Deprived Towns Of The Forgotten Welsh Valleys 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧

The South Wales Valleys is an industrialised area that played a significant role in the growth of industrial Britain through its exploitation of its verdant coal, steel and iron resources. Sparsely inhabited until the mid 19th century, communities were established throughout the area to service the abundant need for labour. Many of the towns in the area relied upon a small collection of significant employers to sustain the prosperity of their inhabitants. As mining and steelworks closed towards the end of the 20th century, much deprivation inevitably followed. Today, the valleys are a collection of seemingly forgotten yet once thriving towns. Those that have not left to find work elsewhere struggle to find gainful employment.. life is a struggle for many. Those that are left behind in the valleys are kind and warm-hearted people who are proud of their industrial heritage. The economic prosperity of the region may be consigned to the past but the strong community values and culture remain. Join me as I explore the deprived towns of the Welsh Valleys.
#britain #wales #streetinterview #welshvalleys #uk #decline #deprivation
*You can directly support my work at www.buymeacoffee.com/WendallE... *

[@user-yc2zz7rk1p]

I cringe when I see a KZbin talking about the welsh valleys as it's always with a air of judgment and mild disgust. Thank you for doing it respectfully and talking about the issues that really face the valleys. You summed up how many welsh people feel when you said "people feel like they've been forgotten". We absolutely have been forgotten, they strip mined our assets and then left us to rot. All the educated people move or leave it behind as there are no opportunities, luckily there's a real movement for the current under 35s to refuse to do that and stay and build a stronger Wales through art, community and culture.

[@WendallExplores]

Great people, rich heritage and history 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@monkeytennis8861]

You're talking moribund shitholes full of absolute wallopers

[@Peace2All123]

My kind of SIX PACK!!! 😂😂❤🥰😘🍻🔥✌️XX

[@raywilliams2737]

I can remember watching the Aberfan disaster unfold in black and white on the TV and the one thing I will always remember was the sight of the miners who had just completed their shift digging coal from the mine going straight to the site of the school and start digging again furiously to try and rescue any of the children trapped under the slag that half buried the school.

[@lamsy1]

My grandfather was there, he would never talk about it, the only thing he said was I could never walk in the parents shoes of little ones who died that day, nos da is good night

[@amethyst205]

I vaguely remember the news and seeing people digging with their bare hands. They would be the same age as me if they had lived.

[@lemmysmolesmrs]

My grandfather travelled from Cardiff with my, then, 12 year old Dad. They spent 3 days assisting with removing slag. Both have passed now; neither of them spoke about the experience. Dad had one word "haunting".

[@MegaWilmington]

We owe so much to the welsh, thank you

[@albin2232]

As the original Aboriginal inhabitants of the British Isles, the Welsh deserve a lot more.

[@iantobanter9546]

Particularly from the illegal migrant obsessed Welsh Liebour government.

[@VeritySnatch]

the Welsh and Scots will always be treated like shit in the union.

[@tombartram7384]

Actually the valleys were colonised by English settlers looking for work in the pits. Six generations on, they STILL haven't learnt Welsh, but wiped it out. But the English are good at that.

[@boyzinthewood1]

​@tombartram7384 that really far away the truth it's unbelievable 😂

[@tombartram7384]

@@boyzinthewood1 mae eisiau iti ddysgu tipyn bach o hanes.

[@ConnorCody-qe4ef]

We are welsh, we are strong we are fighters, we will stand and fight the adverserties that will come along,,we are one people,,,🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙏

[@daisick7953]

That's the problem, getting pissed and fighting.The mentality is all f'd up

[@davidalmorgan4739]

I was born a few miles from the places featured in this video and know them well. Your tribute at the end brought tears to my eyes. Thank you!

[@martinellis7156]

Born and raised in Shrewsbury in 1954, parents both Welsh, I remember at least 2 days of sunshine before I left in 1986.

[@danp2596]

Oh man.. it's that bad!?

[@ccmogs5757]

Must have been that heatwave in '76 or '84 😀

[@PaulKnight-lw1eb]

Thanks for the greatest shortest story ever 😅

[@barbarahalkyard1901]

Love the people of South Wales..Whenever i visited was always made welcome.❤

[@jaket9559]

Respect to the Welsh from london great people

[@Henricus.]

