Within These Walls

Caerwent:  A Roman City in the Vale of Gwent It was Julius Caesar who made the first moves to invade Britain, when in 55BC, he sent out a small expedition to explore the possibility of trade and wealth in this distant and legendary island. It wasn’t until nearly one hundred years later however, in 43AD, that the Romans really well and truly got a grip on the island. Claudius sent 40,000 men to the UK, which provided the foundation for Roman rule for the following four centuries. The UK was never to be the same again. Roads criss-crossed the island, cutting through forests and linking habitable places together for the first time. Towns and cities were also constructed, some of which can still be seen today. This can perhaps, best be demonstrated in the sleepy Welsh village of Caerwent, about 25 miles east of the Welsh capital, Cardiff. Under its subtle and genteel meadows lies some of the best kept Roman ruins in Europe. Founded in 75, this was once a market town known as Venta Silurum. The Romans had reached the site in 47, by which time they had most of southern and central England under their control. But the Welsh proved a tougher nut to crack, the area being mountainous and ruled by four tribes. South East Wales was ruled over by the Silures tribe, described as having ‘swarthy faces and curly hair’. The Silures inflicted the greatest ever defeat on the Romans in the UK in 52, when they took apart a Roman legion and the scalp of the Roman general and statesman Scapula. In fact, it took the Romans over thirty years to bring the unruly Welsh to heed when ‘Romanisation’ could begin to take place. The Romans had for years been using a clever trick of turning enemies into friends, usually by befriending the local tribe chief and bribing them with carnal pleasures. The Welsh it appears, were a little wiser to them. By 200, the city had acquired a network of streets, with some twenty blocks and main public buildings. The population of the 44 acre site is thought to have been around 3,000 at its height. By 115, a Basilica Forum had been created, suggesting some form of self-government. Despite being one of the smallest Roman settlements in the UK, local legion veterans were attracted to settle here thanks to its wealth. Today, the village is a peaceful and unassuming place. Its layers of history can be found in the largely unexcavated fields that are encased in stone. The foundations of the city that once sat here lie largely untouched and guarded by grimacing stone walls, some of which rise over 5 meters. Small flowers now bud from them while farm animals chew at the cud, seemingly unaware of the history beneath their hooves. The town itself is a simple affair. A main street houses a smattering of public buildings – a church, a Post Office and the Coach and Horses Inn. Locals now gather here for their ‘feasts’ at midday. Scribed on the blackboards are Today’s Specials: Chicken Curry, Pie and Mashed Potato with gravy. “Two more fish and chips please.” says the lady waiting at the bar. It’s obvious from the casual slacks that she’s wearing that she’s expecting a hearty meal. The other pub around the corner, the Northgate Inn, makes the most of its historic gardens. Excavations at Caerwent have revealed remains and everyday objects from the post-Roman period. Metalwork, including elaborate penannular brooches and fastening pins, have been dated to the 5th-7th centuries. These days, a blackboard shows sign of competition. “First to 13” it reads. Game and winner unknown. Down at the Post Office, a small red post box sits squat in the wall. Its ‘GR’ emblem reminding us that Elizabeth has not been reigning forever. Lambs with their mothers now frolic and graze in the grounds of the Basilica Forum. Despite the thousands of feet that have once marched upon Caerwent, the Romans haven’t entirely left yet. Their legacy is reflected in the names of streets and buildings that make up this small but uniquely historic village. Getting there: By Rail: Nearby railway stations: Chepstow, Severn Tunnel Junction (bus connection to Caerwent) By Car: Take the A48 eastwards from Newport or the A48 westwards from Chepstow. Nearest Airport: Cardiff Wales (35 miles away) Accommodation: Coach and Horses Inn  www.thecoach-caerwent.co.uk Nearby Attractions: Historic Roman town of Caerleon Celtic Manor, host to the 2010 Ryder Cup Article and Photos by  Patric Morgan

