7th October 2010
The Epynt Mountains resounded recently with the happy sound of children. Throughout the summer Brecknock Young Farmers, with the aid of Gwyl y Cyfarwydd (the Welsh Storytellers' Festival) have been re-telling the story of the Epynt community that was lost in 1940, at the outset of the Second World War. Last Wednesday (29th September), some 160 school pupils congregated at the Disgwylfa Visitors' Centre to see some of the last children brought up on Epynt demonstrating skills they were taught in their youth. Pupils of Ysgol y Bannau, Brecon, Ysgol Dolafon, Llanwrtyd, Sennybridge and Builth primary schools as well as a group of Builth High School pupils watched in wonder as they saw sheep being sheared by hand shears, horse-drawn machinery in action and bread and butter being made on the farm. An unexpected bonus was the opening, by the army, of the old Drovers' Inn allowing pupils and the older generation a rare opportunity to go inside the historic building.
Brecknock YFC members working alongside former members of the Epynt community demonstrated the old skills.
Pupils were welcomed to the day by Brecknock YFC Chairman Mary Phillips , SENTA Camp Commandant Eddie Mahony, MBE and by Epynt descendent Glyn Powell.
An exhibition of old Epynt photographs is currently to be seen at Llanwrtyd's Victoria Hall. The last event in the COFIO'R EPYNT project will be the final performance of GOLAU'R EPYNT, Brecknock YFC's all-Wales winning presentation of the story of Epynt at Theatr Brycheiniog, Saturday, October 30th.
The COFIO'R EPYNT project is supported by a Wales Heritage Lottery grant.
