What is ..?

1. Acedia
2. AK47*
3. Amex
4. An ambulance at the bottom of a cliff
5. Arbeit macht frei
6. Athena
7. Bang bang club
8. BBC
9. Be pure, be vigilant, behave
10. Black dog on my shoulder
11. Bomb the Chinese Embassy
12. Brady bill
13. Carlito's Way*
14. Cenotaph
15. Cortina*
16. Cubism
17. Daily Mail
18. Dante's Inferno
19. DNA
20. Dyson*
21. En-ger-land
22. EST
23. Ethnic Cleansing in the Highlands
24. Evian water
25. Exxon
26. Face
27. Fila
28. Gaviscon*
29. Hammer and Sickle*
30. The Holy Grail
31. Ice breaker
32. ID
33. Kaffir lover
34. Kit Kat®
35. Kulturkampf
36. Lagerstraße
37. La tristesse durera*
38. Lebensraum
39. Less than zero
40. Libraries gave us power
41. M*A*S*H
42. Masses Against The Classes
43. Mass of dead insects
44. Mein Kampf
45. Mensa International Limited
46. MK-Ultra
47. Natwest, Barclays, Midlands, Lloyd
48. Noraid
49. Ocean Spray
50. Operation Peter Pan
51. PCP
52. P.M.R.C.
53. Raus
54. Ready For Drowning
55. Ryvita
56. Shalom
57. Slash and burn
58. Strategy (South Face / Front Face / North Face)*
59. I 'T' them
60. TESSAs
61. There ain't no black in the union jack
62. Time-Out
63. Tsunami
64. 24:7

• 1/1 - lemon juice
• 1/2 - orange juice
• 1/4 - dark rum
• 1/8 - creme de noya
• 1/8 - Cognac
• 1/8 - gin

• Phencyclidine - an anesthetic drug, C₁₇H₂₅N, used as an animal tranquilizer: also widely used in several forms as an illicit hallucinogen. PCP is sold under at least 50 other names, including Angel Dust, Crystal, Supergrass, Killer Weed, Embalming Fluid, and Rocket Fuel, that reflect the range of its bizarre and volatile effects. It is also frequently misrepresented as mescaline, LSD, or THC. In its pure form, it is a white crystalline powder that readily dissolves in water. Most PCP now contains contaminants resulting from its makeshift manufacture, causing the color to range from tan to brown and the consistency from a powder to a gummy mass. Although sold in tablets and capsules, as well as in powder and liquid form, it is commonly applied to a leafy material, such as parsley, mint, oregano, or marijuana, and smoked. The drug is as variable in its effects as it is in its appearance. A moderate amount often produces in the user a sense of detachment, distance, and estrangement from the surroundings. Numbness, slurred or blocked speech, and a loss of coordination may be accompanied by a sense of strength and invulnerability. A blank stare, rapid and involuntary eye movements, and an exaggerated gait are among the more common observable effects. Auditory hallucinations, image distortion as in a fun-house mirror, and severe mood disorders may also occur, producing in some acute anxiety and a feeling of impending doom, in others paranoia and violent hostility. PCP is unique among popular drugs of abuse in its power to produce psychoses indistinguishable from schizophrenia.
  

• PCP the Revolutionary Portuguese Communist (Partido Comunista Português).

• Capel Celyn
  
  Cwm Tryweryn lies to the north of Bala on the main road that leads to Trawsfynydd (A4212). At the end of the valley lies Llyn Celyn reservoir. The drowning of the valley by Liverpool Corporation was a source of bitter controversy in the late fifties and early sixties. Under the water lie the remains of Capel Celyn village with its school, post office, Chapel and cemetery. Not only was the village drowned but also twelve farms were lost with 48 out of the 67 inhabitants losing their homes. Agriculture was the chief industry with the majority of farmers tenants on the Rhiwlas estate while others worked on the railway or at the nearby Arenig Quarry. By 1965 this valley, where the whole population spoke Welsh, had disappeared for ever under the waters of the new reservoir.
  
  
• The intention
  
  By the mid-fifties, Liverpool was concerned that there would not be enough water to supply its future needs. The supply from Llanwddyn and Rivington was sufficient for the city's needs, but since it supplied water to other authorities, they feared that, by the end of the century, it would be impossible to fulfill all Merseyside's requirements. They therefore proceeded to find areas which could be flooded to create reservoirs. Areas in the Lake District were explored, but the conclusion reached was that the cost would be prohibitive. The same argument was used for the proposal to purify the waters of the Mersey. They turned therefore to Wales, concentrating firstly on Dolanog in Maidwyn, the locality of Arm Griffiths, the famous Welsh hymnist. Objections were quickly raised to any flooding, and also, from Liverpool's point of view, supply from Dolanog would be too small to justify the cost.
  Various sites were looked at in the Bala area. One called for the erection of a dam on the river Celyn higher up than Tryweryn, another was to build a dam below Frongoch near Tynddol. The Ceidiog and the Hirnant valleys were looked at as potential areas to drown while an idea first thought of at the beginning of the century was looked at again, that is the building of a dam near the village of Llandderfel to create one huge lake which would not only drown valuable agricultural land but also the town of Bala. But all these ideas were rejected and the Capel Celyn area began to be seriously considered as an ideal place for flooding. Just before Christmas 1955, Liverpool Corporation stated its intention of introducing a Private Measure in Parliament to obtain the right to erect a dam on the River Tryweryn.
  
