1968: What is the WELSH WAY OF LIFE? | Check-Up | Voice of the People | BBC Archive

Check-Up considers what it means to be Welsh in 1968.

What are the events that have shaped the Welsh national character (if there is such a thing), how do Welsh people feel about life in Wales and what do they think constitutes Welshness?

This clip is from Check-Up: The Welsh Way of Life, originally broadcast 19 November, 1968.

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[Joe-jikm]

“We were made for better things, like singing hymns, composing poetry and being sad”

[ktsmells]

I'm English but I'm glad the Welsh, especially in the North, still preserve the language.

[willowbrooke]

I'm a Kiwi and as a backpacker in Australia in 1990 I worked with 2 Welsh guys picking apples. One stage I couldn't understand what they were saying to each other. Then I found out they were speaking Welsh. I was both impressed and jealous since I couldn't speak mine and my mum's native Maori language.

[Jesse__H]

I'm an American with a Welsh mother. This was very interesting, thank you. I would've been happy if this were an hour long!

[origSuper]

Here in New England we have candlepin bowling which is particular to this region of the U.S.

I noticed some men playing a game which looks very similar to candlepin bowling in this program.

[agamemnom]

the 'living pictures' what a marvellously old fashioned name for film lol

[onlinemusiclessonsadamphil]

wonderful culture and unique people largely of Celtic origin, full of talent and a once persecuted language

[louisep]

Used to be so many clubs in Cardiff and a great place to go out

[andrewjones-productions]

Depending on how you interpret 'Welsh way of life', an individual's answer can be quite different. I tend to interpret it as what national institutional and cultural events that whilst they may be completely unrelated to one's way of earning money/career, do provide the framework for positions in society to be aspired to and 'be somebody'. As a Welsh speaking Welshman growing up, our annual national events included things like (but not limited to) the Urdd Eisteddfod, . the chapel Gymanfa, the Royal Welsh Show and the countless local ones, the National Eisteddfod, local Eisteddfods, Gwyl Cerdd Dant, Noson Lawen and much more. Some events have wained in their popularity and others have become more popular. I left Wales for Japan in 1991 at 22 years old and so never got the chance to participate in the 'who's who' game of 'important' Welsh people in society. Not that everyone chooses to participate of course.

[sevenwatson]

Over the centuries Wales, Scotland and England have become a mixed race of each other, even the great singer Tom Jones is predominantly English, so the only things that define differences are a different historical timeline and timeline. North Walians speak different Welsh to South Walians. I've seen an official map from the 1600s with Cornwall being South Wales and Wales recorded as North Wales. Times change. I'm British despite being born in London. I have the blood of all the UK in me. If you have more than one, are you not too?!?

[chestercopperpot]

He said soccer which was unusual for the time.

[atomictraveller]

it's been being not english for quite a while now hasn't it

[toddunctious]

Someone born in Somali simply has to stand on Welsh soil and they instantaneously become just as Welsh as anyone in this film. Apparently.

[NorthWalesKid]

Blaming England for things that happened 700 years ago

[jasonayres]

To me, Wales.. it looks a bit like England.
Well, New South Wales - bits of it do look like South Wales.

[robertcummins]

Mother was welsh, she's dead now best favour ever did for me as a lifetime of emotional abuse. Not great advertisement for welsh people. Most cannot speak their own language.

[shabut]

Weird how they need to be replaced with Islam.

[johnwilliams-ihpv]

Wales the land of song ? My arse !
It’s the least musical nation of any !
Music is so much more than national ferver