Traditionally, the Wales Centre has conducted its affairs in the English language, but since our Chair, Tim Hartley, introduced an annual Welsh-language event to coincide with the National Eisteddfod, the profile of the RTS in Wales has risen significantly, particularly among Welsh-speaking industry professionals.
Guto Harri. Working with Boris Johnson. 8th August 2008.
Harri illustrated, in a string of highly amusing anecdotes, that no two days are quite the same for him as he seeks to guide his colourful new employer through the media minefield. The picture that emerged was of an extrovert Lord Mayor with a self-deprecating sense of humour but also possessed of courtesy, honesty and an innate sense of responsibility. This event was held in Cardiff in collaboration with two Welsh public affairs societies, PAC and Cyswllt.
Dr Jamie Medhurst. The History of Independent Television in Wales. 5th August 2010.
RTS was in the S4C Pavilion on the 'maes' at Blaenau Gwent for the launch of an important new book, entitled A History of Independent Television in Wales, by historian, academic and Wales Centre member, Dr. Jamie Medhurst, (above, with Ann Clwyd MP). The book had already excited much comment among broadcast professionals, partly because no authoritative history of independent television in Wales had ever previously been written, and partly because those who were in the vanguard of its development had their own individual memories of the events of the last 50 years.
Aled Wyn Phillips. Television from Wrexham. 3rd August 2011.
The Wales Centre’s annual Welsh language event at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham was a lively look back at classic television and film archive associated with the area. Aled Wyn Phillips (above right, with Tim Hartley) grew up in the area, started his television career working with HTV, and is now Head of Trails at S4C. This stroll through the archive treasures reminded us of the talent this somewhat forgotten area of Wales has given television.
Hywel Wiliam. What has the Vale of Glamorgan ever done for us? 8th August 2012.
RTS Wales Centre Administrator, Hywel Wiliam (above right, with Tim Hartley), presented archive material from the past 40 years of Welsh language television at the National Eisteddfod, held this year on a disused airstrip at Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan. Film and video clips featuring the area included the opening of the St Hilary transmitter near Cowbridge in 1957, the first independent television mast built in Wales, Concorde landing at Cardiff airport, documentary footage of Gwynfor Evans' campaign to establish S4C, and the famous poet and entrepreneur Iolo Morganwg.