08 March 2011

 S4C’s two weeks of events in communities throughout North Ceredigion proved to be a great success.

The series of events in north Ceredigion was part of S4C’s ‘Calon Cenedl – Heart of the Nation’ campaign to highlight the fact that Welsh communities are at the very heart of S4C’s services and programme schedule.

S4C Chief Executive Arwel Ellis Owen said: “S4C will be holding events in communities throughout Wales in 2011 and Ceredigion was a natural place to start our ‘Calon Cenedl’ campaign. The county as a whole is featured regularly in a wide range of the Channel’s programmes and our viewers in the area are very important us.

“We are very pleased with the response to our series of events over the last two weeks and people seemed to be genuinely appreciative of our activity in the area. We had a great deal of feedback on our programmes and services, especially from children and young people about our website.”

The events included the annual Welsh pop song contest Cân i Gymru in the Pontrhydfendigaid Pavilion on Sunday 6 March and the semi-final rounds of Wales’ premier choral competition Côr Cymru in Aberystwyth Arts Centre over the weekend 4-6 March.

The events began on Friday, 18 February when the younger children in the area had an opportunity to see the pre-school nursery show Cyw at Pontrhydfendigaid Pavilion.

On Thursday 24 February local people gathered at Canolfan Edward Richard, Ystrad Meurig for a preview of the St David’s Day programme Wyneb Glyndŵr.

Actor and presenter Julian Lewis Jones described his experiences whilst filming the documentary which strived to reveal the real face of Owain Glyndwr, the last to claim the title Independent Prince of Wales.

A number of questions were raised by members of the audience, who went home full of anticipation to see the whole programme.

A healthy gathering came to the S4C Viewers’ Evening held in Tregaron on Wednesday, 2 March. There was a good discussion on S4C programmes and plenty of fun in the pub quiz that followed. The evening, held at The Talbot Hotel, was filmed and is available to watch online at s4c.co.uk.

An evening for Welsh learners was held in Llety Parc, Aberystwyth on Monday 28 February, while Hafod Hotel, Devil’s Bridge was the venue for an auction in aid of Ysgol Mynach, Devil’s Bridge on Friday 4 March in which Bili Bom Bom from the children’s series Pentre Bach had a starring role! With his help, the auction raised almost £5,000 for the school.

During the period, characters and presenters from S4C’s children’s services Cyw and Stwnsh visited schools in the area, including Ffynnon Bedr Primary School, Lampeter and Llanddewi Brefi Primary School.

There were also recordings at Pontrhydfendigaid Pavilion of S4C’s popular hymn singing programme Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol, the youth talent series Sawl Seren Sy ‘Na? and a concert with Elin Fflur and her Band.

Ends