Thanks mate! We love you too 🤍❤️💚

[@stormytempest6521]

Still alot of grounded salt of the earth folk in the VALLEYS, by God those folk have lost alot over the years, Mines, Steel etc, alot of Top Musical Talent came from South Wales, Keep Goin, you will bounce back.

[@UnsettlingNarrations]

is your space bar broken?

[@unusedsub3003]

⁠@@UnsettlingNarrationsI think it was written in Morse code, then translated.

[@stormytempest6521]

@@unusedsub3003 No it was Welsh! 😉

[@joebloggs4925]

@@stormytempest6521 they speak slowly over there lol

[@daisick7953]

Being the obese capital of the uk there'll be lots of bouncing, along with pissed up fighting 🙄

[@merlenechambers575]

I am a Kiwi writing from New Zealand, my mothers side of the family is from Merthyr Ty dfil. We still have documentation and photographs from when my Uncle at the tender age of 14 yrs worked the mines. Thank you for showing us a bit of the town. For those of us who have family and personal stories from these places, it helps us get a picture of how things are. You ended the video in a beautiful tribute to the town. Once again, thank you.

[@itzzmanic3378]

Your on the lucky end kind of. lucky you didn't get born over here

[@tonyska]

My father was born in the Valleys but following a bad accident down the pit, my grandfather very nearly died. In fact, they initially believed he had died and that they were bringing a dead body out on a stretcher to the surface. My grandfather survived but lost an eye. Unable to work down the pit and not wanting his sons to work down the mines either, he moved his whole family to the Warwickshire/Worcestershire border to find work. His brothers soon followed and eventually there was no family left behind in Wales. In my home town, there were so many of us with a Welsh parent or grandparents. Such was the exodus from the Valleys to the area I grew up in, that Welsh Society clubs sprung up all over the area. My father has long died when I was young and it's always left me sad that the Welsh part of me is something I've never truly been able to discover. Not a single member of my Dad's family live in Wales. Yet, despite always living in England, I always have a love for Wales. In particular, those amazing Valley communities who worked so hard to make Britain prosperous. I plan on taking my boys to the Big Pit museum this year so they can see how their great grandfather worked down the mines and the sacrifices people like him made. I just hope the Valleys have better times to come, they deserve so much than how they've been treated. Finally, the Aberfan disaster should never be forgotten. RIP to all those poor souls.

[@leaellis2198]

Love Wales. I've loved to visit all my life. So many lovely memories. God bless from the north of England.

[@museonfilm8919]

Very gracious of you to honour the hard work of the Welsh industries from yesteryear. Who knows? If future times we may find ourselves back in need of home-grown industries once more, and communities like Ebbw will thrive again.

[@chrisharrington2879]

I'll take the industrial revolution over the Globalist agenda any day of the week.

[@dylanharrington744]

We can only hope so.👍🏻

[@laurensmith485]

That’s terrible what happened at Aberfan,all those children 😢 may all the dead be remembered and never forgotten

[@MyTing775]

At the time the country raised a lot of money through various charities to help the victims of the disaster. Can you believe the government of the day tried to snaffle the money to pay for the clear up.

[@coolhandluke2926]

I’m from County Durham and I used to work in the Rhonda valleys years ago. The towns and villages in that area really reminds me of home all ex run down mining pit communities but the people in them are the salt of the earth. Hardworking down to earth people. Thanks for the video

[@lamsy1]

Diolch yn fawr, thank you, nos da good night

[@retskovsp]

I'm half welsh and live in bristol..my father was welsh and from mountain Ash...alot of my family are welsh and I love being in Wales.. in my opinion the welsh are the most welcoming people and some of the best people in the world..sense of humour and so patriotic..can't fault them ,wish I was full welsh ..respect them from whatever background ,they are proper people .

