Latest news with #MerthyrTydfil
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sam Locke did audition for Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later with nan
A 24-year-old Welsh actor says he recorded a self tape with his nan to land a role in a highly-anticipated post-apocalyptic horror Danny Boyle's new film 28 Years Later - the third in the series that began with 28 Days Later back in 2002 - was released in UK cinemas on new chapter of the story, starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes, features 24-year-old Sam Locke from Merthyr Tydfil, making his feature film Locke said his casting journey for the project had humble beginnings in Wales. He said he was visiting his grandmother, Wendy, when the call came in for the self-tape."We had a good time filming that, she read in for the roles," he told Behnaz Akhgar on BBC Radio added he was back with his nan, "in the same living room", when he got the good news that he had secured the job, nearly three months later."I was sat with my grandfather and he was telling me 'if you don't get the role, don't be disheartened' and literally about 10 minutes after my agent rang with the confirmation," he said."There was a lot of excitement."He said he would be watching the film on release day with his mother and some family friends, but would be sure to take his grandparents for a trip to the cinema said he was proud of everything he had achieved, but equally of his Merthyr roots."I pinch myself every day." 28 Years Later picks the story up as survivors find a way to exist among the infected after the Rage virus escaped a medical research is set on Holy Island, or Lindisfarne, a real-life island off the coast of north-east England."That's where the survivors of our story live and then it takes us onto the mainland many times, and you see what's lying over there," said warned this film, like those that came before it in the trilogy, was "very gory", adding he did not want to give too much away, but could reveal he plays a "minimal" role in this film - but one which helps set the plot up "for films going forward"."We're very energetic, we're very physical, and it's a conversation starter," he said."Luckily I'm quite active anyway," added the keen skateboarder and Liverpool FC fan."But we had a week of stunt training and that pretty much trained our endurance."It helped us gel together, my immediate cast. We needed that week, and you'll see why." He said he loved working with "film-making royalty" Danny Boyle, adding: "It's bucket list, for almost any actor, so when I found out I got it I did more research on him and was excited to work with him."But being on set, he said, was "a different kettle of fish"."He's got authority, but he's calm with it. He makes you feel comfortable," he said the premier in London on Wednesday, which was the first viewing of the finished film for him and some of the other supporting cast members, was "brilliant"."We were all blown away," he previously starred in the BBC series The Way - directed by Michael Sheen - while he was still a student."To be part of that, with so much Welsh talent… Michael Sheen's passion towards the project rubbed off on everyone involved."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
They wanted to knock down my house to build a £2bn road - I said no so they bulldozed my beloved garden instead
A pensioner had his beloved garden bulldozed after telling the government he didn't want them to knock down his home to make way for a £2bn 'road from hell'. Mr Watkeys, 75, was initially informed officials would not need any of his land or house of 65 years to build the new Heads of the Valleys highway which opened on Friday in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. But a change of mind from the Welsh government meant the longstanding local would go on to lose a third of his precious garden to the scheme where he once grew fruit and veg and sat under a beloved oak tree to watch bats. The 75-year-old, a former microbiologist, was offered compulsory purchase of the property but he refused due to his attachment to the dwelling. As a result, the 28-mile road now snakes round his house not through it and he's left with a massive wall at the end of his garden - which he has started to replant. The Heads of the Valleys road officially opened on Friday after 23 years of roadworks and a £2bn spend. Another affected man described it as 'like the road from hell' at the start of this year but added 'not even Chris Rea would dare come here'. Proponents say the road - one of the UK's expensive and most complex - has made many journeys shorter and hope it will bring prosperity to among Britain's most deprived areas. The 28-mile road now snakes round Mr Watkey's house not through it and he's left with a massive wall at the end of his garden - which he has started to replant Mr Watkeys reminisced he used to love sitting in his garden at night which was then located next to the relatively small A465. He said: 'The whole process has been upsetting. It's been stressful. I'm left picking up the pieces. 'It has been extremely stressful for a lot of years. 'They said we want to knock down your garage and we need your drive. You can imagine my response. So they found another way. 'I like all types of gardening. I grow some of my own veg - kidney beans, broad beans, French beans, peppers, chiles, tomatoes. 'When I was a kid, you'd look out onto the garden, and there'd be goldfinches, bullfinches, tits, wrens, a couple of jays, and woodpeckers. 'You'd hear owls in the evenings. You'd always have a few hedgehogs. 'But now, you're lucky if you see a few blackbirds. 'There aren't any birds left, nothing. It's almost devoid of the wildlife that you used to see. It's because the habit is gone. 'I've lost oaks, I've lost hawthorns. They took down a lovely 70-year-old oak tree at the bottom of my garden. 'In the evenings, bats used to come around the oak tree, for the gnats and insects. Now, you don't see any. I miss it. It was a sign of life, really. 'It's the rebuilding of it. I've turned it over once. I want to put in some lilacs and other plants which I've saved. 