The BBC first came to Bangor in 1936, under the leadership of Sam Jones, who had previously produced the Welsh language news bulletin from London. During WWII the majority of the programmes broadcast from BBC Bangor were in English for the Home Service. But by the 1940s there was an increase in Welsh language output.
I was a student at Bangor at the time, and a member of a trio of singers knows as Triawd y Coleg (The College Threesome). We used to perform new material each month on a show created by Sam Jones, called Noson Lawen. This show was great to work on. It was a gathering of amateurs from the college and surrounding area who came together to perform on the variety show.
There was Bob Roberts, a farmer, who sang ballads, Richard Co Bach Huws, a shopkeeper who gave recitations, all led by presenter Charles Williams, a farmer's son from Anglesey, who also performed in a comedy double act with postman T C Simpson.
A group of lads from Bethesda called Cutgan came over to sing, under the leadership of Ffrancon Tomos, who also played one of the two pianos, alongside Mamy Noel Jones. They were later replaced by the Penygroes male voice choir, conducted by C H Leonard.
In those days, the whole show was broadcast live. Thankfully, everything was kept under control by Sam Jones and his right arm, Myfanwy Howell, even though Sam was somewhat hard of hearing, and began each show by shouting 'Stand By!' "
More BBC memories.
your comments
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Nigel Blundell from Sutton Coldfield
Was Phil Holland in Bristol successful at finding a recording of the Triawd y Coleg?
Wed Jul 8 12:35:53 2009
Ellen Magnuson from USA
I was in Repertory in Bangor 1945-46 season. (Ellen Underwood, Elizabeth Night, and Cara Night were my stage names while there). The Theatre was on lease from the BBC to the company with director Ronald Greirson (English). Leo McKern (Astralian) of 'Rumpole of the Bailey' fame was also a character actor.
Anne Cullen was an actress at the same time and went on to be with BBC in London. I would like to know if the BBC ever owned the theatre and how long for? (the lease for the company ran out in 1946 I believe) It became a Bingo Hall in later years.
Wed Jun 24 12:18:56 2009
Jane Handley NJ USA
My Taid, Ffowc Williams had a BBC Radio show called "Byd Natur" (The World of Nature) for many years. People would send in questions or comments and a panel would discuss them.
Mon Apr 28 10:15:14 2008
Tony Munn Larkfield Kent
My mother who is 92 worked in the canteen at the Bangor studios during the war and remembers fondly many of the artists who worked there, particularly the ITMA cast.
Mon Feb 18 10:34:40 2008
Phil Holland, Bristol
Do you know if there is any recording of Triawd y Coleg available?
Mon Sep 24 12:07:37 2007
Nora Jones
Does anyone remember the Caetop Choir? As a child we would go to Penrhyn Hall and record for loads of programmes. It was such a thrill in those days to listen to people like Sam Jones etc showing us how the programmes were made. Dafydd, Sam Jones's son, was in Caetop with us. Daddy Evans of course was in charge of us and I as a child would be thrilled just watching him playing the piano and wishing I could play like him. In school he became a completely different person.
Mon Jul 16 09:30:30 2007
Andrew Hinchliff, Llanfairfechan
There are six large houses on the beach in Llanfairfechan, all quite isolated, and lots of the BBC stars lived there during the war. Arthur Askey stayed in the house that’s now mine, Tommy Handley from ITMA was next door, Kay Cavendish, the pianist and entertainer, was next and then the Sears family.
Fri Jan 26 13:14:48 2007
Ken Jones from Coventry.
Two well-known musicians of their day who were based at Bangor in the war - Wilfred Parry and Arthur Fear - pianist and baritone were, I think, having a winter break at Tynycornel Royal Hotel, Talyllyn, where my sister was working at the time. They kindly gave a little concert in the hotel and I was quite proud of the fact that they signed my autograph book, which I still have, with a few scales of Men of Harlech. You would often see their names in Radio Times in later years, I think with the BBC Orchestra and Chorus. I guess they were quite well up in music circles - celebs of their times.
Wed Dec 20 10:54:35 2006
Chris Owen, Northwich, Cheshire
Back in the late 1970s and through the 1980s I worked at the BBC in Bangor as a sound Engineer. I also worked in the famous Wartime Penrhyn Hall Studio prior to the lease ending and it being converted back into a Town Hall. I am currently trying to gather as much old BBC equipment and BBC related items and information on the period as I can so that one day (when I come home), I can open a small museum in the Bangor area in memory of the work done there during the war. Does anyone have any information on, or photographs of the Penrhyn Hall or other studios in use by the BBC? If you do an internet search for "Old BBC equipment wanted" you'll find my web page. Please do get in touch.
Mon Mar 27 09:48:24 2006
Eric Jones, Caernarfon.
Brought up in Portmadoc from 1935 I remember well the Triawd y Coleg referred to by Meredydd Evans. The whole family would crowd 'round the wireless and listen intently to the songs and sketches. This was my introduction to 'entertainment'! Last summer, believe it or not, I was working in the garden when I heard a child's voice singing 'hen feic penny-farthing fy nhaid....'I was quite taken aback after all these years - it's still going!
Sun Mar 12 19:33:55 2006
John Bangor
I was born and brought up in Bangor, we were Baptists, I remember Sam Jones coming to our chapel, Penuel, this would be the new one on Garth Road, Sam Jones would always wear the same old raincoat! I seemed to remember also, him buying a car for his son, now known as Dafydd Sam, and the number of the car was MCC11, I believe Dafydd still carries the same number. I also remember our preacher by the name of Cefni Jones, and the punching of the pulpit as he made his point! I think we were all in awe of him!
Fri Dec 30 17:20:27 2005
R. Alun Evans, Cardiff
'Stand By!' was my thesis in Welsh for a Doctorate by the University of Wales, Bangor. The book is a version of the thesis. There is no English translation. But I often lecture in English about Sam. Are there Welsh Societies in Australia who might be interested?
Mon Oct 17 20:19:34 2005
Diana Davies, Australia
I would like to know if Sam Jones' "Standy By", was ever published in English. He was a great uncle of mine, my grandmother's brother.
Mon Sep 19 09:46:36 2005
Diana Davies from Australia
Sam Jones was my grandmother's brother. I don't remember much about him, but I did meet him many years ago while he was visiting Clydach, where my grandmother lived. I have his book "Stand By", but having lived in Australia for 37 years, unfortunately most of my Welsh language has disappeared. I would give my *eye teeth* to have an English version of this book. I recognise names and places but it saddens me I cannot follow the story. Is it published in English?
Sun Sep 18 04:45:38 2005
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