[@rogt332]

I was lucky enough to Live in the Valleys as an Englishman and sadly stupid enough to leave , fantastic people and some of the best times of my Life ....always remembered...never forgotten 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👍

[@shaunduffy9791]

That memorial to the Aberfan victims is beautiful. Bless all those souls ❤

[@ritadonnelly8820]

omg first I heard of so sad😢😢 from ireland

[@shaunduffy9791]

I would have been only 7 myself in 1966. I can remember the newsflash that awful day 😢❤​@@ritadonnelly8820

[@deanwilliamswelshroadwarri2706]

Great video!! If you really want to see why Merthyr is rough got to go at night lol. Don't forget it used to be the strongest boxing town in Wales!! Proud to be Welsh champ myself and many others from my town Merthyr 🙏🥊💥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏆🇺🇲

[@johnbyrne642]

My cousin, Julie Regan was killed in the disaster. We took a trip from Plymouth up to Merthyr and our Uncle, Julie’s dad took us to visit the cemetery and Julie’s grave, it was such a beautiful place. Thank you for the tribute to Julie and the other 115 children who were taken too young.

[@richardevans7035]

From Aberfan myself with Plymouth heritage

[@CrueLoaf]

My Nan, Olwen, was from Merthyr. Was such an amazing community. Boxers. Pie factories and coal mines. I used to sit in the cottage and watch all the workers leave the factory as the whistle sounded. I recently went back to Merthyr and the people were still welcoming but many young men sitting around all day without jobs. They really despised the police…I learned that! Another good production. Thank you so much for keeping it positive and not going down the easier predictable tabloid route of pointing and laughing.

[@januzagi4027]

Very strange seeing my mother's name here. I've never heard of anyone else named Olwen, she's Welsh but we live in England so it's not common for us.

[@ruthking5994]

And my nanas nana from pontypridd

[@CrueLoaf]

@@januzagi4027 it’s a common Welsh name. Lovely name.

[@GazMitch1963]

The Aberfan disaster was a terrible tragedy for all those affected and those who lost loved ones. My mom who is currently 89 years old made many of the Shrouds for the children killed in the disaster. My heart goes out to everyone who lost their lives and to the families left behind who still miss friends and family ❤️

[@ocelotjazzz]

Left Wales permanently 2005. Whenever I get homesick I just have to go back to visit and the homesickness disappears. Love Wales, love my parents, don’t want to live there!

[@combrogi]

Same here, I escaped in 2006 amd live in Germany. The people in the valleys don't appreciate their surroundings. They either vandalize everything new or steal it. And the idea of a good night out is getting shit faced and beating each other up.

[@stuartnicholson8298]

Thankd for Remembering Welsh People,,,, its a shame Governments have not done the same

[@richardevans7035]

Our own senydd are a waste of time too

[@tobyjackman3212]

I swear it hasn't stopped raining here in South Wales since October 😭 Such a shame about the deprivation in Merthyr because it's in a very beautiful part of the world. That cinema looks worth a look

[@Jamal_Tyrone]

Weather is more random than that, last weekend I had a lovely sunny walk in Usk, this weekend nowt but rain.

[@marythurlow9132]

Not far from the Beacons. Merthyr a lot better than it once was. Cyfarthfa Castle has signage about the area which shows how bad it was at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Disease, overcrowding, terrible conditions, poverty was terrible. Read about Crawshay Bailey who owned the Steelworks. The legend is that he said on his deathbed, " God forgive me." I was born in Merthyr Tydfil. I lived in a middle class area England, but we came back to Wales when my husband retired. I live in another valley town now, and I feel grounded, real somehow. These people are the salt of the earth. If I had a magic wand I would change things, but can't the people who 'rule' us help us more? That old gent was right. The miners and steel workers, not only in Wales, created the prosperity of Britain, but got very little reward for their hard work. I am so sorry that the heart has gone out of the young folk.

[@jonathanhart8659]

It's the chemtrails making it rain

[@sadtosuccess]

@@jonathanhart8659 It's the geography making it rain, it's always been the same even before planes existed!

[@jonathanhart8659]

@@sadtosuccess it's right in front of your eyes !! Open them

[@Zambineaux305]

People in the UK seem much more down-to-earth than Americans Would love to go out there and have a pint with some of the locals 🍻 Awesome vid, Wendall Keep it up 💪🏽💯 Greetings from Miami, Florida 🌴

[@jasondavies3907]

There’s the UK, Wales and the Valleys. Different ends of the continuum.