'I did a couple of hours out there yesterday digging it over, and it will need some more before I start planting. 'I wanted to plant some stuff in it this year, but somehow I can't see it. It's going to take me another 12 months to dig it over and get some humus in it. 'Unfortunately, at my age, I wont see the full effect of it', he said, adding: 'And all that is because of the road.' Mr Watkeys explained there were initially assurances the new road would not take any of his land - but the powers that be then said they wanted to knock down part of his house. It was then that the Welsh government offered to buy the house, in the Cefn Coed area of Merthyr, but Mr Watkeys said he declined. Mr Watkeys explained there were initially assurances the new road would not take any of his land - but the powers that be then said they wanted to knock down part of his house The keen gardener told of how he grew up in the home and both his parents and wife died there - and that he could not part with it. Mr Watkeys recalled how in February 2019 advisors from the firm involved in the road expansion requested a meeting and came to see him at his home. He said: 'Two of them came and sat down. I made them a cup of tea and a cup of coffee. I can remember it now like it was yesterday. 'They said "our plans have changed. We're going to knock your garage down. '"We want the whole of your drive for our working area and you can have that bit back when we're finished". 'The heating, my hot water and everything was at the back of the garage, so I think you can imagine my response to that. You fight it as best you can.' After challenging that initial offer, Mr Watkeys said the firm came back and said 'we've found another way of doing it. We just need this bit of the garden'. Mr Watkeys said: 'You get compensation but it still hasn't been settled yet. It's a compulsory purchase so they can do what they want. Transport secretary Ken Skates said he thanked residents 'for their patience during the construction period' and the Welsh government continued to 'work with them to resolve any issues' 'They were piledriving right outside my back door. That was hellish noisy. Extremely noisy.' Mr Watkeys has been given interim compensation from the Welsh government for the loss of his garden but is awaiting a full settlement. Transport secretary Ken Skates said he thanked residents 'for their patience during the construction period' and the Welsh government continued to 'work with them to resolve any issues'. The A465 crosses the south Wales coalfields, a national park and twists close to people's homes in some parts. Almost 70 structures - including more than 40 new bridges and a dozen new junctions - have been built amid the upgrade. Workers planted 285,000 trees to mitigate the 'significant environmental impact'.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Welsh playgroup in an estate 'with no speakers'
A woman who was embarrassed that she could not speak Welsh has sent her children to a playgroup to help them learn the language. Hannah Phillips' three daughters are all receiving their education through Welsh, with her youngest attending Welsh language playgroup Cylch Meithrin, on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil. "I wanted them to speak our language because I feel I should be speaking Welsh," said Hannah. The group was set up by Myfanwy Harman in January 2023, where there was just one child, but the group has now grown to 27 children. Most lessons in English to be phased out in Welsh county Concerns some Welsh-language nurseries could close My town, where community spirit makes leaving hard Ms Phillips from Penydarren said she was from over the valley and there "are no Welsh speakers in our village". "I am a massive fan of the language and am slightly embarrassed I don't speak Welsh," she said. "We went to the Eisteddfod, the sports bit, a couple of weeks ago, it is such a beautiful language. It was lovely to hear, especially my girls speaking in Cymraeg [Welsh]." Myfanwy Harman said when she first set up the group it was "hard". "It was difficult to build up that relationship and trust, and show parents you don't need to be afraid of the language. "Now we have established that and shown that Welsh is for everyone." Ms Harman said the playgroup had helped changed attitudes towards the Welsh language. "When we first opened here we had a few occasions when people walked past and shouted over to us things like 'oh we don't speak Welsh here', but as time has gone on they see that they do, and they can." This term all the children from the Gurnos Cylch Meithrin have gone on to full-time Welsh-medium education, giving the playgroup cause to celebrate, said Ms Phillips. "Having the opportunity in areas like the Gurnos to introduce our language is fantastic and very much needed in Merthyr. "I think we get a little bit forgotten sometimes when it comes to the Welsh language and our culture. "The Gurnos gets massive press coverage for the wrong reasons a lot of the time and this is the stuff we don't see, which is the vital stuff." Louisa Jones who is from Cornwall, but now lives in Gurnos with both her children attending Cylch Meithrin, said: "My little girl and boy were born here and are Welsh, as someone who is Cornish, our language unfortunately died. "It is so important we don't lose Welsh." With her children both speaking Welsh, Ms Jones felt that she wanted to learn the language. "It is really inspirational, so much so that I am now learning Welsh and am volunteering here so that I can be in an environment where I can hear lots of Welsh." Learning Welsh has helped Ms Jones feel part of the Gurnos community. "I have always felt a bit of an outsider in this community, but a big thing for me is having a shared culture with my community and having some Welsh language means something. "I feel much more a part of my community by having this shared culture and heritage." It is not just parents that are learning Welsh on the estate, Ola Pala is a nursery assistant at Cylch Meithrin, having moved to Merthyr from Poland when she was seven. Working as a nursery assistant has helped her improve her Welsh. "Welsh is a hard language to learn and I am still learning, I learnt it when I was in