An Interview With Wayne Yendle

Read Wayne Yendle's article 'A Little About Ieuan' Americymru: Care to tell us a little about how the IeuanTheLion Memorial Fund came to be set up?   Wayne: During Ieuan's latter months we vowed that no other family would suffer the uncertainty of not being able to treat a condition because of no diagnosis and agreed that when the results came from the post-mortem we would dedicate our lives to raising funds in Ieuan's name for the condition that had robbed him of his life. However that was not to be there were still no answers. We have therefore set up the fund to help those who helped Ieuan when the doctors couldn't. To them we shall be eternally grateful .We have named the fund Ieuan the Lion purely due to Ieuan's love of lions and to represent the amazing, unmeasurable amount of courage that he showed. He had the strength and heart of a LION. Americymru: . What are the five charities that you will be supporting? Wayne: LATCH ( is a voluntary organisation set up to support the special requirements of the children's oncology centre in Wales which is based at the Children's Hospital for Wales to help affected families and promote research in childhood cancer) TY-HAFAN CHILDREN'S HOSPICE (provides respite care for sick and terminally ill children and end of life care) HCPT GROUP (takes 10 disabled children each year for a Pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes in France each Easter for a weeks respite), CHRISTIAN LEWIS Trust (Are probably best known for their Holiday Programme which ranges from luxury static caravans on specially chosen sites situated on the coast in Wales, where the family can get away from the pressures of hospital and treatment, to resort holidays in both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris where the Trust has partners able to provide a unique programme of supervised and special facilities. The aim is to provide memories intended to last for a lifetime). GREAT ORMOND STREET (is where a lot of our sick children from South Wales go for specialised treatment). Americymru: How did these charities help you during your sons illness? Wayne: During Ieuan's illness all the charities that we are supporting helped and supported Ieuan by allowing him to experience many happy and enjoyable times in his short life. Latch - provided holidays,Christmas Parties, trips to London to Houses of Parliament to have tea with the Speaker of the House, Visit Prince Charles to dress the Christmas Tree at Clarence House, and on January 29th 2007 in his last year with us, he braved a very long trip to London yet again, escorted by Welsh Guards to plant a tree in Speakers Corner at the Houses of Parliament and managed to put the first shovel of earth to plant that tree, these and many more trips would not have been possible without Latch. They also supported Ieuan's family providing travelling expenses on trips to Great Ormond Street Hospital. HCPT Group - gave Ieuan the chance to experience this wonderful trip to Lourdes three times in his short life, which was a wonderful experience for Ieuan, a chance to get away without his parents knowing he was taken care of by these wonderful people, as this is all voluntary but these carers, he made wonderful friends. Christian Lewis - provided a lovely holiday in August 2006 to Porth Madoc in North Wales, it was the last holiday that Ieuan spent with his mam and dad, and it was made possible by this charity. Great Ormond Street Hospital - Cared for Ieuan during his illness for specialised treatment that could not be offered to him in South Wales. Ty Hafan Children's Hospice - Can only be described as a wonderful peaceful, happy place where living Angels are who care for these very special children in times of need. Ieuan was cared for by these wonderful Angels, and made his last two months and two days on this earth possible, he was bathed everyday, dressed as if he was up running around, even though he was asleep, they looked after and cared for his family, and everything was possible at Ty-Hafan, in one way or another there was no such word as NO, to these Angels and all the other charities we will be eternally grateful. Americymru: How supportive have people been so far? Anyone in particular you want to give a mention to?   Wayne: We have been overwhelmed with the response shown particularly in our local community, during a recent fundraising event we were inundated with raffle prizes donated by local businesses and shops in the Town Centre. We have also received two anonymous donations both by elderly neighbours, one being £2500. It is especially heart warming when these people did not even know Ieuan and have chosen to help us. The biggest appeal seems to be the fact that by making a donation they are supporting five charities and helping the children of South Wales. Americymru: What events have been organised so far as a part of your fund drive? Wayne: An Evening of Music and Song was held on 7th March, 2009 which included live entertainment from Ieuan's cousin Robert Fletcher who named his band for that evening "The Lion Kings, Ieuan's Cousins Scarlet and friend Corissa sang, Ben Hurley a local male singer and Holly Holyoake both came and supported the show with their wonderful singer talent. A lot of money was raised on this evening with the entrance fee and Grand Draw totalling nearly £4200.00, it was a fantastic event which will be held annually around Ieuan's Birthday Memorial each year. There was also a Christmas Carol Evening at two local churches that Ieuan attended and was an alter server at the one, raising nearly £400 and also family and friend did trick or treating on Halloween raising £26.43 two of the children involved in this were Ieuan's Cousins who were only 2 and 5 years old. Americymru: What future activities are planned?   