Retina grey days sw tabloid final

GREY DAYS S O U T H WA L ES

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Fisherman on Barry island

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Blaenavon

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As the wind blows and the sun shines we travel over the

this connection, and with the connection comes industry

Severn bridge towards our destination, south Wales. It

and commerce. This is vital to Wales economy and the

has only been a week or so since the decision to head into

local businesses which rely on this link. Goods can now

the ‘unknown’, for us anyway. What will this week long

come and go with ease allowing for a much more fluid

trip bring us? We know for sure a lot of rain and wind

connection to be established.

and some very cold nights. However, the thought of who and what we will meet along our way fill’s us with high

The landscape is crisscrossed with power lines, spanning

spirit and an urge to press on.

hundred of miles. Nearly everywhere you look this is visible as if it is a blanket covering the land below. It

First stop, Caldicot, and the gods are on our side. The

becomes immediately prevalent that fuel and energy is

sun is in the sky and it is dry under foot. Caldicot has

an important dictating factor within the welsh landscape.

long been the first stop for people venturing into south Wales for hundreds of years, until recently this meant

We travelled to Barry Island once a famous tourist holiday

navigating the treacherous waters of the river Severn.

hotspot now a run down theme park and a small sandy

However today, thankfully for us we can safely drive over

beach full of dog walkers and fisherman. It is here that

the bridge and keep our feet dry.

we spotted a fisherman camped out on the rocky shore line. As we approached he was reluctant to speak however

As we went over the bridge a tall tower jutted up from

gave us the name John Davies, pretty unbeleivable but

what looked like an old industrial area and so we decided

otherwise broke the stale air between us and him. The

to park the car and investigate on foot. We came to learn

rides at Barry Island are closed down for the winter,

that this was once in-fact one of the biggest paper mills

covered and waiting the long winter to be opened for

in business within south Wales. Employing a lot of the

next years occasional tourist. Will Wales see an increase

local community but sadly had closed a decade before

in productivity soon? As we left we asked John if he’d had

as the production of paper had been out sourced to the

a fruitful days fishing, he replied ‘‘not at thing’’.

far east. Over the years this once bustling business had become dormant within its surroundings and the local people had to find employment else where.

We took a walk for a couple hours around the local area and it was clear to see the impact of such businesses coming to cease within the local community and surrounding area.

However aside all this the bridge that now connects Wales to England has brought some benefits. It creates

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Derelict paper mill, Sudbrook

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Steel mill

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Windfarm, Seven Sisters

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Aberthaw cement works

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It becomes clear as we carry on with our journey through

“Being but men, we walked into the trees Afraid, letting our

the south of Wales that the landscape that is before us is

syllables be soft

not as it seems. The scars of many years of mining, open

For fear of waking the rooks,

cast and underground, has taken its toll, and the lay of

For fear of coming

the land tells many stories. The remaining piles of dirt

Noiselessly into a world of wings and cries.

and stone dug out from deep inside of the hill sides, line many of the horizons and the absence of foliage is noted.

The essence of a landscape, which was once pristine and

If we were children we might climb,

held acres and acres of forest can been seen, however it

Catch the rooks sleeping, and break no twig,

is broken like a puzzle by the man made veins scouring

And, after the soft ascent, Thrust out our heads above the branches

the land.

To wonder at the unfailing stars.

This change in the landscape falls innocent as the culprit turns up, the natural abundance of minerals and resources needed by humans to engineer the rise in economic

Out of confusion, as the way is,

power. Wales, and its inhabitants, lay near the ever more

And the wonder, that man knows,

power hungry English. They and their lands fell like a

Out of the chaos would come bliss.

pawn in chess, to allow the forward momentum of the British economy to grow. This need of the English for the

That, then, is loveliness, we said,

resources the Welsh possessed brought with it a boom

Children in wonder watching the stars,

in industry. Mining for coal and other minerals flour-

Is the aim and the end.

ished and created money for Wales through exporting it to England. The large crops of trees which lay at the top of the valleys, again another exportable commodity and

Being but men, we walked into the trees.� - Being but men

this is why today the land is so scared.