[@eriksaxton3817]

Except London you are right

[@jasondavies3907]

@@eriksaxton3817 i concur

[@Wiiggz]

Anywhere across the south half of wales you’ll find plenty of brilliant local pubs with lots of welcoming people. If you visit around here try Tenby. It’s lovely in the summer. Not as warm as Florida though, but at least you’ll be use to the rain 😂

[@Zambineaux305]

@@Wiiggz Thanks for the info 🤝🏽 Florida is hot and muggy right now 🥵 Hahaha 😂

[@snowiecat456]

I did 4 weeks as a student teacher in the High School in Merthyr and taught some of the kids who had survived the Aberfan disaster. I went to the memorial gardens in Aberfan to pay my respects and thinking about the rows of white gravestones and the children who died sends shivers down my spine.❤

[@stephendavies925]

My grandparents were from the Rhonda moved up North in the 30s very warm funny people

[@jeanbissettfayse8844]

I lived in South Wales for 2 years they are great people. I'm from the NorthEast of England where our shipyards and pits closed. The people of the UK are strong and carry on best they can Shame our corrupt Goverments don't care about us

[@TransitionedToAShark]

Well no. We are overpopulated. Everything will make sense when you accept they want you all dead

[@bruceinaus]

Thanks Wendall, the gentleman you spoke to in the pub who worked at the steel Works probably represents many of the older generation is these towns that have been there and through that period, very interesting to listen to, thanks again

[@danfairbairn2998]

Spent eight years in South Wales and the people are the absolute salt of the earth. Great insight and very respectful conversation. Love the video. Hairs on the back of my neck as you discussed Aberfan at the end and the sacrifice that the valleys have made. Thank you.

[@peacefrog6823]

My father and his family were from Stanley Town in the Rhondda and they were forced to move in the late 50’s. He held strongly onto his Welsh roots, and instilled it into me. I’ve visited a few times over the years and I intend to visit again in the near future. Unfortunately my father and his eldest brother are no longer with us, but I’m sure they will be there in spirit.! (R.I.P. Alan and Vernon Powell greatly missed).

[@ccmogs5757]

I'm from the other side of the Rhondda (Fawr) Interesting fact is Paul Whitehouse (comedian) is originally from Stanleytown ATB

[@tracyr2842]

My daughter moved to Tylorstown from Torfaen and she’s sworn she’d never move back. She loves it there.

[@argopunk]

Fun for the pub bit, and a touching honour at the end. Like the owner said, the Wyndham Arms was featured in that early 2000's show "Toughest Pubs in Britain." I doubt any of the stars of the pub from then are still tipping pints. Maybe at the big pub in the sky.

[@ThePonziScheme]

Especially if as he said they were all 15-pinters

[@NicoleShabert-nh8ol]

Prayers for all the people effected everywhere going through this. God Bless Us All. from the USA

[@daisick7953]

🙄

[@dumpc]

Much love from Wales. I love the states, my wonderful wife is American :)

[@18hrslong]

Amen from Wales

[@lewisb85]

As someone who is from blackwood and holds a masters in history focusing on local history from Newport Uni I will say, its a result of all the connected industries (mines, steelworks, newport docks) all closing at the same time.

[@evanhill267]

I grew up in Merthyr from a young age, and I will say it’s not as rough as people will make it out to be. It’s actually a nice place with decent people, sure you get the rougher areas but everywhere is like that. Sort of put it all into perspective when I moved from there just how much I miss it.

[@andrewstones2921]

I grew up just over the river from Wales on the English side but I spent a lot of time in Wales when I was young in the 70s and 80s. Since then I spent more than 2 decades living all around the world. I still love going to wales, the people are great and it just feels very genuine.. hard to explain.

[@williamnunn8847]

I get it. My mum is from Bridgend. “The last bridge” over the Ogwr. Its hard to explain. I enjoy Cardiff too. No place is too big or detached

[@bentyrrell8083]

Bristol or the Forest?