Wayne: We are currently in contact with Chris Needs and we are hoping to arrange an evening of entertainment in Newport. We have a Halloween themed evening for our local youngsters arranged for October. We are in the process of arranging a Sponsored walk but are undecided at the moment as to the venue. A lot depends on the length of the walk and whether we would encourage children to participate. Coffee mornings, Car boot sales, Garden sales. Sponsored Rugby Match, Soccer match, Live event featuring local Rock Bands, Bi-cycle rides. Americymru: A friend of yours, Michaela Cuddy, is running the London Marathon in support of the fund. Care to tell us a bit more about that?   Wayne: Michaela is very dear friend of the family, she went to UWIC University with Ieuan's older brother Louis. She felt that she needed to do fund raising and Ieuan was her drive to enter the London Marathon. The London Marathon is an annual event which is 26miles around the streets of the City of London our Capital of Great Britain. She has raised over £3000, and she took 4 and half hours to complete the Marathon and this is a wonderful achievement for someone who has never run a marathon before, we are sure Ieuan was by her side. Americymru: How can Americymru members help? If people want to raise funds to assist you, what could they do?   Wayne: You can help us just by being there and simply reading all about Ieuan, helping us to keep his name ALIVE. As previously mentioned our main aim is to raise awareness of these five charities and in doing so raise funds to help the children of South Wales. It is extremely expensive to run these organisations but what a difference it makes to these sick and terminally ill children and the help it provides to the families who love and care for these children:- TY HAFAN - Requires £2 and a half million annual income to operate. HCPT GROUP - Requires £1000 for each sick child they take to Lourdes. LATCH - Helps to make dreams come true for the children, whether it be a day trip to a theme park or trip to Florida so their outgoings are impossible to itemise. They also provide Social Workers to help and support the child and their family in these very stressful times of illness. LEWIS - Requires £800plus to offer a holiday for the child and immediate family. GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL - - Once again is impossible to state any figures as it would simply be millions. We would appreciate it if you could make a donation no matter how small, every penny really does count. Maybe arrange a sponsored event, whatever it is we would love to hear about it and will add you as a sponsor on Ieuan's site. You can support Ieuan The Lion in many ways, from making a donation to hosting a charity event, from corporate sponsorship to a cake sale at your local school – all donations no matter how small will go directly to children who need your help. Here are just a few ideas:- Donations you can donate securely through this website, using your credit or debit card or your PayPal account,or if preferred cheques may be made payable to Ieuan The Lion Memorial Fund and sent to :- 42, Milman Street, Newport, South Wales NP20 2HR. Activity challenges are a great way of involving friends and workmates in a worthwhile cause: Sponsored,cycling marathons,walks, organised abseiling, dragon boat racing…the list is endless. And of course we’ll help you promote your fund raising event through our website. Corporate sponsorship. Companies can gain valuable branding and profile benefits through sponsorship of Ieuan The Lion's Fund, while at the same time ensuring that they are supporting a fantastic cause. For more information about what your company can do, contact us by email at wayne.yendle@ntlworld.com or by phone on 01633676286 ( Editors Note:- From the US call - 011441633676286 ) Non uniform day. Schools can help by allowing students to make a donation to attend school in their own clothes The list is endless Trivia Quizzes, Fancy Dress day at work, Guess the baby competition, Concerts, Fashion shows, Car boot sales, Sponsored silence you choose.And of course well help you promote your fund raising event through our website. Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru?   Wayne: We are grateful to you all for showing an interest and would appreciate it if you could only manage to read about Ieuan's life and the wonderful work these charities do. Obviously our aim is to raise funds and awareness to repay these wonderful people who helped us when the medical profession could'nt and by doing this we are keeping Ieuan's name alive THESE ARE THE LINKS TO THE FIVE CHARITIES WE SUPPORT TY HAFAN LATCH HCPT GROUP GREAT ORMOND STREET CHRISTIAN LEWIS TRUST Interview by Ceri Shaw Email

