DylanThomas Literary Pub Crawl ThisThursday

Next year we'll be celebrating the centenary of Dylan Thomas's birth in Swansea.

But this Thursday at 6.30pm we'll be meeting to visit three pubs probably associated with Dylan Thomas.Come along and meet other like-minded people for some interesting facts about the man himself and Swansea as it was.

Just £6 per person and buy your own drinks. A great way to spend a couple of hours or more.

We'll be meeting every Thursday, same place, same time. Come along.

Pen and ink sketch by Jeff Phillips

Dylan Thomas is the second most quoted poet in the world and is highly regarded.He'd written 200 poems and been published whilst still in his teens. He was writing for the radio and films and was a regular broadcaster. He gave talks across America to crowded rooms and wrote books and plays. He enjoyed a drink!

Beyond Bricks and Mortar Programme

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PROTECTING the past is helping shape the future for Swansea workers.

Young men from across the city are gaining employment, training and skills at the highest levels while helping revive Swansea’s landmark Guildhall. It’s all part of the major programme to refurbish the Grade 1 listed building in a way which protects its past while making it functional for future use.

By being part of Swansea Council’s innovative Beyond Bricks and Mortar programme the project has aimed from the start to benefit local firms and secure and create local jobs. It is giving young people at the start of their careers the chance of a life time to learn their craft while restoring fine plasterwork, fittings and woodwork as well as meeting the challenges of conservation while installing modern electrics, heating, lighting and ICT provision.

And it’s meant that apprentice carpenter Tom Morgan, aged 18, from Hafod, was able to secure an apprenticeship with Guildhall contractors and local company John Weaver Contractors. He said: “This project is giving me great experience. There is so much variety in the carpentry here I am gaining skills I could not get elsewhere. When you are starting out it is also important to have work close to home because you cannot afford to travel and stay away.”

Repairing  or replacing wood crafted by the original carpenters has also  helped former apprentice Gareth Morgans, aged 23, gain a prestigious Heritage Gold Skillcard which will open doors for the rest of his career.

The 23-year-old from Winch Wen, who was inspired to take up carpentry after woodwork classes at Birchgrove Comprehensive, said: “This is a really special building and project to work on.

“Although I have worked on a variety of sites I am learning so much here. We are making it right for the future but keeping as much of the original as we can and making the new match the old.”

Council's Cabinet member,said “I am delighted to see the great care being taken by those working on this building as they make their own mark on its future while preserving the past. They are laying the foundations for successful careers while giving the Guildhall a future as offices from which Council staff deliver services to the public and space for public events, conferences and performances."

Ian Hawkins, Managing Director of Hafod-based John Weaver construction, , said:  “This prestigious project has enabled John Weaver, as a local company to secure existing jobs and offer specialist training for both apprentices and those engaged in workplace experience schemes, it has also provided an opportunity to enhance the skills of  those who have completed apprenticeships. Through the range of challenges this project has presented we have gained further expertise which will put us in a unique position as a premier conservation contractor when bidding for future work.

They are working closely with contractors and CADW to ensure that the original features are preserved, restored or replaced with great care while enabling the building to meet the requirements of modern use.

future.”

Dylan Thomas Centre nets world famous football writers

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IT’S not just world famous players like Robin van Persie and Carlos Tevez coming to Swansea these days -  top football journalists are making a beeline for the city too.

ESPN, London Times and Wall Street Journal writer Gabriele Marcotti is the latest to have signed-up for an evening of football fun and discussion at the Dylan Thomas Centre on Saturday March 16 at 7.30pm.Due to his fluency in both English and Italian, Marcotti writes for and contributes to various publications in both languages.

In the United States, Marcotti's known for his work in Sports Illustrated and The Wall Street Journal, he also writes for Champions Magazine, The Times in England, and the Sunday Herald in Scotland, having previously written for the Daily Mail and the Financial Times". In Italy he is a columnist for La Stampa and is the London correspondent of Il Corriere dello Sport.