[@Wiiggz]

We’re always very welcoming here in south wales, always cracking a joke too

[@VloggingALife]

Awesome wendall ! I had a great time with you ! Thanks alot

[@Sidchasingclassiccars]

I've nearly been bashed up 3 times in the valleys and I was only delivering parcels for DHL!!! 😄 My enduring memory of Aberfan was an image of a crying policeman carrying the body of a dead child away from the school there. I was a child myself and the horror of it all really struck home. I have great respect for the folk of South Wales, a tough breed who have had it hard in a rugged environment. "Peidiwch byth ag anghofio eich bod yn Gymro". 👍

[@buffbuff5016]

One of the best trips I ever had was to Wales. The people were lovely and the scenery absolutely beautiful. We were fortunate that the 2 weeks we were there it rained only 2 days…very unusual. It is sad to see the demise of such a wonderful land. 🥺❤️🇨🇦

[@user-rr6kz8vu3i]

South Wales has had so many tragic events involving the coal mining industry. The Senghenydd pit disaster in 1913 took the lives of 439 men and boys.

[@michaeljonas7436]

Shame the video wasn't longer butty, many more towns like them, to visit throughout the South wales valleys.... glad I moved to thailand 🇹🇭, but my heart still belongs in pontypool. Lovely of you paying your respect at the end butty, proper tear jerker. respect to you. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙏🙏🙏

[@AdianGess]

Respect to you rev, thanks for all you do. I'm a 52 year old mam of two, got my girl learning kempo and homeschooling, I am a cleaner struggling to get work, but hopefully will pick up soon. My village is full of nurses and docs, I know they think I'm crazy, but I'm fit and health, no mask, no test no intervention. Although pretty lonely with no one to discuss the bs of today. Onward I will go cleaning others shit and mess, and remain healthier and more informed. Crazy, hell yeah better than lazy.

[@FITSOZOLIFE]

Well done for homeschooling, keep going, it’s difficult but worth it. Our son will go to uni this September. No school, no exams. It can be done. I’m originally from M, Vale, born in the Gurnos. We need more informed people, no mask or tests😉. Merthyr rising attitude. The deindustrialisation was the first part of a long plan to loot British wealth and destroy its hard working communities. Sell off the council house, put people in debt, privatisation of everything! REM the ads to the working class? Where’s Sid? You can have shares, you can own Gas, Rail , Airways, Steel. Only for a short time then the city of London will own it all. Today is the final stage, plandemic killed off small business, people wok from home, every thing goes digital, close the farms, own the digital I’d and money and centralise or communism everything. Sad that most can’t see it. The chap in film is right, Wales helped build the wealth, no billions are being looted and laundered in Ukrainian oligarchy NGO’s.

[@billynomate3699]

You're spot on m8. pity the sheep around you never had the same mentality, The worlds gone mad. all by design@@FITSOZOLIFE

[@Anev-ms5bn]

@@FITSOZOLIFE Communism everything? You've not a clue of the state of this world then, when it was the communists who fought to keep the mines open and to save Britain's industries from collapse. I'm proud to call myself a communist as many of the miners, many of the steelworkers, many of the hard working men and women who kept this country strong did, and to fight for the rights of the people as they did too; it was communists who finally killed off Maggie Thatcher with the poll tax and who beat her back in Liverpool. It ain't nothing to do with conspiracy theories around the pandemic, but systems of money and power that have existed for decades and decades...A shadow state led by the City, you're right, with privatisation, with the crushing of the unions, with the end of the council houses, but we have got to know the solution has been in front of us all along, and that's for the people to seize the means of production and democratically define the future of this country. We want our future to be decided here, in open debates, in open halls, not in some backroom in New York City or Washington.

[@MyTing775]

That bloke in street knows his stuff. Malcolm price was a merthyr legend.

[@owenthfc9055]

Very good video mate. Moved to Wales from England since I was a toddler but have always lived in and around the Cardiff area. I rarely go through the valleys so to see this is insightful. I knew mining towns in Wales suffered greatly but I didn’t realise it was this bad. Hope it improves soon

[@louisep5178]

There is still water running through the old spoil tips they have not been properly cleared. Lovely tribute thank you Wendall 🕯️

[@thomasmclory1604]

I'm a Belfast man living in London for the past 35yrs. I've visited Wales several times and every time the people have treated me so very well. Love the place. 👍

[@Nickpaintbrush]

Great video mate, the woman in the cinema was a breath of fresh air!

