Histories of Wales
22 February 2012
BBC Radio Wales
Starting Sunday, February 19, BBC Radio Wales, 1.30pm.
In this 6-part anthology series broadcast on Radio Wales, 6 historians present a theme in Welsh history they feel passionate about. Cardiff University’s Dr Bill Jones is the series adviser and introduces each programme, its theme and presenter. Bill also presents the first theme in the first programme (Sunday 19 February, 1.30pm), looking at people moving in and moving out of Wales.
In each programme, historians share their knowledge and passion for a significant theme from our past. Where possible the presenters illustrate the themes through the experience of individuals recorded especially for the programme or taken from the BBC archive as well as talking to other historians. Most of the themes are still very much relevant to our lives in Wales today, e.g. migration, the family during a time of economic hardship, warfare and education and opportunity.
The series is an independent production by Dinah Jones for BBC Radio Wales produced in association with The Open University. For a free booklet to learn more about the History of the People of Wales, call 0845 366 0256 or go to BBC Story of Wales and follow the links to The Open University.
The series coincides with the TV series presented by Huw Edwards, The Story of Wales, which begins on 27 February at 9pm on BBC One Wales. Details follow of the Radio series with programmes led by Cardiff University historians.
Histories of Wales - Programme 1, Moving in Moving out
First transmitted: Sunday, February 19, BBC Radio Wales, 1.30pm
Catch it again: Tuesday, February 21, BBC Radio Wales, 5.30am
This week Dr Bill Jones looks at how Wales has been shaped by migration, the movement of people – people moving in and people moving out.
‘In the opening programme Moving in and out of Wales, I look at how Wales has been shaped by migration, the movement of people – people moving in and people moving out.
‘This is what I’ve studied for most of my professional life as a historian. I’m fascinated by the changes that migration brings about – to places and to the migrants themselves and by how people responded in complex and different ways to the new worlds that they found themselves in.’
Bill continues: ‘The questions historians ask in order to try and understand the nature and impact of migrations seem simple ones: why did people move, when, how, from where and to where did they go and what happened to them afterwards. But they aren’t easy questions to answer simply because migration isn’t a uniform experience; it’s a very diverse one. Each migrant has his or her own individual tale to tell.
In this programme I’ll be using the voices of migrants living in Lampeter, in west Wales and Melbourne in Australia today to give you a taste of Welsh migrant experiences in the past.’
Histories of Wales - Programme 4, The Family Hearth
First transmitted: Sunday, March 11, BBC Radio Wales, 1.30pm
Repeat: Tuesday, March 13, BBC Radio Wales, 5.30am
This week Dr Stephanie Ward [Cardiff University] looks at family life in Welsh history. [mae Stephanie’n canolbwyntio ar y Teulu rhwng y ddau ryfel yn ystod y dirwasgiad]