DVD £11.99 -   

New Release - Now Available on DVD
A True Story of Famous Welsh Gypsies
Winner of five BAFTA Cymru awards - Wedi enill pum gwobr BAFTA Cymru

Award-winning drama based on the childhood of real life Romani Eldra Roberts, a descendant of the famous Abram Wood/Roberts Welsh Gypsy Tribe. Produced by Teliesyn for S4C. "Alongside Hedd Wyn, Eldra has to be one of the cherries of historical dramas to ever spring from Cymru (Wales)."
Soundtracks are by celebrated triple harpist Robin Huw Bowen.      

The remarkable story of a Welsh Gypsy girl, her fox and a Romany family’s struggle in the mountains of Snowdonia.

A spellbinding true yarn of famous Welsh Romanies in the 1930s, set amongst the blue grey shadows of a North Wales slate quarry. Tensions rise when quarryman's son Robat becomes fascinated by Eldra, a barefoot Gypsy girl of noble kaulo ratti (dark blood) and exotic ancestry. Her gamekeeper father trails in tow of Lord Penrhyn at his Castle whilst Eldra struggles with discrimination. Unswayed, she stays true to her Romani traits, tickles trout, and befriends an abandoned fox cub and beady-eyed barn owl.

Under a Cymru summer sky, Robat’s closeness to Eldra sparks resentment from his jealous brother and bandit buddies. Who will win amidst the conflicts and friendships? Meanwhile, Eldra’s grandparents roll into town in their Gypsy caravan, reminding the family of their Romany ways.

With flash and flamboyance, the family proudly dance to the tune of Taid’s bosh (fiddle) whilst Eldra plays her harp. But although the quarrymen join in with a choral song, Taid warns Eldra that the two cultures cannot mix. So can the small Welsh community accept the colourful Gypsies?

Click here to meet the real Eldra Roberts . . !   

                                                                                                                                     DVD £11.99 -   Circa  90 mins - For all ages                                                                                              Available with English subtitles or Welsh only

Lovell and the Kalo Chiricklo (Gypsy Bird) - one day Bob sat down by the river to play his guitar. As he plucked the strings a kalo chiricklo landed on his instrument and whispered "Sar shan pral". Surprised to hear the young bird speak, he looked up from his guitar and greeted the bird "Latcho divvus Kalo Chiricklo. What brings you to me?" The bird replied "To talk the songs!"

"How is it you speak Romani?" Bob asked. The Gypsy bird chuckled "Why should I not speak Romani? Our ancestors lived together for centuries. We've heard you sing, saw you dance, tell fortunes and tales, and tickle the fish! And we too have sung and danced, told fortunes and tales, and tickled the fish! So am I not a Gypsy also?" With a smile Bob played to the Kalo Chiricklo's song, and they sang and wrote music together till the orangey sun set water shadows. (c valleystream 2006)

The textures of Bob Lovell's songs are both raw and stopping place-flavoured, enriched with the tonal essences of earthy mesmerising melodies like you'd hear by camp fires in the "golden days of the vardo". Written for his Romani brothers and sisters and for Gorgor folk (non-Romani) the lyrics carry simple twangs of truth about life on the drom (road). Don't expect Abbey Road or flashy techno arrangements. This is better - it's on vintage vardo wheels! This music signature is a pure "one mix tale" by one Romani, his six-stringed guitar, cheeky kalo pral, and a mile of hearty words. There's English enough, so anyone can enjoy.

Influenced by his Gypsy past and by the likes of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, in the 1980s Bob Lovell began writing songs and playing the guitar. After several years playing folkmusic clubs, in 1992 the hard work finally paid off, and he won the prestigious singer/songwriter's award at New Zealand's biggest folkmusic festival in Auckland. Bob sings both traditional Romani songs learnt from his Dadus and original ones he and his Romani prals have written. "It's been interesting, as many Gorgor folk have stereotypical ideas on who and what Gypsies are. I hope that through my songs my ancestors may rest in peace, knowing their suffering just for being Romani is now being acknowledged."

Bob (Robert Ridgelee) Lovell was born in New Zealand of Romani parents. His Lovell ancestors arrived in Wales from Spain during the 17th century. His father, Adolphus, travelled the roads in Wales and England until WW2 took him as a Merchant Mariner to New Zealand. It was there he met Bob's mother, Rona Beard, from a Scottish traveller family who had also emigrated. Bob was brought up in his parents Romani/travelling ways and culture, including learning much of his father's Romani tongue.

So dare you "househogs" venture out on a cold moonlit night with friends, not to poach but armed with disc player, a brace of rabbits, plus red wine - light a flicker flame woodfire, and savour Bob Lovell's and the kalo chiricklo's "living for now" Romani music in to the night. Kushti bokt!

Excellent Romani CD, worth every Bob!

Talking the Songs - Rokkraben o Gillia Romani Songs

  1. Introduction
  2. When the Yogomush Lies Sleeping
  3. Roadman's Lament
  4. Gypsy Dave
  5. Epping Forest
  6. Kalo Chiricklo
  7. Gary's Puro Dadus
  8. Russian Jack
  9. I Kom I Could've Shooned the Juva Gully
10. The Roving Journeyman
11. Easy and Free
12. Farewell

c. 52 minutes - click tracks to play sample realtime player required - Get Realtime player

Romany - The Last Half Hour
Special Collector's Item - limited print run, first edition.
 
Romany of the BBC was the UK's first wildlife presenter.  Broadcasting on radio, he reached an audience of 13 million listeners.  This is the last - and only remaining - recording in existence today!

His weekly series 'Out with Romany' went out on BBC Children's Hour from 1932-43.  Based on countryside rambles from his Gypsy caravan, he was accompanied by young friends Doris and Muriel, Raq the spaniel and Comma the horse.

This rare recording was originally transmitted in October 1943, six weeks before Romany's death.  It has remained in archives for over 60 years and is now being released to the general public for the very first time.

Introduction by ex BBC Radio Manchester John Mundy.
1.  Original crackle and pop version first broadcast 5th October 1943.
2.  Enchanted 21st century recording, with sound effects - how it would sound today!

Circa 62 minutes.                  Read the full story - Romany of the BBC

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