[@daisick7953]

And lovely rounded breasts 👍🏼

[@ianslong]

Another great video keep up the good work 👋👋

[@Bubble5555]

Keep up the good work

[@hungbearlover]

I loved your sincere and well spoken tribute at the end

[@alisonbrowning9620]

6 pack, bloody love it

[@laurencechapman1990]

I remember the Wyndham arms on toughest pubs in Britain about 20 years ago. Nice to see it’s still there

[@paulrichards6894]

i went there about 30-35 years ago don't remember it being that bad but maybe I've forgotten

[@SuperMrScience]

Great to see you showcasing Wales. Llanelli boy, Llanelli would be worth a visit man. Town center is something else.

[@Wiiggz]

And station road is more 😂

[@Liamoneill1979]

Im a 'Porth lad' myself (Rhondda Valley). Ive seen all the Welsh valleys and sadly every town is struggling with deprivation. Watched your video for a giggle, as its easy to laugh at ourselves, then got to the end. For touching on the Aberfan history you get my Like and Sub mate. Total respect x

[@danieljames7300]

I really enjoyed watching this. Being a Welshman myself but lucky enough to have been raised in a better environment, it’s heart wrenching that these places are being forgotten about.

[@williamjennings7521]

You never miss a beat with your videos. What a way to finish it with the way you did. Never heard of that disaster before and now I'm reading all about it! Thank you

[@nofearofwater]

From south wales too the people from the valleys are more down to earth but the guy saying about how if you’re looking for trouble you get trouble you’re looking for a nice time you get a nice time, perfectly describes it, nobody is forced into a gang life beef or dealing drugs like other places. You have total control of which life path you want to go down and that’s what I love about it. Only bad part is nobody is taught to dream big, nobody wants to stand out, we’re never taught to become doctors and lawyers businessmen etc, most people will never know life outside of scraping by. Hopefully one day that’ll change!

[@chrisuk1000]

Aber Fan always hits me, thanks for paying your respects there. Great videos mate, you do an important job by getting the message out there

[@Sal-fg2be]

Was hoping for a new video soon, keep up the good work

[@margaretthatcher6828]

I love that they would let a dog in the bar...here in the States they'd shut you down. Great vid. Thanks.

[@craig.taylor]

Excellent video. Thanks for outlining these issues. I grew up 20 mins south of Merthyr Tydfil in a town that has identical issues: No industry and a complete and utter lack of opportunity. Having moved around a lot since I left at 22 (including several stints abroad), I've still never felt a stronger sense of community, however. Call it rose tinted glasses, but I believe the Valleys make for one of the prettiest corners of the country, home to a community spirit as beautiful as the mountains in which it lives. And I'd move back in a heartbeat if it was easier to make a decent living there.

[@Michael-fg8cd]

The major towns south of merthyr are bustling economically. Many are moving there from london and getting the same jobs locally. It isn't all doom and gloom.

[@craig.taylor]

@@Michael-fg8cd Glad to hear! In retrospect, the wording in my original comment was probably a little strong. I just felt especially pessimistic and angry at the powers that be after watching this video. That being said, I definitely wouldn't refer to my hometown as bustling in any way shape or form, but your optimism is encouraging and I hope you're right!

[@Michael-fg8cd]

@@craig.taylor Yeah I understand, many towns are remnants of what was with no hope for the future. But there is atleast some places that are now commuting towns for higher paid jobs in cardiff which in turn adds to the pot in the local economies. I can only speak my opinion based on a few towns in the rhonda valleys but what i see is tradesmen turning down work where they're over busy and a need for more workers to fill demand in all sectors. People are relocating to these areas from the smaller towns and immediately slotting in to the economy. If you're a part of the local community groups you will also see those from all over the u.k and ireland moving there, similar paid jobs, cheaper housing and a much nicer place to live. These youtubers have an agenda to push especially when titled most deprived, for example where is the cyfarthfa retail park in merthyr ttdfil we can all go to any town centre and ask a few alcoholics what its like.

