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I am so glad that someone has taken the time to provide a platform for ex-Dols to express their affection for 'Dol ..' Da Iawn!! I am proud to say I am Welsh, and am glad that I now have a link to the town that I have grown up in but 'never really left'!! I currently work for COGENT, a financial services company in the city, and live right next to LORDS Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, North West London (prior to that in Celeb's Paradise - Hampstead). My fondest memories of Dol probably go back to my school days (surprise surprise) ... It was just after the long hot summer of '76 that little old me took the huge step from the Primary School over 'Bont Fawr', to Ysgol-Y-Gader, a mere 200 yards from my house. I can remember the first day clearly, sitting uncomfortably in the hall in my new blazer with all the other newbies waiting to be told who would be your form teacher and who else would be in your class. I was very short at that age (nothing much has changed!), and was surprised to be sitting next to another pupil who would have put Jonah Lomu to shame even back then in the first year - Jason Morgan. Jason was an English guy standing 6 foot 2 or more, who had move to the Friog area with his parents from Warrington (I think). Compared to me at 4 foot 10 the difference in size was bordering on the hysterical. Anyway, despite this, we became mates and ended up in the same form. Through Jason I also made friends with a load of guys from the Fairbourne area (Paul and Stephen Gwynne, Shaun Nunn, Jono Kirkham to name a few). I think our form teacher was Art Teacher Mr Alun Williams (Van Goch to all the pupils), and he remained so for the first three years of my school life... It was at Ysgol Y Gader that I met Music Teachers Mrs Eirian Owen and Mrs Miercinzka (spelling!!), and it was here they nurtured my voice into something vaguely pleasant. Through their encouragement I found myself being put forward for various internal and external solo and choir competitions (we love the Eisteddfod more than Helen (Big Brother) loves blinking!! Now, as my first language at home was English, it was a little unusual to see someone such as myself competing on an even level with the Welsh Speakers, and sometimes even beating them!!! This bring back fond memories of another dear friend of mine, Micheal Horan, who sadly is no longer with us. Now Mike was the equivalent of your all-round handsome captain of the rugby team, highly proficient in everything he did (singing, violin, acting, athletics etc). Mike and I grew up together even before Ysgol Y Gader, as my father had done a great deal of work for his family, but it was not until I saw Mike in Ysgol Y Gader that I realised just how talented he was. We would regularly compete at school, local, or County solo singing competitions (Unawd Bechgyn 12-15), with me claiming FIRST and him SECOND or vice versa. We even ventured down to the Welsh Finals on one occasion. But that wasn't enough for him , he would be captaining the rugby team at county level, playing football for Dolgellau Town, and if that wasn't enough he would still find time to play violin, be a member of the local Army Cadet Force, and be actively involved in school plays!! Alongside Mike, I must mention another three great 'cantorion' (singers), namely 'Big' Bedwyr Evans (Gwanas), his brother Tudur, and who can forget little Dylan 'Twrchyn' (a nickname he got after appearing as the Mole in a school production of Toad of Toad Hall - Broga Plas Brog). Bedwyr stood 6 foot 3 and was from a great family of singers as his father was still a renowned soloist, and Tudur was not that far behind in the singing nor the height department!!). I was also an active member of the school plays (in Welsh, naturally), and what begun as an easy way out of lessons turned into a fantastic experience allowing me to learn more about the language and people it enveloped) - Who can forget the welsh adaptation of the Samson story (Samson Sigl a Swae), Oliver!!, and the untouchable Dewin yr Os in which I played the Mayor of the Munchkins!! As I moved up through the forms I can recollect so many memories that warm my heart - trips with the choir, tricks played on the teachers, smoker's corner, duckings (given and received), spitting and throwing water on the first years out of the six form window, playing football with a tennis ball in the quad. Even outside school there was plenty to get up to - swimming in Cae Chwech at the slightest hint of sun, fishing in Llyn Cynwch, snooker in the Free Library, Cubs, Cadets, Youth Club, Junior League Football (who can forget the infamous clashes between Dolgellau Cubs and Inter Arran), I can still hear Reg Thomas now coaxing us to 'pass the ball more ...', and not try and beat all 11 players TWICE before scoring!! The Piggly Wiggly (Video game initiations often took place here), Celfi Diddan (or the only place to buy music for 10 miles!!), it seems even the Neuadd Idris is only used for Bingo now, when back when I was youg we used to put on our glad rags and go down the disco (SPOT-On was the name) - either the 6-8 slot for the young 'uns, or the preferred 8-11pm adults only version. There would always be the odd scuffle, but to me that was where my love of music began. If it wasn't Motown blaring out of the speakers, then it would be Disco or Punk!! I don't go back to Dol as often as I like, probably twice a year ... but it doesn't take long before the locals stop you in the street asking 'When are you going back!!!' are they trying to tell me something!! My sister, Fiona, now runs the hairdressers TOP STYLE at the top of Eldon Square, if you see her, pop in and say hello!! Fiona moved to London for a short time, but longed for the boyfriend and lifestyle she left behind, so it was not a surprise to see her returning home to where she belongs. Oh! Well I've reminisced enough for one day, but before I go I would just like to say to anyone reading this: We may have travelled to the far reaches of the earth, we may have worked for many different organisations, we may even have made a name for ourselves in our respective fields of expertise but in my opinion there is not a lot to compare with waking up in the morning, the birds singing not suffocating, inhaling the pure, fresh morning air, strolling down to the quaint town centre after months of choking and sweating on overcrowded tubes populated by rude, self-opinionated strangers. Picking up a newspaper from Siop James or Wilikins and meandering past at least a dozen people whose histories zoom into your head as you pass , to the Park nearby whilst watching the senior citizens playing bowls - relaxing, I'd say so!! Email: Ian Christie |