Jon Langford, "The Newport man who played for Obama"

Jon Langford, a native of Newport who lives with his family in Chicago, a member of this site, posted a quiet link on his page and when I went to look at it, found that he was just in Washington, DC for President Barak Obama's inauguration and performed at an inaugural ball.

From the South Wales Argus:

"AS the United States' first black President was sworn in, a Newport-born man had a ringside seat to history being made.

"Musician and artist Jon Langford, 51, a founder member of the punk band The Mekons, had played at a Washington DC ball to celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration the night before, and had a seat at the event being watched by millions of people around the world."
...

"Mr Langford performed six hours of country-punk with his current band the Waco Brothers in a sell-out event celebrating Obama's links with Chicago.

"'The concert was incredible and an illustration of how things are changing. I performed with blues singer David Honeyboy Edwards, who's 94. God knows what things were like when he was a kid,' said Mr Langford."

Read the rest of this really fantastic article and what Jon Langford says about the experience HERE.

David Llewellyn Wins John Lennon Songwriting Contest ( Folk Category ) With Song About Welsh Coal Mines

Singer-songwriter David Llewllyn, of Welsh birth and Nashville, Tennessee residence, is the grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest's Folk category for his coal miner's lament on the sacrifice of his child to the life of the mine, "Take Us Down," (lyrics below).

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international competition, open to amateur and professional songwriters since 1997. The Contest features two sessions, with 72 Finalists, 24 Grand Prize Winners, 12 Lennon Award Winners and 1 Maxell Song of the Year, twelve categories: Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, World, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop, Gospel/Inspirational, Latin, Electronic, Folk, and Children's. This years' judges included The Bacon Brothers, Natasha Bedingfield, rap ensemble D12, Fergie, singer-songwriter Jesse Harris, Al Jarreau, Sony A&R VP Ken Komisar, VP of A&R, John Legend, Columbia Senior A&R Director and radio and tv host Matt Pinfield, singer-songwriter Ryan Sham, Australia's "The Veronicas" and Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir.

David Llewellyn left the mining valleys of south Wales to pursue a career as a musician at 17, the first generation in his family to not go down into the pit. David played Welsh and English working men's clubs for the next hard-working ten years, until hearing Randy Travis introduced him to the organic, instrumental honesty of American country music and pointed him to Nashville, where he's mostly been since.

So, David, how does it feel to be the winner?

"You get lots of pats on the back after performing at gigs etc. Everybody’s happy, some are drunk, some love the way you sing, but this is purely an award for songwriting – looked at in the cold light of day. They are much harder to get and this is a pretty big one. I feel greatly honored. Now, where did I put my acceptance speech . . . :O)"

How did you find out your song won?

"I was sitting in the departure lounge of the Dallas airport at 5am waiting to fly back to Nashville, and just checking my email. A friend had sent me a email which just said “Congrats”. I dug around and there it was! Problem was, it was 5am, so I couldn’t call anyone – I then had to sit on the plane for three hours without any cell phone service! The guy next to me on the plane thought I was nuts, and just went back to sleep."

Did you expect to win, what did you think about your chances when you submitted your song? Were you waiting impatiently to hear back or were you more blase' about it?

"It’s a Sonic bids thing. You hit the button, and off goes your submission. I never thought a little Welsh coal mining song had a chance in hell of doing anything at a prestigious international contest like this. But I did like the logo – a John Lennon self portrait – and thought why not. No guts, no glory!"

Did you know anything about your competition or hear their submissions?

"No, not a thing."

Tell us about your process in creating this song - how did it get written, what inspired it?

"I cannot answer this question without mentioning my manager, Kari Estrin. It’s easy to get lost in the 40,000 songwriters in Nashville. We are all trying to hit that small target, to get that cut on Music Row. It makes us want to fit in. Kari took one look at me and said “Hang on, your Welsh. That’s what makes you stand out.” DUH! She booked a few clubs in the UK, and we visited 'my' Wales. She made me see it through her eyes. She was with me when I went down 'Big Pit', a historically preserved coal mine, and we got talk to the old miners who are the tour guides now. They were fantastic. They took us on a personal, extended tour with lots of stories and descriptions of just how brutally hard life 'underground' was a 100 years ago. I was lucky enough to be part of the first generation not to go 'down', but the generations before me did, and it brought back early memories for me. 'Take Us Down' is based on their words, their stories. I asked, 'I bet you’re glad not to have to do all that now?' and their answer surprised me: 'Naw, we miss it bad. We miss the comradery, the community. It bonded us together somehow. Together we could make it through, no matter what.'"

How would you describe your sound? A particular genre or mix of genres?

"To keep a loooooong story short - My mother loved the “Crooners” Bing Crosby, Jim Reeves etc. and I think I learned to sing singing along to Nat King Cole. The Beatles hit when I was seven or eight and were everything. The American singer/songwriters returned that invasion in the early seventies – John Denver, Don McClain, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, so many, and all of a sudden, I was playing guitar (or at least trying to). Ten years, full-time doing the workmen’s clubs of South Wales and England, singing through God awful P.A. systems, choking down clouds of cigarette smoke (and the slightly more than occasional draught beer) will certainly hone your sound.

"Then to America and Country music. I spent four years playing the Honky Tonks around Austin Texas, three or four hour gigs, three or four nights a week. Then I moved to Nashville in ‘96 where I’ve sung a ton of Country demos and really, really learned how to write songs. And finally, the last few years, I’ve spent looking back over my shoulder to my real home, my childhood in Mountain Ash and the small coal mining valleys of South Wales. I sing about this now – sometimes the Welsh accent pops out. The grit and tears are just under the surface when I think back with fondness to that community, that safe, dirty, rainy, grey valley. I hear all of the above influences melding together in my voice, my songs. An overnight success? Hardly, but it’s been fun."