[@daisick7953]

It's a shame a lot of people in the valleys don't respect their community. Anything nice that's built is either vandalized or nicked and fly tipping all over the place.

[@sadtosuccess]

@@Michael-fg8cd You have to go pretty south of Merthyr for that to be true! You have to be within easy commuting distance of Cardiff. I lived in Tylorstown for a while, it's the back end of nowhere and takes 2hrs by bus to get to Cardiff, no trains and the roads aren't great either. It'll never be a commuter town. And while becoming a commuter town is certainly good for the economy, there is also downsides in loss of the culture and community etc, which is part of what makes the valleys a special place in the first place. I don't know what the solution is when the young people of the towns either feel hopeless or see their only option to earn a living is to move out. What I do know is it's a complicated problem, and simple solutions to complicated problems often cause as much harm as they resolve.

[@yaseenbradley9829]

I remember working at TRW in Resolven on a training course for 12 weeks lovely people

[@CornBeefGash]

Lad! Come to Rhyl! X

[@garydavies4457]

great video once again

[@mattylf1]

I remember going on a school trip from Bristol back in the early 80's to places like Merthyr Tydfil, Cwmbran & Dowlais to study the downturn of industry in those areas and the effect on the local communites, it would seem not a lot has changed in that time down to the failure of successive goverments. As our coach past along a road in Aberfan, I remember seeing all those white graves on the hill and what was a noisy coach we were in, just went silent as something we had read about previously, turned into reality in front of our eyes. Watched many a programme about the disaster since and would like to go back one day and pay my respects.

[@donniblanco5239]

Excellent Presentation Bruv, a well balanced outlook from Genuine Contributors 👏🏻🙏🏻✨

[@ynysmones3816]

Finally you come to my neck of the woods. I knew you would. Love your stuff mate, you show a lot of respect.

[@bordersw1239]

My MIL was sent to Aberfan to help as a nurse - it was her first day as a qualified a nurse. That’s all she ever mentions - still won’t talk about what she saw.

[@matthewrobins2599]

Very good video. Good work to cover a lot of aspects respectfully.

[@howardthomas1490]

Thank you for the video and your comments. I’m originally from pontypool and had to leave together work.

[@howardthomas1490]

It was meant to say …. To get work

[@joshuajames1720]

great story telling, and a great final message - thanks Wendall!

[@trackfanstv]

Good video Wendal, lovely tribute and moment at the end, nicely elocuted 💯

[@twmlloyd5257]

Salt of the earth these people, Malcolm Price was a tough tough man, Aberfan will never be forgotten Cariad Mawr ,

[@janwhite6038]

Its my hope that wales will leas the change in the uk. Weksh men are survivors of generations of suppresion. The Welsh farmers are my great hope.

[@johnlewis19a]

I'm from Tredegar, near Ebbw Vale. I remember when Nick Clegg made his documentary on Brexit. Interviewed a load of pensioners and one voted Brexit as the public toilets had been closed 😮 that's the council. Blaenau Gwent had millions pumped in from the EU with the train station, college and the heads of the valley road. They blame immigrants or the rain rather than the Tory governments

[@combrogi]

Spot on, Brexit was and is a complete disaster. Ebbw vale has so much money pumped into it and Gwent is the obese capital of Britain.

[@bannaubrycheiniog1329]

So true

[@theabandonedhunter3604]

I used to cover all these areas for work once. I never ventured in the towns as such but you could often tell that places had been left behind as you said. Some awesome scenery in the Valleys driving through.Top video my friend.. UTS 🔴⚪️….Smithy

[@LeeJohn70]

Great video Wendall 👍😁 love the 6 Pack. Such a shame Wales is looking so grim, no work, a disaster waiting too happen.

[@markkilley2683]

It's a shame things have gone bad. Things have really changed since I was there in 1976.

