Arriva Trains Wales | TALL TALES ON THE TRAIN FOR YOUNG WRITERS

TALL TALES ON THE TRAIN FOR YOUNG WRITERS

Fourteen young wordsmiths from Anglesey Writing Squad have enjoyed an inspirational trip courtesy of Arriva Trains Wales.

The young writers, aged ten and eleven, travelled by train from Bangor to Holyhead for stimulation and ideas for their literary works on travel. Poet Iwan Llwyd accompanied the group and offered the children tips and advice on writing technique.

Young Writing Squad is part of Academi, a national literature promotion agency and society for writers with responsibility for serving writers and readers across Wales.

The scheme plucks talented creative writers from primary schools in some of the most deprived areas of Wales and provides them with coaching to express themselves through poetry and stories. The children meet once a term to work with professional writers, who lead a workshop and writing activities.

Katherine Laundy Parri, Educational Librarian for Anglesey County Council, said: “These sorts of excursions offer the children different stimuli and points of view for their writing, which takes their work to a different level.”

Katherine has accompanied the children on other outings including a visit to Moelfre SeaWatch and Beaumaris Gaol. Following the train journey the children will create group poems based on the views they saw form the train, which will be displayed on Arriva Trains Wales’ website

Geraint Morgan, community affairs manager for Arriva Trains Wales said: “This trip is part of an on-going partnership between Arriva Trains Wales and Academi. We have undertaken similar trips in the past with Aberystwyth Arts Centre, which proved successful. Travelling by train will give the children an opportunity to experience sights they may not otherwise see and we look forward to reading their completed work.”

Y Daith (The Journey)

Brain yn yr orsaf wrth ddisgwyl y trên
A’r glaw yn tywallt ar Fangor,
Teithwyr yn cysgodi a’r golau yn troi,
O’r diwedd mae’r drysau yn agor:

Trwy’r twneli tywyll ar ddechrau y daith
Yn ara’ deg dros Bont Britannia,
Y ddau lew tew bob ochor i’r trac
A’r cychod is-law yn eu hwylia:

Heibio Twr Marcwis gan godi llaw,
Drwy Lanfair a’r trên yn cyflymu,
Gwrychoedd a llwyni ac aeron a drain,
Llond cae o geffylau’n carlamu:

Heibio cob Malltraeth a’r twyni tu draw,
A’r ffermydd ar lan afon Cefni,
Glaw ar y ffenest a niwl ar y môr,
Ffarwel i fynyddoedd Eryri.

Hwyiaid ar wyneb Llyn Cerrig Bach,
Be sy’n cuddio dan y dwr llonydd?
Hen felin wen yn ein gwylio o bell
Yn dal ar ei thraed drwy bob tywydd:

Arafu wrth basio Alwminiwm Môn,
Dim golwg o Fynydd Caergybi,
Cyrraedd yr orsaf a diwedd y daith,
Wedi cael hwyl ar farddoni.

Iwan Llwyd gyda Sgwad Sgwennu Môn
30 Mehefin 2007
Daith ar y trên o Fangor i Gaergybi