  
• Oppostion
  
  As soon as it became public that it was Liverpool's intention to drown Capel Celyn a local Defence Committee was formed. Following a meeting at Celyn in March 1956 the following were elected to the committee : Dafydd Roberts, Chair; John Abel Jones, Treasurer; Elizabeth M. Watkin Jones, Secretary; Cadwaladr Edwards; Watcyn o Feirion; John Guests Gwilym Pugh; E.P.Roberts and lorwerth Roberts. Later on Ifor Owen and the Rev.Gerallt Jones both of LlanuwchIlyn joined the committee. A number of prominent Welsh people were chosen as Honorary Presidents such as T.W.Jones, the local M.P., Alderman Gwynfor Evans and Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards. With the establishment of a committee, the secretary canvassed the whole of Wales for support to the people of Capel Celyn. In September 1956 a rally was organised at Bala by Plaid Cyniru when about four thousand people came together to show their opposition to the planned drowning. Many messages of support were sent from all parts of the world, including one from Eamon De Valera, leader of Fianna Fail in the Irish Parliament.
  One objective of the Committee was to have a meeting with the Liverpool City Council to put forward their argument. Liverpool refused this request on the grounds that the Council never received deputations. Instead they offered a meeting with the Water Committee. To the people of Celyn this was seen as an insult and it was decided that three representatives Gwynfor Evans, Rev.Tudur Jones and Dafydd Roberts would try to address the Council. On November 7, 1956 in a full meeting of the Council Gwynfor Evans stood up and began to address the members. The effect was explosive with the police being called to escort the three out of the Chamber.
  On November 21 the inhabitants of Capel Celyn themselves went to Liverpool and marched through the City. This time Gwynfor Evans was given the right to address the Council and although he was warmly received the Council did not change its mind.
  It should be noted that some supported the Liverpool scheme. After they had the necessary reassurance from Liverpool Corporation that their water supply from Arenig would not be affected, Bala Town Council moved to support the scheme although individual councillors dissented from this position.

  Despite all the arguments put forward against drowning the valley and despite the fact that there was overwhelming support for the people of Celyn from all parts of Wales and beyond Liverpool carried on with the scheme. On August 1, 1957 the Bill presented by the Corporation received its Royal Assent.
  The battle was over and in sheer desperation the Defence Committee sent a final appeal to the Queen ~ but to no avail.
  
  

• In Parliament
  
  The Bill came before Parliament for its second reading on July 3, 1957. Prior to this a Select Committee of the House of Lords had heard evidence for and against the Measure and had come to the conclusion that the Act should go forward.
  During the second reading all the Welsh MP's apart from one, were united in their opposition though some such as Irene White the M.P.for Flintshire objected not so much to the Bill but rather against the failure of Government to tackle the question of water supply and provide a national framework. Henry Brooke the Minister for Welsh Affairs disappointed many with his support for Liverpool.
  Following the second reading, a Select Committee of the House of Commons enquired into the Bill. As with the Lords they came to the conclusion that it should go forward for its third and final reading. On July 31, 1957, 175 voted for the measure with 79 against the measure - a majority of 96. The Parliamentary passage was at an end.
  
  
• The Dispersal
  
  With the passing of the Act Liverpool set about the work at Celyn. The plan was to clear everything from the valley. This entailed demolishing every building and clearing away every tree and hedge. By the time the valley was flooded it had the appearance of having been scoured clean - nothing was left standing.
  Farmers had to sell their stock and implements. This happened also to farmers who did not loose their homes but lost land, for example Gwerngenau. For those who lost their homes the loss was doubled. The school was closed on July 28, 1963 whilst the Chapel held its last service on Saturday, September 28 the same year. Both buildings were immediately demolished. Some of the bodies in the graveyard were exhumed whilst the remainder were left and their graves covered with concrete. During the early sixties, family after family left the valley - a close knit community was being scattered to the four winds.
  Although the original plans had provided for the diversion of the railway it was never carried out, with the last train running from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Bala on January 27,1961. Soon afterwards the track was lifted and the track bed used as a road to carry gravel from the pits to the site of the dam.
  
