Dialling in to revive language
A HEARTWARMING friendship across the generations has been struck up between an 83-year-old from the valleys and a 22-year-old student from Swansea thanks to the Welsh language.
Muriel Rogers, 83, says the friendship may seem “unusual” but the two get along swimmingly.
“I just think of him as one of the family now,” Muriel explained.
Muriel, born and raised in Fochrhiw five miles to the south east of Merthyr Tydfil, grew up in a Welshspeaking household where her grandparents, parents, brother, uncles and aunties all spoke Welsh in the home and in the nearby chapel.
She fondly recalls her summers in Y Bont, Ceredigion, with her “Bopa” – her mum’s cousin – who “struggled to speak English”, furthering Muriel’s Welsh language skills.
But as locals left the village to work at local collieries she lost a link to the language. And when her mother died in 1971, Muriel lost one of her most important connections.
“If you don’t speak it, you lose it,” Muriel said.
Muriel went on to marry and have two boys, Darrall and Adam, but for a variety of reasons the boys were not raised first-language Welsh.
“Before Kadun it had been so many years since I had spoken Welsh,” Muriel said. She had tried to keep the language through other mediums, such as watching S4C and attending night school, but she struggled without having a proper conversation.
Living alone in Fochrhiw, it was suggested by a friend that she join Age Cymru’s Friend In Need service, where an older person living alone is paired with a volunteer for a weekly telephone chat.
It was at this point she was connected with Kadun Rees, a student in Brighton studying for a masters in “conflict, security and development”.
Kadun, originally from Swansea, was educated in Welsh before moving to England for university.
He explained: “I had some time during the pandemic so I looked to do some volunteering, and I knew older people had been having a tough time during the pandemic, so I got involved and then moved down here in September.”
The two now have a weekly call on Sundays, where Kadun helps Muriel in Welsh as the two joke and keep up to date with each other.
Muriel’s son Darrall said he wrongly feared his mother might be part of a scam to begin with – as he didn’t understand how the two became friendly – but quickly realised his concerns were unfounded and saw how the phone calls cheered up his mother.
“I tell him everything,” Muriel said, “I know it’s unusual, an 83-year-old and a 22-year-old, but we just get along.”
Muriel told of how grateful she is to her new-found friend, who has helped ease the isolation felt during the pandemic. “I’m very high risk, so it has made a lovely difference. He calls every week.”
Age Cymru’s chief executive Victoria Lloyd says: “There are lots of older people like Muriel living alone in Wales with little opportunity for conversation and friendship.
“If you think you could become a Kadun and bring so much joy by linking up with an older person for a weekly telephone chat, in English or Welsh, please get in touch with our Friend In Need service on 029 2043 1555.”