Is there a usual pattern to your process, ie; do you get lyrics first or melody or story? Do songs mostly come to you whole or have to be built?

"No. No real pattern, but I do recognize when the 'muse' is around. She comes and goes when she wants to - just got to make yourself available as often as possible, and don’t stop writing until she’s gone. Sometimes it’s a good topic, something you really want to write about, or maybe a great hook or title. Either way I might jot down a bunch of related ideas, but at some point I want to set that hook to music. I’ll sing it, usually with guitar, trying different melodies, rhythms etcetera, until it feels natural, conversational. There is music built into speech, I try to find it. And there, somehow, we have the key, the tempo, the groove, the genre, the seed. From there it’s just a matter of letting it grow without pruning your rose bush into a privet hedge. Some can just pour out in the time it takes to sing the damn thing, sometimes it’s months. The melody for the winning song 'Take Us Down' took a few minutes but the words percolated in my head for several months. A lot of them being honed down during a couple of 14 hours road trips – Nashville to Austin Texas. You have to keep a tape recorder with you at all times!"

Are there any musicians that you would particularly name as your influences or inspiration? Anyone you'd be happy to hear in your own music?

"It’s the singer/songwriters here on the road that I listen to now. Great performers. Great writers. They could so easily be the James Taylor or Elton John or Carole King or Buddy Holly of this generation but the U.S., and particularly it’s tight genre radio, is so difficult to break into. Please check out people like Tom Kimmel, Pearce Pettis, Dana Cooper, Darryl Scott . . . All my top 40 myspace friends."

As an artist, what work are you the happiest with, most proud of? What do you think is your best work?

"My newest song. You’ve got to be blown away by your current song or project, or why do it!"

You're in Nashville today but you're from Wales - how was it coming from Wales to the the US music scene?"

"My twin sister moved to Austin Texas in her early 20’s. She sent me, and my mother, airplane tickets to come to her wedding. I was 30, frustrated with the computers/samplers/pop music in the British charts, and the 'Your songs are too Country – try America' responses from London music publishers. I just fell in love with the Austin vibe, the climate, the evenings spent out on the front porch sitting and strumming with so many good players. It took 5 years to organize, to sell everything, but even though it probably meant sleeping in my car for awhile (and it did) I knew I had to try it. I’m so glad I did. Now I get to go back to Wales/UK a couple of times a year, and hey, I can even get the gigs back home that I never could while I lived there!"

TAKE US DOWN ©2006 ( and other songs ) by David Llewellyn
"A child's first day down a Welsh coal mine His father's feelings . . ."

Lyrics, "Take Us Down"

Take us down my friend, and quickly
Take us down lest we wise up
Take us down to make a living
Count us down, and count us up

Here is my son, who stands beside me
The pride and joy of Mountain Ash
Better hold on tight to my leg boy
This old cage goes down real fast
And I can't believe I ask you
Aw, to fill a miner's shoes
They don't make a miner's cap
For one as small as you

And with eyes as big as saucers
You stick out your little chin
And that would fill me up with pride inside
If I didn't feel so ill

Give him chance you ugly bastards
It's his first time, it's his first day
And they all stopped with all their joking
Cause they all started 'exact same way
Heed ye well those sweet gray ponies
Oh, they were once as white as snow
But they've been blinded by the darkness
They'll trample you and never know

Kneel right here, right here beside me
And catch the coal as it come loose
They're only paying for the lumps today
All the small coal ain't no use
And host it up into that hopper
So they can weigh our sweat and blood
Paying pittance for our labor
In this hell hole that we've dug

And let me host you on my shoulders
Cause this shift is nearly done
And we'll march through town triumphant
But you'll cry when you see mum

You always were a dirty muchen
But coal, it gets beneath the skin
You can scrub to wash it all away
But that's a battle you won't win
So let me dry you in this towel
'N carry you upstairs to bed
Just the way that my dad did for me
And I'll cry like my dad did

Better count those toes and fingers
Take a deep breath while you can
Best forget about that schooling
Cause today you became a man

But it cuts a deeper sorrow
Starting you off down the mine
Cause it’ll kill you soon or later
It just bides it’s own sweet time

So take us down my friend, and quickly
Take us down lest we wise up . . .
Take us down to make a living
Count us down, and count us up