  
• Construction work
  
  The 1957 Act authorised Liverpool to construct a reservoir on the river Tryweryn, the water of which would flow down the River Dee to be abstracted at Huntington 2 miles up from the Chester weir and 70 miles downstream of the reservoir. Liverpool would be allowed to abstract up to 65 million gallons per day.
  The initial survey and planning work was undertaken by Binney and Partners with the main construction work awarded to Tarmac Civil Engineering Ltd.. The dam itself is an earth embankment with a rolled clay core with gravel shoulders. Both materials were found near at hand, the gravel from the bottom of the drowned valley while the clay was obtained downstream of the dam. The water face of the dam is covered with rip-rap the stones obtained from the near by Arenig Quarry. The construction work started in August 1960 and was completed by August 1965.
  Since the main road from Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog ran along the floor of the valley it was decided to build a new road on the eastern side of the reservoir. The work started in November 1959 so that the old road could be closed and used to transport gravel to the dam site. Within a year the new road was opened to traffic. According to the Act of Parliament 'Bala to Trawsfyi~ydd Highways (Liverpool Corporation Contribution) Act, 1960' Liverpool would contribute £544,000 to improve the road in the Tryweryn and Cwm Prysor valley.
  
  
• Sabotage
  
  When the Bill received its Royal Assent on August 1, 1957 many felt that the battle for Tryweryn had been lost and that the best course of action would be to concentrate on getting benefits for the area. Yet there were people who had different ideas and wanted to carry on the fight through less constitutional means.
  On September 22, 1962 two men from Monmouthshire, David Pritchard and David Walters sabotaged one of the electrical transformers on the site by draining the oil from the sump. Caught by police they were fined £50 each by Bala magistrates. Early on Sunday morning, February 10, 1963 a large explosion was heard in the valley. Next morning revealed a severely damaged main transformer which disrupted the work on the dam. Extensive enquiries were made by the police which eventually led to the arrest of three men, Emyr Llywelyn Jones, Owain Williams and John Albert Jones. Emyr Llywelyn and Owain Williams were given jail sentences whilst John Albert Jones was put on probation for three years. Throughout the period of the construction and later on there was always the threat of sabotaae, a threat taken seriously by the Corporation and the police.
  
  
• The official opening - October 21, 1965
  
  Following the completion of the dam it was decided that it would be appropriate to have an official opening. Though many doubted the wisdom of this considering the controversy surrounding the drowning, Liverpool carried on with the opening. One idea was to have a member of the Royal Family or a prominent politician to open the dam but this was soon discarded and it was felt that it would be wiser to have Alderman Frank Cam, Chairman of the Water Committee to open the scheme. The level of security was tightened in the days leading up to the opening day and though many felt that Liverpool was rubbing salt in the wound the Corporation refused to draw back. Invitations were sent to everybody who had association with the valley, which included the County Council, District Council, Bala Town Council and Parish Councils. The majority of those invited refused to attend the ceremony and although nearly all the Councils had refused formally some councillors attended as private individuals. One invitation not replied to was from the Chairman of the Defence Committee Dafydd Roberts, Cae Fadog. Ten days before the opening he died and was buried at Llanycil cemetery.
  A protest was arranged against the opening and by 10.30 a.m. on October 21, 1965 over two hundred and fifty protesters had congregated at the dam. This number was to double in the next few hours. An attempt was made to stop the cars of the invited guests with the police having great difficulty in keeping the road clear. The noise was tremendous with the guests facing a hostile crowd. Nothing could be heard, due to the microphone wires being cut, and the ceremony was over in a few minutes.
  Despite the protest many felt that it was too late, the valley had already been drowned.
  
  
• The legacy of Tryweryn
  
  The repercussions following the drowning of Capel Celyn were felt throughout Wales and beyond. The failure of the Welsh M.P.'s to influence Parliament in considering Welsh affairs during the Tryweryn debate can be seen as one event in the constitutional argument which argued for the decentralisation of power. One aspect of this was the establishment of the Welsh Office in 1964 with a Secretary of State for Wales.

  Some, such as members of Plaid Cymru, argued that the example of Liverpool being able to ignore the views of Wales so completely, showed how weak Wales was and that this situation could only be remedied by the creation of a Welsh Parliament.
  Other nationalists felt frustrated by the lack of action from constitutional politicians during the Tryweryn debate and decided to follow a more violent policy. The F.W.A. who had first appeared in public on the Opening Day of the reservoir began a bombing campaign in Wales. Throughout the late sixties nearly a dozen explosions occurred in Wales. This campaign ended in 1969 with arrests and subsequent imprisonment of members of the movement.
  Tryweryn also played a part in the formation of the Welsh Language Society. The destruction of a Welsh speaking community was a symbol to many of what would happen throughout Wales unless action was taken to support the language. With its policy of non-violent direct action the Welsh Language Society embarked on a campaign to improve the status of the language, a campaign that is still active.
  Even today Tryweryn still arouses passion and controversy - the scar still remains.
  

© Copyright 1998 ... 2005 by Gerhard Nijenhuis (sciryl@home.nl). These pages may be freely redistributed for personal use provided that this copyright message remains intact. Any other form of commercial distribution or translation requires explicit permission from the author.