Dylan Thomas Statue and Victoria Hopkins

The Dylan Thomas statue at the Marina outside is a good place to introduce Victoria Hopkins, the new SwanTV reporter and news reader.



Just across the Marina bridge is another statue, that of Captain Cat, a major character in Under Milk Wood, the play for words written by Dylan Thomas and one of the vivid memories I have in the days of Radio. I still enjoy listening to many programmes on radio and in particular the drama. You can use your imagination rather than depend on what you see when you watch TV. I can clearly remember listening to Under Milk Wood. The year must have been 1954 and the first recording presented by the BBC with  Richard Burton and I think I may have listened on a crystal set using a pair of ex-RAF headphones.

Crystal sets were a way of listening privately and I'd listen in bed. Radio Luxemburg was popular. The sets were often sold as kits for self assembly and I think mine was in a small cigar box.  Meanwhile the family listened in the drawing room to such programmes as Tony Hancock, Dick Barton, Ray's  Laugh and many others. Whilst we now sit around the TV we used to have the radio on  doing other things. Here is a photo of a crystal set from the early fifties. Now we have a single device that;s a phone, TV, radio and much more

Just to remind you, Captain Cat is the old blind sea captain who dreams of his deceased shipmates and lost lover Rosie Probert. He is one of the play's most important characters, as he often acts as a narrator. He observes and comments on the goings-on in the village from his window.

Dylan Thomas Theatre

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Although not a pub the Dylan Thomas Theatre is just a few steps from one of the pubs we visit.

 And it is well worth strolling down to take a look outside the building and the wall paintings. If there is a performance taking place we will peek in and look at the Dylan Thomas memorabilia on the Foyer walls. 

This is the home of the Little Theatre Amateur Production Company. 

Dylan Thomas was a member and performed with them in the thirties as a young man. They perform Under Milk Wood every year on the Dylan Thomas anniversary using sets from another production being performed by a different Theatre Group which makes it very interesting. I have seen three shows in different years and each has been delighful and a joy to watch. I highly recommend you look out for, and attend, a performance later in the year.

Directly outside the Theatre and looking out to see is a state of Dylan Thomas. A commment was made that his likeness is terrible compared to the likeness of the chair (which is pretty good). On the plinth is carved  '......though I sang in my chains like the sea' from his much-loved poem 'Fern Hill'.

Another statue on the Marina: and a particular favorite of mine is that of Captain Cat.

This is a great statue, larger than life and a great photo shoot location. I have taken some fabulous photos at different times of the day and from different angles with some satisfaction. Of course Captain Cat wouldn't appreciate this being blind.

Opening lines from Under Milk Wood

To begin at the beginning:

It is Spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters'-and- rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea. The houses are blind as moles (though moles see fine to-night in the snouting, velvet dingles) or blind as Captain Cat there in the muffled middle by the pump and the town clock, the shops in mourning, the Welfare Hall in widows' weeds. And all the people of the lulled and dumbfound town are sleeping now.

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We can arrange special walks for your group so if you want to arrange something give me a call. We can arrange for food at one of the pubs, an actor to be speaking extracts from Dylan Thomas poetry or stories. We also do the Uplands Walk taking in Cwmdonkin Park and standing by the actual fountain from "The Hunchback in the Park" and much more. Finishing up in the Uplands Tavern. Plenty to see and talk about.  Call me on 0797636468.

Save £1 today. take a photo of the voucher and show the guide tonight.

Enjoy the great weather.