[@johnmcdyer7297]

Abervan when myself and my wife went there I felt so sad almost crying when we seen all the graves of the little children that lost their lives the ages of them so young,felt for their parents and grandparents also their siblings,if I was alone I would cry out loud ,a policeman in my street went there he was John price we are in port talbot but it went around the whole world

[@user-lg1uz2cl5o]

Wendell like watching your videos ..hope you can cover handsworth in Birmingham please..

[@fabiennelowers3961]

seconded

[@lauriebluesguy]

Thank you for the respectful ending of the video, I've been to all the towns in your video - as a hobby I play in a covers band and was only playing in Merthyr the night before your video was posted. There are good and bad parts of all those towns, but unemployment and the dashing of young hopes takes it's toll. Great video, I enjoy your unbiased commentary - keep up the excellent work :)

[@bartez111]

Great video. I am from the north east of England, an area which shares a similar industrial past and subsequent decline to that of South Wales. What i find is that the similarities between the people are stark. They share all the same warm traits. I often head to Wales through work. It is such a beautiful place and very welcoming. All the best!

[@garyrigby21]

Wendall go to Birkenhead, Liverpool it's just across the river but feels a 1000 miles away from Liverpool the poverty there is shocking

[@andreasjacovides4800]

Another great video. God bless the Welsh people .

[@icemaiden38]

Some of the biggest dumps on earth visited (ebbw vale, Brynmawr etc) but finished well with Aberfan. My old junior school teacher was a survivor of the disaster as a young teacher. Never forgotten ❤

[@ducatimann]

ANOTHER AWE INSPIRING VLOG!!!...... Had me in tears at the end ....

[@barnowl.]

My ancestors come from Breconshire, Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. My great grandfather worked in a steel mill in Ebbw Vale and lived there with his wife and children. A grandfather was a coal miner. Further back the ancestors were farming. My parents saw "the writing on the wall' and moved to England for years and them emigrated to Australia in the early 1950s. I still have relations in Wales and I have a love for Wales. I've visited once and plan to go again. It is beautiful ! Love from Australia.

[@flynnguest8323]

I'm from around a town near the Merthyr area and I have to say this was very respectful. Thank you for shedding light on our rather bleak view on life hopefully some day we can get some industry going that will tip the scales into be a thriving area once again

[@luvparc6787]

Just moved from the valleys up north up to York, went to Ebbw Vale for college so I know this area very well, only been a few months moved mun but I do miss it very much, even dreamt about it last night I did, I know in my heart of hearts I belong there but god can it be miserable down there, there's so much beauty there that's taken for granted great views great walks and so on and it is succumbing to misery without a fight like we are up and down the country in times like these we must not go gentle into that good night. I rage I do, do you?

[@peterah7957]

Brought me to tears when visited Aberfan memorial garden. The greed of a few caused this ! They were warned by the village of the lack of safety and they were ignored!

[@pamelaselby7964]

Such lovely people in this video, very empathetically done to show the community spirit and life.

[@williamhorn6184]

Watching video again ! Great Channel Wendall you Earned a Subscriber ! Been watching all your tours for the past few months great Channel!

[@kevinmott6205]

I love The North and South Wales. Lovely people. ❤

[@lukewilliams2799]

Great watch , from brynmawr myself , market hall cinema is a treasure!

[@janecox4173]

This brought me to tears. My grandad work down the 'pits' amd my grandparents lived in ystelefera. It was such a close community. Thankyou for the words at the end

[@earlbee3196]

The Welsh Breakfast is a unique combination of some of the most symbolic food of Wales, such as Welsh bacon, Laverbread, and Penclawdd cockles. The breakfast begins with thick slices of Welsh bacon. Historically, bacon was kept and used as a staple source of fat in most kitchens throughout Wales.

[@combrogi]

I'm guessing you're talking about a long time ago. The normal Welsh breakfast is a full Englisgh in a greasy spoon cafe 😂

[@earlbee3196]

@@combrogi yes I believe so.

[@jd6766]

Another powerful episode, Wendall - especially the last part. I grew up in Cardiff and my grandfather worked down the mines, he eventually died from black lung. While I don´t live in the U.K. anymore, I think what hurt the valleys towns was Brexit. It seems there was quite a bit of funding for the rural areas but of course that dried up and almost crystallised their fate. Great video again, very well presented!