I live in Cardiff, but my heart is in Gwynedd. My strongest connection is with Aberllefenni and Corris, where many generations of my family have lived. Dad grew up in Rock Cottage, Aberllefenni. He left school early and followed his dad to work at the quarry. A year later, just before Christmas 1957, there was a tragedy for the family when my grandad lost his life while working as a rockman at Aberllefenni Quarry.
My family still has a home in the area, so I've been fortunate to visit the locality throughout my life. Although there is no family left in the area anymore, the tradition of going on holiday there and learning about my heritage continues. I enjoy experiencing the slate industry while travelling on the Corris Railway and being guided underground at the Corris Mine Explorers. I also love to walk the old quarrymen's paths with my family, where I can see the remains of the industry and hear stories about my ancestors who worked at the quarry. I am inspired by the striking landscape and will be sure to take a camera with me when I explore the area.
I like to see the different uses of slate, and I once heard Ieuan Rees - the famous Ammanford painter, sculptor and craftsman - say that Aberllefenni slate slabs are the best in the world for engraving and carving. Indeed, my family takes a great interest in the heritage of the area, and in 2002, dad published a bilingual book of local pictures, ‘Corris Trwy Lygad y Camera Through the Eye of the Camera’. Very few people I know are familiar with the area, but for me the back lanes, the footpaths, the views of the slate on the landscape, the sound of the river and the fresh air there are hidden gems