school but I am learning more here because there is Welsh everywhere. "It really is important for me, because I want to help the children." Katie Phillips lives in Merthyr and is a former pupil at the Welsh primary school Ysgol Santes Tudful and went to Ysgol Rhydywaun, a Welsh-medium comprehensive school in the Cynon Valley. She now works for the Welsh language Society, Cymdeithas yr Iaith, and said she felt attitudes towards the Welsh language were changing. "There's more of a demand for people learn Welsh and for their children to speak Welsh," she said. "I think people like my parents wish they could have had the opportunity when they were younger, but didn't so we have a bit of a lost generation." The growth of the Welsh language on the Gurnos estate is being welcomed locally. Lis Mclean, who runs Canolfan Soar which is home to a number of local Welsh language organisations, said: "I think the Welsh language is incredibly important to people in Merthyr. "When you watch someone learning Welsh you see them change, they have a certain pride in themselves." What help is there with childcare costs in Wales? Sign gaffe describes school as place with 'angry look' Parents won't be asked why they chose Welsh language
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Methryr Tydfil playgroup helps boost Welsh language in community
A woman who was embarrassed that she could not speak Welsh has sent her children to a playgroup to help them learn the Phillips' three daughters are all receiving their education through Welsh, with her youngest attending Welsh language playgroup Cylch Meithrin, on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil."I wanted them to speak our language because I feel I should be speaking Welsh," said group was set up by Myfanwy Harman in January 2023, where there was just one child, but the group has now grown to 27 children. Ms Phillips from Penydarren said she was from over the valley and there "are no Welsh speakers in our village"."I am a massive fan of the language and am slightly embarrassed I don't speak Welsh," she said."We went to the Eisteddfod, the sports bit, a couple of weeks ago, it is such a beautiful language. It was lovely to hear, especially my girls speaking in Cymraeg [Welsh]." Myfanwy Harman said when she first set up the group it was "hard"."It was difficult to build up that relationship and trust, and show parents you don't need to be afraid of the language."Now we have established that and shown that Welsh is for everyone."Ms Harman said the playgroup had helped changed attitudes towards the Welsh language."When we first opened here we had a few occasions when people walked past and shouted over to us things like 'oh we don't speak Welsh here', but as time has gone on they see that they do, and they can."This term all the children from the Gurnos Cylch Meithrin have gone on to full-time Welsh-medium education, giving the playgroup cause to celebrate, said Ms Phillips."Having the opportunity in areas like the Gurnos to introduce our language is fantastic and very much needed in Merthyr."I think we get a little bit forgotten sometimes when it comes to the Welsh language and our culture."The Gurnos gets massive press coverage for the wrong reasons a lot of the time and this is the stuff we don't see, which is the vital stuff." Louisa Jones who is from Cornwall, but now lives in Gurnos with both her children attending Cylch Meithrin, said: "My little girl and boy were born here and are Welsh, as someone who is Cornish, our language unfortunately died. "It is so important we don't lose Welsh."With her children both speaking Welsh, Ms Jones felt that she wanted to learn the language."It is really inspirational, so much so that I am now learning Welsh and am volunteering here so that I can be in an environment where I can hear lots of Welsh."Learning Welsh has helped Ms Jones feel part of the Gurnos community."I have always felt a bit of an outsider in this community, but a big thing for me is having a shared culture with my community and having some Welsh language means something."I feel much more a part of my community by having this shared culture and heritage." It is not just parents that are learning Welsh on the estate, Ola Pala is a nursery assistant at Cylch Meithrin, having moved to Merthyr from Poland when she was as a nursery assistant has helped her improve her Welsh."Welsh is a hard language to learn and I am still learning, I learnt it when I was in school but I am learning more here because there is Welsh everywhere."It really is important for me, because I want to help the children." Katie Phillips lives in Merthyr and is a former pupil at the Welsh primary school Ysgol Santes Tudful and went to Ysgol Rhydywaun, a Welsh-medium comprehensive school in the Cynon now works for the Welsh language Society, Cymdeithas yr Iaith, and said she felt attitudes towards the Welsh language were changing."There's more of a demand for people learn Welsh and for their children to speak Welsh," she said."I think people like my parents wish they could have had the opportunity when they were younger, but didn't so we have a bit of a lost generation."The growth of the Welsh language on the Gurnos estate is being welcomed Mclean, who runs Canolfan Soar which is home to a number of local Welsh language organisations, said: "I think the Welsh language is incredibly important to people in Merthyr."When you watch someone learning Welsh you see them change, they have a certain pride in themselves."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A look back at Merthyr Tydfil through the years
Merthyr Tydfil is in the spotlight at the moment as the town's Cyfarthfa Castle celebrates its 200th birthday. As a result, BBC Wales is marking this occasion with a special series of programmes. These will look at the history, culture and people of Merthyr and delve into how it developed as the first industrial town in the world and that legacy. Here is a look back at the people and places that have made Merthyr Tydfil over the past 200 years. 'I'm really bad at telling jokes,' says Ruth Jones My town, where community spirit makes leaving hard 'Paul Weller was my Welsh hero - now we're friends'