Dylan Thomas 1914-1953

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Brecon Beacons

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Coal mine, Merthyr Tydfil

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Brecon Beacons

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Sgt Kieren Haywaood if the 1st Fusiliers, and Sgt Chris Brownie of the 4th Rifles, Brecon Beacons

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Tree farm, Brecon Beacons

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Beyond

the mouths of the valleys concrete urban

the chip shop had stood in the community for over 50

jungles become far and few between and the drawn out

years. She serves many customers travelling through

countryside villages become prominent features. These

however remembers all the locals by name and face. We

small communities lay isolated with unknown faces

ate our chips and curry while studying the mural on

rarely seen. It was here that me noticed the strength in

the back wall which held old school photographs from

the community and how this plays a vital role in helping

decades passed. Donna spoke of these images saying how

out each other when in need. Everyone knows each other

it showed how things were and how things have changed.

even in the larger towns and each person seems to play

One of the first people we met in Wales was at the Severn

a key role in the local societies. This is very different

bridge. Pete was a businessman from the Midlands, he

from where we’re from. Where we are from isn’t like this,

was sat admiring the view over the Severn on his first

only the very small towns seem to have this connection

trip to Wales. He was looking for business oppertunities

between their inhabitants and if your from a larger town

to construct schools. This could be a sign of further

or city then there is no hope in hell of remembering the

investment and helping to build a stronger infrastructure

next person from the next you meet in the local pub.

within Wales.

To us this was interesting as it brings the whole area closer together which in turn helps with the local spirit

15 years ago the community was hit hard by the closure of

of things. Everyone seemed to go out of their way for

the local mine. However it was not all lost as a new quarry

us when we stopped to ask questions on the area and

opened near by. Many communities are built around the

each person gave us numerous names within the local

former mining industries. Ray, and old Englishman, lives

community that could help with this ever unravelling

upon a road which has been there since the Roman times.

story of south Wales. It was clear to see that in these

The row of houses he lives in have been there since the

smaller towns in the valleys the recession hadn’t hit as

turn of the 20th century, making them some of the oldest

hard as it had back home. After asking the locals why this

miners houses in the area. Most the people who live

was it became clear that they were adamant that by living

there today are either descendants or relatives of mining

towards the lower income line this made the community

families. Ray originally lived in London, looking after his

stronger. Everyone got their produce locally not normally

mother until her death. He was a roadie, and travelled

from big chain supermarkets keeping the money where

with Genesis, Status Quo, Eric Clapton, Beach Boys and

it was most needed. In turn the local shops kept above

Titanic. He move to this part of Wales after travelling

board and saw out the worst of the recession.

around for 9 months and has lived here for 27 years

Passing through Merthyr Tydfil we pulled in to get some

originally buying his house for a mere £10,000. When

food. We stumbled across a fish and chip shop and the

asked why he decided to live here he said -

women who owned it got talking with us. Her name was Donna and she stood with a quite presence, which

“The people, the people are really nice...

contrasted her warming personality, she explained how

....until you cross them.”

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On route to Severn Sisters

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Bridgend

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Donna, Sammy’s fish bar, Merthyr Tydfil

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Trinity Presbyterian church. In loving memory of Muriel Hillier

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Restaurant

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Banwen

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Ray, Banwen

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The old country of my fathers is dear unto me, Country of poets and singers, celebrities indeed,: Its warring defenders, so gallant and brave, For freedom their life’s blood they gave.

County!, Country!, Pledge-full I am to my country! While seas secure, this land so pure, o may our old language endure.

O land of the mountains, the bard’s paradise, Whose precipice, valleys lone as the skies, Green murmuring forest, far echoing flood Fire the fancy and quicken the blood.

For tho’ the fierce foeman has ravaged your realm, The old speech of Wales he cannot o’erwhelm, Our passionate poets to silence command Or banish the harp from your strand.

Welsh National Anthem

By Evan James, and son, James James.

1856

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Banwen

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River Ogmore

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Pete, Sudbrook

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Pontsticill resevoir

Photographs, text and layout Š Oliver Tooke and Thomas King Retina Photos 2014.

Grey Days Volume 1 All images taken in Wales between October 2013 and February 2014.

Printed in the UK. Edition of 500.

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Merthyr Tydfil

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