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What purpose do letters serve in today’s world?

On a journey of letters across Wales we hear from those who still write, deliver and look forward to receiving letters.

When texts arrive as fast as our thumbs can send them, if you want to connect to a loved one in a far flung place you can do it in three taps of a button and your email pings at all hours of the night...but what purpose do letters serve in today’s world?

On this journey of letters across Wales we meet John Charles, a retired Pembrokeshire postman who had the same delivery route for 50 years. John describes how the life of a postman in Wales has changed over the course of his career as he follows his familiar route, bumping into the people in the community he delivered post to. The programme hears their perspectives on what a postie brings to their community, once seen as a fifth emergency service for the vulnerable in a remote rural location, but has that role now changed?

Then to Anglesey where primary school children are having their first experience writing letters to residents of a local retirement home, organised by Aaron Morris from the education group M​​enter Môn.

In Brecon, the Royal Welsh Regimental museum holds some treasured letters, curator Amanda Rosewarne reveals the importance of preserving letters from Welsh soldiers from conflicts across the decades in keeping the memory of them alive.

In Cardiff, Owen Steel spends hours writing to his many pen pals across the globe, because as he explains, writing and receiving letters has a therapeutic effect on him. 

Finally in Harlech, the discovery of a letter after the death of a loved one has given guidance and consolation to one family. Clare Ashton tells Radio Wales how she still lives by the words her son Liam wrote in a letter shortly before his death, delivered to her by Liam's best friend.

Producer: Sean Allsop
Sound: Craig Edmondson
Exec Producer: Jo Meek

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