The Crown presented difficult subjects well
I WISH to add my congratulations to the producers of the television series The Crown, and in particular the way they have dealt with two difficult Welsh subjects – the Aberfan disaster and the Prince of Wales’ term at Aberystwyth University in 1969 prior to his investiture at Caernarfon.
The Aberfan tragedy was re-created brilliantly and sympathetically and was devoid of the usual exaggerated Welsh accents and dialogue such as “Look you, boyo”.
This was a powerful dramatisation of a tragic event, and even though it glossed over some of the failings of the National Coal Board and politicians like George Thomas it reminded all of us old enough to remember the event of the terrible price we as a nation have paid to provide coal for British homes and power stations.
Similarly, the Investiture episode, another sensitive matter even today, was a much fairer reflection of the period than we normally get from British television.
The use of the Welsh language in the episode added to its authenticity and the producers deserve our congratulations for that and for the obvious and detailed research into the politics of Wales in the late 1960s.
The dialogue’s reference to the neglect of Wales during the period by “national” politicians had echoes of today’s events.
Both episodes have done a great deal to raise Wales’ profile in the world and that is something that is dearly needed.
Gerwyn Morgan Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn offer to entice me unless they first promise to do the honourable thing and deliver on the 2016 referendum result.
Whether we are in the Leave or Remain camp, we are faced primarily with a straightforward moral decision.
I cannot bring myself to vote for a party which unashamedly wants to revoke the referendum result, nor for those offering another referendum in any shape or form.
No good ever came from reneging on a promise.
So the principal message we need to send at the ballot box is, that even if our political class don’t want to do the honourable thing, then we do. Howard Ashton
Blackwood