Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Word of Mouth

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them

BBC Radio 4 FM

Word of Mouth: Eisteddfod

Eisteddfod

02/08/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Word of Mouth, Eisteddfod

Chris Ledgard meets Les Barker, a Mancunian who's fallen in love with the Welsh language.

Chris Ledgard meets Les Barker, a Mancunian who, in his mid-sixties, fell in love with the Welsh language and is a now a serious performer on the Welsh poetry scene.

Tired of living next to his noisy neighbours, Les Barker opted out of urban Manchester and moved to North Wales. "Although I'd spent half a lifetime an hour's drive away, I'd never heard of Hedd Wyn. Or any other major figure in Welsh history or literature, apart from Max Boyce and Dylan Thomas." So Les began to learn...and learn...and learn.....

"After toying briefly with 'Teach Yourself Welsh', I went on a four-day course in Denbigh; Craig Jones was the tutor. Over the summer I did a couple of week-long courses in Denbigh, initially with another Mr Jones, but he went off sick and was replaced by a Mrs Jones. Wales is full of them."

"Being a beginner is frustrating. After a lifetime of being fluent, I suddenly had the vocabulary and grammar of a three-year-old." But Les persevered, and is now a serious performer on the Welsh poetry scene, and one of the organisers of this summer's Eisteddfod. Chris Ledgard meets Les as he makes last minute preparations for the festival.

Producer John Byrne.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Word of Mouth

Eisteddfod

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4