Short films are set to put the spotlight on five port towns
FIVE port towns in Wales and Ireland will feature in a series of short films which are being commissioned by Aberystwyth University as part of a major EU-funded project aimed at driving economic growth.
The ‘Ports, Past and Present’ project is exploring the history and cultural heritage of the ports of Fishguard, Holyhead and Pembroke Dock in Wales, and Dublin and Rosslare in Ireland.
The aim is to increase visitor numbers and enhance tourist experiences in the five communities, as well as raise local awareness about the natural and cultural heritage of the ports, and their importance to future economic growth.
As part of a wide range of cultural activities, the project team in Aberystwyth has appointed a production company with offices in Pembrokeshire to produce a series of eight short documentary films and one feature-length film to promote the five port towns and the three ferry routes which link them.
The films will combine historical film footage with new footage, capturing voices, sounds and scenes, as well as reflect the multilingual and multicultural nature of the ports and their surrounding areas.
Professor Peter Merriman, project team leader at Aberystwyth University’s Department of Geography and Earth Sciences said: “We have appointed Mother Goose Films who have offices in Pembrokeshire and Bristol.
“This project is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the cultural heritage of these important port communities, narrating the rich history of places which may be at the geographical margins of our nations, but serve as important passage-points for people and goods crossing the Irish Sea.”
The research team at Aberystwyth University are supporting the film production with their historical research in film, county and national archives.
Researchers are keen to hear from members of the public who have a close connection to the port towns and would like to share family films, photographs and stories of the ports. They can contact the team by emailing Rita Singer ris32@ aber.ac.uk or message them on Twitter @PortsPastPres or Facebook @ports pastandpresent.
Throw on a jacket, woolly hat and gloves and step out into the garden as there’s plenty of winter debris to be cleared up. Remove twigs and leaves from ponds, lawns and beds; wash down patios and clean them; and make sure drains aren’t blocked with leaf litter.
Inject a little colour into your pots and containers with some winter pansies and primulas.
In the greenhouse, take dahlia tubers out of storage and coax into growth in a light, warm place. You can also get overwintering fuchsias back into growth by repotting, watering and feeding.
Deadhead winter flowering heathers as the flowers start to go brown.
Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries right down to ground level.
DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR A FIRST-TIME DAD OF TWINS
MORNING, I trust you slept well, what would you like for breakfast?’, I enquired, as Thomas and Emma took their seats at the table.
‘Toast, peanut butter, jam,’ Emma curtly replied, while Thomas stated, ‘toast, honey, no butter’.
I rushed off to prepare the order, only to hear Thomas hollering ‘milk’ from his seat, followed by Emma barking ‘Shreddies’.
While the toaster did its magic, I busied myself emptying the dishwasher and pondered exactly how I’d unwittingly signed up to a life in service.
Meal served, I awaited my next task, like an eager
waiter hoping for a tip.
Emma was happy to fill the lull and demanded a green bowl, in preference to the blue one I’d used to contain the Shreddies.
Breakfast service finished and it was time to brush their teeth, which they agreed to, on the provision I did the brushing. Presumably because they viewed it as beneath them.
I was starting to feel I’d found myself as a footman working at Downton Abbey, devoting my waking energy to scuttling around after his Lord and Lady.
Only I wasn’t even getting paid for this and I’m not sure my employers fully appreciated the top-class service.
Next up was potty-time. Thomas completed his business, stood up and simply bent over for me to wipe his bottom, without uttering a word.
‘I’m not sure even the staff at the Palace have to put up with this’, I thought, as I reached for some wipes.
For lunch, Victoria had prepared a cheese salad involving avocado, which Emma was eating with her fingers. I attempted to politely persuade her to use a fork.
She looked at her green avocado-ey hands in disgust, lent towards me and wiped them on my trousers, despite the perfectly good paper towel right next to her.