her about her family. Viv’s father and mother lived above the shop and they sold food. There was a bakery in the back and a shop in the front where Viv cuts hair now.
Folk dancing is very popular in this area. Iolo talks to Aled Evans – who dances with Dawnswyr Llangadfan – about the tradition of folk dancing in the area. He also dances with them.
Shân talks to singer Linda Griffiths. Linda comes from Pen y Bryn farm in the Llanfair Caereinion area, but today she lives in the county of Ceredigion. She talks about the influence of the area on her songs.