After working for talkSPORT radio for six years, Marcotti switched to Radio 5 Live, co-presenting the Friday edition of 5 Live Sport alongside Mark Pougatch to preview the weekend’s fixtures in the Premier League and beyond. When Colin Murray began hosting 5 Live Sport on Friday nights, Marcotti moved to the Sunday night 6-0-6 programme.[2]

He often appears on the sports betting television station, SportsXchange and is sometimes interviewed on Sky Sports News and BBC's Football Focus, particularly when big stories break on Italian football such as the 2006 match-fixing scandal. He has also appeared as a pundit on ITV's UEFA Champions League highlights show, and is a regular guest on ESPN's PressPass.[3]
Podcasts

Marcotti took over the job as host of The Times' podcast, TheGame, in August 2007, along with Guillem Balagué, replacing Danny Kelly. He had previously been a main contributor to the podcast for 2006-07 season. The following season he remained a prominent contributor to the programme, although Phill Jupitus took over as the host. Midway through the 2009-10 season, Jupitus left the show to concentrate on other work and Marcotti was re-appointed to the role of host indefinitely.

Marcotti is now also a regular guest on US based football show Beyond the Pitch where he gives regular updates on La Liga, English Premier League along with all the latest transfer news.

Gabriele Marcotti has written a number of high-profile football books, including biographies on Paulo Di Canio and Fabio Capello. He’ll be taking part in a question and answer session within hours of the Premier League Swans taking on Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium.

Other footballer writers taking part include Blizzard editor Jonathan Wilson and Philippe Auclair - the England correspondent for France Football. The event will be compered by Marcus Speller from sports podcast, The Football Ramble.

Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The success of the Capital One Cup-winning Swans is doing wonders for Swansea. The success of the team is putting the city on the map right across the world. This means major international sports magazines and broadcasters are coming to Swansea in their droves and writing great things about our great city and its people.

“The line-up of writers at the Dylan Thomas Centre brings together some of the biggest names in the football-writing world. The event will be a treat for football fans and anyone interested in sports journalism.”

Jonathan Wilson will also speak about his latest book, The Outsider - The History of the Goalkeeper.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/dylanthomas or from the box office on 01792 463980.

Philippe Auclair’s books include a biography on Thierry Henry.

Swans Parade on Tuesday

SWANSEA will have its chance to welcome home their Swans heroes with an open-top bus victory parade on Tuesday.

Barely 48 hours after securing their first major trophy, thousands of fans are expected to turn out to welcome home their Wembley heroes.

The open-top bus parade will kick-off from outside the Dragon Hotel at 4.30pm and finish with a Civic Reception at the city's Guildhall later. Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Dennis James, said that after such an amazing result on Sunday the people of Swansea would turn out in their thousands to welcome the victorious team home.

"This is a fantastic moment for the Swans and for Swansea as a whole," he said. "After their promotion to the Premier League, Sunday's events open a new chapter in a remarkable success story for our city's football team. I'm sure thousands of fans will want to line the route and be part of an event that will be remembered for years to come."

From its starting point in Kingsway the bus will make its way towards West Way. It will then move along St Helen's Road to Guildhall.Fans will be able to line the route to welcome Michael Laudrup and the team back to Swansea. There will be road closures along the route on a rolling basis so roads can be re-opened as soon as the procession has passed to minimise inconvenience to residents and traffic. Stewards will be on hand to marshall fans and ensure their safety during the procession. St John's Ambulance first aiders will also be in attendance.
Cllr David Phillips, Leader of Swansea Council, said: "This is an exciting achievement and we have pulled out all the stops to get the victory parade organised as quickly as possible and we're sure it's going to be a tremendous success.

"We hope everyone who comes along has a great time, but the safety of the participants and the public is paramount.  For this reason, we would ask all spectators to stay behind the safety barriers and follow the any instructions that they may get from the safety stewards."

Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "I'd urge the people of Swansea and Swans fans from elsewhere in South Wales to line the parade route. The parade will give us a chance to thank Michael Laudrup and his fantastic team for their terrific achievements that keep on raising our city's profile even further across the world."

2013 Pilot Show Presenters

We have found and commissioned three presenters for our first show. Experienced cameramen, lighting and sound engineers and editors go without saying. They work in the background and make sure that programmes are always finished to a high quality.

But of course the viewer only sees the presenter and guest. And the professional presenter will guide the guest in the direction that will appeal to the viewers and keep them watching.

We feel that we have found three such presenters for our pilot show.

Keith Maynard has spent his years working as a presenter, actor and Compere for various companies both away at sea and on land. In 2010 he was offered the chance to work as an Entertainment Director for Cunard’s legendary Queens, most recently the Queen Mary 2. During this period he presented a series of Video Blogs for Cunard line and ran his own live daily TV Chat Show.

Keith is a passionate presenter and loves to interview people, his most recent guests have included Sir David Frost, Jennie Bond, PD James, Anthony Inglis, Graham Taylor, Dame Sheree Valentine Daines, Tim Sebastian and Britains Got Talent Winners Ashleigh and Pudsey.

We are pleased that Keith has joined us and look forward to having him present future shows. 

Watch out for him on Ideal World TV on Sunday 10th February at 1700 hours.

Jenni Crane is a breath of fresh air in the presenting world – a dynamic, versatile, pocket sized presenter with a wealth of experience behind her.

Making her on screen debut on the shopping channels she soon caught the eye of channel 5 “The Wright Stuff” and from time to time, can be seen as booth girl.

Jenni writes, produces and edits her own material.  She recently set up her own blog “Jenni’s Journeys” – A Welsh girl in London.  Her well developed journalistic techniques succeed in capturing the hearts and minds of London, reporting on the capitals major events.  With her effective use of Social media marketing, Jenni has received commissions from businesses, requesting her to review their products from luxury hotels to afternoon teas!

Having interviewed people from many different walks of life, from the stars of the big screen to rugby legends, Jenni’s down to earth, friendly approach gives her the likability factor, both on screen and off!   You'll be seeing lots more of Jenni on SwanTV


Flora Blathwayt is a graduate of the Postgraduate Broadcast Journalism course at the London College of Communication. She has been a reporter with  Heart West Country, Presenter with Frome TV, Somerset, Reporter with Spire FM, Salisbury and a reporter with BBC Oxford. She was a reporter at the Queens Jubilee, the flypast at RAF Odham and  at Leicester Square premieres.

She has a quirky intimate style of interviewing that adds something special to our programmes.

Watch our for SwanTV.com from the beginning of March. 

Swan TV Pilot Show

Saturday 18th January was to be the day we recorded our pilot show but instead we had to cancel because of the snow.

So it was the following Sunday that we gathered in our studio in Swansea High Street and set up the kit ready for our guests to arrive at 1.45 for a 2pm start. Initially we shot our musicians and then immediately set up the lighting for the chat show. 

Keth and Jenni were on the sofa whilst Flora was our "roving" reporter.

Our three presenters Keith Maynard, Jenni Crane and Flora Blathwayt arrived early and we were able to do a run through and discuss the guests.

Right on cue Cllr Nick Bradley, the Swansea Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Dylan Thomas, Geraint Davies the Member of Parliament for Swansea West and  Geoff Hayden, owner of the Dylan Thomas house in Swansea Uplands arrived.

Soon we were ready to go. Cameramen, lighting and sound operators, presenters and guests waited for the count-down and we got under way.

It took just one take to complete.

Dave Long of Onlyoneword started a monochrome piece of art and just before we started recording and completed it as we finished. We are planning to have this on display at the launch on 29th February.

Watch out for the channel going live at the end of the month.