Choice Magazine - June 2022

102 Pages·2022·113.8 MB·English

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Welcome
ENJOY
BRITAIN
SWANSEA
p6
Thereallybigworldissuesthatfaceusatthe
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inflation,strikes,dangerouswarsituations
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Enjoy Britain
Dylan Thomas…
Voice of the Valleys
Clutching his school prize, Dylan Thomas’s
CollectedPoems, Norman Wright goes in search of
the brilliant but ill-starred poet in South Wales
PICTURES: CLIVE NICHOLLS
6 CHOICE JUNE 2022
JUNE 2022 CHOICE 7
Enjoy Britain
Bottom row: Perfect pub grub at the King Arthur Hotel; A
breakfast fit for King Arthur; The fountain basin in Cwmdonkin
Park, mentioned in his poem HunchbackinthePark; Welsh love
spoons in the Mumbles’ Lovespoon Gallery; Bronze taken from
his death mask at the Dylan Thomas Centre
I
T’S SEVENTY years since voices, Under Milk Wood, was taking and the financial, relationships and
the publication of Collected shape, although perpetually under “living up to his reputation” pressures.
Poems1934–1952celebrated revision and never quite finished. He died on November 9, 1953 in a
Dylan Thomas as one of the Sadly, the poet had little time to build New York hospital while on another
greatestBritishpoetsofthe20thcentury. on the critical success of the Collected draining literary tour.
The verses were selected by Thomas Poemsor get some order to the literary Dylan Thomas remains a major writer
himselfastheonesthatbestreflectedhis output fuelled by his imagination in the English language. Collected
work. It was a high point in his chaotic and creativity. Less than a year after Poemsis still in print, UnderMilkWood
literary career. He was in demand as a publication he was dead, succumbing is still often performed in all parts of the
screenwriter, and his classic play for to a lifestyle of heavy drinking, smoking world and his home city of Swansea has
8 CHOICE JUNE 2022
n
e
not forgotten its genius son. Like many a school prize in 1968. It was the only created some two-thirds of his entire
teenagers growing up in the Sixties, time I graced the Speech Day stage and output of poetry while in his late teens.
I found Dylan’s unique descriptive I am still puzzled as to what I did to earn Visitors can get a close look at his
language refreshingly modern, if often the honour. But I still have my prize – a childhood home and the area of the
obscure, compared with the poets of copy of CollectedPoems1934–1952. Welshcity that so influencedhiswriting,
previous centuries that were part of So a trip to Swansea, Mumbles and the and even stand in the tiny bedroom
our A-level curriculum. After all, our Gower is a chance to learn more about where he wrote those words in his now
generation’s lyrical prophet changed his life as well as enjoy a very beautiful renowned notebooks.
his name to Bob Dylan as a nod to the and interesting part of Britain. This No 5 Cwmdonkin Drive in the
Welshman. Surprisingly, I was awarded was Dylan’s stamping ground where he Uplands area of Swansea has been
JUNE 2022 CHOICE 9
Enjoy Britain
What a spread! The taste of Wales hot buffet at
the Dylan Thomas birthplace
Below: In the footsteps of Dylan. Nordic walkers
(left to right): Gillian, Bernice, Gail and Kim; Main
gallery space at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
restored as it was when the Thomas student bedsit, not occupants noted for house, you can stay overnight or enjoy
family bought it newly built in 1914 and their care of their living environment. a home-cooked meal. On offer is an
when Dylan was born on October 27 of Swansea businessman Geoff Haden, who Edwardian dinner or afternoon tea based
that year in the front ‘best’ bedroom. grewupandlivesinUplands,wasappalled on Dylan’s radio broadcast A Child’s
Thehouseisnowafaithfulre-creation by its condition when he saw it in 2003. A ChristmasinWales. We were treated to a
of the Edwardian style and how the couple of years later he bought the lease ‘Taste of Wales’ hot buffet lunch – what a
family lived and brought up their two and started a labour of love – love for spread. All the food is prepared in Florrie
children. Dylan’s sister Nancy was eight Dylan’sworkandforthearea–inrestoring Thomas’s kitchen and pantry and served
when he was born. ittoauthenticEdwardiansplendour. in the living room or best front room.
But this important social, literary and This would be a delightful insight Geoff also offers tours of the Uplands
Welsh heritage site came close to being into the period between the wars even area. He showed us Dylan’s first school
lost for ever. The Thomases moved out without the significance of its influence – known as a Dame School in a house
in 1937 and eventually it was used as a on Dylan. As well as guided tours of the just round the corner, then the former
10 CHOICE JUNE 2022