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Three Welsh families go to war in 1944! Coal House At War families are chosen
BBC Wales has announced the three Welsh families who have been
chosen to travel back to wartime Wales for four weeks this autumn
as part of its hugely successful Coal House programme.
With victory on the horizon, the families will live life as it
was in a mining community at the end of 1944 for Coal House At
War, which will be broadcast on BBC One Wales from 13 October 2008.
The families will leave behind the modern comforts of 2008 when
they enter the tiny miners' cottages in Stack Square, Blaenavon,
in October.
Living under blackout regulations by night, and
managing their rations and war work by day, "Digging for Victory"
in the vegetable plots will be as essential as digging at the
coalface this series, as the families learn to become self-sufficient.
The three families, selected from the initial 600 that applied,
are:
 The Griffiths family from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen in Ammanford
The Tranter Davies family from Merthyr Tydfil
The Paisey family from Cardiff
The families applied for varying reasons – from escaping a hectic
21st century life for a simplified way of living, to learning to
appreciate how fortunate they are today, to discovering more
about their roots and how their mothers, fathers and grandparents
lived during the War.
As well as the three main families, Coal House At War will
involve young men taking part as Bevin Boys (called up to fight
in 1944 only to be conscripted to the mines); children as evacuees
fleeing the cities from the last German bombing raids; qualified
teachers for the classroom drills of the Forties wartime syllabus;
and a whole variety of local people doing their real jobs and
hobbies but transported back to 1944 – from the chapel minister,
to the football team, to the jitterbugging dance teachers.
Rachel Morgan, Series Producer, says: "The families we have chosen are ready to go to war! They've come
a long way since the selection process in June.
"They've been
psychologically vetted, visited at home by the team and
questioned at length about their commitment to discovering their
own history and the history of the coalfields at war.
"We're confident that the Griffiths, the Tranter Davies and the
Paiseys will cope with rationing, drills, the windswept hillsides
of Blaenavon and even Mr Blandford at the mine!
"We're very
excited about this series and Coal House At War promises to be an
epic of war and peace!"
Coal House At War will be broadcast on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays from Monday 13 October 2008 on BBC One Wales.
Coal House At War families, evacuees and Bevin Boy
The Griffiths family from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen
Howell Griffiths, 56, is an ex-miner who now works as a driver
for Carmarthenshire County Council
Rose Griffiths, 55, is the manager of a residential care home in
Ammanford
Mandy Griffiths, 34, is the daughter-in-law of Howell and Rose
and works as a dental nurse in Neath. Her husband is unable to
take part as he is on active service with the armed forces
Kieran Griffiths, 11, is a pupil in Ammanford Comprehensive
School
Callum Griffiths, 9, is a pupil in Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen.
The Tranter Davies family from Merthyr Tydfil
Geraint Davies, 42, is a criminal justice drugs worker in Rhondda
Cynon Taff and the Merthyr Valleys
Laura Tranter, 37, is a substance misuse and criminal justice
development officer for Barnardo's Cymru
Annie-Starr Wilding, 17, is a pupil in Cyfarthfa High School in
Merthyr
Rosie Jane Wilding, 11, is a pupil in Cyfarthfa High School in
Merthyr
Caitlin Gigi Davies, 11, is a pupil in Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in
Barry
Maisie Ray Davies, 9, is a pupil in Ysgol St Baruc in Barry
Tilly Juniper Davies, 4, is a pupil in Brecon Road Infants School
in Merthyr.
The Paisey family from Cardiff
Dr Stephen Paisey, 33, who works in one of the MRI research units
at Cardiff University
Natalie Paisey, 30, is a housewife (soon to be in part-time
employment with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales as a lay reviewer
of maternity services across Wales)
Isabel Paisey, 9, is a pupil in Eglwys Wen Primary School
Gruffydd Paisey, 7, is a pupil in Eglwys Wen Primary School
Euan Paisey, 5, is a pupil in Eglwys Wen Primary School
Lara Paisey, 2.
The Welsh evacuees and Welsh Bevin Boy
Caleb and Kia Shah, aged 12 and 11 respectively, from Cardiff
Jac Williams from Penarth, who is studying emergency services at
Barry College and whose grandfather was a Bevin Boy in
Llanbradach colliery.
Notes to Editors
Quotes from the families are available on request.
In June 2008, 15 short-listed families took part in a selection day
and were put through their paces at Cwrt-y-Gollen Army camp near
Abergavenny, in South Wales, to find out how they would cope with
the stresses of life in the Coal House At War.
Each applicant was
tested on initiative, stamina and team-working throughout the
day, as well as undergoing psychological tests.
BBC Wales Press Office
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